{αβγδ}

The proper and genuine significancy of this word ,

In the Head Captain . In the abstract in the Head-Captainship . The very naming of this word doth hold forth Christ with admiration at our first entrance into the Bible , O , in him who is the Head-Captain , &c.

The further opening of several secrets in Nature , and mysteries in Grace , grounded upon the Letter and Spirit of that significancy of [ Reashith ; ] In propriety of speech [ Reashith ] must have the significancy of [ Roash . ] Whereas [ a beginning ] doth not carry a meaning adaequate thereunto : For , every head is not the first beginning of that unto which the head doth belong ; As [ Roash Shibboleth ] the head of a corn-ear , Job 24.24 . The head of this springing , growing creature is not the first beginning of it ; For , after the quickning and rooting of the Seed sown , and some putting forth of itself , there is {αβγδ} Mar . 4.27 , 28 , 29 , First the blade , {αβγδ} then , afterward , or after that the ear , and {αβγδ} after that the full ear .

And every beginning is not the head , there is {αβγδ} Heb . 3.14 . the beginning of subsistence , which we are to hold , the beginning of that special Grace of Faith , or , of that greater degree of assurance , which we are to hold by persevering in that Doctrine of Faith , in which formerly we have been instructed , and of which we have made profession ; which Grace doth put some kind of being or subsistence into the things of Christian Religion ; and which doth under Christ in the supplies of his Spirit , sustain or support Believers at present , about what they hope for , and is yet to come ; yet is not this faith or confidence the head of this , for Christ alone must be acknowledged to be the head of this ; he and he only is the head of Faith , and of every other Grace , of perseverance and growth therein . All Grace flows from his Mediatoral Headship : Faith in Believers was derived from Christ , and must be preserved by and in him , Heb . 12.2 . Although beginning be a word very properly attributed to Christ . There must be some Head beginner of Creatures , before they could have a created Being . Here Christ alone hath the honour to be {αβγδ} . Rev. 3.14 . The beginning of the Creation of God , All things having been Created by him , Eph. 3.9 .

He was by solemn unction put into the Principate , from the Head , from the Original Beginnings , or Primordial Antiquities of the Earth , Prov. 8.23 . Creatures were but passive at the first , and did receive their make from Christ , who was their active principle : He the Aleph , the Alpha , in all the Created Alphabet , the first before them all , Rev. 1.8 , 11. & 21.6 , & 22.13 . he was {αβγδ} Jo . 1.1 . Yea {αβγδ} he calls himself , Joh . 8.24 25 , 55 , & {αβγδ} [ I , the Beginning and the [ I am ] before Abraham was made , I am , even Jehovah Mashiach : Creatures were made by me , as if he had said , and had their Beginning of existence and essence by me : What was Abrahams [ made ] to my [ am ? ] My AM had Priority before , his MADE , or any other Creatures MADE .

Thus Christ is the Head of all Empire and Power , Col. 2.10 . The Head of every Man , 1 Cor . 11.3 . of every Creature ; chiefly , in a special relation , Head of his Church , giving Spiritual life , motion , vigor , salvation to the whole , and every Member of the mystical body , Eph. 5.25 . & 1.21 , 22 , 23. & 4.15 , 16. Col. 1.15 - 18 & 2.19 . Not only he himself {αβγδ} , the Primate , who firsting it in all , but he himself is {αβγδ} the Head , {αβγδ} he himself in both .

Reashith beriath Aelohim , Rev. 3.14 . so Hutterus his Hebrew doth word it , the Reashith of the Creature of Aelohim , as one of the principal of Christ's Honorary Titles ; and the Syriac Reashith the same , Rishaa decul dabberea Laa-lahaa , Rev. 22.13 . in the same harmony , Ani hua haa aleph , Reashith hariashon . I , he , that Aleph , the Reashith , that heading one ; Rishith again in the Syriac . The letter , A , not only in Hebrew and Greek , but in other Languages , literarum caput , the head of letters . The Crown of this must be set upon Christs Head , and his alone , he is to bear all this Glory : There is no such Aleph tenebrosum , no dark , deformed Aleph , there is no such a nothing beginning of universal matter , as Apocriphal Philosophy has created the meer fiction of : All things were made by this Reashith , without him there was not as much as any one thing that was made , He the Head-causer of all and every Created Beings . Joh . 1.1 , 3 , ( Isa . 44.6 , 24. ) he was the Reashith , Joh . 1.2 . spoken of ●●n . 1.1 . who was with those Aelohim : It is twice mentioned , both in the Hebrew of Hutterus , and also of the Syriac , Brishith . Where note in the way , that , it was a great defect in the Publishers of the Polyglot-Bibles , that in the New Testament they have left out Hutterus his Hebrew , which would have cast great light from the Old upon the New , and from the New upon the Old , Testament , both from the sameness of the words and phrases in some places in both , and from the variety of expressing the same thing in other words and phrases in some other places .

This first word in the Bible is only peculiarly applicable to Christ : Reashith is his Name and Nature , both in Type and Antitype , Num . 18.12 . Reashitham , Prov. 8.22 . Reashith was Anointed to this Office of Head-Captain , v. 23 so 1 Cor . 15.20 . Reashith , in Hutterus his Hebrew , and Rishathaa in Syriac , Col. 2.10 , 19 , & 1.18 . Roash in Hutters Hebrew , Rishaa in Syriac , Joh . 1.1 . Bereashith hajah haddabar , so in Hutter , the very same word with this first word in the Bible , the Book of Books , in the Head-Captainship was ( {αβγδ} , truly subsisted , so is the proper nature of that substantive verb , noting existence and subsistence , Christ had his Being then ) this word ( Essential ) in the Syr . it is Brishith : So again , v. 2. Bereashith in Hebr . Brishith in Syr . To this well agreeth Gen. 1.1 . Bereashith , with Gen. 2.1 . where all the Host of the Heaven and the Earth , are expresly brought in as militating under this Head-Captain ; ( Compare Numb . 14.4 . Judg . 7.16 , 20. & 9.34 , 37 , 43 , 44. 1 Sam . 11.11 . & 13.17 , 18. Job 1.17 . Joh . 5.13 , 14 , 15. Psal . 24.8 , 10. Isa . 55.4 . Heb . 12.2 . {αβγδ} ; and it is worth the noting , the Greek in Heb . 10.7 . that , as soon as the Bible inrolled is unrolled , the very first word doth write of Christ , {αβγδ} , saith Christ of himself , In the head of the Bible it is written of me ; there you should begin with Christ's Headship , Psal . 40.7 . He who would understand this must examine the Original .

O how much sweetness would this put into all our Readings and Meditatings upon the holy Scriptures of Truth , that , from the beginning , to the end of the Bible , Christ doth both begin and end the Old Testament , Gen. 1.1 . Mal . 4.2 , 5. and also the New , Matth . 1.1 . Rev. 22.16 , 20 , 21. and he runs all thorow , both Old and New , Col. 3.16 . Heb . 13.8 .

Orig . {αβγδ}

Signif . He created , or , he made to be ( what before was not in being , pure , perfect , choice every way , as to all those usefulnesses and ends , for which such a Being was given . ) If this be enquired , what was done in and by this Head-Captain ?

Expla . Creation is the causing of a finite Being to exist or be from an absolute nothing , as the Negative term , or pure Negation from which it doth commence , not out of which it is made ; for , nothing cannot contribute any thing to , or towards a Being : What is said here to be created , did then , and not till then , begin to be , and to exist ; for , immediately before That , it might be said of them as of the Abysses , Prov. 8.24 . and of the Fountains Beaein , In-not : And Rom. 4.17 . {αβγδ} , not being : And Heb . 11.3 . {αβγδ} , not of any such things as by any reason or manner could be known , or discerned as being , mibbeli-mah ni reh , in not what was see-able ; so Hutterus ; The Creatures were made , not of any thing that did , or could appear , not of any pre-existent matter , not out of any confused Chaos , or lumpish heap of common matter , this Creator needed not such stuff or matter , as men now do , to work upon : The created Beings here spoken of , being heterogeneous one from another , specifically different in the very formality of their Essence and Existence , must consequently be heterogeneous from any such pretended First matter . It is a point of Faith to believe this .

That Pretended First universal matter , the infinite confused Chaos , that dark Abyssal nothing , that eternal unintelligible Ain , Nihil , Non-ens , nothing which some of the old , and others of the new Philosophers assert to be that Catholick Treasury , and Original Store-house of matter , out of which all the Creatures had their Essences and Existences , is but an imaginary Figment , and a Non-entity , meer Nullity , and must fall together with its impossible attempt of any real transmutation of nothing into something : A deformed Brat of Ignorance and Unbelief , not rightly understanding , nor duly applying the true meaning and proper significancy of Tohu , Bohu , and Choshoc , of which in their places ; For , the whole world of vain Affecters of human Wisdom , may be challenged to render word for word , the natural significancy , the genuine sense , and proper grammar of the two first Verses , in the first Chapter ( as men have wrongfully divided them ) in the beginning of the Bible , In this Frenchilying , Frenchified Age , the Gallic word for nothing is Rien , from the Latine Res . A thing , as , s'il est Rien en quoy Je te puisse servir , if in any thing I may be to thee of use , or , I may serve thee , and s' il y a Rien que te nuise , if there be any thing which is a nusance to thee , or which would hurt thee : So that properly Rien in French is a thing , but they take it for nothing , though no Negation be expressed . Nothing in Saxon is Nanthinge , in Low-Dutch Niet , q . N' jet , or ne jet , not any thing , not a jot , or jod ; in Italian Nente , a Non-entity ; in Latine , Nil , nihil , nihilum , q . ne hilum , not the least thing can stick to the grain of a Bean ; in Greek {αβγδ} , not so much as any one thing , though never so little . Let therefore their non-entitative Chaos pass for a nothing , a Neant , as the French better express it in another word , a Non-ens , a no-being .

This is the work of an Omnipotent Agent in his incommunicable Essence , in his glorious singularities , and peculiar properties , which are not impartable to any meer creature , Job 9.8 . Lebaddo , Isa . 44.6 , 24. Lebaddo meitti alone from-with me , Neh . 9.6 , 7. Attab hua , &c. 1 Chron . 29.11 . Isa . 40 . 12-18 , 25 , 26. & 41.20 , 23. Rom. 1.20 , 21. Jer . 10 , 11 , 12. All made pure , and perfect , and good , Deut. 32.4 . Gen. 1.4 , 10 , 12 , 18 , 21 , 25 , 31. Christ here steps in to be considered as Head , in a threefold respect : more largely , generally , and comprehensively , he is Head of the whole Creation , Eph. 1.22 . Col. 1.16 , 17. More particularly he is Head of Angels ; Col. 2.18 , 19. 1 Cor . 11.3 . More specially he is the Elect of Angels , and of Men , 1 Tim . 5.21.22 , 23. & 4.15 , 16. & 5.23 . Col. 1 . 12-20 . & 2.18 , 19. O how fruitful matter of heavenly meditation is here , should I enlarge upon it !

Let me take occasion here to be finishing of this part of my Testimony against that great wrong which is done unto the holy Scriptures in many places by man's dividing of them into so many Chapters , and their chopping and mincing the Chapters into so many Verses , from one hint of this given some few lines before .

To begin this Observation with the Diary of the first week of the created World in the distinct seven days thereof , which was , is , and will be the just measure of all the succeeding weeks in their successive courses , both for working , and for keeping weekly Sabbath , by an unchangeable Law of established order , both in the revealed Word , and in created Nature . Which great Truth and Duty of the present Age and Day , is much hid from a common Eye , by dividing the three first Verses of the second Chapter from the first Chapter ; whereas these put together , as they ought to be , are one entire History of the Creation of this World , and should be considered distinctly and apart , it being compleat in it self , and would be many ways very useful , it so meditated on ; as Shem Acher hath discovered in the second part of a Treatise of his , called All in one , &c.

For that Journal of the Creation being in a short comprehensive History finished , there is an entrance upon a new Narration of the After-generation and production of these Created Beings in their several kinds according to their Creator's appointment .

This Division , as we have it brought to our hands , being a Humane Invention , is expresly forbidden , Deut. 4.2 . Prov. 30.5 , 6. Rev. 22.18 , 19. Any discerning , considering Reader , may observe how it doth break off abruptly in many other historical passages of Scripture . There is very often a change made in the distinction of Sentences , and in the members of those distinctions , which doth much alter the sense . It is a great oversight in the English Translations , that they have left out many of the Titles of the Psalms in numbring of their Verses .

The accents hereby are changed ! they make Sophpasuc and Silluk alwaies to end the verse with a full point , which should not be : The doctrine of accents is hereby little understood , and less attended . The Reader by stopping at the end of a Chapter doth not take in the whole of some particular subject-matter , and for that cause cannot be so profited , Scriptures are not made so familiarly indwelling . Both the speaker and hearer doth often mistake citations and quotations , when they remember not Chapter and verse aright , by which means those Scriptures themselves are not so minded nor improved . We have no such partitions mentioned in Scripture , and there are some editions of the New Testament without them , of which I have one of them in the Greek ; the dividing of it as now it is mangled , being reported to be the work of one mans fancy , as he was travelling in a Journey , and had such a thought arising in his heart , that it might be of use so to pluck it limb by limb , and part by part from it self . Hence the Jews brought in their Parasha , or great Sections of Moses his Law , each of which was a Lecture on the Sabbath-day , which they read in their Synagogues , Act. 15.21 . In all 54 Sections in the Law which they read over in 52 Sabbaths , joining two of the shortest with some other , to finish the whole in one years space : and in imitation of this , some Christians Antichristianized brought in their stinted readings of Gospels and Epistles on their Sundays , which they miscall their Dominical days : thus is the New Testament corrupted in the Syriac edition of it , after the manner of the Common-Prayer-Book . Hierom is said in History thus to parcel out the Gospels at the command of Damasus , Bishop of Rome An. Ch. 370. and Paulus Diacorius Aquileiensis added the choppings of the Epistles of the Apostles to it , An. 770. others refer it to one Musaeus in the time of Pope Leo the First , An. 441. and so it hath been handed down by corrupt Tradition to this day : Whoever did it , it is a Popish Invention . How many Verses have but a comma in the Original , and not a full point in the end of them ? and how many are the Chapters that do begin with a rational Illative Particle , if at all minded by the most of Readers ? Jehovah will have a time to plead the cause , and to vindicate the honour of his own pure sayings , which shall be in this sense also , Silver tried in a subliming Furnace of Earth , fined seven times , Psal . 12.6 . perfectly purged of all humane drosses , and Antichristian corruptings .

Orig . {αβγδ}

Signif . Aelohim , or , the adored Almighties , or supreme Judges designating their Dominion , Power and Authority in relation to the Creatures , exercised and exerted towards them , pronouncing and threatning , executing a Curse against and upon them , if they rebel against the Creator and Redeemer , who alone can keep off , or take off that Curse .

Expla . If it be asked , who he is , the Creating One , giving a Being to his Creatures , of whom it is here said He Created ? The answer is , he is Aelohim . It is one of the singular excellencies of the Holy Scriptures of truth in the Original Hebrew , that , it is mostly by way of Question and Answer , which , if rightly understood , spiritually discerned , and well improved , would make it to shine forth in admirable clearness of-self-evidence , to be one of its own best Commentaries and Expositions , and would take off all objections and exceptions against a litteral version and translation of the Hebrew Text , word for word , without any humane additaments , supplements , or alterations of sense , however misjudging ones do account it harsh and unelegant , and blaspheming ones do charge it to be insignificant non-sense . For by this which I have here mentioned , it doth carry its own letters testimonial along with it , and doth commend its incomparable preferrableness to all the Sons of Wisdom ( who will justify her herein ) above and beyond all and every of the not-God-inspired writings of meer men that ever were , are , or will be .

Let it be upon this occasion more thoroughly researched into by all those unto whom Jehovah Aelohim has freely given holy skill , and a willing heart , to put this Art of Arts , and Science of Sciences in Scripture-knowledges upon some farther advancement , whether seeing that , the savoury understanding ( the Hebrews naming and calling the accents Tagnamim , Tasts , Sapors , such as do give a relish to the nature and sense of every word ) of the true good meaning of the Hebrew accents is so much hid , even from the most of those who yet do study this Tongue , they being generally discouraged from searching into the Grammar of accents , because they are so numerous , and further , because they assign some uses of several of them to belong only to Musick , or , the manner of song amongst the Jews , who do rather sing than read the Hebrew-text , which accents they call Tonic accents , and there being divers other accents , which they name Euphonick , for the better sound in pronunciation of Syllables , either sound inflex , acute , or grave , the rest they acknowledge to be distinctive of the members of a sentence , exercising some impire upon points , in the several parts of an oration . That which I propound to be considered here is this , whether , whatever there may be further contended for as to the Tonic or Euphonic use , yet whether there be not something of distinctiveness in every natural genuine Hebrew accent , which would contribute some special usefulness in this inquiry about the passing of the Hebrew Text much into Question and Answer .

As for the word Aelohim , it would not be passed over without some special observand and due remark , it being expressly mentioned thirty and five times in this short summary , and diary or journal of the whole Created World , in seven days in one compleat week .

From hence comes Aalah , to adjure , to bind unto subjection and obedience under a Curse , under a commination of Judgment : A name of Divine Authority and Judge-ship , in which name Father , Son , and holy Spirit in one Jehovah ( for , I discern no sufficient cause why we should be dispiritedly frighted , or sophistically wrangled , out of our belief of three distinct Subsistences in one Jehovah-essence , couched in the significancy of this noun plural joyned with a verb singular , altho we have many other expressful Scriptures for the confirmation of this great useful Truth and Doctrine of the Christian Religion , Deut. 6.4 . Isa . 54.5 . 2 Cor . 13.14 . 1 Joh . 5.5 , 6 , 7. and in many other places ; I say , they ( in this name ) do as it were enter into Covenant with the Creatures to bless them , if they continue in their loyalty and due subjection , otherwise threatning a Curse against them , if they transgress the laws of their Creation , Gen. 1.22 , 28. & 3 . 14-19 . Which Curse is no other way taken off from the Creature , but by Christ being made a Curse : no blessing bestowed upon the Creature , but in , from , and by this Jehovah Aelohim in this Reashith , who purchased these blessings .

This Lord Christ , was anointed unto the Office of both Creator and Redeemer , as the one and the only Mediator , as he stands in relation to Jehovah , the Father Son , and Spirit , and also to the Creatures , Gen. 1.1 . Col. 1.12 . Galat . 3.10 , 13 , Eph. 1 . 3.4-10 . Hence the Arabic Alah to worship , it being only his peculiar to have Divine Worship given to him , which may not be given to any Aelohim● , after-ones , to whom Metaphorically this word is sometimes attributed ; none else having properly in essentiality his Divine Properties , Praecellencies , Riches of Free-Grace , and gloriousness of Supream Justice , with other Royal Singularities , and incommunicable Prerogatives , Exod . 20.3 . Hence also comes Aejal power , and Ael , strong , mighty , its singular is Aeloah .

Orig . {αβγδ}

Signif . Those same Heavens , or Those , Those Heavens ( as if it had been said , Those , and I say it a second time , Those Heavens , or Those self-same Heavens , and no other . )

Expl. When it shall be enquired after , what it was , that these Elohim did create ? let them know , that , they were those upper , highest Heavens .

There is no idle , insignificant word or letter , in all the Original-Hebrew-Scriptures , Matth . 5.18 . It all hath its usefulness , were it throughly understood . It is a gross mistake , and a dangerous errour , to assert , as the most of Hebrew Grammarians , do that , there are Paragogies , Redundants , Expletives , quite Insignificants , and meer Euphonics in this Tongue of Tongues .

Articles and demonstrative Pronouns , of which Aeth , is one , are of singular use , and of special significancy . The Latine Grammarians say , they have no Articles , but in the place thereof in the inflexion of Nouns they use the Demonstrative , Hic , haec , hoc , but , not to indicate an individual , but only a Genus , which is an errour in Latine and Greek Grammarians , to put such a difference between an Article and a Pronoun demonstrative ; for , they are the same , as {αβγδ} , for things , as {αβγδ} , {αβγδ} , {αβγδ} , for persons ; for , whether declinable , or undeclinable , by Cases and Tempses , yet they signifie a certain and finite substance , and do demonstrate some noted , or notable person or thing . Thus doth Aeth , which is an Article of every Gender , and Number , and is referred to the following Noun , with which it is construed , not being put absolutely ; a part of Speech concinly connecting the members of an Oration . This Vocula with the Hebrews is not barely a simple note of Cases , but also it doth demonstrate and signifie the very substance it self of a created Being . By this Particle is certainly indicated some patient or passive thing or person , and is manifestly distinguisht from the Agent or Active . In this place it is a Pronoun demonstrative , pointing those same Heavens , the upper , higher Heavens .

The {αβγδ} in Hash shamajim , has emphatical significancy ; for , it doth indigitate those Heavens , which are above the lower visible Expanse , this Expanse not being created till the second day , Christ himself the Authentick Author as well as the subject matter of the written Word , has confirm'd the Original Text , to a letter , a consonant , a vowel , a particle , a point , an accent , to a jod and a chireck , Matth . 5.17 , 18 , 19. This {αβγδ} is a note of demonstration , having a proper peculiar honour put upon it , importing the , this , that , those , or these : It is the initial letter of both {αβγδ} ( Gen. 47.23 . Ezek . 16.43 . ) which doth signifie lo , behold ; so that it doth set out the posture , gesture , and carriage of one , who doth plainly and particularly point out some special observable , and also of the Pronoun {αβγδ} , He , {αβγδ} , She , which are demonstrative Pronouns . The proper significancy of a Pronoun being to set out a certain and a finite Substance , signifying somewhat more certain and more First than a Noun , or a proper Name ; as , if thou say , This is my Father , he is my Brother , pointing out both the one and the other with the finger to some by-stander , it is better known than if thou shouldest say , John is my Father , Thomas is my Brother , because there may be , and are more Johns , and more Thomas's . I , thou , and he , in the singular number , the first , second , and third person , do more set out an individuality , than a Generick , or Specifick name . He who doth point out this or that Horse , doth point out more certainly , than if he said an Horse , or an Animal , for that there are more Horses than one , and more Animals than Horses . So for the name Caesar , the bare name is not distinctive enough of an individual Caesar ; for , my understanding may transmit the name to another , as from Augustus Caesar to Tiberius Caesar , when I say , I , thou , he , it cannot mean any other , or be communicated with another , but must be understood particularly , and only of me , of thee , and of him ; see more of this in my Treatise called All in One , p. 29. of the second Part .

As for the genuine Origination of this voice , Shamajim , the name itself doth best retain its nature , and it were best , where Aelohim doth give a name to an honourable Creature , to use that very name . In this , as in other Hebrew names , which do indicate such a propriery in that Creature , as is perpetually peculiar to its Being , it might alwaies be so called .

The Hebrew Lexicographers , as to the first Created Beings , should not derive those Noun Substantives which are first in Being , from any Verbs , or other parts of speech which do come after , at least in order of nature , if not of time also ; but , the other parts of speech should spring from these Noun Substantives , for that reason ; This should have been considered by those , who make Shamajim to be a word compounded of Sham , there , and majim , waters ; because , there , say they , are the upper waters : For , although this be true , that , the upper waters are there ; yet , the place itself must first have an actual Being , before it could be said of the waters , There , there are waters .

Ajim may be but the sign & termination of the Dual number , in Shamajim ; in the Aethiopic , it is of the Plural Number : the Singular is maj , water , the Plural maj●m waters . Buxtorfe , in his Cald . Rabbin . Lexicon , doth put Shamajim , under Shem , which doth signify a name ; the name itself would best retain its nature ; I could approve of it , were it so called Shamajim in all languages . The Arabic Shamaa , and Samaa , comes from the Hebrew , and it doth signify to be high as the Heavens are , which call for high admirings of so wonderful a work , as soon as intelligent rational creatures had the knowledge and sight of them , Job 36 . 24-28 . Schindler placeth it under Shamah , nominavit , whence Shem , a name , fame , decor , dignity .

Shem , a name doth sprout from this radical noun , in the dual number Shemajim , because there are two of them , and because they are doubly-namous or famous : Two in the nature of Created Beings ; and these creatures being of double renown and honour , the most named and glorious parts of the whole Creation , in some respects at the least , as to places , and who are , and what is in those places : and this Etymologick Reason I therefore the rather rest satisfied in ; for , as for waters , though created on the same one day , yet both in nature and time too on the same one day , the upper Heavens I apprehend were Created into a Being before the waters : Ajim in this word is the termination , and it doth mostly set out two by nature .

This discovery doth return much of a right answer unto that Question , How many Heavens are there ? and how may we come to a knowledge of what the upper Heavens are , so as to make some spiritual improvement of such a meditation ?

That account , which the Word of God doth give us of the subject matter ( and what other means have we of certain revelation any other way afforded us , Eccl. 7.24 . Job 11 8 , 9 ? ) is this , that there are three Heavens , 2 Cor . 12 . 1-5 . the lowest of these three , Shamajim in the Dual number , hath two parts of it , both of which are put under one name of Rakiang , the Expanse , that is to say , the Air , and the blew visible Canopy spread over the air ; this outward Court was not Created till on the second day ; of this Created week at large . My apprehensions about it is this , it is the middle partition between the upper and lower Worlds .

The Second Heaven is that , which is immediately above this blew visible Expanse . This is the holy .

The Third Heaven is the Holy of Holies . Into this Third Heaven was Paul caught up , 2 Cor . 12 . 1-4 .

How altogether unscriptural then are those Philosophick Astronomers , who make no less than Eleven Heavens ; and some other late Charioters , who in relation of their Travels into the Invisible Countries , do reckon up I know not how many Angelical Worlds and other Worlds .

Those Eleven Heavens which Philosophick Astronomers have framed in their own imagination they thus reckon . The Empyreal Heaven , the habitation of the blessed . The first moveable . The Chrystalline Heaven . The Heaven of fixed Stars . The Saturn Heaven , cold and dry , malevolent , Lead . The Jupiter-Heaven , hot and moist , benevolent , Tin . The Mars-Heaven , hot and dry , malevolent , Iron . The Sun-Heaven , hot and dry , benevolent , Gold . The Venus-Heaven , cold and moist , benevolent , Copper . The Mercury-Heaven , such as he is joyned with , Quick-silver . The Moon-Heaven cold and moist benevolent , Silver .

This number is unscriptural ; for , all the Heavens that were created on the first and second day , and there is here an account of no more but two above , and a third below them , which has two parts of it , the blew visible Expanse and the Air . Eight of the forementioned Eleven Heavens had not their being till the fourth day , when the Sun , Moon , and Stars were spoken into their Essence and Existence : These Eleven they would have to be as so many Coats covering one another like the scales of an Onion . These vain affecters of humane Wisdom do assert one of these Eleven Heavens 19604454 miles thick , which is nineteen thousand thousand six hundred and four thousand , four hundred fifty four miles , to contain his Star Saturn in , as Blundevil writes in his Sphear pag . 289. What a sum total will all the rest of the pretended miles amount unto ! When such Fictionists do thus go off from the Word of Truth , I may answer them with Solomons Question , Eccles . 7.23 , 24. They say they will be wise , but Wisdom is far from them . That which is far off ( above us ) and exceeding deep ( below us ) who can find it out ( by meer Philosophick studys ? )