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THe Rain-bow is to be spoken of next: And this is nothing else but the apparition of certain colours in an hollow, watery, distilling, or dropping cloud direct∣ly opposite to the Sunne, representing in its fashion half a circle.
Or thus; It is a bow of many colours, appearing in a dewie, dark, droppie, and hollow cloud, by reflection of the Sunne-beams opposite to it. For this is certain, that lightsome or luminous bodies do cause images, colours, or appearances upon slender, clean, and thin objects: Now of all bodies the Sunne is most lightsome; but the aire and water are clean, thin, and slender.
Here then it appeareth that the Efficient cause of the* 1.1 Rain-bow is the light or beams of the Sunne; which fall∣ing into fit, apt, or convenient matter, opposite to them, are refracted and reflected to our sight.
The Materiall cause is not water in act, nor yet* 1.2 thick aire, but a dewie vapour; which is not conti∣nuus, sed potiùs corpusculis guttularum discretus; not abso∣lutely of one bodie, but rather severed into many bodies, or little drops.* 1.3
The Form of it is to be gathered out of the Figure and Colours.
And for the Figure, we see it is circular: But yet it never representeth to us any more then a Semicircle; and not alwayes so great an arch: The reason of which is, be∣cause the centre or middle point of the Rain-bow, which is diametrally opposite to the centre of the Sunne, is alwayes either in the Horizon, or under it: So that seeing our sight of the heavens is cut off by the earth in such a manner as that we can never see above half of them, it must needs be, that the appearance of this circle be either more or lesse to us, according to the Sunnes great or little distance from the Horizon.* 1.4
And as for the colours, they are commonly accounted three, viz. Ruddie, Green, and Azure. To which some adde a fourth. The first is in the thickest and darkest part of the cloud: For where a bright shining falleth upon a darkish place, there it representeth a ruddie colour, being somewhat like a Flame. The second is caused by a more
weak inf•…•…action, being in a remoter and more wa∣terie part of the cloud: whereupon it looketh greenish.
The third, which is further into the cloud, proceeds from the weakest infraction, and is therefore of a more dark and obscure colour, tending to a blew or an azure hue. And sometimes a fourth colour is also perceived, be∣ing very like a yellow or orenge-tawnie, proceeding from a commixture of the red and green, according to Aristotles judgement: of which the learned may see Iul. Scaliger, exer•…•…. 80. sect. 4.
Now these colours in some rain-bows are more vehe∣ment or apparent, in others more remisse or obscure; which is according to the aptnesse of the cloud, &c.
And in rain-bows caused by the moon (for sometimes,* 1.5 though seldome, they have been seen in the night) the colours are weaker, whiter, and lesse conspicuous; being in a manner as white as milk: which is, because the moon having a borrowed light, is nothing so strong in the projecting her raies, but farre more feeble then the sunne.
But come to the finall cause, and you will finde it two∣fold;* 1.6 partly Naturall, partly Supernaturall.
As it is Naturall, we take it either as a signe of rain, be∣cause it cannot appeare but in a waterie cloud, which is so prepared that it is ready to fall in very drops: or as a* 1.7 signe of fair weather; namely then when the beams of the sunne are strong, and the heat of it so great that the moisture of the cloud is dried up, and the drops attenua∣ted into thin aire. All which may be discerned after this manner, viz. when the colours grow either darker and darker, or clearer and clearer. For if the colours appeare dark, thick, or obscure by little and little, till at the last they bury themselves in a black cloud, then rain follow∣eth. But if the colours by degrees grow clearer and clearer till at the last they vanish away, then we may
expect fair and bright weather. And this as it is a naturall signe.
But now as it is Supernaturall: and then we behold it as a signe or symbole of Gods mercie towards the world, betokening that it shall never be destroyed again through any Deluge or universall Floud. For it shall be a signe of the covenant (saith God) between me and the earth, viz. that there shall be no more a Floud of waters to destroy the earth, Gen. 9.* 1.8
From both which significations or ends, it may well be called Iris; for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in the Greek is as much as dico in the Latine, signifying I say, I publish, I tell, or I declare. Iris therefore comes from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, dico; First, because this bow publisheth or telleth to us the constitution of the aire. Secondly, because it declareth the covenant of God made with the world after the Floud; shewing that his wrath is so farre forth appeased, that he will never drown the world again; which appeareth even in the or∣der observed in placing the bow: for we see it with the bended ends downwards, and as one that holdeth a bow in peace; insomuch that had it a shaft in it, the earth should not be shot; neither ought man to fear that the Lord will shoot any more such arrows of displeasure as before.
Some have thought that there was no rain-bow be∣fore the Floud, but that it appeared since; because God saith, When I make the heaven thick with clouds, I will put my bow in the clouds, Gen. 9.
To which it may be answered, that God saith, not* 1.9 that he will of new create a bow, but that he will then put it into the clouds so as it never was before; namely to be a signe, &c. So that although it were not as a signe of any covenant before the Floud, yet without doubt it was as a Meteor then as well as now; and therefore was: otherwise we might deny both bread, and wine, and
water to be before the institution of the Sacraments: for it is the same reason. Wherefore, as there was water be∣fore ever it was used for the water of regeneration in the Sacrament of Baptisme; and as there was bread and wine before ever they were used as signes at the holy Communion: so also the rain-bow was before ever it had that office to be a signe of Gods covenant between him and mankinde, just as at this day it appeareth even to such as are not of the Church; very Heathens and Pagans beholding it as well as we.
Besides, there were from the beginning the same cau∣ses in nature to produce it: for there wanted neither a sunne to draw vapours from waterie places, nor yet a convenient place in the aire to thicken them into clouds; neither was the sunne destitute of sparkling raies to make reflexion and infraction: but as it is caused now, so also then; and to think otherwise were to think amisse.
Some again have been perswaded that this bow was before, but was not in a cloud before. And thus thought certain amongst the Hebrews.
But this is a reasonlesse assertion, and against all Phi∣losophie, and not at all approved by Divinitie. For how could that appeare in a cleare aire, which can have no existence or being, but in a dewing or distilling cloud? Verily of both absurdities the former was the better, namely that it was not at all: and yet that also wanted grounds to uphold it, as hath been shewed, and is yet further manifest. For seeing the Lord God in six dayes finished the creation, and set the perfect order of all his creatures; it followeth that the rain-bow had then his place either in being or in power. And thus from two ab∣surdities* 1.10 I bring you to a third. For further more, it hath been the opinion of some idle doting brains to think that there shall be no rain, nor rain-bow, 40 yeares before
the end or destruction of the world by fire; because the very aire (say they) must be prepared a long time before by a continuall drinesse, and each thing made fit for combustion.
Which surely is a brain-sick fancie. For what do they in this but shew their extream follie; derogating, not onely from reason, but also from the power of God? For is not God able to destroy the work of his own hands without such a supposed preparation, and make the world combustible in an instant, if need be? Or should there be no rain, and consequently no bow (because it appeareth in a waterie cloud) then how should the fruits of the earth be preserved? Great famine and miserie must needs follow in the world if this be true. For when the clouds drop no fatnesse, then the ground pines away through barrennesse; and when the heavens are iron, then the earth is brasse: whereas it is manifest, that at the coming of Christ there shall be pleasant and fruitfull times; times full of mirth, wherein they shall eat and drink, marrie and be given in marriage, even as it was in the dayes of Noah. Who therefore will think that these men are in their right mindes, whilest they affirm that no rain shall fall by the space of 40 yeares before the world endeth?
The Jews as soon as they behold this bow (not daring* 1.11 to gaze upon it) do presently go forth and confesse their sinnes, acknowledging that they are worthy to be de∣stroyed with a Floud as the old world was; and in being spared they celebrate the mercie and •…•…lemencie of God for sparing them. But, saith a 1.12 Pareus, although they mingle this religion with much superstition, because they dream that the name of Iehovah is as it were en∣graven on the bow, and because they turn their eyes away as from the majestie of God appearing there, not daring to look upon it, lest (as may be said) beholding
the face of God they die: Yet it is meet even for us up∣on the sight of it to be so farre forth touched with a re∣verence towards God, that we passe not away the sym∣bole of the covenant with a brutish dulnesse, lest there∣upon we grow unmindefull of Gods severitie and goodnesse.
There is also another thing observable concerning this bow which I may not forget; namely this, The my∣sterie which (according to some mens fancies) is involved in the colours. For in a mysterie they would have it beto∣ken both the baptisme of Christ, by water and fire; and also the two judgements of the world, the one alreadie past, the other yet to come: that which is past appeareth in the watery colours, shewing that the world hath been drowned: that which is yet to come appeareth in the fiery colours, shewing that the world shall be destroyed by fire, or burnt up at the day of judgement. But (saith b 1.13 one) these and the like applications are wittie and pret∣tie, rather then wise and pithie: I leave them therefore, and proceed:
The efficient cause of the Rain-bow.
The materiall cause.
The formall cause.
The colours in the Rain-bow.
Moon-bows.
The finall cause.
How to judge of the weather by the rain-bow▪
The derivation of Iris, signifying the rain-bow▪
The rainbow was before the Floud.
A grosse absur∣ditie of some who think that there shall be no rain nor rain-bow 40 yeares before the worlds end.
What the Jews do at the sight of the rain-bow.
On Gen. chap. 9. pag. 898.
Dr. Willet on Gen.