A competent distinction of seasons necessary, and why.
Now for its situation, although it held this Ecliptick line, yet had it been seated in any other Orb, inconveniences would ensue of condition like the former; for had it been placed in the lowest sphere of theMoon, the year would have consisted but of one month; for in that space of time it would have passed through every part of the Ecliptick: so would there have been no reasonable distinction of seasons required for the generation and fructifying of all things; contrary seasons which destroy the effects of one another, so suddenly succeeding. Besides by this vicinity unto the earth, its heat had been intollerable; for if (as many affirm) there is a different sense of heat from the different points of its proper Orb, and that in the Apogeum or highest point (which happeneth in Cancer) it is not so hot under that Tropick, on this side the Æquator, as unto the other side in the Perigeum or lowest part of the Eccentrick (which happeneth in Capricornus) surely being placed in an Orb far lower, its heat would be unsufferable, nor needed we a fable to set the world on fire.
But had it been placed in the highest Orb, or that of the eighth sphere, there had been none butPlatoesyear, and a far less distinction of seasons; for one year had then been many, and according unto the slow revolution of that Orb which absolveth not his course in many thousand years, no man had lived to attain the account thereof. These are the inconveniences ensuing upon its situation in the extream orbs, and had it been placed in the middle orbs of the Planets, there would have ensued absurdities of a middle nature unto them.
Now whether we adhere unto the hypothesis ofCopernicus, affirming the earth to move, and the Sun to stand still; or whether we hold, as some of late have concluded, from the spots in the Sun, which appear and disappear again; that besides the revolution it maketh with its Orbs, it hath also a dinetical motion, androwls upon its own Poles, whether I say we affirm these or no, the illations before mentioned are not thereby infringed. We therefore conclude this contemplation, and are not afraid to believe, it may be literally said of the wisdom of God, what men will have but figuratively spoken of the works of Christ; that if the wonders thereof were duly described, the whole world, that is, all within the last circumference, would not contain them. For as his Wisdom is infinite, so cannot the due expressions thereof be finite, and if the world comprise him not, neither can it comprehend the story of him.
Concerning the vulgar opinion, that the Earth was slenderly peopled before the Flood.
Beside the slender consideration men of latter times do hold of the first ages, it is commonly opinioned, and at first thought generally imagined, that the earth was thinly inhabited, at least not remotely planted before the flood; whereof there being two opinions, which seem to be of some extremity, the one too largely extending, the other too narrowly contracting the populosity of those times; we shall not pass over this point without some enquiry into it.
Now for the true enquiry thereof, the means are as obscure as the matter, which being naturally to be explored by History, Humane or Divine, receiveth thereby no small addition of obscurity. For as for humane relations, they are so fabulous inDeucalionsflood, that they are of little credit aboutOgygesandNoahs. For the Heathens (asVarroaccounteth) make three distinctions of time: the first from the beginning of the world unto the general Deluge ofOgyges, they termAdelon, that is, a time not much unlike that which was before time, immanifest and unknown; because thereof there is almost nothing or very obscurely delivered: for though divers Authors have made some mention of the Deluge, asManethontheEgyptianPriest,Xenophonde æquivocis,Fabius Pictorde Aureo seculo,Mar. Catode originibus, andArchilochusthe Greek, who introduceth also the Testimony ofMosesin his fragmentde temporibus: yet have they delivered no account of what preceded or went before.JosephusI confess in his Discourse againstAppioninduceth the antiquity of theJewsunto the flood, and before from the testimony of humane Writers; insisting especially uponMaseusofDamascus,Jeronimus Ægyptius, andBerosus; and confirming the long duration of their lives, not only from these, but the authority ofHesiod,Erathius,HellanicusandAgesilaus.BerosustheChaldeanPriest, writes most plainly, mentioning the city ofEnos, the name ofNoahand his Sons, the building of the Ark, and also the place of its landing. AndDiodorus Siculushath in his third book a passage, which examined, advanceth as high asAdam: for theChaldeans, saith he, derive the Original of their Astronomy and letters forty three thousand years before the Monarchy ofAlexanderthe Great: now the years whereby they computed the antiquity of their letters, being asXenophoninterprets to be accounted Lunary: the compute will arise unto the time ofAdam. For forty three thousand Lunary years make about three thousand six hundred thirty four years, which answereth the Chronology of timefrom the beginning of the world unto the reign ofAlexander, asAnniusofViterbocomputeth in his Comment uponBerosus.
The second space or interval of time is accounted from the flood unto the first Olympiad, that is, the year of the world 3174, which extendeth unto the days ofIsaiahthe Prophet, and some twenty years before the foundation ofRome: this they termMythiconor fabulous, because the account thereof, especially of the first part, is fabulously or imperfectly delivered. Hereof some things have been briefly related by the Authors above mentioned: more particularly byDares Phrygius,Dictys Cretensis,Herodotus,Diodorus Siculus, andTrogus Pompeius; the most famousGreekPoets lived also in this interval, asOrpheus,Linus,Musæus,Homer,Hesiod; and herein are comprehended the grounds and first inventions of Poetical fables, which were also taken up by historical Writers, perturbing theChaldeanandEgyptianRecords with fabulous additions; and confounding their names and stories, with their own inventions.
The third time succeeding until their present ages, they termHistoricon, that is, such wherein matters have been more truly historified, and may therefore be believed. Of these times also have been writtenHerodotus,Thucydides,Xenophon,Diodorus; and both of these and the other preceding such as have delivered universal Histories or Chronologies; as (to omitPhilo, whose Narrations concern theHebrews)Eusebius,Julius Africanus,Orosius,AdoofVienna,Marianus Scotus,Historia tripartita,Urspergensis,Carion,Pineda,Salian, and with us SirWalter Raleigh.
Now from the first hereof that most concerneth us, we have little or no assistance; the fragments andbroken records hereof inforcing not at all our purpose. And although some things not usually observed, may be from thence collected, yet do they not advantage our discourse, nor any way make evident the point in hand. For the second, though it directly concerns us not, yet in regard of our last medium and some illustrations therein, we shall be constrained to make some use thereof. As for the last, it concerns us not at all; for treating of times far below us, it can no way advantage us. And though divers in this last Age have also written of the first, as all that have delivered the general accounts of time, yet are their Tractates little auxiliary unto ours, nor afford us any light to detenebrate and clear this Truth.
As for holy Scripture and divine revelation, there may also seem therein but slender information, there being only left a brief narration hereof byMoses, and such as affords no positive determination. For the Text delivereth but two genealogies, that is, ofCainandSeth; in the line ofSeththere are only ten descents, in that ofCainbut seven, and those in a right line with mention of father and son; excepting that ofLamech, where is also mention of wives, sons, and a daughter. Notwithstanding if we seriously consider what is delivered therein, and what is also deducible, it will be probably declared what is by us intended, that is, the populous and ample habitation of the earth before the flood. Which we shall labour to induce not from postulates and entreated Maxims, but undeniable Principles declared in holy Scripture; that is, the length of mens lives before the flood, and the large extent of time from Creation thereunto.
We shall only first crave notice, that although in the relation ofMosesthere be very few persons mentioned,yet are there many more to be presumed; nor when the Scripture in the line ofSethnominates but ten persons, are they to be conceived all that were of this generation: The Scripture singly delivering the holy line, wherein the world was to be preserved, first inNoah, and afterward in our Saviour. For in this line it is manifest there were many more born than are named, for it is said of them all, that they begat sons and daughters. And whereas it is very late before it is said they begat those persons which are named in the Scripture, the soonest at 65, it must not be understood that they had none before; but not any in whom it pleased God the holy line should be continued. And although the expression that they begat sons and daughters be not determined to be before or after the mention of these, yet must it be before in some; for before it is said thatAdambegatSethat the 130 year, it is plainly affirmed thatCainknew his wife, and had a son; which must be one of the daughters ofAdam, one of those whereof it is after said, he begat sons and daughters. And so for ought can be disproved there might be more persons upon earth then are commonly supposed, whenCainslewAbel; nor the fact so hainously to be aggravated in the circumstance of the fourth person living. And whereas it is said upon the nativity ofSeth, God hath appointed me another seed instead ofAbel, it doth not imply he had no other all this while; but not any of that expectation, or appointed (as his name applies) to make a progression in the holy line; in whom the world was to be saved, and from whom he should be born, that was mystically slain inAbel.
Now our first ground to induce the numerosity of people before the flood, is the long duration of theirlives, beyond 7, 8, and 9, hundred years. Which how it conduceth unto populosity we shall make but little doubt, if we consider there are two main causes of numerosity in any kind or species, that is, a frequent and multiparous way of breeding, whereby they fill the world with others, though they exist not long themselves; or a long duration and subsistence, whereby they do not only replenish the world with a new annumeration of others, but also maintain the former account in themselves. From the first cause we may observe examples in creatures oviparous, as Birds and Fishes; in vermiparous, as Flies, Locusts, and Gnats; in animals also viviparous, as Swine and Conies. Of the first there is a great example in the herd of Swine inGalilee; although an unclean beast, and forbidden unto theJews. Of the other a remarkable one inAthenus, in the IsleAstipalea, one of the Cyclades now calledStampalia, wherein from two that were imported, the number so increased, that the Inhabitants were constrained to have recourse unto the OracleDelphos, for an invention how to destroy them.
Others there are which make good the paucity of their breed with the length and duration of their daies, whereof there want not examples in animals uniparous:A Million of Beeves yearly killed in England.First, in bisulcous or cloven-hooft, as Camels, and Beeves, whereof there is above a million annually slain inEngland. It is also said ofJob, that he had a thousand yoak of Oxen, and six thousand Camels; and of the children ofIsraelpassing into the land ofCanaan, that they took from theMidianitesthreescore and ten thousand Beeves; and of the Army ofSemiramis, that there were therein one hundred thousand Camels. For Solipeds or firm-hoofed animals, as Horses, Asses, Mules, etc., they are also in mighty numbers, so it isdelivered thatJobhad a thousand she Asses: that theMidianiteslost sixty one thousand Asses. For Horses it is affirmed byDiodorus, thatNinusbrought against theBactrianstwo hundred eighty thousand Horses; after himSemiramisfive hundred thousand Horses, and Chariots one hundred thousand. Even in creatures steril and such as do not generate, the length of life conduceth much unto the multiplicity of the species; for the number of Mules which live far longer then their Dams or Sires, in Countries where they are bred, is very remarkable, and far more common then Horses.
For Animals multifidous, or such as are digitated or have several divisions in their feet, there are but two that are uniparous, that is, Men and Elephants; who though their productions be but single, are notwithstanding very numerous. The Elephant (asAristotleaffirmeth) carrieth the young two years, and conceiveth not again (asEdvardus Lopezaffirmeth) in many after, yet doth their age requite this disadvantage; they living commonly one hundred, sometime two hundred years. Now although they be rare with us inEurope, and altogether unknown untoAmerica, yet in the two other parts of the world they are in great abundance, as appears by the relation ofGorcias ab Horto, Physitian to the Viceroy atGoa, who relates that at one venation the King ofSiontook four thousand; and is of opinion they are in other parts in greater number then herds of Beeves inEurope. And though this delivered from aSpaniardunacquainted with our Northern droves, may seem very far to exceed; yet must we conceive them very numerous, if we consider the number of teeth transported from one Country to another; they having only two great teeth, and those not falling or renewing.
As for man, the disadvantage in his single issue is the same with these, and in the lateness of his generation somewhat greater then any; yet in the continual and not interrupted time thereof, and the extent of his days, he becomes at present, if not then any other species, at least more numerous then these before mentioned. Now being thus numerous at present, and in the measure of threescore, fourscore or an hundred years, if their dayes extended unto six, seven, or eight hundred, their generations would be proportionably multiplied; their times of generation being not only multiplied, but their subsistence continued. For though the great Grand-child went on, thePetruciusThe term for that person from whom consanguineal relations are accounted, as in theArbor civilis.and first Original would subsist and make one of the world; though he outlived all the terms of consanguinity, and became a stranger unto his proper progeny. So by compute of ScriptureAdamlived unto the ninth generation, unto the days ofLamechthe Father ofNoah;Methuselahunto the year of the flood; andNoahwas contemporary unto all fromEnochuntoAbraham. So that although some died, the father beholding so many descents, the number of Survivers must still be very great; for if half the men were now alive, which lived in the last Century, the earth would scarce contain their number. Whereas in our abridged and Septuagesimal Ages, it is very rare, and deserves a DistickMater ait natæ dic natæ filia, etc.to behold the fourth generation.Xerxescomplaint still remaining; and what he lamented in his Army, being almost deplorable in the whole world: men seldom arriving unto those years wherebyMethuselahexceeded nine hundred, and whatAdamcame short of a thousand, was defined long ago to be the age of man.
Now although the length of days conduceth mainlyunto the numerosity of mankind, and it be manifest from Scripture they lived very long, yet is not the period of their lives determinable, and some might be longer livers, than we account that any were. For (to omit that conceit of some, thatAdamwas the oldest man, in as much as he is conceived to be created in the maturity of mankind, that is, at 60, (for in that age it is set down they begat children) so that adding this number unto his 930, he was 21 years older than any of his posterity) that evenMethuselahwas the longest liver of all the children ofAdam, we need not grant; nor is it definitively set down byMoses. Indeed of those ten mentioned in Scripture, with their severall ages it must be true; but whether those seven of the line ofCainand their progeny, or any of the sons or daughters posterity after them out-lived those, is not expressed in holy Scripture; and it will seem more probable, that of the line ofCainsome were longer lived than any ofSeth; if we concede that seven generations of the one lived as long as nine of the other. As for what is commonly alledged, that God would not permit the life of any unto a thousand, because (alluding unto that ofDavid) no man should live one day in the sight of the Lord; although it be urged by divers, yet is it methinks an inference somewhat Rabbinicall; and not of power to perswade a serious examinator.
Having thus declared how powerfully the length of lives conduced unto populosity of those times, it will yet be easier acknowledged if we descend to particularities, and consider how many in seven hundred years might descend from one man; wherein considering the length of their dayes, we may conceive the greatest number to have been alive together. And this thatno reasonable spirit may contradict, we will declare with manifest disadvantage; for whereas the duration of the world unto the flood was above 1600 years, we will make our compute in less then half that time. Nor will we begin with the first man, but allow the earth to be provided of women fit for marriage the second or third first Centuries; and will only take as granted, that they might beget children at sixty, and at an hundred years have twenty, allowing for that number forty years. Nor will we herein single outMethuselah, or account from the longest livers, but make choice of the shortest of any we find recorded in the Text, exceptingEnoch; who after he had lived as many years as there be days in the year, was translated at 365. And thus from one stock of seven hundred years, multiplying still by twenty, we shall find the product to be one thousand, three hundred forty seven millions, three hundred sixty eight thousand, four hundred and twenty.
Now if this account of the learnedPetaviuswill be allowed, it will make an unexpected encrease, and a larger number than may be found inAsia,AfricaandEurope; especially if inConstantinople, the greatest City thereof, there be no more of Europe thanBoteroaccounteth, seven hundred thousand souls. Whichduly considered, we shall rather admire how the earth contained its inhabitants, then doubt its inhabitation; and might conceive the deluge not simply penall, but in some way also necessary, as many have conceived of translations, ifAdamhad not sinned, and the race of man had remained upon earth immortal.
Now whereas some to make good their longevity, have imagined that the years of their compute were Lunary; unto these we must reply: That if by a Lunary year they understand twelve revolutions of the Moon, that is 354 days, eleven fewer then in the Solary year; there will be no great difference; at least not sufficient to convince or extenuate the question. But if by a Lunary year they mean one revolution of the Moon, that is, a moneth, they first introduce a year never used by the Hebrews in their Civil accompts; and what is delivered before of the Chaldean years (asXenophongives a caution) was only received in the Chronology of their Arts. Secondly, they contradict the Scripture, which makes a plain enumeration of many moneths in the account of the Deluge; for so is it expressed in the Text. In the tenth moneth, in the first day of the moneth were the tops of the mountains seen: Concordant whereunto is the relation of humane Authors,Inundationes plures fuere, prima novimestris inundatio terrarum sub prisco Ogyge.Xenophon de Æquivocis.Meminisse hoc loco par est post primum diluvium Ogygi temporibus notatum, cum novem et amplius mensibus diem continua nox inumbrasset, Delon ante omnes terras radiis solis illuminatum sortitumque ex eo nomen.Solinus.And lastly, they fall upon an absurdity, for they makeEnochto beget children about six years of age. For whereas it is said he begatMethuselahat 65, if we shall account every moneth a year, he was at that time somesix years and an half, for so many moneths are contained in that space of time.
Having thus declared how much the length of mens lives conduced unto the populosity of their kind, our second foundation must be the large extent of time, from the Creation unto the Deluge, that is (according unto received computes about 1655 years) almost as long a time as hath passed since the nativity of our Saviour: and this we cannot but conceive sufficient for a very large increase, if we do but affirm what reasonable enquirers will not deny: That the earth might be as populous in that number of years before the flood, as we can manifest it was in the same number after. And whereas there may be conceived some disadvantage, in regard that at the Creation the original of mankind was in two persons, but after the flood their propagation issued at least from six; against this we might very well set the length of their lives before the flood, which were abbreviated after, and in half this space contracted into hundreds and threescores. Notwithstanding to equalize accounts, we will allow three hundred years, and so long a time as we can manifest from the Scripture. There were four men at least that begat children,Adam,Cain,Seth, andEnos; So shall we fairly and favourably proceed, if we affirm the world to have been as populous in sixteen hundred and fifty before the flood, as it was in thirteen hundred after. Now how populous and largely inhabited it was within this period of time, we shall declare from probabilities, and several testimonies of Scripture and humane Authors.
And first, To manifest the same neer those parts of the earth where the Ark is presumed to have rested, we have the relation of holy Scripture accounting thegenealogy ofJaphet,ChamandSem, and in this last, four descents unto the division of the earth in the days ofPeleg, which time although it were not upon common compute much above an hundred years, yet were men at this time mightily increased. Nor can we well conceive it otherwise, if we consider they began already to wander from their first habitation, and were able to attempt so mighty a work as the building of a City and a Tower, whose top should reach unto the heavens. Whereunto there was required no slender number of persons, if we consider the magnitude thereof, expressed by some, and conceived to beTurris BeliinHerodotus; and the multitudes of people recorded at the erecting of the like or inferiour structures: for at the building ofSolomonsTemple there were threescore and ten thousand that carried burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains, beside the chief of his officers three thousand and three hundred; and at the erecting of the Piramids in the reign of KingCheops, asHerodotusreports, there weredecem myriads, that is an hundred thousandmen. And though it be said of theEgyptians,Porrum et cæpe nefas violare et frangere morsu;Juvenal.yet did the summes expended in Garlick and Onyons amount unto no less then one thousand six hundred Talents.
WhoNimrodandAssurwere.
The first Monarchy or Kingdom ofBabylonis mentioned in Scripture under the foundation ofNimrod, which is also recorded in humane history; as besideBerosus, inDiodorusandJustine, forNimrodof the Scriptures isBelusof the Gentiles, andAssurthe same withNinushis successour. There is also mention of divers Cities, particularly ofNiniveyandResenexpressed emphatically in the Text to be a great City.
That other Countries round about were also peopled,appears by the Wars of the Monarchs ofAssyriawith theBactrians,Indians,Scythians,Ethiopians,Armenians,Hyrcanians,Parthians,Persians,Susians; they vanquishing (asDiodorusrelateth)Egypt,Syria, and allAsiaminor, even fromBosphorusuntoTanais. And it is said, thatSemiramisin her expedition against theIndiansbrought along with her the King ofArabia. About the same time of theAssyrianMonarchy, do Authors place that of theSycioniansinGreece, and soon after that of theArgives, and not very long after, that of theAtheniansunderCecrops; and within our period assumed are historified many memorable actions of the Greeks, as the expedition of theArgonautes, with the most famous Wars ofThebesandTroy.
ThatCanaanalso andEgyptwere well peopled far within this period, besides their plantation byCanaanandMisraim, appeareth from the history ofAbraham, who in less then 400 years after the Flood, journied fromMesopotamiauntoCanaanandEgypt, both which he found well peopled and policied into Kingdoms: wherein also in 430 years, from threescore and ten persons which came withJacobintoEgypt, he became a mighty Nation; for it is said, at their departure, there journeyed fromRhamesistoSuccothabout six hundred thousand on foot, that were men, besides children. Now how populous the land from whence they came was, may be collected not only from their ability in commanding such subjections and mighty powers under them, but from the several accounts of that Kingdom delivered byHerodotus. And how soon it was peopled, is evidenced from the pillar of their KingOsyris, with this inscription inDiodorus;Mihi pater est Saturnus deorum junior, sum vero Osyris rexqui totum peragravi orbem usq; ad Indorum fines, ad eos quoq; sum profectus qui septentrioni subjacent usq; ad Istri fontes, et alias partes usq; ad Occanum.WhoOsyrisandSaturnus Ægyptiuswere.Now according unto the best determinationsOsyriswasMisraim, andSaturnus Egyptiusthe same withCham; after whose nameEgyptis not only called in Scripture the laud ofHam, but thus much is also testified byPlutarch; for in his Treatisede Osyride, he delivereth thatEgyptwas calledChamia a Chamo Noe filio, that is fromChamthe son ofNoah. And if according to the consent of ancient Fathers,Adamwas buried in the same place where Christ was crucified, that is MountCalvary, the first man ranged far before the Flood, and laid his bones many miles from that place, where its presumed he received them. And this migration was the greater, if as the text expresseth, he was cast out of the East-side of Paradise to till the ground; and as the Position of the Cherubines implieth, who were placed at the east end of the garden to keep him from the tree of life.
That the remoter parts of the earth were in this time inhabited is also induceable from the like testimonies; for (omitting the numeration ofJosephus, and the genealogies of the Sons ofNoah) thatItalywas inhabited, appeareth from the Records ofLivie, andDionysius Halicarnasscus, the story ofÆneas,EvanderandJanus, whomAnniusofViterbo, and the Chorographers ofItaly, do make to be the same withNoah. ThatSicilywas also peopled, is made out from the frequent mention thereof inHomer, the Records ofDiodorusand others; but especially from a remarkable passage touched byAretiusandRanzanusBishop ofLucerium, but fully explained byThomas Fazelliin his accurate History ofSicily; that is, from an ancientinscription in a stone atPanormo, expressed by him in its proper characters, and by aSyrianthus translated,Non est alius Deus præter unum Deum, non est alius potens præter eundem Deum, neq; est alius victor præter eundem quem colimus Deum: Hujus turris præfectus estSaphafiliusEliphat,filiiEsau,fratrisJacob,filiiIsaac,filiiAbraham:et turri quidem ipsi nomen estBaych,sed turri huic proximæ nomen estPharath. The antiquity of the inhabitation ofSpainis also confirmable, not only fromBerosusin the plantation ofTubal, and a City continuing yet in his name, but the story ofGerion, the travels ofHerculesand his pillars: and especially a passage inStrabo, which advanceth unto the time ofNinus, thus delivered in his fourth book. TheSpaniards(saith he) affirm that they have had Laws and Letters above six thousand years. Now theSpaniardsorIberiansobserving (asXenophonhath delivered)Annum quadrimestrem, four moneths unto a year, this compute will make up 2000 solary years, which is about the space of time fromStrabo, who lived in the days ofAugustus, unto the reign ofNinus.
ThatMauritaniaand the coast ofAfricawere peopled very soon, is the conjecture of many wise men, and that by thePhœnicians, who left their Country upon the invasion ofCanaanby theIsraelites. For beside the conformity of thePunickorCarthaginianlanguage with that ofPhœnicia, there is a pregnant and very remarkable testimony hereof inProcopius, who in his secondde bello Vandalico, recordeth, that in a town ofMauritania Tingitana, there was to be seen upon two white Columns in thePhœnicianlanguage these ensuing words;Nos Maurici sumus qui fugimus a facie Jehoschua filii Nunis prædatoris. The fortunate Islands orCanarieswere not unknown; forso dothStrabointerpret that speech inHomerofProteusuntoMenelaus,
Sed te qua terræ postremus terminus extat,Elysium in Campum cœlestia numina ducunt.
Sed te qua terræ postremus terminus extat,Elysium in Campum cœlestia numina ducunt.
Sed te qua terræ postremus terminus extat,
Elysium in Campum cœlestia numina ducunt.
The like might we affirm from credible histories both ofFranceandGermany, and perhaps also of our own Country. For omitting the fabulous andTrojanoriginal delivered byJeofreyofMonmouth, and the express text of Scripture; that the race ofJaphetdid people the Isles of theGentiles; theBrittishOriginal was so obscure inCæsarstime, that he affirmeth the Inland inhabitants wereAborigines, that is, such as reported that they had their beginning in the Island. ThatIrelandour neighbour Island was not long time without Inhabitants, may be made probable by sundry accounts; although we abate the Traditions ofBartholanustheScythian, who arrived there three hundred years after the flood, or the relation ofGiraldus; thatCæsariathe daughter ofNoahdwelt there before.
Now should we call in the learned account ofBochartus,Bochart. Geog.Sacr. part. 2.deducing the ancient names of Countries fromPhœnicians, who by their plantations, discoveries, and sea negotiations, have left unto very many Countries,Phœniciandenominations; the enquiry would be much shorter, and ifSpainin thePhœnicianOriginal, be but the region ofConies,Lusitania, orPortugalthe Countrey of Almonds, ifBrittanicawere at firstBaratanaca, or the land of Tin, andIberniaorIreland, were butIbernae, or the farthest habitation; and these names imposed and dispersed byPhœnicianColonies in their several navigations; the Antiquity of habitations might be more clearly advanced.
Thus though we have declared how largely theworld was inhabited within the space of 1300 years, yet must it be conceived more populous then can be clearly evinced; for a greater part of the earth hath ever been peopled, then hath been known or described by Geographers, as will appear by the discoveries of all Ages. For neither inHerodotusorThucydidesdo we find any mention ofRome, nor inPtolomyof many parts ofEurope,AsiaorAfrica. And because many places we have declared of long plantations of whose populosity notwithstanding or memorable actions we have no ancient story; if we may conjecture of these by what we find related of others, we shall not need many words, nor assume the half of 1300 years. And this we might illustrate from the mighty acts of theAssyriansperformed not long after the flood; recorded byJustineandDiodorus; who makes relation of expeditions by Armies more numerous then have been ever since. ForNinusKing ofAssyriabrought against theBactrians700000 foot, 200000 horse, 10600 Chariots.Semiramishis successor led against theIndians1300000 foot, 500000 horse, 100000 Chariots, and as many upon Camels: And it is said,StaurobatestheIndianKing, met her with greater forces then she brought against him. All which was performed within less then four hundred years after the flood.
Now if any imagine the unity of their language did hinder their dispersion before the flood, we confess it some hindrance at first, but not much afterward. For though it might restrain their dispersion, it could not their populosity; which necessarily requireth transmigration and emission of Colonies; as we read ofRomans,Greeks,Phœniciansin ages past, and have beheld examples thereof in our days. We may also observe that after the flood before the confusion oftongues, men began to disperse: for it is said, they journeyed towards the East: and the Scripture it self expresseth a necessity conceived of their dispersion, for the intent of erecting the Tower is so delivered in the text, Lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth.
Whether any Islands before the Flood.
Again, If any apprehend the plantation of the earth more easie in regard of Navigation and shipping discovered since the flood, whereby the Islands and divided parts of the earth are now inhabited; he must consider, that whether there were Islands or no before the flood, is not yet determined, and is with probability denied by very learned Authors.
Lastly, If we shall fall into apprehension that it was less inhabited, because it is said in the sixt ofGenesisabout a 120 years before the flood, and it came to pass that when men began to multiply upon the face of the earth. Beside that this may be only meant of the race ofCain, it will not import they were not multiplied before, but that they were at that time plentifully encreased; for so is the same word used in other parts of Scripture. And so is it afterward in the 9 Chapter said, thatNoahbegan to be an husbandman, that is, he was so, or earnestly performed the Acts thereof; so it is said of our Saviour, that he began to cast them out that bought and sold in the Temple, that is, he actually cast them out, or with alacrity effected it.
Thus have I declared some private and probable conceptions in the enquiry of this truth; but the certainty hereof let the Arithmetick of the last day determine; and therefore expect no further belief than probability and reason induce. Only desire men would not swallow dubiosities for certainties, and receive as Principles points mainly controvertible; forwe are to adhere unto things doubtful in a dubious and opinative way. It being reasonable for every man to vary his opinion according to the variance of his reason, and to affirm one day what he denied another. Wherein although at last we miss of truth; we die notwithstanding in harmless and inoffensive errors; because we adhere unto that, whereunto the examen of our reasons, and honest enquiries induce us.
The next shall be of East and West; that is, the proprieties and conditions ascribed unto Regions respectively unto those situations; which hath been the obvious conception of Philosophers and Geographers, magnifying the condition ofIndia, and the Eastern Countries, above the setting and occidental Climates, some ascribing hereto the generation of gold, precious stones and spices, others the civility and natural endowments of men; conceiving the bodies of this situation to receive a special impression from the first salutes of the Sun, and some appropriate influence from his ascendent and oriental radiations. But these proprieties affixed unto bodies, upon considerations deduced from East, West, or those observable points of the sphere, how specious and plausible so ever, will not upon enquiry be justified from such foundations.
For to speak strictly, there is no East and West in nature, nor are those absolute and invariable, but respective and mutable points, according unto different longitudes, or distant parts of habitation, wherebythey suffer many and considerable variations. For first, unto some the same part will be East or West in respect of one another, that is, unto such as inhabit the same parallel, or differently dwell from East to West. Thus as untoSpain,Italylyeth East, untoItalyGreece, untoGreecePersia, and untoPersiaChina; so again unto the Country ofChina,Persialyeth West, untoPersiaGreece, untoGreeceItaly, and untoItalySpain. So that the same Countrey is sometimes East and sometimes West; andPersiathough East untoGreece, yet is it West untoChina.
Unto other habitations the same point will be both East and West; as unto those that areAntipodesor seated in points of the Globe diametrically opposed. So theAmericansare Antipodal unto theIndians, and some part ofIndiais both East and West untoAmerica, according as it shall be regarded from one side or the other, to the right or to the left; and setting out from any middle point, either by East or West, the distance unto the place intended is equal, and in the same space of time in nature also performable.
To a third that have the Poles for their vertex, or dwell in the position of a parallel sphere, there will be neither East nor West, at least the greatest part of the year. For if (as the nameOrientalimplyeth) they shall account that part to be East where ever the Sun ariseth, or that West where the Sun is occidental or setteth: almost half the year they have neither the one nor the other. For half the year it is below their Horizon, and the other half it is continually above it, and circling round about them intersecting not the Horizon, nor leaveth any part for this compute. And if (which will seem very reasonable) that part should betermed the Eastern point, where the Sun at Æquinox, and but once in the year ariseth, yet will this also disturb the cardinal accounts, nor will it with propriety admit that appellation. For that surely cannot be accounted East which hath the South on both sides; which notwithstanding this position must have. For if unto such as live under the Pole, that he only North which is above them, that must be Southerly which is below them, which is all the other portion of the by Globe, beside that part possessed them. And thus these points of East and West being not absolute in any, respective in some, and not at all relating unto others; we cannot hereon establish so general considerations, nor reasonably erect such immutable assertions, upon so unstable foundations.
Now the ground that begat or promoted this conceit, was first a mistake in the apprehension of East and West, considering thereof as of the North and South, and computing by these as invariably as by the other; but herein, upon second thoughts there is a great disparity.What the Northern and Southern Poles be.For the North and Southern Pole, are the invariable terms of that Axis whereon the heavens do move; and are therefore incommunicable and fixed points; wherof the one is not apprehensible in the other. But with East and West it is quite otherwise: for the revolution of the Orbs being made upon the Poles of North and South, all other points about the Axis are mutable; and wheresoever therein the East point be determined, by succession of parts in one revolution every point becometh East. And so if where the Sun ariseth, that part be termed East, every habitation differing in longitude, will have this point also different; in as much as the Sun successively ariseth unto every one.
The second ground, although it depend upon the former, approacheth nearer the effect; and that is the efficacy of the Sun, set out and divided according to priority of ascent; whereby his influence is conceived more favourable unto one Countrey than another, and to felicitateIndiamore than any after. But hereby we cannot avoid absurdities, and such as infer effects controulable by our senses. For first, by the same reason that we affirm theIndianricher than theAmerican, theAmericanwill also be more plentiful than theIndian, andEnglandorSpainmore fruitful thanHispaniolaor golden Castle: in as much as the Sun ariseth unto the one sooner than the other: and so accountably unto any Nation subjected unto the same parallel, or with a considerable diversity of longitude from each other.
Secondly, An unsufferable absurdity will ensue: for thereby a Country may be more fruitful than it self: ForIndiais more fertile thanSpain, because more East, and that the Sun ariseth first unto it:Spain, likewise by the same reason more fruitful thanAmerica, andAmericathanIndia: so thatSpainis less fruitful than that Countrey, which a less fertile Country than it self excelleth.
Lastly, If we conceive the Sun hath any advantage by priority of ascent, or makes thereby one Country more happy than another, we introduce injustifiable determinations, and impose a natural partiality on that Luminary, which being equidistant from the earth, and equally removed in the East as in the West, his Power and Efficacy in both places must be equal, asBoetiushath taken notice, andScaligerDe gemmis exercitat.hath graphically declared. Some have therefore forsaken this refuge of the Sun, and to salve the effect have recurredunto the influence of the Stars, making their activities National, and appropriating their Powers unto particular regions. SoCardanconceiveth the tail ofUrsa Majorpeculiarly respectethEurope: whereas indeed once in 24 hours it also absolveth its course overAsiaandAmerica. And therefore it will not be easie to apprehend those stars peculiarly glance on us, who must of necessity carry a common eye and regard unto all Countries, unto whom their revolution and verticity is also common.
The effects therefore or different productions in several Countries, which we impute unto the action of the Sun, must surely have nearer and more immediate causes than that Luminary. And these if we place in the propriety of clime, or condition of soil wherein they are produced, we shall more reasonably proceed, than they who ascribe them unto the activity of the Sun. Whose revolution being regular, it hath no power nor efficacy peculiar from its orientality, but equally disperseth his beams unto all, which equally, and in the same restriction, receive his lustre. And being an universal and indefinite agent, the effects or productions we behold, receive not their circle from his causality, but are determined by the principles of the place, or qualities of that region which admits them. And this is evident not only in gemms, minerals, and mettals, but observable in plants and animals; whereof some are common unto many Countries, some peculiar unto one, some not communicable unto another.Whence proceed the different commodities of several Countries.For the hand of God that first created the earth, hath with variety disposed the principles of all things; wisely contriving them in their proper seminaries, and where they best maintain the intention of their species; whereof if they have not a concurrence,and be not lodged in a convenient matrix, they are not excited by the efficacy of the Sun; or failing in particular causes, receive a relief or sufficient promotion from the universal. For although superiour powers co-operate with inferiour activities, and may (as some conceive) carry a stroke in the plastick and formative draught of all things, yet do their determinations belong unto particular agents, and are defined from their proper principles. Thus the Sun which with us is fruitful in the generation of Frogs, Toads and Serpents, to this effect proves impotent in our neighbour Island; wherein as in all other carrying a common aspect, it concurreth but unto predisposed effects; and only suscitates those forms, whose determinations are seminal, and proceed from theIdeaof themselves.