it a terrestriall starre,[6] and an Olympian or celestiall earth answerable, as I conceive, to the paradise of the Schoolemen, and that Paradise was either in or neere the Moone, is the opinion of some later Writers, who derived it (in all likelihood) from the assertion of _Plato_, and perhaps, this of _Plutarch_. _Tostatus_[7] laies this opinion upon _Isioder. Hispalensis_, and the venerable _Bede_; and _Pererius_[8] fathers it upon _Strabus_ and _Rabanus_ his Master. Some would have it to bee situated in such a place as could not be discovered, which causes the penman of _Esdras_ to make it a harder matter to know the outgoings of Paradise, then to weigh the weight of the fire, or measure the blasts of wind, or call againe a day that is past.[9] But notwithstanding this, there bee some others who thinke that it is on the top of some high mountaine under the line, and these interpreted the torrid Zone to be the flaming Sword whereby Paradise was guarded. ’Tis the consent of divers others, who agree in this, that Paradise is situated in some high and eminent place.[10] So _Tostatus_: _Est etiam Paradisus situ altissima, supra omnem terræ altitudinem_, “Paradise is situated in some high place above the earth”: and therefore in his Cõment upon the 49. of _Genesis_, hee understands the blessing of _Iacob_ concerning the everlasting hills to bee meant of Paradise, and the blessing it selfe to bee nothing else but a promise of Christs comming, by whose passion the gates of Paradise should bee opened. Unto him assented _Rupertus_, _Scotus_, and most of the other Schoolemen, as I find them cited by _Pererius_,[11] and out of him in Sr. _W. Rawleigh_. Their reason was this: because in probability this place was not overflowed by the flood, since there were no sinners there which might draw that curse upon it. Nay _Tostatus_ thinkes that the body of _Enoch_ was kept there, and some of the Fathers, as _Tertullian_ and _Austin_ have affirmed, that the blessed soules were reserved in that place till the day of judgement, and therefore ’tis likely that it was not overflowed by the flood; and besides, since all men should have went naked if _Adam_ had not fell, ’tis requisite therefore that it should be situated in some such place where it might bee priviledged from the extremities of heat and cold. But now this could not bee (they thought) so conveniently in any lower, as it might in some higher aire. For these and such like considerations have so many affirmed that Paradise was in a high elevated place, which some have conceived could bee no where but in the Moone: For it could not be in the top of any mountaine, nor can we thinke of any other body separated from this earth which can bee a more convenient place for habitation than this Planet, therefore they concluded that it was there. [Sidenote 1: _De civit. Dei. lib. 22. ca. 16._] [Sidenote 2: Mat. 25. 30] [Sidenote 3: Eph. 4. 9.] [Sidenote 4: Rev. 14. 20.]