The rule of faith, or, An exposition of the Apostles Creed so handled as…

2. The substance of it: which is conceived to be of a marvellous excellent nature, far more perfect and subtle then the substance not only of the Elements, but of those visible heavens: which divers gather thus. As any creature is higher then the earth, so is the substance of it less gross and material. As the waters are thinner then the earth, and the Air then the waters, and the Element of fire (according to the common opinion of Divines and Philosophers) purer then the Air: and the Essence of the mighty Firmament, yet more pure then the four Elements, as consisting of a fifth Essence as they say in Schools: and accordingly we see creatures fitted to each of these places. Fishes that cannot live in the bowels of the earth, live in the waters: and fowls of a more spiritual being fly in the Air. Now when we are ascended so high, as the highest visible heavens, then do our minds conceive of that glorious place of the blessed, made of a more pure Essence then any of these: And though Divines say that the substance of these heavens must needs be corporeal and bodily which they prove by infallible reasons, yet are they such a body, as we may call as it were spiritual, next in purity to the substance of Angels and mens souls.

2. The substance of it: which is conceiued to be of a marueilous excellent nature, farre more perfect and subtile then the substance not onely of the Elements, but of those visible heauens: which diuers gather thus. As any creature is higher then the earth, so is the substance of it lesse grosse and materiall. As the waters are thinner then the earth, and the Ayre then the waters, and the Element of fire (according to the common opinion of Diuines and Philosophers) purer then the Ayre: and the Essence of the mighty Firmament, yet more pure then the foure Elements, as consisting of a fift Essence as they say in Schooles: and accordingly we see creatures fitted to each of these places. Fishes that cannot liue in the bowells of the earth, liue in the waters: and foules of a more spirituall being flie in the Ayre. Now when we are ascended so high, as the highest visible heauens, then do our minds conceiue of that glorious place of the blessed, made of a more pure Essence then any of these: And though Diuines say that the sustance of these heauens must needs be corporeall and bodily which they proue by infallible reasons, yet are they such a body, as wee may call as it were spirituall, next in purity to the substance of Angels and mens soules.