St. Augustine, Of the citie of God vvith the learned comments of Io. Lod. Viues. Englished by I.H.

Of the Arke, and the deluge, that the meaning thereof is neither meerely Historicall, nor meerely allegoricall. CHAP. 27.

BVt let none thinke that these things were written onely to relate an hystori∣•…•…ll truth without any typicall reference to any thing else: or contrary wise, •…•…ere were no such things really acted, but that it is all allegoricall: or that •…•…soeuer it is, it is of no vse, nor include•…•…h any propheticall meaning concer∣•…•… •…•…he Church: for who but an Atheist will say, that these bookes are of no 〈◊〉〈◊〉 haue beene so religiously kept, and so carefully deliuered from one age •…•…ther, so many thousand yeares together? or that they are onely historicall, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…s (to let all the rest passe) the bringing in of the vncleane creatures by 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and the cleane by seauens, must needes haue some other meaning, for they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 haue beene preserued had they beene but paires, as well as the other. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not God, that taught this meanes of re-instauration, repaire them as hee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ated them? And now for those that say that all this was but mysticall one∣•…•… •…•…st they imagine it impossible that any floud should become so huge as to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the height of any mountaine fifteene cubites, because of the (a) top of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Olympus which they say reacheth aboue the cloudes, and is as high as •…•…uen, so that the grosser ayre that engendreth windes and raine cannot 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so high: neuer obseruing in the meane space, that the grossest element of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 earth can lye so high: or will they say the top of this mountaine is not 〈◊〉〈◊〉? no; why then doe those bad proportionators allow the earth to lye so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…nd yet deny the water to mount higher, auerring not-with-standing that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ater is higher and of a more ability to ascend then the earth? what reason •…•…hey shew why earth should holde so high a place in ayre, for thus many •…•…sand yeares, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 et that water may not arise to the same height for a little 〈◊〉〈◊〉 They say also, that the Arke was too little to holde such a number of crea∣•…•…, seauen of euery cleane one, and two of euery vncleane one. It seemes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 make accoumpt onely of three hundred cubites in length, fiftie in breadth, •…•…irtie in depth, neuer marking that euery roome therein was of this size,

making the whole Arke to be nine hundred cubites in length, one hundred and fiftie in breadth, and ninetie in deapth or height. And if that be true that Origen doth elegantly prooue, that Moyses (being learned (as it is written) in all the wis∣dome of the Egiptians, who were great Geometricians) meant of a Geometri∣call cubite in this case, one of which make sixe of ours, who seeth not what an huge deale of roomes lyeth within this measure? for whereas they say that an Arke of such greatnesse could no way bee built, they talke idely, for huger cit∣ties then this Arke haue beene built: and they neuer consider the hundred yeares that it was a building in, through-out: vnlesse they will say that one stone may bee bound fast vnto another by lime onely, and walles on this manner bee carryed out (d) so many miles in compasse, and yet timber cannot bee lastened vnto timber by (e) mortayses, (f) •…•…piri, nayles and pitch, whereby an Arke might bee made, not with embowed ribbes, but in a streight lineall forme, not to bee lanched into the sea by the strength of men, but lifted from earth by the ingruent force of the waters them-selues, hauing GODS prouidence, ra∣ther then mans practise, both for steres-man and pilot. And for their scrupu∣lous question concerning the Vermine, Mice, (g) Stellions, Locusts, Hornets, Flyes and Fleas, whether there were any more of them in the Arke then there should bee by GODS command? they that mooue this question ought first to consider this: that such things as might liue in the waters, needed not bee brought into the Arke: so might both the fishes that swamme in the water, and (h) diuers birds also that swamme aboue it.

And whereas it is said, They shall bee male and female, that concerneth the reparation of kinde: and therefore such creatures as doe not generate, but are produced them selues out of meere putrifaction, needed not bee there: if they were, it was as they are now in our houses, with-out any knowne number, if the greatnesse of this holy mystery included in this true and reall acte, could not bee perfited with-out there were the same order of number kept in all those creatures, which nature would not permit to liue with-in the waters, that care belonged not vnto man, but vnto GOD. For Noah did not take the creatures and turne them into the Arke, but GOD sent them in all, hee onely suffered them to enter: for so saith the booke: Two of euery sorte shall come vnto thee: not by his fetching, but by GODS bidding: yet may wee well holde that none of the creatures that wante sexe, were there: for it is pre∣cisely sayd, They shall bee male and female. There are creatures that arising out of corruption, doe (i) afterwardes engender, as flyes: (k) and some also with∣out sexe, as Bees: some also that haue sexe and yet engender not, as Hee-mules and Shee-mules: it is like that they were not in the Arke, but that their pa∣rents, the horse and the Asse serued to produce them after-wards: and so like-wise of all other creatures (l) gotten betweene diuerse kindes. But if this concerned the mysterie, there they were: for they were male and female.

Some also sticke at the diuersitie of meates that they had, and what they eate, that could eate nothing but flesh: and whether t•…•…e were any more creatures there then was in the command, that the rest might feede vpon them: or (m) rather (which is more likely) that there were some other meates besides flesh, that contented them. For (n) wee see many creatures that eate flesh, eate fruites also, and Apples, chieflye Figges and Chest-nuts:

what wonder then if God had taught this iust man to prepare a meate for euery creatures eating, and yet not flesh? what will not hunger make one eate? And what cannot God make wholesome, and delightsome to the taste, who might make them (if he pleased) to liue without any meate at al: but that it was befitting to the perfection of this mistery that they should bee fedde? And thus all men, b•…•…t those that are obstinate, are bound to beleeue that each of these many fold circumstances, had a figuration concerning the Church: for the Gentiles haue now so filled the Church with cleane and vncleane, and shall do so vntill the end and now are al so inclosed in those ribbes, that it is vnlawful to make stop at those inferior (although obscurer) ceremonies, which being so, if no man may either thinke these things as written to no end: nor as bare and insignificant relations, nor as sole vnacted allegories, nor as discourses impertinent to the Church; but each ought rather to beleeue that they are written in wisdome, and are both true histories, and misticall allegories, all concerning the prefiguration of the Church; then this booke is brought vnto an end: and from hence wee are to pro∣ceed with the progresse of both our citties, the one celestiall, and that is Gods, and the tother terrestriall, and that is mans, touching both which, wee must now obserue what fell out after the deluge.

L. VIVES.

THe toppe (a) of.] The Geographers haue diuers Olympi: but this here, is in Thessaly ten furlongs high, as Plutarch saith in the life of Aemilius Paulus. The toppe is aboue the * 1.1 〈◊〉〈◊〉 region of the aire as some hold, and proue it because the ashes of the Sacrifice would ly •…•…ystned, and vnmoued al the yeare long▪ Solin. This is a fable saith Francis Philelphus, who 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…p the hill him-selfe, to see the triall. And it is strange that the toppe of Olimpus, or Ath•…•…s 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…edon, or of any other mountaine should be so high aboue the circle of the earths globe, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 should exceed the halfe part of the ayre, and lying aboue all moysture, haue such con∣•…•…ll fountaines and riuers flowing from it: for they are the mothers of windes and rayne. (b) A•…•… Heauen.] Intimating the vse of the Poets, who call Heauen Olympus because of this 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Hom. Iliad. •…•…1. (c) They say also.] Origen Homil. 2, in Genes. hath these words. As far 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gather by descriptions, the Arke was built vp in foure Angles, arising all from an equall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 finished on the toppe in the bredth of one cubit, for it is said that it was built thirty cubites 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ty broad, and thirty high, but yet was it so gradually contracted that the bredth and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 met all in one cubit: and afterwards. But the fittest forme for to keepe of the rayne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 weather, was to bee ridged downe a proportioned descent from the toppe downeward, so to shoot off the wet, and to haue a broad and spatious base in a square proportion, least the •…•…ion of the creatures within should either make it leane at'one side or sinke it downe right. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ll this cunning fabrike, some questions there are made, and those chiefly by Apelles, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Marcions but an inuentor of another heresie: how is it possible (sayth hee) to put * 1.2 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Elephants in the roome that the Scripture allowes for the Arke? Which to answer, our 〈◊〉〈◊〉 said that Moyses who (according to the Scriptures) was skilled in all the arts of Egipt 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Geometricall cubytes in this place, (and Geometry is the Egyptians chiefe study.) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Geometry, both in the measuring of solides and squares, one cubit is generally taken 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of our common cubits, or for three hundred minutary cubits. Which if it bee so, heare, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had roome at large to containe al the creatures that were requisit for the restauration 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 world. Thus far Origen. (d) So many miles.] As Babilons, Romes, and Memphis. But 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a citty in Thrace, the Greekes called it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The long wall, for there was an 〈◊〉〈◊〉 long wall began there, which reached vnto the Melican Bay, excluding Cherone∣•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the rest of Thrace, Miltiades the Athenian captaine built it. There was such an∣•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the lake Lemanus vnto mount Iura, diuiding Burgogne from Switzerland, built 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, ninteene miles long, and sixteene foote high. Seuerus did the like in England, to keepe

the Scots and Picts from inuading the Brittaines. (e) Mortayses] Let your posts (•…•…aith V•…•…∣truuius) be as thick as the maine body of your piller vnder the wreath whence the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, * 1.3 and let them be mortaised together, so that the hole of euery ioynt bee two fingers wide. (f) Epiri] Either it is falsely written, or else wee may goe seeke what it is. (g) Stellions] A kinde of Lizard that benummeth where he biteth. A kinde of Spider also Plin. 8. & 9. Aristo. * 1.4 (h) Diuerse birds] Ducks, Swans, Cormorants, Sea-guls, Water-swallowes, Puffins, &c. (i) Af∣terwards engender] Flyes are not generate, and yet doe engender. For the male and female commixe, and produce a worme, which in time becommeth a flie. Aristot. Hist. animal. lib. 5. (k) And some also] How Bees are produced (saith Aristotle, Hist. animal. lib. 5. It is vncer∣taine: some thinke they doe not ingender, but fetch their issue else-where, but whence none * 1.5 knoweth]: some say from the Palme-flowre, others from the reedes, others from the Oliues. Uirgil in his Georgikes held that they did not engender: his words are these:

Illum adeò placuisse apibus mirabere morem, * 1.6 Quòd nec concubitu indulgent, nec corpora segnes In venerem soluunt, aut foetus nixibus aedunt: Verum ipsae é foliis natos, & suauibus herbis Ore legunt, &c.—

Would you not wonder at the golden Bees They vse no venery, nor mixe no thighes: Nor grone in bringing forth: but taking wing, Flie to the flowres, and thence their yong they bring Within their pretty mouths, bred there, &c.—

Some there bee that say the Bees bee all females, and the Drones males, and so doe •…•…gender: and that one may haue them produced of the flesh of a Calfe. (l) Gotten betweene diuerse] as creatures begotten betweene Wolues and Dogges, or Beares and Bitches, &c. Pliny saith that such beasts are neuer like either parent, but of a third kinde, and that they neuer engender either with any kinde, or with their owne: and therefore Mules neuer haue yong ones. But by Plinies leaue, it is recorded that Mules haue brought forth young, and haue beene often-times bigge bellyed: and this is common in Cappadocia saith Theophrastus, and in Syria saith Ari∣stotle. Indeed these are of another kinde then ours bee. (n) Or rather] Origen saith, they did e•…•…e flesh. (n) Wee see many creatures] Dogges, Crowes, and Foxes, when they want flesh, will eate fruites, Figges and Chest-nuts especially, and liue as well with them as with all the flesh in the world.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mount O∣lympus.
• * 1.2

  Apelles an∣heretique.
• * 1.3

  Mortayses, subscudines.
• * 1.4

  Stellions.
• * 1.5

  Bees.
• * 1.6

  Virg. Geor. 4.