that they might doe their office the better, in collecting and concluding effects by consideration of causes. Hence it came, that amongst the Heathens there were such worthy men, as Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Se∣neca, Pliny, Plautus, Plotinus, & Paracelsus, besides other moe which haue diued so deepe into the secrets of na∣ture, and haue written so many true thinges very lear∣nedly, both of Celestiall creatures, and humainc duties; euen because God was present by efficacie to stirre vp those instructions and principles which himselfe had first engrauen in Mans nature. If any bee desirous to know what the meanes are, by which God shewed and manifested in them what might bee knowne of him; it was neither inquisition and search of the written word, nor illumination of the spirit, nor humaine instruction, nor Angelicall Reuelation, nor miraculous operations, or diuine visions, for these were the priuiledges of his Church & people; but the meanes were meere naturall, as principles ingrafted, discourse of reason assisted with a diuine concurrence, & obseruation of the Creatures, by which (being visible) well marked and duely consi∣dred, their minds were erected (as by a ladder) to think vpon the nature and properties of God, which were in∣sensible and inuisible. For God being an essence separa∣ted from matter, and not subiect to senses, must be per∣ceiued of men by some outward signes of wordes (as to the Iewes,) of Creatures as to the Gentiles; who by the beholding and experience of things created, haue their knowledge of the Creator more and more polished and encreased. The Doctrine and lesson which from all this wee are to learne, it is, that whatsoeuer knowledge of God or duties the Gentiles got, they were beholding to God for it: who though he vsed certain Organs and Instruments both within man and without him, to en∣gender this knowledge, yet this honour still remaines to God, that hee bee the Authour and giuer of it, and hence is entitled a God of Knowledge, which serueth