ark how he
made it, and how by his word every element took his place; these were
not his works, but his words, for all the words he used before,
concluded afterwards in one work, which was in making man. Mark, reader,
with patience, for thy soul's health, see into all that was done by the
word and work of God. Light and darkness was, the firmament stood, and
the great and little light in it; the moist waters were in one place,
the earth was dry, and every element brought forth according to the word
of God. Now follow his works: he made man after his own image. How? Out
of the earth. The earth will shape no image without water; there was one
of the elements; but all this while there was wind. All elements were at
the word of God. Man was made, and in a form by the work of God, yet
moved not that work before God had breathed the spirit of life into his
nostrils, and made him a living soul. Here was the first wind and spirit
of God, out of his own mouth; which we have likewise from the same seed
which was only planted by God in Adam; which wind, breath, or spirit,
when he had received, he was living and moved on earth; for it was
ordained of God for his habitation, but the heavens are the habitation
of the Lord. And like as I showed before of the bubble or confused chaos
made of water and soap, through the wind and breath of man is turned
round and carried with the wind, even so the firmaments wherein the sun
and the rest of the planets are fixed, be moved, turned, and carried
with the wind, breath, and spirit of God; for the heavens and firmaments
are moveable as the chaos, but the sun is fixed in the firmament. And
farther, my good schoolfellow, I was thus nigh the heavens, where
methought every planet was but as half the earth, and under the firmament
ruled the spirits in the air. As I came down, I looked upon the world
and heavens, and methought that the earth was inclosed (in comparison)
within the firmament as the yolk of an egg within the white; methought
that the whole length of the earth was not a span long, and the water
was as it had been twice as broad and as long as the earth. Even thus,
at eight days' end, I came home again, and fell asleep, and so I
continued sleeping three days and three nights together, and the first
hour I waked, fell fresh again to my calendars, and have made them in
right ample manner as you know. And to satisfy your request for that you
write unto me, I have (in consideration of our old