A demonstration of the existence and providence of God, from the contemplation of the visible structure of the greater and the lesser world in two parts, the first shewing the excellent contrivance of the heavens, earth, sea, &c., the second the wonderful formation of the body of man / by John Edwards ...

CHAP. X.

In the Smallness of Insects is display'd the Skill of the Divine Artificer. A Flie is of a wonderful Make. The Omnipotent Deity is discernable in a Bee, and in a Silk-worm. The Ant is more largely consider'd, viz. as to its Indefatigable Industry and Sagacity: both which are celebrated by all sorts of Antient Writers. The admirable Artifice of the Spider in making and hanging her Web, and catching her Prey. A Flea is the Work∣manship of Divinity. Mites have Orga∣nized Bodies.

TO Winged and Flying Animals belong Insects which are an inferiour sort of them, as Moths, Beetles, Hornets, Wasps, Gnats, Flies, Bees, Silk-worms, Ants. Which, though they be small Creatures, are big with Wonders, and shew forth God's Omnipo∣tence and Wisdom. For as Apelles and Pro∣togenes

two Eminent Painters of old were known by their Subtile Lines, and grew fa∣mous for them, so in this great Table of the World the Smallness of the Strokes which are drawn argues the exquisite Skill of the Great Limner. Those are esteemed the Skil∣fullest Artificers that can shew most Art in the least Space and Compass. The Iliads shut up in a Nut-shell were large Testimonies of the Artist's Skill. ** Callicrates the Lacede∣monian was much celebrated for making Flies and the least Insects in Ivory. ** And Myrme∣cides the Milesian who was famous for the like Art, declared that he employ'd more time in making a Bee than the most unskilful Work∣man did in building a House. And he was ap∣plauded for his expence of Time and Art, who under the shadow of a Flie's Wing exactly pourtraied a Chariot and Horses. Thus is it with the Works of Nature and Providence: the more Minute they are, the more Wonderful. Nature is thrifty here, and shuts up much in a little room. It studieth to be Compendious, and to Epitomize its Art. It is true, all things are equally possible and easy to the Omnipotent Maker and Artist: yet if we consider the Workmanship in it self, we shall conclude with Pliny, that † Nature never shews it

self Greater than in the least things.

A Gnat, if we barely respect the Contracted∣ness of its Make and Proportions, and the finess of its Limbs and Organs, is on that account more considerable than an Ox. And a Flie on the same consideration is more wonder∣ful than an Elephant. This little Animal (as well as that Great one) hath a Snout or Trunk wherewith it takes in all its Food. It is stud∣ded from Head to Tail with Silver and black Armour: it hath a fuzzy kind of Substance like little Sponges wherewith the Soles of its Feet are lined, and this is filled with a viscous Liquor which it can at Pleasure squeeze out, and so glew it self to the Place it walks on, especially when it walks with its Back downwards, in an inverted Position. Besides these Creatures have their Legs slit at the End into Toes or little Claws, by which they lay hold on the Rugosities and Inequali∣ties of Bodies. And much more hath been discover'd by those Modern Glasses, which lay open even the minutest Particles and Atoms in Bodies of the least Size. There are the Words of an Excellent Divine and Philoso∣pher,

The least Flies, saith he, have the Proportion of their Members as just as those of other Animals; yea it seems that God hath given them more Ornaments to recompense the Smalness of their Bodies:

they have Crowns, Helmets and other Cu∣riosities on their Heads which outdo the most luxuriant Fancies of Men; and I may confidently aver that they who have ne∣ver seen any thing but with their naked Eye, have never beheld any thing so fine, so exact, and even so magnificent in the Houses of the Greatest Princes, as what we discover with Microscopes upon the Head of a silly Flie.

The Eye of a Flie (saith our Christian Philosopher, Mr. Boyl) is a more curious piece of Workmanship than the Sun it self. Another Great Searcher into Nature tells us

that if a Man would spend his whole Life in the study of a poor Flie, there would be such a Confluence of so many wonderful and difficult things exhi∣bited in it, that it would still leave much more undiscovered than the most singu∣lar Wit ever yet attained.

Bees are Creatures of singular use to Man∣kind, whether we respect their Honey or their Wax. And because of their great servicea∣bleness they are to be found not only in hot Countries but those that are very Cold. There are abundance of them in Muscovy, there are whole Forests of them in those Parts, as Modern Authors assure us. These Crea∣tures are remarkable for the Admirable Stru∣cture

of their Bodies, which is made agreeable to the particular Ends of their Creation. They are notable for their Great Industry, Toil and Labour in gathering their Honey, and for their as strangely Sagacious and Provident Laying it up in their Hives against Winter. To which purpose they make their Combs, and con∣trive their various Cells in them with astonish∣ing Architecture, and they cover them with Wax to keep the Liquor from spilling. The Seventy Interpreters had so great an Esteem of this Creature for these excellent Qualities, that they made bold, after what is said of the Ant, Prov. 6.6. to add this, Go to the Bee and learn how laborious it is, and how noble and gallant a work it exerciseth it self about, by whose Labours both Kings and meaner Persons are fur∣nish'd with a wholesom Food. It is a lovely and glorious Creature, and though it be but weak and feeble, yet it ought to have preheminence for its great Wisdom. And though this be neither in the Hebrew, Chaldee, Syriack or Latin, yet you will find it mentioned by some of the † Fathers as a memorable Passage concerning this Animal. Now, no Person of composed Thoughts can deny that these Propensities, these Instincts, these Actions which are so ob∣servable and wonderful in this Insect, are the

Impression of God and no other. These Crea∣tures have also a kind of Government and Conduct: And, if we may credit One that hath made it his Business to enquire into the Polity of them, it is a Female Monarchy. There is a Queen, not a King of Bees, as was thought heretofore by † the Antients. How∣ever, this is unquestionable that they observe a very strict Order and Discipline, and there is both Encouragement and Correction when they see Occasion. They prudently unite their Forces, and work in common; they jointly build their Cells, and furnish their Store-houses for future Exigence, as Virgil, rather like a Natural Philosophers than a Poet, describes them in the last Book of his Geor∣gicks. This is all from an Omnipotent and All-Wise Deity, and cannot be otherwise: which ocasion'd some Antient Philosophers to think,

‖Esse apibus partem divinae mentis, —

That these Working and Politick Creatures had Souls in them that were Portions of the Divine Mind. So far were they from think∣ing (with some of late) that Inert Matter could do all this.

Again, the stupendous things which are related concerning the Silk-worm, (which I reckon among the Flying Insects, because, as you shall hear, after all its changings and shiftings it is a Butterfly) and are known to be really true, attest a more than Natural Princi∣ple and Power. This Insect is first produced of an Egg, which comes to be a small Worm or Caterpillar, and feeds on Mulberry Leaves: being put into a Box it spins it self all into a silken Substance: then it dies, and afterwards lives again, and hath Wings like a Butterfly; and then before it dies again, it lays Eggs, which produce Silkworms, and so the Race of them is propagated. And all these strange Changes, these wonderful Metamor∣phoses, are wrought in this Insect in six Months. It is to be observ'd also that it renews its Life with the Year, and not before things are ready for its Sustenance. For it lies dead all Winter long, and lives not till after the Spring, i. e. when the Mulberry-tree Leaves are grown, which are its Food. The Egg en∣livens accordingly as this Tree blossoms. Or, if these Silkworms, were Flies at first (as a † late Learned Naturalist asserts, telling us that were only clothed with a certain Skin or Coat that hid their natural Shape, which af∣terwards

wore off) yet the several Steps and Preparations to it are very Remarkable and full of wonder.

And then their making of Silk out of their Bellies, the putting it out with incredible Swiftness, and drawing it so subtile, and to such a vast length, are as surprizing as any thing that hath been hitherto said. By reason of which excellent Workmanship they are of far greater value than all the Plants and Canes from whence a great part of the Silk of the East-Indies and Persia are derived. By this means this sorry contemptible Animal, this winged Worm is of such great use in the World; by this means this little despicable Insect becomes more profitable and servicea∣ble to Man than the Vast Elephant and Prodi∣gious Whale. Upon all which Considera∣tions this single Creature is an unanswerable Argument of an Intelligent and Wise Con∣triver, from whom alone it could have Power and as 'twere Wisdom to effect all these won∣drous things.

And such also is the Ant or Pismire, which I reckon among the Winged Insects because it hath (as I have often observ'd) Wings in one part of the Summer. This is a Laborious and Provident Animal, and is represented as such by that Inspired Philosopher, Prov. 6.8. She provideth her Meat in the Summer, and ga∣thereth her Food in the Harvest. In which

Words these two excellent Properties of this Animal are propounded to us, viz. her Dili∣gence and her Wisdom. The First appears in that she provides her Meat, she gathers her Food. Which is largely express'd in Natural History, where we are told that these little Labourers gather Grains of Corn in the Fields, and with great Pains and Sweating bear them to their Repositories which they have provided. The Burdens they carry are many times greater than their Bodies. They bear some of the smaller Grains in their little Mouths, and the greater ones they sometimes shove on with their Feet, and sometimes lift with Head and Shoulders. They join in the Work and help one another in carrying and drawing their Burdens. If the Grain be too big a Load, they divide it: if it be dampish, they lay it out to dry in the Sun and open Air. If one of them that is not loaden meet another in one of their Narrow Paths, he will give him the Way. Nor length, nor roughness of the Way, nor the most scorching Heat of the Sun make these little Porters give over their Work: nay at full Moons they ply it hard all Night. Thus are they Indefatigable in the gathering and providing of their Food: and Diligence is here commended to us under those Expressions.

Secondly, the Wisdom and Prudence of these Creatures are remarkable, which appear in

taking the fittest Seasons for Labour, the Sum∣mer and Harvest, and in that which is implied in this, viz. providing for the Future, laying up store against Winter. Here it is to be no∣ted, that this is meant of this sort of Insects in the Eastern Countries; for an Observing Naturalist tells us, that he could never find that Ants in England, or in these Northern Regions, store up Grains of Corn. Therefore we must not judg concerning this Creature from what we see at home: we must not que∣stion what Authors have said of it, although we discern no such thing in it in our own Country. I confess it is something hard to believe what Herodotus saith, that the Indian Ants are as big as Sheep, though Busbequius (a very Credible Author) saith the same. But this is certain that the same Species of Animals differ very much according to the different Climates and Regions they are in: some Qualities that are observ'd in the one are not in the other. Thus, notwithstanding what we know concerning Ants in this Coun∣try, all Natural Historians unanimously re∣port that in others they are great Hoarders of Corn, and thereby make Provision for the Winter. And they observe, that lest the Corn they carry to their Granaries should put forth and grow, they bite it at one end: and thence some think they have their Name Nemalah from Namal praecidere, circumcidere, because

they bite off the ends of Grains or Seeds to prevent their Growth, though Dr. Brown in his Vulgar Errors saith this is no Security against the growing of Corn. But whether this be true or no, 'tis certain that these In∣dustrious Gatherers lay up their Provision safe in their Cells which they dig and make under Ground, that they may be stock'd with Food to serve them all Winter.

There are other Instances of their Wisdom in Natural History: they dispose and manage their Affairs in good order, they have among them the form of a well-govern'd Common∣wealth. Yea Pliny saith they have their set Fairs and Markets whither they come in great Companies, and do as it were establish Leagues of Friendship, and converse with one another. They bury their dead, they teach the young to labour, and the idle they expel. They have generally three Cells or Houses; in one they live, in the other they breed, and in the third they keep their Corn. And to inhanse the Wonderfulness of their Transactions, So∣lomon adjoins that they have no Guide, Over∣seer or Ruler, they have not a particular Lord or Governour set over them, they are not un∣der any One's Command, as the Bees are. They are reckon'd by Aristotle among those Animals that are 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that have no Gover∣nour, and yet they act as orderly as if they had.

The Wise Man here advises the Sluggard to go to this dumb Teacher, who instructs not by Voice but Example, and he bids him consider her ways, i. e. (according to the Hebrew Phrase, and indeed the Stile of most Nations) her Manners and way of Living: unless you will chuse rather to embrace the Interpreta∣tion of the Learned Bochart, who by Ways un∣derstands the several Paths and Tracts of the Ant. It is useful to consider, to observe how orderly and regular these Creatures are in their Passages, Intercourses, and Journies. It is worth our taking notice how busily they travel, and by the often trampling of their little Feet wear a Path even in hard Flint∣stones, how they disturb not one another in their Walks, but (as hath been said already) courteously give way to one another, and help one another in their Journies, how they bear one anothers Burdens, and ease one another if they see any overloaded. Thus consider their ways, saith Solomon, and thereby learn to be wise, so wise as to follow their Example of Industry and Wisdom, so wise as by this Na∣tural History to admire and own the Creator, who hath given them this singular Instinct.

And not only Solomon, but several Philo∣sophers, Poets, Orators, Historians, Fathers, have celebrated the Industry and Sagacity of the Ant. Aristotle, † Pliny, ‖ Aelian, have

given us a particular account of these: and the last of them is of opinion that these Crea∣tures have a certain kind of Divining Sense. What words shall I use, saith † Plutarch, to ex∣press sufficiently the Diligence of the Pismires? It is a difficult Task to give a perfect account of the whole Oeconomy and Apparatus of these Crea∣tures. There is not among all the Great things of Nature a sight of Greater Wonders than they. Among the Egyptians they were a Symbol or Hieroglyphick of Knowledg and Prudence. And so among the Arabians they are a Repre∣sentative of the same Vertues. The Ant is mentioned by Horace as an Example of In∣dustry,

‖ Parvula (nam exemplo est) magni For∣mica laboris.

And in respect of its providing against Win∣ter, it is said by him to be

—Haud ignara ac non incauta futuri.

And its living in Winter on what it had laid up in Summer is thus expressed,

—Vtitur ante Quaesitis sapiens.—

Virgil in his fourth Aeneid describes them well, and so doth Ovid in the 7th Book of his Me∣tamorphosis. Tully play'd the Orator highly when he said, that in the Ant there is not only Sense but Mind, Reason and Memory. The best Wits both sacred and profane have touch'd upon this Subject. Epiphanius in his Physiologus hath several things concerning their Industrious Providence. And (that you may see all Persons conspiring in this Theme) the Iewish Doctors have an Exhortation to Pru∣dence in these words, My Son, take heed that the Ant be not wiser than thee, whilst that pro∣vides her self Food in the Summer to serve her when the Winter comes, and thou spendest all the Day in Sloth and Idleness. Thus the Wisdom of this little Insect is acknowledged and made use of by all sorts of Persons: and we know it could not have this Excellent Property of it self, therefore it is an Argument of Divine Wisdom acting in it.

Whether the Cochinele is to be numbred a∣mong the Volatile Insects I am not certain, but we are inform'd from several Modern Rela∣tions, that it is a little Animal (for few, I think, will give Credit to Pomet, in his Hi∣story of Drugs, that it is a Plant or Grain) bred on a little Tree or Shrub in the West-Indies, and that whole Gardens there are stock'd

with it, which the People gather twice a Year from the Trees. They are of great use, for they yield an Excellent Colour, which is used in Dying and Painting: and they are also use∣ful in a Medical way, as being very Cordial.

And besides Flying Insects there are Creeping ones; and all small Vermin are reckon'd in this number. Even these are in their kind a Proof of a God, yea and a very Considerable one: for in these Little Animals we as plainly read the Characters of a Deity as in those of a Larger Volume. For these contain a great deal in a little; and the Lesser they are the more Admirable is their Frame, and consequently their Author is on that account to be the more admired. How wonderfully artificial is the Spider's Web or House, as 'tis call'd in the He∣brew, Iob 8.14? How curious is the Archi∣tecture? How fine and delicate a Thread doth it spin? how thin and soft a Web doth it weave? And therefore no meaner an Author than Ari∣stotle tells us that Spinning and Weaving were first learn'd from the Spider. Thence with respect to this Curious Weaving or Spinning it hath its Greek Name 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and Latin Aranea, and French Araigne, from the He∣brew arag nevit, texuit, or arach textura: and 'tis not improbable that our English word Spider is but a Corruption of Spinner, for Spinn is the German word for Spider. And with this agrees that Poetick Fancy, that Arachne

an Excellent Spinster was by Pallas turn'd in∣to a Spider. The Web which this Creature works and spins out of its Bowels, is by it framed on purpose to be a Net or Trap to catch Flies, which are a great part of her Livelihood. And that you may be perswaded of the truth of what Solomon saith, that the Spider is one of those things which are exceeding wise, Prov. 30.24. you may observe that this Web is with admirable Art and Subtilty fram'd by her for that very end. It is hung and fastned according to the Rules of Mathema∣ticks, for the Lines of it are drawn exactly from the Center to the Circumference, and back again from the Circumference to the Center with parallel Distances. It is from the Accuracy of this Geometrick Workman∣ship, that this Cunning Artist immediately feels the touching of its Web by a Fly, or any such other little Insect, whereupon it forth∣with seizes on it as Prey. And that this may the more effectually be done, this Hunter after he hath spread his Net, cunningly hides him∣self in his Covert, that the Flies may not espy him. And if we may credit one who hath been very conversant with this sort of Crea∣tures, this alone, of all Animals, hath a mul∣tiplicity of Eyes, and so its extrordinary Sight as well as Feeling fits it for its Work, both which are a Divine Donation.

Some by the help of Microscopes have discovered very Remarkable things in the Structure of Lice and Fleas (for a True Vir∣tuoso hath Glasses for these as well as for the Stars). Muffet and Power tell us of the esca∣lop'd Protuberancies of the Body of a Louse, and the Gantlet-work of all its Parts. They tell us that the Heads, Bodies and Limbs of Fleas are of polish'd Armour-work; and, that we may not wonder how these puny Creatures can frisk and curvet in their heavy Armour, we must know that this is most artificially fastned and jointed with Jemmars, which are so excellently contriv'd that they facilitate the nimble Motion of all the Parts. The reason why they are thus armed Cap-a-pe, like Cui∣rassers in War, is that they might not be hurt by the great Leaps they take: to which pur∣pose they have an excellent Eye, the better to look before they leap. At their Snouts is fix'd a Proboscis or hollow Trunk, by which they both punch the Skin and suck the Blood through it, leaving that Central Spot in the middle of the Flea-biting where the Proboscis or Probe entred. And many other Notable Observations there are concerning this silly Insect, from whence we may gather it is the Workmanship of some Divine Hand. Where∣fore it was St. Augustine's devout Query, Quis disposuit membra culicis & pulicis? Who hath disposed and set in order the several Joints and

Members of a Gnat or a Flea? Who hath given them that excellent Contexture of Parts?

Lastly, Mites, Nature's minimum quod sic, a thousand whereof do not weigh one single Grain, are of a Structure that is most strange and wonderful. Those that have taken pains to search into these Diminutive Beings by the assistance of Modern Glasses, (those Spectacles whereby we may see to read the smallest Hand of Nature) acquaint us that they have peculiar Vessels to convey their Spirits, and have Parts and Organs inservient to Sensation, Nutrition, Motion, &c. Here we may behold and ad∣mire in what narrow Bounds, in how little a Particle of Matter Life may be exerted, and exercise all its different Functions. And all the Men under Heaven (and I might add, all the Angels in it) are not able to give these Powers of Life and Sense to any Being, nor have they Skill or Ability to restore them to them when they are deprived of them. There∣fore here we discern the true Source of Life and of Existence it self, even Him who is so often call'd in a signal manner the Living God.

To conclude, as Solomon saith of the Ants, so we may say of all Insects, they are a People not strong, Prov. 30.25. they are puny and feeble Creatures, and some of them may seem to be altogether Useless, and might very well be spared in the Great Heap of Beings: if

they where wholly destroy'd and all the Brood of them annihilated, it may seem a Courtesy to Mankind, who are often pester'd with them. But this is the reasoning of Ignorance and Pre∣sumption, for it becomes us not to dislike the Workmanship of Heaven, be it never so little and weak: and we must remember that what it wants in Bulk and Strength is recompensed some other way. An Insect is an Argument of the Divine Wisdom as well as an Animal of the first Magnitude. Even the pettiest Creatures in some respect far surpass these.

Notes

• **

  Aelian. Hist. Animal.
• **

  Aelian. Hist. Animal.
• †

  Natura nusquam magis quàm in minimis est. Nat. Hist. l. 11. c. 2.
• Malebranch, Search after Truth, B. 1. ch. 6.
• Iudg Hale's Contemplations.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c.
• †

  Clem. Alex. Strom. Basil. Homil. 8. in Hexaem.
• Mr. Butler.
• †

  Aristotl. hist. an. l. 5. c. 21. Senec. de Clem. l. 1. c. 19. Plin. l. 11. c. 17.
• ‖

  Virg. Geor. 4.
• See Malpighius de Bombyce, where he gives a particular account of its Production, Structure, Food, Growth, Generation, and Work∣manship of making Silk.
• †

  Swammerdam de Insect.
• Hist. Animal. l. 9. c. 38.
• †

  Nat. Hist. l. 11. & 30.
• ‖

  Var. Hist. l. 1. c. 12.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• †

  De Solert. Animal.
• ‖

  Sat. 1.
• In formicâ non modò sensus, sed etiam mens, ratio, memo∣ria. De Nat. Deor. l. 3.
• Dr. Power.