Gods omnipotency the ground of all beleefe in things admired CHAP. 7.
VVHy then cannot (a) GOD make the bodies of the dead to rise againe, and the damned to suffer torment and yet not to consume, seeing hee hath filled heauen, earth, ayre and water so full of inumerable miracles, and the world; which hee made, beeing a greater miracle then any it containeth? But our aduersaries, beleeuing a God that made the world and the other gods, by whom he gouerneth the world, doe not deny, but auoutch that there are powers that effect wonders in the world, either voluntarily, or ceremonially and magically, but when wee giue them an instance wrought neither by man nor by spirit, they answere vs, it is nature, nature hath giuen it this quality. So then it was nature that made the Agrigentine salt melt in the fire, and crackle in the water. Was it so? this seemes rather contrary to the nature of salt, which naturally dissolueth in water, and crakleth in the fire. I but nature (say they) made this perticular salt of a quality iust opposite. Good: this then is the reason also of the heare and cold of the Garamantine fountaine, and of the other that puts out the torch and lighteth it againe, as also of the A•…•…beste, and those other, all which to re∣herse were too tedious: There is no other reason belike to bee giuen for them, but, such is their nature. A good briefe reason verely, and (b) a sufficient. But GOD beeing the Authour of all nature, why then doe they exact a stron∣ger reason of vs, when as wee in proouing that which they hold for an impo∣ssibility, affirme that it is thus by the will of Almighty GOD, who is there∣fore called Almighty because hee can doe all that hee will, hauing created so many things which were they not to bee seene, and confirmed by sufficient testimony, would seeme as impossible as the rest, whereas now wee know them, partly all, and partly some of vs. As for other things that are but reported with∣out •…•…estimony, and concerne not religion, nor are not taught in scripture, they may, bee false, and a man may lawfully refuse to beleeue them. I doe not beleeue all that I haue set downe, so firmely that I doe make no doubt of some of them, but for that which I haue tried, as the burning of lyme in water and cooling in oyle; the loade-stones drawing of Iron and not moouing a straw; the incorruptibility of the Peacoks flesh, whereas Platoes flesh did putri∣fie; the keeping of snow and the ripening of apples in chaffe; the bright fire makeing the stones of his owne col•…•…our, and wood of the iust contra∣rie, these I haue seene and beleeue without any doubt at all: Such also are these, that cleare oyle should make blacke spottes, and white siluer drawne a black line: that coales should turne black, from white wood, brittle of hard ones, and incorruptible of corruptible peeces: togither with many other which tediousnesse forbiddeth me heere to insert. For the others, excepting that foun∣taine that quensheth and kindleth againe, & the dusty apples of Sodome, I could