The sum of sacred divinity briefly & methodically propoundedThe summe of sacred diuinitie briefly & methodically propounded

For touching the World it self:

For touching the World it selfe:

First, God minding to erect such a large and goodly Theatre, wherein he would make full demonstration of his incomparable both Power, Wisdom and Goodness, ^qframed first an empty an unshapen lump, without fashion, without form, called Waters, for the vast hugeness of it; Darkness for the confusion and lack of form; and the Deep, for the emptiness without bottom to rest upon, which, lest it should vanish and come to nothing, having no steadiness to uphold it, the Spirit of God lay upon it, and over-spread it, to keep it from decay.

First, God minding to erect such a large and goodly Theater, wherein hee would make full demonstration of his incomparable both Power, Wisedome and Goodnesse, ^qframed first an empty an vnshapen lumpe, without fashion, without forme, called Waters, for the vast hugenesse of it; Darknesse for the confusion and lacke of forme; and the Deepe, for the emptinesse without bottome to rest vpon, which, lest it should vanish and come to nothing, hauing no steaddinesse to vphold it, the Spirit of God lay vpon it, and ouer-spred it, to keepe it from decay.

1. qGen. 1. 1, 2.

Secondly, Out of this lump and unformed confusion did God afterwards distinctly form this World, and all the parts of it. First, those four Elements, called the simple bodies, by fetching one contrary out of another, as Light out of Darkness, the Firmament out of emptiness, dry Earth out of Waters: then the compound bodies out of the same Elements, and for the most part, of all four unequally mingled together, every one principally