2. The inobservance of Man is another cause why the great ⟨p. 113⟩Creator is not magnified for all his Works. If we did consider the least, even one of those‖ unius puncti animalia, a Flea or Mite, we should find what is admirable in that scarce-visible Atom of matter. But the* novelty, not the excellence of things, draws our thoughts. The greatest works in Nature, that are not Miracles, only because common and usual, are past by with a careless Eye. Their continual presence is not moving, but lessens our regard and attention. The† Naturalist observed it to be one of the solemn follies of Men, to value Medicines not for their Virtue, but the Country where they grow, the Climate from whence they come; if they have a Barbarous name, they are reputed to have a mysterious efficacy, and those ⟨p. 114⟩Plants are neglected as unprofitable, that are natives of their own Soil. The rarity is esteemed more than the merit of things. 'Tis a greater wonder to give light to the Sun, than to restore it to the blind, yet its daily presence does not affect us. If a Chemist should extract a Liquor of such an extraordinary virtue, that by pouring a few drops of it on the dust, a Body should be formed, animated, and move, would any one be induced to believe it without the testimony of his own eyes, and would it not be a surprising wonder? Yet innumerable living Creatures spring from the Dust by the falling of Rain, and few think it worthy of observation. The raising a dead Body to life would astonish us, but we are unaffected that every day so many ⟨p. 115⟩living Men are born. Yet, if we consider things aright, the secret forming a Body in the Womb is an equal Prodigy of Power, and as truly marvellous, as the restoring the vital congruities to a carcass, that prepare it for the reception of the Soul. What more deserves serious reflection, than that from the same indistinct Seed, so many and such various parts in their substance, figure and qualities should proceed? hard and dry for the Bones, liquid for the humours, moist and soft for the flesh, tenacious for the Nerves, perforated for the Arteries and Veins, hot for the Liver and Heart, cold for the Brain, transparent for the Eyes? How should it raise our wonder that that matter which in it self is simple and equal, in Gods hand is ⟨p. 116⟩capable of such admirable Art?
2. The inobservance of Man is another cause why the great ⟨p. 113⟩Creatour is not magnified for all his Works. If we did consider the least, even one of those‖ unius puncti animalia, a Flea or Mite, we should find what is admirable in that scarce-visible Atom of matter. But the* novelty, not the excellence of things, draws our thoughts. The greatest works in Nature, that are not Miracles, only because common and usual, are past by with a careless Eye. Their continual presence is not moving, but lessens our regard and attention. The† Naturalist observ'd it to be one of the solemn follies of Men, to value Medicines not for their Virtue, but the Country where they grow, the Climate from whence they come; if they have a Barbarous name, they are reputed to have a mysterious efficacy, and those ⟨p. 114⟩Plants are neglected as unprofitable, that are natives of their own Soil. The rarity is esteem'd more than the merit of things. 'Tis a greater wonder to give light to the Sun, than to restore it to the blind, yet its daily presence does not affect us. If a Chymist should extract a Liquor of such an extraordinary virtue, that by pouring a few drops of it on the dust, a Body should be form'd, animated, and move, would any one be induc'd to believe it without the testimony of his own eyes, and would it not be a surprising wonder? Yet innumerable living Creatures spring from the Dust by the falling of Rain, and few think it worthy of observation. The raising a dead Body to life would astonish us, but we are unaffected that every day so many ⟨p. 115⟩living Men are born. Yet, if we consider things aright, the secret forming a Body in the Womb is an equal Prodigy of Power, and as truely marvellous, as the restoring the vital congruities to a carcass, that prepare it for the reception of the Soul. What more deservs serious reflection, than that from the same indistinct Seed, so many and such various parts in their substance, figure and qualities should proceed? hard and dry for the Bones, liquid for the humours, moist and soft for the flesh, tenacious for the Nerves, perforated for the Arteries and Veins, hot for the Liver and Heart, cold for the Brain, transparent for the Eyes? How should it raise our wonder that that matter which in it self is simple and equal, in Gods hand is ⟨p. 116⟩
- ‖Tertullian.
- *Assiduitate cotidiana, & Consuitudine oculorum assuescunt animi, neque admirantur, neque requirunt rationes earum rerum quas semper vident. Quasi novitas magis quam magnitudo rerum debeat ad exquirendas causas excitate. Cicer. c. 2. de nat. Deor.
- †Arabia atque India medendo aestimatur, ulterique parvo medicina à rubro ma•i imputatur, cum remedia vera pauperimus quisque caenet, nam si ex horro petatur aut herba, aut frutex quaeratur, nulla artium vilior fiet. Plin. lib. 24.
