Laudable therefore is the custom of the _Jews_, who upon the appearance of the Rain-bow, do magnifie the fidelity of God in the memory of his Covenant; according to that of _Syracides_, look upon the Rain-bow, and praise him that made it. And though some pious and Christian pens have only symbolized the same from the mysterie of its colours, yet are there other affections which might admit of Theological allusions. Nor would he find a more improper subject, that should consider that the colours are made by refraction of Light, and the shadows that limit that light; that the Center of the Sun, the Rain-bow, and the eye of the Beholder must be in one right line, that the spectator must be between the Sun and the Rain-bow; that sometime there appear, sometime one reversed. With many others, considerable in Meteorological Divinity, which would more sensibly make out the Epithite of the Heathens [SN: Thaumancias.]; and the expression of the son of _Syrach_. Very beautifull is the Rain-bow, it compasseth the heaven about with a glorious circle, and the hands of the most High have bended it. CHAPTER V Of _Sem_, _Ham_ and _Japhet_. Concerning the three sons of _Noah_, _Sem_, _Ham_ and _Japhet_, that the order of their nativity was according to that of numeration, and _Japhet_ the youngest son, as most believe, as _Austin_ and others account, the sons of _Japhet_, and _Europeans_ need not grant: nor will it so well concord unto the letter of the Text, and its readiest interpretations. For so is it said in our Translation, _Sem_ the father of all the sons of _Heber_ the brother of _Japhet_ the elder: so by the Septuagint, and so by that of _Tremelius_. And therefore when the Vulgar reads it, _Fratre Japhet majore_, the mistake as _Junius_ observeth, might be committed by the neglect of the Hebrew account; which occasioned _Jerom_ so to render it, and many after to believe it. Nor is that Argument contemptible which is deduced from their Chronology: for probable it is that _Noah_ had none of them before, and begat them from that year when it is said he was five hundred years old, and begat _Sem_, _Ham_ and _Japhet_. Again it is said he was six hundred years old at the flood, and that two years after _Sem_ was but an hundred; therefore _Sem_ must be born when _Noah_ was five hundred and two, and some other before in the year of five hundred and one.