Further from the number of those preserved in the Ark, divines have pro•• bly exempted. 1 those Amphibia, creatures that live as well in the water, as on […] Land; as otters, sea-wolves, water-serpents, and water-fowls. 2 Such as co•• corruption, and do not breed by generation; as worms of dung, moths of p••• fied herbs &c. 3 Such as are of a mixed kind, engendered by male & female of d•••• kinds; as the Mule cometh of the Horse and Ass: these needed not come in•• […] Ark,1 Sed parentes eorum ibi fuisse sufficit; it was enough that the breeders of […] were there. Some of the Rabbins have conceited, that the seeds of herbs […] plants were kept in the Ark; but they might by Gods providence grow in the […] under the waters; as did the Olive which the dove found at the sinking of the […] Yea some of them more ridiculously, amongst the living things preserved, […] thrust in the spirits of the air to the Ark. But neither are they male and fe•••• nor subject to the submersion of waters; and it were better for man to have […] kind destroyed than conserved. For the Phoenix, amongst many ambiguit••• […] yield to their persuasion, who think there is none; and that by the disagree•••• of her most justifying reporters. For her country, some make her of Ar••• ⟨p. 539⟩others of India. For her life, some five hundred years, others six hundred sixty. •r her death some say she sings and dyes; other, that motu alarm, with the mo•n of her wings she sets her nest afire. Pliny, and Pompon. Mela write, that of her •es comes a worm, and of the worm another Phoenix: which takes the bones of •e old Phoenix with her nest, and carries it to Heliopolis, the City of the Sun in Egypt; there laying it on the altar, and solemnizing the Funeral. But who would •t smile at the non-sense of this fiction? For if the Phoenix be burnt to ashes, where […] her bones left for this transportation? But on, say they; and what creature is without sex, among Beasts, Fishes, or Fowls? Gods (Increase and multiply) had […] a vain and superfluous charge to her. If there were but one before, then cer•nly that perished in the Flood; for none were preserved in the Ark but by pairs •d couples. So that if formerly but one, now consequently there is none. The •ing of S. Ambrose is objected: Phaenix cum mortua sit, reviviscit: solos non cre•us homines resuscitari.
Further from the number of those preserved in the Arke, divines have pro•• bly exempted. 1 those Amphibia, creatures that live as well in the water, as on 〈…〉 Land; as otters, sea-wolves, water-serpents, and water-fowles. 2 Such as co•• corruption, and doe not breed by generation; as wormes of dung, mothes of p••• fied hearbs &c. 3 Such as are of a mixt kind, ingendred by male & female of d•••• kinds; as the Mule commeth of the Horse and Asse: these needed not come in•• 〈…〉 Arke,1 Sed parentes eorum ibi fuisse sufficit; it was enough that the breeders of 〈…〉 were there. Some of the Rabbins have conceited, that the seeds of hearbs 〈…〉 plants were kept in the Arke; but they might by Gods providence grow in the 〈…〉 under the waters; as did the Olive which the dove found at the sinking of the 〈…〉 Yea some of them more ridiculously, amongst the living things preserved, 〈…〉 thrust in the spirits of the aire to the Arke. But neither are they male and fe•••• nor subject to the submersion of waters; and it were better for man to have 〈…〉 kinde destroyed than conserved. For the Phenix, amongst many ambiguit••• 〈…〉 yeeld to their perswasion, who thinke there is none; and that by the disagree•••• of her most justifying reporters. For her countrey, some make her of Ar••• ⟨p. 539⟩others of India. For her life, some five hundred yeares, others six hundred sixty. •r her death some say shee sings and dyes; other, that motu alarum, with the mo•n of her wings she sets her nest afire. Pliny, and Pompon. Mela write, that of her •es comes a worme, and of the worme another Phenix: which takes the bones of e old Phenix with her nest, and carries it to Heliopolis, the Citie of the Sun in gypt; there laying it on the altar, and solemnizing the Funerall. But who would t smile at the non-sense of this fixion? For if the Phenix be burnt to ashes, where her bones left for this transportation? But on, say they; and what creature is thout sex, among Beasts, Fishes, or Foules? Gods (Increase and multiply) had a vaine and superfluous charge to her. If there were but one before, then cernly that perished in the Floud; for none were preserved in the Arke but by paires d couples. So that if formerly but one, now consequently there is none. The ing of S. Ambrose is objected: Phaenix cum mortua sit, reviviscit: solos non creus homines resuscitari.
- 1Aug.
