change immediately. Even as a fearful man, and of small resolution, who at the encounter of a Serpent or other venemous beast, would grow suddainly pale, and come to change colour: The care, curiosity, and assiduous travell of infinite, rare, and meditating spirits, by the space of 4 or 5000 years, have found in metals secrets without number, and yet knew not to do so well, but that they have left much more to enquire into, and to search after: although there be but seven in all, comprehending therein running quick-silver. Wherein it is wonderfull, that Nature so copious and abundant in all her procreations, which are divers, is pleased in this respect with so small a number. Metals then, being such whose regiment depends on fire; which is one of the proper visible symboles to represent the most hidden secrets, and mysteries of Divinity; invisible, and imperceptible to our senses. The Prophets also, were willing to serve themselves for the most part of their parables, and similitudes, ænigmaes, allegories and figures; where they have covered and hid that which they would not so openly declare, for they have very seldome expressed themselves, as did _Esay_ in his 5 Chapter, where he interprets that the vision of the Lord of Hosts, whereof he there brought a parable, was the people of _Israel_, and the men of _Judah_ his delectable plant. And in another passage many waters, are many nations. Moreover _Ezekiel_, 23. having spoken of the two sisters _Aholah_ and _Aholibah_, he set downe that this was _Samaria_ and that _Jerusalem_. God by the mouth of _Moses_, in the 28. of _Leviticus_, and in the 28. of _Deuteronomy_, threatned the Israelites, said, if they come to mis-know him, and do not keep well his commandements, that he would make the heaven over their head brasse, and the earth under them iron, which are the two most terrestriall metals, and most hard and rebellious to melt and to handle, opposing them to the durity of this people, as it is there said. _I will bruise the pride of your hardnesse, and will make heaven over you as iron, and earth as brasse, your labour shall consume unprofitably, your earth shall not bring forth its seed, nor the tree yeeld any fruit._ For metals produce nothing, but are barren; the Poets of their side have used many sorts of Metaphores, and figures, as in the 6. of the _Æneid._ an iron voice, for a strong and resounding voice, and _Hesiod_ calleth the infernall dog _Cerberus_, χαλκεόφωνος, a voice of brasse, because it is the most sounding metall; _His voice shall sound as brasse_, _Jer._ 16. and _Origen_ upon the 25. of _Exod._ Brasse is taken for a strong and thundering voice, because of its resounding. Although I should speake with the tongue of Angels, and have not charity in me, I am as sounding brasse, and as a tinkling cymball. _Pindarus_ hath appropriated to Heaven the Epithet of χάλκεοσ οὐρανὸς Heaven of brasse, in the 10. of the _Pythians_; because of the