The history of the world

§. VI. That there was no neede of any new Creation of matter to make the vni∣uersall floud: and what are Catarractae Coeli, GEN. 7. VERS. 11. [unspec 30]

NOw if it be obiected, that God doth not create any thing of new; (for God resteth the seuenth day: (that is) he did not then after create any new species) which granted, it may seeme that then all the earth and aire had not waters sufficient to couer the habitable world fifteen cubits aboue the highest Mountaynes. Of this proposition, whether God hath so restrayned himselfe or no, I will not dispute; but for the consequent (which is) that the world had want of water to ouer-couer the highest mountaynes, I take that conceit to be vnlearned and foolish; for it is written, that the fountaynes of the great deep were broken vp (that is) the waters forsook the very bowels of the earth; [unspec 40] and all whatsoeuer was disperst therein pierced and brake through the face thereof. Then let vs consider, that the Earth had aboue one and twentie thousand miles: the Diameter of the Earth according to that circle seuen thousand mile, and then from the Superficies to the Center some three thousand fiue hundred miles: Take then the highest Mountayne of the world, Caucasus, Taurus, Olympus, or Atlas, the Moun∣taynes of Armenia or Scythia, or that (of all other the highest) in Tenuerif, and I doe not finde, that he that looketh highest stretcheth aboue thirtie miles vpright. It is not then impossible, answering reason with reason, that all those waters mixed within the earth three thousand fiue hundred miles deepe, should not well helpe to couer the space of thirtie miles in height, this thirty miles vpright being found in the [unspec 50] depths of the earth one hundred and sixteene times: for the Fountaynes of the great Deepe were broken vp, and the waters drawne out of the bowels of the earth. Se∣condly, if we consider what proportion the earth beareth to the extension of the ayre ouer and aboue it, wee shall find the difference exceeding great. If then it plea∣sed

God to condense but so much of this ayre as euery-where compasseth and em∣braceth the earth, which condensation is a conuersion of ayre into water, a change familiar in those elements, it will not seeme strange to men of iudgement, yea but of ordinarie vnderstanding, that the Earth (God so pleasing) was couered ouer with waters without any new Creation.

Lastly, for the opinions of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Parisiensis, and Aliacensis, to which I may adde Berosus and others, That such a coniunction there was, foreshewing that de∣struction by waters which followed; and that by the word Catarractae coeli, or Win∣dores of heauen, was meant this coniunction; there needes no other answere then that obseruation of Ludouicus Viues, who affirmeth that by the grauest Astrologian [unspec 10] it was obserued, that in the yeere 1524 there should happen the like coniunction, as at 〈◊〉〈◊〉 floud, then which (saith he) there was neuer a more fayre, drie, and seaso∣nable yeere: the like destruction was prophecied of the yeere 1588. But Picus Earle of Mirandula proueth that there could not be any such coniunction at that time.

To conclude, I finde no other mysterie in the word Catarractae coeli, then that the cloudes were meant thereby: Moses vsing the word Windores of Heauen (if that be the sense of the word) to expresse the violence of the raynes, and powring downe of waters. For whosoeuer hath seene those fallings of water, which sometimes hap∣pen in the Indies, which are called the Spowts (where cloudes doe not breake into [unspec 20] drops, but fall with a resistlesse violence in one body) may properly vse that manner of speech which Moses did; That the windores or floud-gates of heauen opened: (which is) That waters fell, contrarie to custome, and that order which we call na∣turall. God then loosened the power retentiue in the vppermost ayre, and the wa∣ters fell in abundance: Behold (saith IOB) he which holdeth the waters, and they drie* 1.1 vp, or better in Latine, Et omnia siccantur; And all things are dryed vp; but when he sen∣deth them out, they destroy the earth: and in the 26. Chapter: He bindeth the waters in the cloudes; but these bonds God loosed at that time of the generall floud, and cal∣led vp the waters which slept in the great deepe: and these ioyning together couered the earth, till they had performed the worke of his will: which done, he then com∣manded* 1.2 [unspec 30] them to returne into their darke and vast Caues, and the rest (by a winde) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 againe into ayre, formerly condensed into drops.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Iob c. 12. v. 15.
• * 1.2

  Gen. 8. 1.