r myles. Allowyng for euery degree
of the greatest circle, thre score myles. Now if you way well with your
selfe but this litle parcell of frute _Astronomicall_, as concerning the
bignesse, Distances of _Sonne_, _Mone_, _Sterry Sky_, and the huge
massines of _Ha Rakia_, will you not finde your Consciences moued, with
the kingly Prophet, to sing the confession of Gods Glory, and say, +_The
Heauens declare the glory of God, and the Firmament =[Ha Rakia]= sheweth
forth the workes of his handes_+. And so forth, for those fiue first
staues, of that kingly Psalme. Well, well, It is time for some to lay
hold on wisedome, and to Iudge truly of thinges: and notso to expound
the Holy word, all by Allegories: as to Neglect the wisedome, powre and
Goodnes of God, in, and by his Creatures, and Creation to be seen and
learned. By parables and Analogies of whose natures and properties, the
course of the Holy Scripture, also, declareth to vs very many Mysteries.
The whole Frame of Gods Creatures, (which is the whole world,) is to vs,
a bright glasse: from which, by reflexion, reboundeth to our knowledge
and perceiuerance, Beames, and Radiations: representing the Image of his
Infinite goodnes, Omnipotency, and wisedome. And we therby, are taught
and persuaded to Glorifie our Creator, as God: and be thankefull
therfore. Could the Heathenistes finde these vses, of these most pure,
beawtifull, and Mighty Corporall Creatures: and shall we, after that the
true _Sonne_ of rightwisenesse is risen aboue the _Horizon_, of our
temporall _Hemisphaerie_, and hath so abundantly streamed into our
hartes, the direct beames of his goodnes, mercy, and grace: Whose heat
All Creatures feele: Spirituall and Corporall: Visible and Inuisible.
Shall we (I say) looke vpon the _Heauen_, _Sterres_, and _Planets_, as
an Oxe and an Asse doth: no furder carefull or inquisitiue, what they
are: why were they Created, How do they execute that they were Created
for? Seing, All Creatures, were for our sake created: and both we, and
they, Created, chiefly to glorifie the Almighty Creator: and that, by
all meanes, to vs possible. _Nolite ignorare_ (saith _Plato in
Epinomis_) _Astronomiam, Sapientissimum quiddam esse._ +_Be ye not
ignorant, Astronomie to be a thyng of excellent wisedome._+
_Astronomie_, was to vs, from the beginning commended, and in maner
commaunded by God him selfe. In asmuch as he made the _Sonne_, _Mone_,
and _Sterres_, to be to vs, for _Signes_, and kno