The Second LECTURE being an Introduction to cosmography: Read publicly at SR. Balthazar Gerbier's ACADEMY. ON bednal green.  ROM. cap. 1. ver. 20. Invisibilia enim Dei a creatura Mundi per ea quae facta sunt, intellecta conspiciuntur: Sempiterna quoque ejus virtus, & Divinitas. The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made. Rom. chap. 1. Vers. 20. 
London Printed for Robert Ibbitson in Smithfield near the Queen's head Tavern, 1649.   

To the Right Honourable the Lord President of the most Honourable council of State.  
Right Honourable,  
HAving given to the public (according to desire) the first Lecture concerning an Introduction to Cosmography, read gratis in the Academy which I have endeavoured to Erect, for the glory of God, the honour of this State and Nation, the encouragement and improvement of all Lovers of virtue. I have accompanied the same (by way of respect and humble duty) with a Dedicatory Epistle to the Right Honourable Speaker of the most Honourable Assembly of Parliament; And accordingly take leave, humbly to present this Printed Lecture to your Lordship, who sits at the Helm of that great council of State, on which the wisest public Ministers of the world look with great observance.  
And as I may humbly conceive this Dedication to be very fit, This Lecture beginning with a Summary Description of the Orders of the Heavens, of their Revolutions, and Distances, so many times by those Orders which pass at the council of State, this part of the world is to be Governed, so as that the Question may prove not inpertinent, whether or no this State shall be a second Earthly Paradise, And all the Revolutions settled answerable to the same, that there be no Distances between Peace, righteousness, and Truth, but that all may be so united, as to meet and kiss each other perpetually, Being the fervent wishes and prayers of  
Right Honourable, Your most humble and obedient Servant Balthazar Gerbier. bednal green, this 5 of Novemb. 1649.   

THE Second Lecture BEING An Introduction to cosmography: Read publicly at Sir Balthazar Gerbier's Academy on Bednall-green.  
IN our first Lecture of Cosmography we declared, what the Sphere is,  
What Heaven is,  
Of the Qualities of the Heavens,  
Of the celestial Region,  
That there are many Heavens or orbs,  
Of the Firmament, or eight Heaven,  
Whether or no the stars be infinite, and how the Astronomers divide them.  
Whether or no the Stars be shining of themselves, and transparent?  
That the Heavens are round, and that their motions are the one within the other, from the East to the West.  
In this Second Lecture, we shall show how that there are two other Heavens, differing from the eight precedent.  
The Order of the Heavens.  
Of the heaven's revolutions.  
Of the heaven's distances.  
Of the Elementary Region.  
Of the Fire, the air, the Water and the Earth.  
That the Earth is in the centre of the World, and that the Earth is unmovable.   


That there are two other Heavens, differing from the eight Heavens, proved in our first Lecture.  
Until the time of Aristotle there were but eight Heavens discovered, because that then there were but observed, but eight different motions in the celestial Bodies, but when afterwards it was observed that the stars had a different motion to that of the world, it was expedient, not to give two contrary motions to a simple Body (as the Heavens are) to suppose a ninth Heaven, the which, as first movable, conveyed by its impetuous swiftness all the others with it. This was the opinion of Ptolemy; and since him Thebit, Alphragan, Albategnius, and other excellent Astronomers, and for the same reason (after that it was observed that there were three different motions in the Firmament) there was added a tenth Heaven, which is the first movable; it moves from East to West in 24 hours on the Poles of the World, drawing by its impetuous swiftness all the other inferior Heavens with it, the which nevertheless turns always contrary to it, performing the course which is proper, and natural to them, from West to East, on the Poles of the Zodiaque, the which they severally achieve in diversity of times. This is also alleged by the learned King Alfonze, John of Lineris, George Purbachiss, John of Monte Region, and others.  
Besides these ten Heavens (which have been observed by the diverse motions of the stars and Planets) there is yet another, the highest and largest of all, the which is unmovable, and its in that Heaven in the which God spreads the beams of his glory to his well-beloved, there is the eternal rest of the happy, or as the Apostle says, Quod oculos non vidit, nec auris audivit, nec in cor hominis ascendit, quae preparavit Deus iis qui diligunt illum, that is to say, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.  
It's named Coelum impereum, that is to say, of fire, because of its pureness,  
But this Heaven being not known unto us, but by divine Revelation, it behooves the Divines and not the Astrologers to discourse of it.   

The Orders of the Heavens or orbs.  
IN times past there were divers opinions touching the order and disposition of the Heavens or orbs, some placing the sun and the Moon above the other Planets, as having authority over them, others as Plato, assuring that the lights were the nearest to the Earth, that their influences might flow with more effect. Some as Democritus, maintaining Mercury to be the highest elevated.  
But in this manner the order of the Heavens is by us proved: First, by the swiftness or slowness of the motions, that is to say, that the Planet which is the longest a finishing its course is of necessity the highest, Saturn performs his in 30 years, Jupiter in 12, Mars in 2. the Sun in 365 days and 6 hours. &c. and therefore it must necessarily follow, that they exceed one another in height.   

Of the Heavens, or orbs Revolutions.  
ALL the Heavens or orbs do sur-round the Earth as a circle doth its centre, and the further they are from it, the longer they are accomplishing their circuits,  
The Moon (as being in the lowermost orb or Heaven, and the nearest to the Earth) makes its revolution in 27 days and 8 hours,  
Mercury, Venus, and the sun, in 365, days, and 6 hours,  
Mars, in one year, three hundred twelve days and 23 hours.  
Saturn, in nine and twenty years, one hundred four and fifty days, and three and twenty hours.  
The Firmament makes a revolution in six and thirty thousand years, and another revolution in seven thousand years.  
The ninth Heaven accomplisheth its course in nine and forty thousand years.  
And the tenth Heaven (of a quite contrary motion to all these) performs his in four and twenty hours or in a natural day,  
These Marvelous revolutions Manifest unto us the Power and greatness of the Omnipotent Providence of him that made them, they likewise daily manifest and Praise him; as the royal Prophet says in the 19 Psa. Coeli enarrant gloriam Dei & opera manuum ejus annuntiat Firmamentum, that is, The Heavens declare the glory of God, and the Firmament showeth his handyworks.   

Of the Heavens or several orbs distances.  
THe Astronomers in their measuring the height of the several orbs, or Heavens, do make use of the earth's half diameter (the half Diameter is of twelve hundred Leagues or thereabouts) and infer thus, that the Heaven of the Moon is distant three and thirty half Diameters from the centre of the Earth, which makes nine and thirty thousand, and six hundred Leagues.  
Mars, one thousand eight hundred and two and fifty half Diameters.  
Jupiter, Seven thousand eight hundred & two & fifty.  
Saturn, Fourteen thousand three hundred and seventy three.  
The Firmament two and twenty thousand six hundred and twelve half Diameters, which are seven and twenty Millions, one hundred four and thirty Thousand, and four Hundred Leagues (These leagues are geometrical leagues, which contain three thousand paces) which is so vast an extent, that if our first father Adam, were yet alive, and that from his Creation he had ascended every day eighteen Leagues towards the Heavens, yet for the present he would not have attained to the concavity of the eight Heaven, and thus much more I may say, for to represent how far distant the stars are from us, That if a Cannon bullet were in that place where the stars are, and that it should descend each hour two hundred leagues: yet would it remain more than 15 years before it could arrive to the Earth.  
Now by the distance of the Heavens, as beforesaid, can be known the thickness of each orb or Heaven, and that by subtracting the lesser distance from the greater following. As for Example, if three and thirty half diameters be subtracted from threescore and four half Diameters, the remainder will be one and thirty half diameters, and of so many half Diameters is the solidity of the moon's Heaven, or orb, and in the like manner, you may find out the others.   

Of the Elementary Region.  
THe Elementary Region, is the concavity of the moon's Heaven, or orb, the which is filled with the four Elements, Fire, air, Water and Earth.  
An Element is a simple Body, the which cannot be divided nor separated into different forms, that there are four Elements is easily proved, since there is nothing so natural as that the things do dissolve into the same parts of the which they are composed, All perfect mixed Bodies ca 〈…〉 into Earth, Water, air, and into Fire, there 〈…〉 both earth, water, air and fire, the which 〈…〉 manifestly shows, for when a green St 〈…〉 of it is seen dissolved into Fire, part into 〈…〉 which is of the nature of air) part into scum, which is of the nature of water, and part of it into ashes which are of the nature of the Earth; and consequently, all other mixed Bodies, as Stones, metals, Plants, animals, &c.  
That they are just four, is also proved by the four humours which are observed to be in the several bodies of animals, as the gall, which answers to the fire, the Blood which answers to the air, the flame which answers to the Water, and the Melancholy humour which answers to the Earth.  
The Fire possesses the highest place of the Elementary Region, as the most purest and the lightest.  
The air is next unto the Element of the Fire, as being purer and lighter than the Water, and Earth.  
The Water is under the air, and above the Earth and the Earth (as heaviest) is the Lowermost, and the centre to all the world.   

Of the Fire.  
THe Fire is an Element extreme hot, and moderately dry.  
Since each Element hath its proper and natural place, Reason wills that the fire should have his, Now since its the purest and the lightest of all the Elements; its natural place must then be in the nearest space unto the concavity of the moon, we do also see that all the Fires lighted here beneath, tend naturally upwards, and are corrupted by the air which environs them, which clearly shows that the natural place of this Element is above the air.  
We cannot see it in its natural place, because it hath no colour; and it does not inflame the Heaven, because the Heaven is not susceptible of any heat, nor of any other alteration.  
The Element of the Fire contains about forty thousand leagues of depth, from its superficial concavity to its convexe.   

Of the air.  
THE air is an Element very moist and moderately hot. Its natural place is the superficial concavity of the Element of the Fire, and the superficial convexe of the Element of Water. But the Water and the Earth making but one Globe (as we shall show hereafter) the place of the air is all the space there remains betwixt the Earth, and the elementary Fire, which space hath thirty leagues of height.  
The air is divided into three Regions, the highest, middlemost, and lowermost.  
The highest Region of the air is hot, and dry by reason of the proximity of the elementary Fire, and of the motions of the Heavens.  
The middlemost is cold and moist, by reason of the vapours, which are elevated by the virtue of the Sun, which thickening and congealing, do refresh the place where they are, and this Region is yet colder by reason of the Antyperistasis; that is to say, by a contrary force, which a contrary Element makes, strengthening itself against a greater strength of a contrary Element.  
The lowermost Region of the air is both hot, cold, and temperate, according as the beams of the sun cast themselves perpendicularly or oblickly thereon.   

Of the Water.  
THE Water is an Element, both extreme cold, and moderately moist.  
The natural place of the Water is between the air and the Earth, so that the Earth ought to be environed, and wholly encompassed by the Waters.  
But God hath caused the Element of the Water, to retire in the concavities of the Earth, for the habitation and preservation both of Men and Animals in their being; there is much to be alleged that may contradict this passage, but this seems to be the most probably true, that God hath ordained it by his absolute power, as it is written in Genesis the first Chapter, Congregentur aquae quae sub Coelo sunt, in locum unum, et appareat arida; that is to say, Let the waters under the Heaven be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.   

Of the Earth.  
THE Earth is an Element both extreme dry, and moderately cold.  
That the Earth is heavier than the Water, is proved thus, That which causes another to yield in heaviness, aught to be heavier than that other. But the Earth causes the water to yield in heaviness, therefore it must needs follow, that the Earth is heavier than the Water; this is proved thus, when any Earth, or a Stone is cast into a vessel full of water, it descends to the bottom, and causes the water to retire; and when the Earth or the Stone, is first at the bottom of the vessel, the water being poured therein, it doth not cause them to retire.  
Against this there are opposed two considerable objections; the one is, that the water is seen to have motion through the Earth, (which happens by the Rain falling on the Earth, and its passing through it;) Its Elementary place must needs then be under the Earth towards which it always runs, and this would not happen, if it were not heavier than the Earth.  
The second Objection is, that seeing there are great gulfs of water found under the Earth (as appears by Wells and fountains) it therefore follows that the elementary place of the water, aught to be under the Earth; for the more water you draw out of a Well, the more there enters into it, which would not be (say they) if there were not great gulfs of water under the ground, which are the sources of Springs.  
But these opinions being maintained by very feeble grounds; we shall answer to the First, That though the name water is seen to descend through the Earth, it is not because its heavier, but only that it fills the pores and concavities thereof, which having done, we may clearly see, it only drives over the superficies of the Earth.  
The answer against the Second is, That the Perennity of Springs doth not proceed from the great water-gulphs under ground, forasmuch that there hath no such thing been known, but to the contrary, that all the Fountains have their origin from the Sea, and that the Earth is full of veins, which contain the water sent from the Sea, for to moisten the Earth, which otherwise could not produce its sundry proprieties. The opening of those veins make a fountain, the fountains engender currents, many currents make a River, many Rivers a flood, which discharges itself in the Sea.  
Against this there is also objected that then the Fountains ought to be brinish and Salt, as the Sea-water is; and secondly, that the Springs being much higher than the Sea, the motion ought to ascend▪ which is contrary to the nature of water. The answer to it is, that the saltness of the water is purged by the long and narrow traces which it makes within the stony and sandy places through which it passeth, which is evident in the greatest part of such fountains as pass by the Rocks, since they are much purer, and cleaner than those which run through fat and fenny grounds.  
For the Springs, it is not incongruous to say, that the water ascends from the Sea to them, because its a motion made by attraction.   

That the Earth is in the middle of the World.  
THE Philosopher Aristarchus Samienus, did believe that the Earth was not in the middle of the World, but that the sun was in the middle, and being there as unmovable, it gave light to all the world: This Philosophers esteeming it to be a great absurdity, that the Earth which produceth an infinite number of movable animals, should be unmovable and that the cause should be of a worse condition, than its effect: This opinion hath been since renewed by Copernicus (an excellent Astronomer) who did strive to prove it in his revolutions.  
But the contrary is proved thus, The Stars (which are in the Firmament) whether they be in the middle of the Heaven towards the East, or towards the West, appear always of one and the self same bigness, which would not happen, if the earth were not equally distant from it; for if the Earth were nearer to the Firmament in one place then the other, it would follow that from the part of the superficies of the Earth nearest to the Firmament, the half of the Heaven could not be seen, which is against the opinion of Ptolemy, and of all the Philosophers, who say, that in what part soever of the Earth a man is, he may see six signs of the zodiac to rise, and six to descend, so there be no hindrance, and thus always half of the Heaven is seen, and the other half hidden.  
It is also proved thus, the further the moon goes from the sun, the more it augments its light to our consideration; therefore when it's at the full, it is at the furthest distance that possibly may be from the sun; and so it must of necessity be on the Diameter of the Heaven, and then the half of the Heaven will be between the Sun and the moon, when it's at the full.  
The same is proved also by the Ecilpses of the moon; for when the Moon is eclipsed, half of the Heaven is interposed between the sun and the moon, because the moon never eclipses but in its full; therefore if the earth were not interposed, there would be no eclipse, since by the interposition of the Earth, the shadow is made; as also the Equinoxe would not be throughout the whole world. The long Artificial days would not equal the long▪ artificial nights, and an infinite number of other absurdities would follow; and therefore we will conclude, that the Earth, as the heaviest element, hath been placed in the lowermost place, and the lowermost place of necessity must be that which is the furthest from the Heavens, and the place which is the furthest from the Heavens, cannot but be the centre, therefore the Earth is in the centre; that is to say, in the middle of the Heavens, or of the World.   

That the Earth is unmovable.  
THE Earth cannot have any motion, for if it should move, it must needs either be out of its place, or circularly on its centre: If it moves out of its place, its motion must be either upwards or downwards, downwards it cannot, because it's at the centre. It cannot move upwards, because it's against the nature of heavy things, and then the proofs here before mentioned do suffice; for it would else quit its centre, and then the stars would not always appear of the selfsame greatness, which is absurd; therefore if it hath any motion, it must be circularly on its centre.  
Neither can its motion be circularly according to Copernicus his opinion; because that if it were so, it must turn on the Axe of the World, or on some other.  
If it be on the Axe of the World, it must perform its course in twenty four hours, by reason of the first movable, and then by such a violent motion the buildings would be shaken, the Birds, the Clouds, (and all what is seen in the air) would always incline toward the West, as not being able to follow the swift motion of the Earth.  
Nor can it move by any other way, be the motion never so slow, because that a town placed either more or less distant from the Pole, would then have divers elevations, because that the circumference (which the motion of the earth would cause it to make about the Pole) would not be parallel to it, which can never happen; therefore it's concluded that the earth is at the centre without any motion.  
But Copernicus answers to these Reasons, and infers on the motion of twenty four hours, that though its very swift; yet nevertheless it hath its due proportions, and may be resembled to a rest; as those who are in a Boat sit at their ease, though the Boat swiftly moves, which is also more evident in a Pale full of water, which may be turned about in the air, four or five times without spilling a drop.  
Yet nevertheless this answer which he holds forth is to little purpose, since that if the earth should perform its course in twenty four hours, and that having eight thousand leagues of circuit to accomplish, it must then make five or six leagues in a minute of an hour; and if a Stone being cast up into the air should remain a minute of an hour in its ascent or descent, it would then fall five or six leagues beyond the place from whence it was flung, which hath never been seen nor heard of.  
Nevertheless he answers to this reason, and says, that the earth doth not only turn, but the air also with an equal swiftness, which causes the earth, the Man, the air, and the Stone to turn, all by an equal swiftness.  
But suppose this were; then there would happen two inconveniencies which are against all experience; The first is, that if a man should shoot an arrow with all his force towards the East, and contrary to the motion of the air; and that the same man should shoot such another arrow towards the West (according to the motion of the air) the arrow shot towards the West with the motion of the Air, will go much swifter, for having the air to back it, than that shot towards the West for having the air against it, the which contradicts to experience itself.  
The second is, That those things supported by the air, the lighter they are, the further they are carried; the heavier they are, the less are they transported, it must therefore follow, that if from the top of a Tower, a Stone, and a Hat should be flung, the Hat would be carried a great deal further than the Stone, which is also against experience.  
Those which maintain the motion of the earth, are forced to set the sun at the centre; and although this opinion be as far from a seeming truth, as from the truth itself; nevertheless as the haughtiness of man's wit tends to affect always some particular point, so there are many found, who have more passion than reason, and will maintain things which they themselves know to contradict reason, only to give an Essay of their wit and eloquence, but these are mere flashes, and directly against the holy Scriptures, where it is said in the 1. Epistle, & 10. Verse of St. Paul to the Hebrews, Et tu in Principio Domine terram Fundasti; that is to say, And thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the Foundations of the Earth stable; and by the same unreprovable words, it is likewise proved, that the Sun hath its course and motion, and that therefore it cannot be at the centre of the world. Needs there any other allegation or instance hereon, than the commandment which Joshua gave to the sun to retard its course, as it is written in the 10. Chapter, 12. and 13. Verses of the book of Joshua, Sol contra Gabaon ne movearis, et Luna donec ulciscereturse gens de inimicus suis; that is to say, sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon, and thou moon in the valley of Ajalon: And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the people of Israel had avenged themselves on their enemies.  
We will not trouble you with a further search of any other motions, since these are sufficiently deducted and confirmed.  
But in all Ages there have been such critics, only for to make themselves famous, and to be spoken of; and hereat we need not to wonder, since there are so many diverse opinions and beliefs extant, which repugn directly against the holy Scriptures, and against the Articles of our Faith, whereon our Salvation is grounded.  
Let us conclude therefore this Lecture, with all due acknowledgement and admiration, that God hath been pleased in his infinite incomprehensible bounty to create for our use (who are but dust and ashes) these inaccessible Heavens; as also the Sun, Moon, and Stars, prescribing unto them their several infallible courses, and admirable Order, for as he is above them all, he needs them out. But we cannot subsist without them; our eyes would not stand us in stead, unless we do make use of them (as the two great lights of our bodies) to contemplate and study the admirable order, motion, and distance of the great lights of Heaven, which by their marvellous operations and courses, do manifest to the good and bad (who do equally enjoy the light of the sun, Moon, and Stars) the glory, excellency, power, and bottomless riches of God, and who do confound those wilful blind Atheists, more to be abhorred (if possible could be) than the devils, for that devils do acknowledge God, though they do not believe in him.  
We know that some will be apt to allege that divers great and wise men have not believed that there is a God. But those were more than blind, and bereaved of all their senses, and far worse than Swine, who never look up to the oak whence the acorns fall down to them.  
Certainly they were greater enemies than friends to knowledge, being they studied not to know the Principle of all, the Author of Immortality, and seeing they denied that point, it's no wonder they denied the Divine Providence. Neither was it an ill observation, that all those Philosophers who were Atheists, had not studied the Art of Cosmography. But alas to what purpose doth Hell, the devils, and Furies serve, and against whom do they enrage, and where do they discharge their furies, if they should not swallow these Monsters, who do not apprehend that the sun might eclipse, or that it should withdraw its beams, condemning them to an eternal night? for that they do not remember their Creator in the days of their youth; when the Sun, or the Moon, or the Stars be not darkened.   

O Great and merciful God, let all men acknowledge thee in thy Works, as well as see thee by Faith, since thy works are the visible messengers, and witnesses of thy Power and Mercy!  
Let all men adore and love thee for that thou art; Let their soul's profit by every thing that argues that thou art the same, who said to Moses, Ego sum qui sum, I am that I am.  
And finally, let all men acknowledge, that as by an infallible computation the height of the Heavens is argued to be such, as that if a Canon bullet should descend two hundred leagues in one hour, it would be more than fifteen years ere it could arrive to the superficies of the earth: Yet Lord, and merciful Father, thou hast made all men's hearts (which by sin were become hard as flint, and certainly heavier than a Canon bullet) capable to ascend unto thee in a moment by Faith; not only seven and twenty millions one hundred four and thirty thousand, and four hundred leagues as beforesaid, but so much more higher, as thou art above all those Heavens.  
Continue this wonder of all wonders, and suffer us so to advance in knowledge, that the more we study and know, the more we may become capable to be united unto thee.   
The end of the second Lecture of COSMOGRAPHY.