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CHAP. XXVII.
Of Cosmimetry.
LET us have a few words now concerning Cos∣mimetry, which is divided into Cosmography and Geography: both measure the World, and di∣stinguish it into Parts; the First, according to a me∣thod drawn from the Heavenly Bodies, by distinguish∣ing Places as they are Situated under such Stars or Constellations, measuring them by Scales of Degrees, or Minutes, by Climates, by the difference of Day or Night, Points of the Winds, various risings of the Stars, Elevations of the Pole, Parallels, Meridians, shadows
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of Gnomons, and the like; all which is performed by Mathematical Rules. The Second not regarding any thing of the Celestial Bodies, measures the World by Furlongs and Miles; divides it into Mountains, Woods, Lakes, Rivers, Seas and Shores, Nations, People, King∣doms, Provinces, Cities, Ports, and whatever else is worthy taking Notice of.
They Native Customes, Native Habits shew,
And what each Region suffers there to grow.
And in imitation of Painting according to the Rules of Geometry and Perspective, describe the whole World in Plain Tables or Maps.
In little Volumes Painting all the World.
Of this they reckon Chorography to be a part, which undertaking the particular Description of particular Places, sets them out more fully and accurately.
Each part distinguish'd, various order yields
Of Vines, of Woods, of Meadows, Fountains, Fields.
Behold, how swelling Streams the Ocean fill!
There falls a Valley, there a mounting Hill
With wooddy top assails the distant Stars.
All these things, and whatever we have before spo∣ken of in this Chapter, Cosmimetry teaches in chief. But what Authors shall instruct us in this Art! so ma∣nifold are the Contentions among them about Bounds, Longitudes, Latitudes, Magnitudes, Measures, Distan∣ces, Climates, and Qualities of Countries. All which Eratosthenes has one way explained, Strabo another; another way Marinus; another way Ptolomy; another way Dionysius; another way the Later Authors. Nei∣ther
Page 76
do they agree about the Navil or Middle of the Earth, which Ptolomy places under the Equinoctial Circle; Strabo believes it to be the Mountain Parnassus in Greece: with whom Plutarch, and Lactantius the Grammarian agree, and believe, That in the time of the Deluge it was the only Mark of distinction between the Skies and the Water.
When all the World lay all in Water drown'd,
This only appear'd, the Waters utmost bound.
But if this reason be the only satisfactory reason of that Opinion, then shall not Parnassus of Greece, but Gordi∣cus a Mountain of Armenia be the Navel of the Earth, which, as Berosus testifies, first appearing above the Waters, was the first resting Place of the Ark. Others Assign other places, and how the middle of the Earth was found out by the flying of Eagles. There are some Divines, who thrusting their Sickle into this Corn, will have Jerusalem to be the Middle of the Earth; because it is written by the Prophet, God hath wrought Salvation in the middle of the Earth. Lucretius, Lactan∣tius, and Austin, fall under the same Censure, who have so constantly deny'd the Antipodes; as also those who deny any other Habitable Part beyond Europe, Asia, and Africa; which notwithstanding we find to be ut∣terly false, by the Voyages and Discoveries of the Spa∣niards and Portugals; who also confirm to us all the Torrid Zone to be Inhabited, contrary to the Fables and Trifles of the Poets. Other Errors of the Geographers we have recited in the Chapter of History. Now this Art that undertakes to teach us to Describe and Mea∣sure so large a World, such unsearchable Seas, and discover to us the Scituation of all Islands and Regi∣ons, Bounds, and remarkable Places; together with the Originals, Customs, Manners, and different Dispo∣sitions
Page 77
of innumerable Nations, what fruit doth it further yield us? but only that it makes us covetous to pry into the Concernments of other people, while we forget our selves; and as St. Austin in his Confessi∣on saith, Men Travel to admire the high Mountains, the Prodigious Waves of the Sea, the large and dismal Falls of Rivers, the Compass of the Ocean, and the Rounds of the Stars; but in the mean time, forsake themselves. Pliny saith, That it is a madness to Mea∣sure the Earth; which while we endeavour to mea∣sure, we go our selves beyond all bounds.
Of Cosmimetry.
LET us have a few words now concerning Cos∣mimetry, which is divided into Cosmography and Geography: both measure the World, and di∣stinguish it into Parts; the First, according to a me∣thod drawn from the Heavenly Bodies, by distinguish∣ing Places as they are Situated under such Stars or Constellations, measuring them by Scales of Degrees, or Minutes, by Climates, by the difference of Day or Night, Points of the Winds, various risings of the Stars, Elevations of the Pole, Parallels, Meridians, shadows
Page 75
of Gnomons, and the like; all which is performed by Mathematical Rules. The Second not regarding any thing of the Celestial Bodies, measures the World by Furlongs and Miles; divides it into Mountains, Woods, Lakes, Rivers, Seas and Shores, Nations, People, King∣doms, Provinces, Cities, Ports, and whatever else is worthy taking Notice of.
They Native Customes, Native Habits shew,
And what each Region suffers there to grow.
And in imitation of Painting according to the Rules of Geometry and Perspective, describe the whole World in Plain Tables or Maps.
In little Volumes Painting all the World.
Of this they reckon Chorography to be a part, which undertaking the particular Description of particular Places, sets them out more fully and accurately.
Each part distinguish'd, various order yields
Of Vines, of Woods, of Meadows, Fountains, Fields.
Behold, how swelling Streams the Ocean fill!
There falls a Valley, there a mounting Hill
With wooddy top assails the distant Stars.
All these things, and whatever we have before spo∣ken of in this Chapter, Cosmimetry teaches in chief. But what Authors shall instruct us in this Art! so ma∣nifold are the Contentions among them about Bounds, Longitudes, Latitudes, Magnitudes, Measures, Distan∣ces, Climates, and Qualities of Countries. All which Eratosthenes has one way explained, Strabo another; another way Marinus; another way Ptolomy; another way Dionysius; another way the Later Authors. Nei∣ther
Page 76
do they agree about the Navil or Middle of the Earth, which Ptolomy places under the Equinoctial Circle; Strabo believes it to be the Mountain Parnassus in Greece: with whom Plutarch, and Lactantius the Grammarian agree, and believe, That in the time of the Deluge it was the only Mark of distinction between the Skies and the Water.
When all the World lay all in Water drown'd,
This only appear'd, the Waters utmost bound.
But if this reason be the only satisfactory reason of that Opinion, then shall not Parnassus of Greece, but Gordi∣cus a Mountain of Armenia be the Navel of the Earth, which, as Berosus testifies, first appearing above the Waters, was the first resting Place of the Ark. Others Assign other places, and how the middle of the Earth was found out by the flying of Eagles. There are some Divines, who thrusting their Sickle into this Corn, will have Jerusalem to be the Middle of the Earth; because it is written by the Prophet, God hath wrought Salvation in the middle of the Earth. Lucretius, Lactan∣tius, and Austin, fall under the same Censure, who have so constantly deny'd the Antipodes; as also those who deny any other Habitable Part beyond Europe, Asia, and Africa; which notwithstanding we find to be ut∣terly false, by the Voyages and Discoveries of the Spa∣niards and Portugals; who also confirm to us all the Torrid Zone to be Inhabited, contrary to the Fables and Trifles of the Poets. Other Errors of the Geographers we have recited in the Chapter of History. Now this Art that undertakes to teach us to Describe and Mea∣sure so large a World, such unsearchable Seas, and discover to us the Scituation of all Islands and Regi∣ons, Bounds, and remarkable Places; together with the Originals, Customs, Manners, and different Dispo∣sitions
Page 77
of innumerable Nations, what fruit doth it further yield us? but only that it makes us covetous to pry into the Concernments of other people, while we forget our selves; and as St. Austin in his Confessi∣on saith, Men Travel to admire the high Mountains, the Prodigious Waves of the Sea, the large and dismal Falls of Rivers, the Compass of the Ocean, and the Rounds of the Stars; but in the mean time, forsake themselves. Pliny saith, That it is a madness to Mea∣sure the Earth; which while we endeavour to mea∣sure, we go our selves beyond all bounds.