Two Treatises on the Nature of the Elements and the Fifth Essence

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DE ELEMENTIS.

will return, then when the elements (elementa) shall melt away, and it will put on its former splendor (splendorem) before God. Nothing will be lost there except injustice. For God, in the exact fullness of time, when it pleased Him, produced the Natures (Naturas) of all things by the Word (Verbo).

In the beginning indeed, that which was most subtle (subtilissimum) He separated from the rest of the mass (massa), and the element of Fire (Ignis) was made, occupying the supreme seat of the world, filling that infinite space that would otherwise be void, and surrounding the magnificent works of God. To be sure, whatever is lightest ascends upward. Now God, again separating from that mass what was lighter and more subtle, brought forth the element of Air (Aëris), whose place is directly beneath the lightest fire. By a similar method He also separated from the remains the subtler and more humid part, and He fashioned Water (Aquam) together with the Earth (Tellure). Water, however, used to cover the entire face of the earth, no differently than fire covers the air, and air covers the water. But the omnipotent power of God raised up the Earth, which had been submerged in the waters, into the heights, and placed us upon it, so that thither

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