Miscellanea philo-theologica, or, God, & man A treatise compendiously describing the nature of God in his attributes, with a lively pourtraiture of his wisedome in ordering, and disposing of the celestiall, and terrestriall bodies. Containing much variety of matter ... and apt applications singular for brevity, and perspicuity. By Henry Church.

[Sect. 4] Fourthly, of the nature and quallity of the earth.

• 1. It is dry.
• 2. It is cold.
• 3. It is heavy.

IT is drye of it selfe, for though it be called, Humus, moyst earth, yet it is not so of it selfe, but an adjunct of water; for of it selfe it is Arida, dry land. Gen. 1.9.

Also the earth is cold of it selfe, as we may percevie in Cellers, and where men digge deepe, and in shady places where the Sunne doth not come; also the body of a dead man is cold, which is of earthy matter.

Lastly, it is heavy; a basket of earth on a mans shoul∣ders is heavy; and we say of a man who is of a heavy dis∣position, that he is lumpish, that he is like a heavy lumpe of earth.

Reflexions.

I am dry by nature being made of earth, without all spirituall moysture: whatsoever I have, it is ad∣ded to me, but it comes not from me: but all grace that softens and makes plyable, comes from him who pow∣ers out his Spirit on his servants, and in the wildernesse waters breake out, and streames into the desarts. Isai. 35.6.

2. I am as earth, cold, without the heate of zeale and love, benumbed, and without life and vigor: it is Gods Spirit comes to kindle in my heart, the fire of true zeale, and the heate of charity.

3. I am heavy earth and lumpish, in all holy duties, wanting spiritualnesse, untill God revives mee, I cannot rejoyce in him, Psal. 85.6. till he quickens me, I cannot call upon his name, Psal. 80.18. I cannot give first to him, Rom. 11.35. I am but a lumpe of sinnefull earth, and can doe that is evill, but nothing that is good: it is God who workes all my workes for me. Isaiah 26.12.

Drinesse should cause me to thirst for a present sutable large satisfaction. Coldnesse should make me stirre and labour for heat; and lumpishinesse should provoke me to pray to be quickned according to Gods loving kind∣nesse. Psal. 119 88.

4. I much rejoyce in hope and remembrance of that day, when all heavinesse and lumpishnesse shall flye a∣way, and my body shall be raised, so as it shall become spirituall. 1. Cor. 15.44. we shall then be (ut Angeli) as the Angels. Mat. 22.30.