TEXT 12.

There ought to be neither more nor lesse than four mothers of all things, as all procreati∣ons shew. Not that the great Mysterie, whereof we now treat, can be found out by way of uni∣versal demonstration what manner of thing it is, according to its properties in the beginning: But the great Mysterie is rather known and un∣derstood by the last mysteries and by the pro∣creations which did spring and proceed out of the first.* Tis not the beginning, but the end that maketh a man a Master and Philosopher. The knowledge of a thing according to its perfect na∣ture is found out onely in the end of its being. Possibly there might have been more Elements made than now there be.* But in the utmost knowledge of all things there are but four to be found. And though we may suppose that it had been easie for God, who created but four, to have made them many more; yet when we see that all mortall things consist but of four onely, we may conclude that more than these could not well stand together. And it is most likely that when the said four Elements perish, that then o∣thers shall arise according to every essence un∣like the former: or that after the destruction of the creatures already made, there shall be a new great mysterie, the knowledge whereof will be greater and better than of the former. But this we lay not here as a fundamentall, yet he that would understand the beginning of the world Page  41must of necessity consider that it had its rise out of the Elements:* and as there are four Ele∣ments so there are four worlds, and in every one a peculiar kind, taught how to subsist in their necessities.