The Existence of God and the Immortality of the Soul, Chapter 2
CHAP. II.Chap. II.
The Air a fit medium to convey the Light and influences of the Heavens to the lower World. Tis the repository of Vapours that are drawn up by the Sun, and descend in fruitful Showers. The Winds of great benefit. The separation of the Sea from the Land the effect of great Wisdom and Power. That the Earth is not an equal Globe, is both pleasant and useful. The League of the Elements considered. Excellent Wisdom visible in Plants and Fruits. The shapes of Animals are answerable to their properties. They regularly act to preserve themselves. The Bees, Swallows, Ants directed by an excellent mind.
THe Expension of the Air from the Etherial Heavens to the Earth, is another testimony of Divine Providence. For 'tis transparent, and of a subtle Nature, and thereby a fit medium to convey Light and Celestial Influences to the lower World. It receives the first impressions of the Heavens, and insinuating without resistance, conveys them to the most distant things. By it the greatest numbers of useful objects that cannot by immediate application to our faculties be known, are transmitted in their images and representations; All colours and figures to the Eye, sounds to the Ear. Tis necessary for the subsistence of Animals that live by respiration. It mixes with their nourishment, cools the inward heat, and tempers its violence.
Besides, In the Air Vapors are attracted by the Sun, till they ascend to that height to which its reflection does not arrive, and there losing the soul of heat that was only borrowed, by degrees return to their native coldness, and are gathered into Clouds, which do not break in a deluge of waters that would wash away the seed, but dissolving into fruitful showers, fall in millions of drops to refresh the Earth, so that what is taken from it without loss, is restor'd with immense profit.
The Air is the field of the Winds, an invisible generation of Spirits, whose life consists in motion. These are of divers qualities and effects, for the advantage of the World. Some are turbid, others serene and chearful; some warm and refreshing, others cold and sharp; some are placid and gentle, others furious and stormy; some moist, others dry. They cleanse and purifie the Air that otherwise would corrupt by the setling of vapors, & be destructive to the lives of Animals. They convey the Clouds for the universal benefit of the Earth; for if the Clouds had no motion but directly upwards, they must only fall on those parts from whence they ascended, to the great damage of the Earth. For moist places that send up plenty of Vapours would be overflowed; and the highest parts, to which no other Waters arise, would be unfruitful. Now the Winds are assigned to all the quarters of the World, and as the Reigns are slack or hard, they guide the Clouds for the advantage of the lower World.
The separation of the Sea from the Land, and containing it within just bounds, is the effect of Almighty Wisdom and Goodness. For being the lighter Element, its natural situation is above it. And till separated, 'twas absolutely useless as to habitation or fruitfulness. 'Tis now the convenient seat of terrestrial Animals, and supplies their Provisions. And the Sea is fit for Navigation, whereby the most distant Regions maintain Commerce for their mutual help and comfort.
The Rivers dispers'd through the veins of the Earth, preserve its beauty, and make it fruitful. They are always in motion, to prevent corrupting, and to visit several parts, that the labour of cultivating may not be in vain. And that these Waters may not fail, the innumerable branches spred through the Earth, at last unite in the main body of the Sea. What they pour into it, through secret chanels they derive from it, by a natural perpetual circulation, not to be imitated by Art. In this we have a clear proof of the Wisdom and Goodness of the Creator.
That the Earth is not an equal Globe, but some parts are rais'd into Hills and Mountains, others sunk into deep Valleys; some are immense Plains, affects with various delight, and is useful for excelent ends: not onelyonly for the production of Minerals, of Marble and Stones requisite for Buildings, but for the thriving of several kinds of Grain and Plants that are necessary for Food or *Ne sylvae quidem honidior que naturae facies Medicinis caret, sacra il a parente rerum omnium, nusquam non remedia disponente homini, ut Medicina fieret ipsa solitudo. Plin.Medicine: for some love the Shade, others the Sun; some flourish best on Rocks and Precipices, others in low moist places; some delight in Hills, others in Plains. Thus by the unequal surface of the Earth, is caused a convenient temperature of Air and Soil for its productions.
Add further, The Wisdom of the Creatour is discovered by observing the league of the Elements from whence all mixt bodies arise. Of how different qualities are Earth, Water, Air, Fire? yet all combine together without the destruction of their enmity, that is as necessary to preserve nature as their friendship. Can there be imagin'd a greater discord in the parts of the Elementary World, and a greater concord in the whole? To reduce them to such an aequilibrium that all their operations promote the same end, proves that there is a Mind of the highest Wisdom, that has an absolute Dominion over all things, and tempers them accordingly.
If we come to Plants and Flowers, Who divided their kinds, and form'd them in that beautiful order? who painted and perfum'd them? how doth the same Water dye them with various Colours, the Scarlet, the Purple, the Carnation? what causes the sweet Odors that breath from them with an insensible subtilty, and diffuse in the Air for our delight? from whence proceed their different vertues? These admirable works of Nature exceed the‖Est igitur id quo illa conficiuntur, homine melius. Id autem quid potius dixerimquam Deum? Tull. de nat. deor. imitation and comprehension of Man. 'Tis clear therefore they proceed from a Cause that excels him in Wisdom and Power. That some Plants of excellent vertue are full of prickles in their stock and leaves, to protect them from Beasts that would root them up, or trample on them, an*His muniendo aculeis, telisque armando, remediis, ut tuta & salva sint. Ita hoc quo que quod in iis odimus, hominum causa excogitatum est. Plin. l. 22. Atheist acknowledg'd to be the effect of Providence. The same Wisdom preserves the Seed in the Root under the flower, and prepares the numerous Leaves of Trees, not only for a shadow to refresh living creatures, but to secure their Fruits from the injuries of the weather. Therefore in the Spring they shoot forth always before the fruits are form'd. And tender delicate fruits are cover'd with broader and thicker leaves than others of a firmer substance. In Winter they cast their leaves, are naked and dry, the vital sap retiring to the root, as if careless of dying in the members to preserve life in the heart, that in the returning Spring diffuses new heat and spirits, the cause of their flourishing and fruitfulness. The season of Fruits is another indication of Providence. In Summer we have the cool and moist to refresh our heats, in Autumn the durable to be preserved when the Earth produces none.
If we observe the lower rank of Animals, their kinds, shapes, properties, 'tis evident that all are the Copies of a designing Mind, the effects of a skilful Hand. Some of them are fierce, others familiar; some are servile, others free; some crafty, others simple, and all fram'd conveniently to their Natures. How incongruous were it for the Soul of a Lion to dwell in the body of a Sheep, or that of a Hare to animate the body of a Cow? It would require a volume to describe their different shapes, and fitness to their particular natures. Besides, creatures meerly▪ sensitive are acted so regularly to preserve themselves & their kind, that the reason of a superiour Agent ‖Quid est in his in quo non naturae ratio intelligentis appareat? Tull.shines in all their actions. They no sooner come into the World but know their enemies, and either by Strength or Art secure themselves. They are instructed to swim, to fly, to run, to leap. They understand their fit nourishment, and remedies proper for their Diseases. Who infused into the Birds the art to build their nests, the love to cherish their young? How are the Bees instructed to frame their Honycombs without†Quis non stupeat hoc fieri posse sine manibus? unlla interveniente doctrina hanc artem nasci. hands, and in the dark, and of such a figure that among all other of equal compass and filling up the same space, is most capacious? The consideration of their Art and Industry, their political Government and Providence, and other miraculous qualities, so astonish'd some great Wits, that they attributed something divine*Quid non Divinum habent nisi quod moriuntur? Quintil. Virgil. to them.
Esse Apibus partem divinae mentis, & haustus
Aetherios dixere—
—some there are maintain That Bees deriv'd from a Coelestial strain, And Heavenly race.
What moves the Swallows upon the approach of Winter to fly to a more temperate Clime, as if they understood the Celestial Signs, the Influences of the Stars, and the Changes of the Seasons? From whence comes the fore-sight of the Ants to provide in Summer for Winter? their oeconomy fervour, their discretion in assisting one another, as if knowing that every one labour'd for all, and where the benefit is common the labour must be common; their care to fortifie their receptacles with a banck of Earth that in great rains, it may not be overflowed, have made them the fit emblems of prudent diligence.
This is excellently described by Virgil.
Ac veluti ingentem formicae farris acervum,
Cum populant, Hyenis memores, tectoque reponunt,
It nigrum campis agmen, praedamque per herbas
Convectant calle angusto, pars grandia trudunt
Obnixa frumenta humeris, pars agmima cogunt,
Castigantque moras. Opere omnis semita fervet.
So when the Winter-fearing Ants invade
Some heaps of Corn the Husbandman had made;
The sable Army marches, and with Prey
Laden return, pressing the Leafy-way;
Some help the weaker, and their shoulders lend;
Others the Order of the March attend,
Bring up the Troops, and punish all delay.
How could they propound such ends, and devise means proper to obtain them? 'Tis evident from their constant and regular actings, that an Understanding above man's, who often fails in his designs, signs, imprest their unerring instincts, and directs their motions.