In this Element the more grosse and materiall of all, which wee call Earth, we must consider three substances; the Hebrewes also have better distinguished them then we, by giving them 3 names, _Erehs_, _Adamah_, and _Jabassah_. _Erehs_ is properly durt or mud, _Jabassah_ sand, and _Adamah_ clay, wash of the common earth with water, and powre it suddainly into another vessell, with the slime that it hath gathered; reiterate it so long, that there remaine no more in the bottome but Sand, in the Scripture called _Arida_: _And his hands laid the foundation of the earth, Psal. 94._ where he properly useth the word of laying a foundation, because that Sand is the subsistence and retention of the earth, where it is mingled with slime by a certaine providence of nature to strengthen it against the moisture of water, as wee see in Morter, where wee adjoine sand with chalke, for feare lest it melt, and dissolve into moisture. It serves also, to give it counterpoise, for that Sand is very heavy, _A stone is heavy, and sand burdensome, or weighty, Prov. 27._ But the slime is lighter, wherein minerals, vegetables, animals, are procreated, as wee see by experience, by putting pure slime to the _Erthree_; for in lesse then three weekes, you will finde therein small stones, herbs, wormes, and snailes, and other little beasts, producted therefrom. Of the nourishment remaining that these individuals shall bee, as that of Sand, deprived of all humidity; according to what wee see in Earths, which having beene too much cultivated, and sowed, without bettering of them, are reduced from being fertill, as formerly they were, and become sandy and sterill; for Sand produceth nothing, as wee see in Deserts and Sea coasts: whence comes this proverbe, (_You plough the Sands_) for a vaine and unprofitable labour: for of the two qualities, whereof each Element participates, there is one that is more proper to it, and the other appropriated: Drynesse, is the proper quality of the Earth, for that cold is more proper to Water: wherefore is it that the Earth, as aforesaid, is called in Hebrew _Jabassah_, and in Greeke ξηρός dry land; _and God called the earth dry land_. Slime is more waterish; for of the grosseness of the water, earth was made, saith _Hermes_; as wee may see in snow, in hail, in raine, or with water so condensed, there is much slime mingled, of which (as aforesaid) every thing here in the earth below is produced. Man himselfe according to his body, was formed of this slime; and from thence it followeth that all the fertility of the earth comes from Water. _God created all the buddes of the earth before they grew, and all the herbes of the field before they brought forth seed; for the Lord God had not yet made it to raine upon the earth, but a mist went up therefrom, that watered the whole face thereof._ Or as the _Chaldaick_ Paraphrast turneth it, _Onkelos_, in stead of source and fountaine, vapour and clouds, which are engendred