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MOSES first nameth Heauen and Earth (putting waters but in the third place) as comprehending waters in the word Earth, but afterwards [unspec 10] hee nameth them apart, when God by his Spirit began to distinguish the confused Masse, and (as Basil saith) praeparare naturam aquae ad foe∣cunditatem 〈◊〉〈◊〉; to prepare the nature of water to a vitall fruitfulnesse.
For vnder the word Heauen, was the matter of all heauenly bodies, and natures exprest: and by the name of Earth and Waters, all was meant, whatsoeuer is vnder the Moone, and subiect to alteration. Corrupt seedes bring foorth corrupt plants; to which the pure heauens are not subiect, though subiect to perishing. They shall pe∣rish* 1.1 (saith Dauid) and the heauens shall vanish away like smoke, saith Esay. Neither were the waters the matter of Earth: for it is written, Let the waters vnder the hea∣uens* 1.2 be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appeare: which prooueth that the dry [unspec 20] land was mixt and couered with the waters, and not yet distinguished; but no way, that the waters were the matter or seede of the Earth, much lesse of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Initio tu Domine terram fundasti, Thou, O Lord, in the beginning hast founded the Earth: and againe, The Earth was couered with the Deepe (meaning with waters) as with a gar∣ment,* 1.3 saith Dauid. And if by naturall arguments it may be prooued, that water by condensation may become earth, the same reason teacheth vs also, that earth rarified may become water: water, aire: aire, fire; and so on the contrary, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ignis sub∣stantiam* 1.4 per aerem in aquam conuertit, God turneth the substance of fire, by aire, into wa∣ter. For the Heauens and the Earth remained in the same state, in which they were created, as touching their substance, though there was afterwards added multiplicitie [unspec 30] of perfection, in respect of beauty and ornament. Coelum 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & terra in statu 〈◊〉〈◊〉* 1.5 remanserunt, quantum ad substantiam, licèt multiplex perfectio decoris & ornatus eis postmodùm 〈◊〉〈◊〉. And the word which the Hebrewes call Maim, is not to be vnderstood according to the Latine translation simply, and as specifical water; but the same more properly signifieth liquor. For (according to Montanus) Est autem* 1.6 Maim liquor geminus, & hoc nomen propter verborum penuriam, Latina lingua plurali numero aquas fecit. For Maim (saith he) is a double liquor, (that is, of diuers natures) and this name or word the Latines wanting a voice to expresse it, call it in the Plural, Aquas, Waters.
This Masse, or indigested matter, or Chaos created in the beginning, was without [unspec 40] forme, that is, without the proper forme, which it afterwards acquired, when the Spirit of God had separated the Earth, and digested it from the waters: And the earth* 1.7 was voide: that is, not producing any creatures, or adorned with any plants, fruits, or flowers. But after the Spirit of God had moued vpon the waters, and wrought this indi∣gested* 1.8 matter into that forme, which it now retayneth, then did the earth budde forth the hearbe, which seedeth seede, and the fruitfull tree according to his kinde, and God saw that it was good; which attribute was not giuen to the Earth, while it was confused, nor to the Heauens, before they had motion, and adornement. God saw that it was good; that is, made perfect: for perfection is that, to which nothing is wanting. Et perfecti Dei perfecta sunt opera, The workes of the perfect God, are perfect. [unspec 50]
From this lumpe of imperfect matter had the ancient Poets their inuention of De∣mogorgon: HESIODVS and ANAXAGORAS the knowledge of that Chaos, of which 〈◊〉〈◊〉: