THE FIRST TREATISE

OF CORNELIUS DREBBEL,

THE BELGIAN,

ON THE NATURE

OF THE ELEMENTS.

CHAPTER I.

How all things are from God: that the
four elements (elementa) were produced
in a most beautiful order: what the
office of fire may be.

The origin of all things is from God: and all things tend back toward God as their end (finem). For the end of each thing is the same as its principle (principium), as daily experience testifies. What sprouts from the Earth (Terra) returns to the earth; what from Water (Aqua), to the water. Whatever is, was in the beginning most perfect with God, and one day likewise toward the same perfection (perfectionem)

rever- [Catchword]