A NEW And clear Discovery, OF THE TRUE, AND PROPER, NATURAL CAUSE, OF THE EBBING AND FLOWING OF THE MAIN SEA.  
Convincingly held forth, both from Scripture and Reason: So as any Rational man, may easily apprehend, the proper Cause of its fluent motion: And that it is not the Moon, as some have imagined, and gone about to prove.  
Written by ELLIS BRADSHAW of the Parish of Boulton in the County of Lancaster, Husbandman.  PSAL. 97.4, 5. 
His Lightnings lightened the world; the earth saw it and trembled.  
The hills melted like wax, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.  
All thy works praise thee, oh Lord, Therefore even (I) also will magnify thy Name, for it is holy.  
Yea, let the heavens and the earth praise him: the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.  Psal. ●9. 34. 
LONDON, Printed by G●rtrude Dawson for Thomas Brewster, at the Sign of the three Bibles under Mildred's Church in the Poultry. 1649.   

THE Author's Apology, in Respect he is but an Husbandman, and unlearned in the Tongues, to excuse himself of Presumption herein to the Christian Reader.  
CHRISTIAN READER, If when thou hast read these few lines, thou canst say, as it is prophesied, Isa. 52.15. That that which hath not been told thee thou dost hereby see; and that which thou hadst not heard, thou dost now consider. Let it stop thy mouth from speaking evil of the unworthy Instrument, and thy heart from thinking him too presumptuous, for appearing in Print, and undertaking the discovery of such truths, as neither thou, nor others, that are now living on the face of the earth, for aught thou knowest, have discovered before,  
Refuse not knowledge because tendered unto thee by so unworthy an Instrument; they are too squeamish, that refuse good meat, because presented in an earthen vessel, 2 Cor, 4.7. for aught thou knowest (it may be done of purpose) that the excellency of power, may be of God and not of man.  
And they that are taught in the word, should rather communicate unto him that teacheth them in all good things, then despise and reproach him; returning evil for good, hatred for love; this is bad requital, but not a little common now adays: But however thou judgest, or requitest the Instrument, yet give God the glory of what thou learnest; else thou also despisest, even the fountain of knowledge, who is justly worthy of praise, and honour; yea, and will have the glory; as so the Instrument desires, that both wholly and freely it might be ascribed, for ever, Amen.  
But it may be objected, that this is not the first, of my appearing in Print; but that I have also presumed to write a Book, called, An Husbandman's Harrow to pull down the Ridges of the Presbyterial Government, and to smooth a little the Independent, etc. And therefore an Apology to excuse my presumption, might have been therein also held forth to the Reader, as well as now, considering, that in the Title thereof, I conclude so presumptuously, as to call my arguments contained therein, both new, and unanswerable to that purpose, and such as I have also proved to be like teeth of steel, that will pull down the Ridges, before they break or bend.  
I answer, that I intended that very Title, to serve to excuse me instead of any further Apology. For thus I thought that any rational man might easily gather, to wit,  
That if in my apprehension, I had any arguments to so good a purpose, as the reconciling of such hot disputes, and that betwixt Brethren: That might truly and properly be called new, having never yet been proposed by others, on either party, I thought it might well excuse me; For who is it, but he will be content to hear, yea, and inquire of any man, be he learned, or unlearned, that can tell him (News) and especially good (News) and such as may be useful both to himself, and others, yea, such as may possibly guide him into the right way, when he is at a stand, and knows not which way to turn in the dark night, but may possibly be endangered to fall into some pit.  
And if there be not such Arguments contained in that Book, when any man showeth me that they are old, and needles, having been formerly proposed by such, or such, on either party; then I shall confess th●t I presumed too far: Or when any man hath answered them from Scripture grounds, I shall also confess that I presumed too far, in calling them unanswerable: But they are not yet answered, nor proved to be old, nor useless, and unprofitable; and therefore I, as yet, think not any worse of them▪ then is expressed in the Title: But it is my desire; that such who think me presumptuous, would but suspend their censure, till they be answered by way of contradiction, from Scripture grounds, and then let them censure as they find cause. But they might do well in the mean time, to take the Apostles advice, and judge nothing before the time: F●r if I therein erred, my error as yet, remaineth with me, job 19.4. And if they know wherein, they might do well to let me know mine error, as job 6.24. Yea, let them teach me, I shall hold my tongue, and cause me to understand wherein I have erred; Yea, I shall also thank them for their just rebuke, I shall love them better, then if they hold their peace, and smother my faults, which they plainly see; And however they deem, yet this is the truth; that if I had not thought those scriptural Arguments, both new, and unanswerable, I had not presumed to appear in Print: Neither do I purpose, through the grace of God, to presume to appear any further in Print, concerning any subject, but wherein I am confident that I hold forth something of special use to such a purpose, that no man else hath published in print, or held forth before, nor it may be considered, or thought so far in that respect, but that all that read it, may in something or other, be instructed thereby, if they will consider as they ought to do, without prejudicated conceits.  
And yet I purpose, (God willing) to appear in Pri●t, concerning divers subjects, the Lord assisting me, as I hope he will.  
And therefore, do but give the glory to the God of Truth, of every truth thou learnest, though it be by never so weak an instrument, as so thou oughtest to do. And let me bear the shame, of what I writ presumptuously, and without a cause, and ground from Scripture, as so I justly deserve. And in the mean time, accept me, as thy loving friend, and brother in the Lord,  
Ellis Bradshaw.   

A new and clear discovery of the true, and proper, and natural cause of the ebbing and flowing of the main Sea.  
THE great Lord of Heaven and Earth, that hath made all things for his own sake, requireth praise, and will have glory from all his works, Psal. 148. Yea all his works [do] praise him, as Psal. 1▪ 5.10. And his Saints bless him yea, they shall speak of the glory of his Kingdom, and talk of his power, to make known to the sons of men, his mighty acts, and the glorious Majesty of his kingdom, verse. 11, 12. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable verse 3. One generation should praise his works to another, and declare his mighty acts, 4. vers. 5, 6, 7. Yea they shall speak of the might of his terrible acts, and I (also) will declare his greatness, verse 5. The Heavens declare the glory of God, and the formament showeth his handy work, and that day by day, from the first creation, as Psal. 19  
Yea the invisible things of God, are clearly seen, being considered in his works; and understood by the things that are made; even his eternal power and Godhead; so that all nations are without excuse, as Rom. 1▪ 20. And woe unto us, if we despise his name, and do not reverence, and fear that great and fearful name, even the Lord our God.  
But mark: The invisible things of God, are clearly understood by the things that are made, if considered, 
Isa. 44.19, 20. Ezek. 18.14. & 28. Mat. 5.3. Isa. 3.1.  etc. But without consideration how little understanding, or knowledge of God, and of his power, and greatness, can we attain unto? Give me leave therefore, in the words, and name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to invite him that readeth, that he would consider: yea, thou whomsoever that readest, consider; for if thou look at things without consideration, thou mayst easily conceive, that the Sun, or Moon, are no broader, nor bigger, than thou canst make a Cheese; if thou dost not consider, or that thou hast not knowledge of their distance from the earth; But dost judge by sense, and without rational consideration, like a rational creature?  
And so in like manner if thou judge by sense, and hast not travailed, thou mayst possibly think, unless thou believest others, that the earth is little broader, than thou canst see about thee, on every side; or thou mayst think as many that are dull and ignorant; that it is not round, like the compass of a ball, but broad, and thin, and narrow likewise. And if thou dost not consider, thou wilt hardly believe, no though it be told thee, That God hath stretched out the North over the empty place, 
Jeb 26.7.  and hanged the Earth upon nothing. Thou wilt hardly believe; If thou dost not consider, that the Heavens are still in constant motion, about the earth, and that it is lose on every side, and at the ends likewise, like a great Ball in the midst of the Heavens. Nor that the Earth and Waters make but one Ball, the liquid water tending as directly to the centre of the earth, as doth any part of the Earth itself.  
Let me therefore entreat thee, to consider seriously of these great things: though thou never formerly, hast thought thus far. And thou mayst yet be capable of greater things, which thou hast never heard, nor seen before; and mayst therein discover the infinite greatness and power of God, and so be brought to fear him: And the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: And so thou mayst be wise; yea, and wise for thyself; yea, wise and happy unto all eternity. If thou wilt not [be] and [demean] thyself, like one of those fools, that do hate knowledge, as Prov. 1.7. and that will not choose the fear of the Lord.  
For thou canst not see him by going forward, backward, on the right hand, left hand, where he doth works; unless thou consider who it is that worketh, and that it is no other but his invisible hand that worketh all, things according to the counsel of his own will. But when Job considered, he was troubled at his presence, yea, when he considered, he was afraid of him, Job 23 3, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15.  
Consider therefore, with awful respects to the great Lord, both of Heaven and Earth; and thou shalt understand;  
That the Earth and Waters, the Sea and dry Land, are still alike, in equal, constant, and continual motion, from the very beginning till this present day: yea, since he gathered the waters into one place, and let the dry land appear; the saw still kept, an equal, constant, and continual motion; save only that time whilst Noah's Flood was upon the earth.  
But it will be demanded, what I mean by this, that they have kept motion.  
I answer briefly; That as the Sea riseth and accordingly floweth, ascending higher from the centre of the earth; and that at every short, where it is not straightened, as so it doth twice in 24. hours, and that in all places throughout the world, as the Seamen know.  
Even so accordingly, and at the same time, doth the Earth descend, and as it were close itself, or sink downwards, so much nearer to the middle, or centre of the Earth, as the Sea ariseth, or ascendeth from it, directly upwards on every side. So that as the Sea ebbs, the Earth ascends, and as the Earth descends the Sea flows, or riseth higher, and that at every shore.  
For as the Earth closeth all the parts of it towards the centre, it presseth forth the liquid waters from the Bowels of the Earth; and as the Earth riseth, or ascendeth again, it openeth place, in the Bowels of the Earth, for descension of the Sea, that it may fall, or ebb, or descend lower at every shore, as we may daily see that it constantly doth in all the world, where the main Sea cometh, and as the Mariners know.  
Quest. But it will be demanded how it can be known, that it doth thus move, and that it is not a fiction, or device of man's brain, but a real truth, clearly demonstrated from Scripture and Reason.  
Answ. I answer briefly; That I only learned, and understood this secret, through consideration of certain places, and testimonies of sacred Scriptures, which in my apprehension are clear grounds, being compared together, to assure the truth of this great secret, which hath long been hid from the wise and learned. Which sacred testimonies are briefly these. It is written Psal. 104. speaking of God, who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters. That he laid the foundations of the earth that it should not be removed for ever. And that he covered it with the deep, as with a garment, the waters (saith he) stood above the mountains, to wit, in the beginning, as Gen. 1.9. and at Noah's flood, as Gen. 7.20. Psal. 104.6. and Job 38.8.10, 11.  
And again, At thy rebuke they fled, (meaning the waters) at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away: They go up by the Mountains, they go down by the Valleys, to the place which thou hast founded for them: Thou hast set a bound which they shall not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth, as vers. 6, 7, 8, 9 Which words of Scripture in the old translation are something different, but far more plain to my apprehension, and more suitable to the Scriptures, to which they relate; for they are after this manner; to wit, beginning at vers. 6. saith he, Thou coucredst it with the deep as with a garment; the water, would stand above the Mountains: But at thy rebuke they fly, at the voice of thy thunder they haste away: And the Mountains ascend, and the Valleys descend to the place which thou hast appointed for them. From which it plainly appears in my apprehension; and hence I first concluded.  
That the waters naturally, as at the first Creation, Gen. 1.2.9. would stand above the mountains, as they did also, at Noah's Flood; for they being lighter, and more soft and liquid, than the massy earth, cannot tend so strongly, nor press so heavily towards the Centre, or middle of the earth, as the earth itself, towards which Centre, all heavy substances below the Moon, do naturally tend, by the ordinance of God, whose essential word directeth all things to their proper places, according to his will, which caused their subsistence: For, else with God, there is no way upward, nor any way downward, any more than other, but only in regard of their proper tendency, at his appointment; for all the Planets, are as solid materials, as either the earth, or waters, and yet are moved about in a circular motion, yet coming no nearer to the Centre of the Earth at the last, then at first,  
So that the Earth naturally, being of an heavier nature, than the liquid Sea, doth tend more strongly to the Centre thereof, and would press forth all the liquid waters, from the womb, or bowels, or centre thereof, which is the proper place broken up for it, as these Scriptures show, and will make to appear, Job 38.10.8. & Psal. 24.1, 2. For who (saith the Lord) hath shut up the Sea with doors? when it broke forth as if it had issued out of the womb, as (it did at Noah's Flood) And (saith he) when I broke up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, and said, hitherto shalt thou come, but no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed, as verse 10, 11. & Chap. 26.10. So also Prov. 8.28, 29.  
From whence it appears, that the womb of the earth, is the decreed place, broken up for it at the first Creation, when God said, Let the waters under the Heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear; and it was so, Gen. 1.9. And when all the Fountains of the great deep were broken up, to wit, at Noah's Flood, and that the Sea broke forth, as if it had issued out of the womb, as Job 38.8. Gen. 7.11.  
For when the waters abated from off the Earth, it is said, That the Fountains of the great deep, were stopped; and, that the waters returned from off the earth continually, as Gen. 8.2, 3. They returned to the place, yea, even the decreed place, which the Lord in the beginning had appontied for them, as Psal. 104.8.  
Cons. Therefore it follows, that the womb of the earth, being the decreed place, broken up for it, out of which it issued, when it overflowed, and into which it returned, when it ebbed, or abated.  
That it doth so now, even in like manner, so fare forth as it ebbs and flows, I say, it issueth forth from the womb of the earth, when it flows, or riseth at every shore; And it returns again into the womb of the earth, when it abateth, or ebbs, or falleth again at every shore; For he hath founded the earth upon the waters, see Psal, 24.1, 2. And for clearer satisfaction, that this is so, consider this text, Psal. 104.8. where the Psalmist speaketh in the present tense, saying, And the mountains ascend, and the valleys descend, to the place which thou hast appointed for them.  
Which to my apprehension, is as much fully, as if he should have said;  
The Earth riseth, and the Sea falls, or goeth down by the valleys, to the place which he hath appointed for them; yea, they do thus continually, for so it is spoken in the present tense: And that though they thus do, he hath set them a bound, which they shall not pass, For they shall not return to cover the earth; verse. 9 For though by their own nature, they would flow, and ascend, till they covered the tops of the highest mountanes, as vers. 6. & Gen. 1.2 9 yet when they come to the height which God hath appointed, the Earth riseth, and ascendeth upward, every part of it, from the Centre thereof, or from the womb thereof, and so enlargeth again the womb of the Earth, and the valleys, or channels of the main Ocean, for receiving of the waters till they be abated, and fallen so fare as they use to ebb, as God hath appointed: And then the earth falling, or sinking downwards, doth again straighten the womb of the Earth, and the valleys also, and channels of the Sea, pressing forth the waters to their height again, from the springs, or fountains of the great deep, to every side, or shore, as Job 38.16. & Gen 7.11. by an equal motion of the earth, and waters, as hath been said before; for being pressed forth by the weight of the Earth, when it quietly descends, the water springeth forth in some places, as the Mariners know, that the Sea boileth up like a hill of water, falling down from it like a running Tide; and that every way from such springing place, that they can scarce sail directly over it, till they come to the midst of such spring, or fountain, though they have a strong, and a direct wind; But when they come to the middle, than they can sail so much the more swifdy, as both with wind, and tide, whiles the Sea is flowing, till it ebb again. And thus it is found in the very middle of the main Sea, in many places; and these are called in Scripture Language, the Springs of the Sea, as Job 38.16. And it is therefore said of God, that by his wisdom, the depths are broken up, Prov. 3.20. And he is also said to have strengthened the Fountains of the deep, Prov. 8.28.  
And again, Psal. 24.1, 2. it is clearly asserted, That the Earth is the Lords, and the fullness thereof, the World, and them that dwell, therein; and the reason is rendered to prove it so, for (saith he) He hath founded it upon the Seas, and establisted it upon the Floods.  
From whence it plainly appears, that the Earth is situate, founded, and established, even upon the Seas, and upon the Floods, as if all the parts or pieces of the earth, did but naturally swim, or float on the waters, like so many ships, founded, or situate, or lying thereupon.  
For it is without all controversy, that the earth never closeth, or so fare streightneth the womb, or bowels, or clefts thereof, as to press forth all those liquid waters of the main Ocean, for then, as hath been said, The waters would stand above the mountains, as Psali 104.6. as they did at first, till their decreed place was broken up for them, as Gen. 1.2.9.  
But when the parts of the earth are so fare descended, as to press down the waters, to the bounds decreed, which they must not pass, nor return again to cover the earth.  
Then, as hath been said, by the power of God, the parts of the earth do again ascend, and so the Sea is withdrawn, and falleth downwards, returning again to its decreed place, in a constant, equal, continued motion, from the very beginning; as no man (I hope) that once apprehendeth these considerations, but will confess, that it is most likely to be ordered, and moved after this manner, and no ways else, especially considering these Scripture grounds.  
And thus much briefly for Scripture grounds, which are fully satisfactory to any rational man, that this is the manner, and way, and motion, both of the Earth, and Sea, equally moving by the power of God, by the word of his power, to wit, his essential word. as Heb. 1.3.  
But for fuller satisfaction, consider also these reasons following, to prove that it must needs be thus, and cannot possibly be otherwise, unless God should excercise his miraculous, and creating power from the very beginning, which that he doth not, as Gen. 2 2. For he rested the seventh day.  
1 Reason. For whither else can so mighty a bulk, or measure of water, as doth increase or raise the whole Sea to such a height of plumb directly upwards, as 6 or 7 yards, and that at every main shore, at the same time, and that also so vast a breadth, as all the Sea is, round about the Earth, so largely circumventing it, as is well known, if it should not thus do.  
Reas. For if the Earth should not rise directly upwards▪ by the force and virtue of his essential word, that upholdeth all things.  
Q. Where could the Sea find place of subsistence for so much of it, as must necessarily subsist in one place or other, else it could not slow so soon after to such height again, without a new cretion of more waters so to fill it with.  
Assum. But God doth not create, and dissolve again, the waters of the Sea from the first beginning, twice every day, as it ebbs and flows, as Gen. 2.2.3.  
Conseq. Therefore it follows, that the earth riseth directly upwards when the Sea ebbs, as hath been said.  
2. Reason, And again, seeing it is manifest as hath been proved, that the womb of the earth, is that decreed place, broken up for it to descend into, when it first was gathered into one place, to let the dry land appear; and not by dissolving, or drying up, or consumption of the water, as Gen. 2.2, 3.  
It is most likely that the same way is held on still; for the ordinary ebbing, and withdrawing of the Sea; as hath been said before.  
3. And if it should not be so, that the Earth ascends, to enlarge both the womb, and the channels of the Sea, to let it in; and also closeth again, to press it forth.  
Then it would necessarily follow, that when the Sea flows it should leave the womb of the earth empty, either of air, or water; which cannot be, for no place can be empried, of any ●ind of substance, but it is presertly filled with air again: But if, it should be filled either with air, or fire; it would keep out the liquid water, for descending any more. And there would always be contention betwixt the air and water, so that it could not ascend, nor descend neither, so quietly as it doth.  
Object. If it be objected that there may be a vent-hole, on some side the earth, for the air to pass in and out through it.  
Answ. I answer, That there is no such place that was ever found: and it must needs be a large one, if there should be any such; that must let in and out, twice over in 24. hours, so much measure of air, as to ebb and flow the main Sea, 6, or 7. yards of direct plumb over all the Sea.  
Therefore these conceits would prove ridiculous, and they are altogether without ground, or reason, from any Scripture testimony.  
But it will be objected, That Aristotle and others were of opinion, that the Moon was 〈◊〉 cause of its ebbing and flowing; who darting her beams into the Sea, caused it to swell; and when the Moon was absent, and under the Earth, it abated again.  
To which I answer, That the Moon hath no beams of any such heat, as to swell the Sea: neither is the Sea hotter, or colder, for the absence, or presence of the Moon over it. And besides, it is manifest, that it both ebbs and flows, whilst the Moon is above the earth; which shows plainly, that though the Moon be appointed for certain seasons, and be set for signs and for seasons, of such things, it increasing and waning, as the Sea doth; and is very needful to be observed in many things which God hath appointed it, to direct us in; both for knowing the time of the ebbing and flowing of the main Sea; and for the felling of timber; and many such things, of which it is a sign; yet for all that, it were ridiculous to affirm, or account it, (any cause at all) either of the Sea its ebbing, or its flowing again; or of any such things; of which it may be observed as signs thereof: Neither was it appointed as any cause at all.  
For God said. Let there be lights in the firmament of the Heaven, to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven, to give light upon the earth; and it was so, Gen. 1. 1●, 15.  
But he never set them, for causes of its ebbing, or flowing either.  
Neither is there any cause, that is able to do it, but the essential word, of the power of God, by which it was created, and by which it is upheld, as it is said of him, Hebr. 1.2, 3 That he by whom also God made the worlds; who is the brightness of his glory, and the express Image of his person; upholding all things by the word of his power, as Hebr. 1. throughout.  
For only he who is Omnipotent, yea whose pure essence, is both in, and through, and in every part, both of the earth and waters; is able to uphold, and to keep in motion, in so constant a manner, from the first creation, both the earth and Sea; as he doth also all the 7. Planets, and the starry Firmament, with such unspeakable swiftness, as we daily see; and as I purpose (God willing) to make appear when time shall serve, to as many as please to read, and consider what I purpose to write to all rational creatures that would know his power, as I purpose in the next.  
But how easy it is, for the great Lord, both of heaven and earth, who is an infinite Spirit, filling both all place, and every substance; from the top, or height, of the highest heavens, to the very bowels, or centre of the earth: yea, and infinitely beyond these, circumventing heavens on every side; and who carrieth about, both the Starry Firmament, and all the Planets, in such a steadfast, constant, unwearied manner, such a  and incredible circumference, in so short a time, as the Mathematics know, and that from the first Creation, yea, causing the morning to know his place. It may easily be believed, that he can easily cause the constant motion, both of the earth and waters, as hath been said, being in, and through them, yea, in every dust of the earth, and every drop of water, as we must needs acknowledge, if we believe the Scriptures, Psal. 139. and 2 Chron. 6.18. Job 26.5, 6.  
Wh●ther shall I go, saith David, from thy spirit, or whither shall I fly from thy presence, etc. Implying, that there is no place, nor any substance, in which he is not present by his Allseeing Spirit: And as the Motion of the Heavens, and of all the Planets do manifestly show, that he is in, and through, and in every part of [them.] Even so the Motion of the Sea, and of the massy Earth, as hath been said, do as manifestly declare, that his Allseeing Spirit, is also in, and through, and in every part, both of the earth and waters, as I could, largely show. But such as believe the Scriptures, will not deny it to be true; though I much doubt, that for want of consideration, it is not settled in their hearts, as it ought to be.  
To make them reverence, and fear that great and fearful Name, even the Lord our God, as they ought to do; the Lord our God being a consuming fire, being able in a moment even to consume all things, that he hath created, as he threatened to consume the Israelites, (as in a moment.) And would have done it, had not Moses stood in the breach.  
But I must not enlarge myself any further in this particular, but to two Printed sheets; therefore I only say to such who know these things, and that confidently bleeve them; settle these things in your hearts, and your hearts shall be settled against Atheism; for you shall thereby be convinced, not only that there is a God, but that his eternal power and Godhead, is in, and through, and in every part, not only of the Earth and Sea, but of all his works, that the Lord God hath created and made; I mean, he is in them, in respect of his Essence, which is unlimitable; Though in respect of the operation or manifestation of himself; It is truly said of some men, that they are (even) sensual, having not the Spirit, Judas 19  
FINIS.   

Octob. 19 1649.  
Imprimatur,  
JOHN DOWNAME.