The wisdom of God manifested in the works of the creation being the substance of some common places delivered in the chappel of Trinity-College, in Cambridge / by John Ray ...

Of Meteors.

As first of all Rain, which is nothing else but Water by the heat of the Sun di∣vided into very small invisible Parts, as∣cending in the Air, till encountring the Cold, it be by degrees condensed into Clouds and

descends in Drops; this though it be ex∣haled from the Salt Sea, yet by this Natu∣ral Destillation is rendred Fresh and Potable, which our Artificial Destillations have hither∣to been hardly able to effect; notwithstand∣ing the eminent use it would be of to Na∣vigators, and the rewards promised to those that should resolve that Problem of destil∣ling Fresh Water out of Salt. That the Clouds should be so carried about by the Winds, as to be almost equally dispersed and distributed, no part of the Earth want∣ing convenient Showers, unless when it pleaseth God for the punishment of a Nati∣on to withhold Rain by a special interpositi∣on of his Providence; or if any Land wants Rain, they have a supply some other way, as the Land of Egypt, though there seldom falls any Rain there, yet hath abundant re∣compence made it by the annual overflow∣ing of the River. This Distribution of the Clouds and Rain is to me (I say) a great Argument of Providence and divine Dispo∣sition; for else I do not see but why there might be in some Lands continual succes∣sive Droughts for many Years, till they were quite depopulated; in others as lasting Rains, till they were overflown and drowned; and these, if the Clouds moved casually, often happening; whereas since the ancientest Re∣cords

of History we do not read or hear of any such droughts or inundations, un∣less perhaps that of Cyprus, wherein there fell no Rain there for Thirty Six Years, till the Island was almost quite deserted, in the Reign of Constantine.

Again, if we consider the manner of the Rains descent, destilling down gradually and by drops, which is most convenient for the watering of the Earth, whereas if it should fall down in a continued Stream like a River, it would gall the Ground, wash away Plants by the Roots, overthrow Hou∣ses, and greatly incommode, if not suffocate Animals; if, I say, we consider these things and many more that might be added, we might in this respect also cry out with the Apostle, O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God!

Secondly, Another Meteor is the Wind; which how many Uses it doth serve to is not easie to enumerate, but many it doth: viz. To ventilate and break the Air, and dissipate noysom and contagious Vapors, which otherwise stagnating might occasion many Diseases in Animals; and therefore it is an Observation concerning our Native Country, Anglia ventosa, si non ventosa ve∣nenosa: To transfer the Clouds from place to place, for the more commodious water∣ing

of the Earth. To temper the excesses of the Heat, as they find, who in Brasil, New Spain, the Neighbouring Islands, and other the like Countries near the Equator reap the Benefit of the Breezes. To fill the Sails of Ships, and carry them on their Voyages to remote Countries; which of what eminent advantage it is to Mankind, for the procuring and continuing of Trade and mutual Commerce between the most distant Nations, the illustrating every corner of the Earth, and the perfecting Geogra∣phy and natural History, is apparent to every Man. To this may be added the driving about of Windmills for grinding of Corn, making of Oyl, draining of Pools, &c. That it should seldom or never be so violent and boisterous, as to overturn Houses; yea whole Cities; to tear up Trees by the Roots, and prostrate Woods; to drive the Sea over the lower Countries; as were it the effect of Chance, or meer natural Causes not mode∣rated by a superiour Power, it would in all likelihood often do. All these things de∣clare the Wisdom and Goodness of Him who bringeth the Winds out of his Treasures.