And first, The histories of the _Gentiles_ afford us slender satisfaction, nor can they relate any story, or affix a probable point to its beginning. For some thereof (and those of the wisest amongst them) are so far from determining its beginning, that they opinion and maintain it never had any at all; as the doctrin of _Epicurus_ implieth, and more positively _Aristotle_ in his books _De CÅlo_ declareth. Endeavouring to confirm it with arguments of reason, and those appearingly demonstrative; wherein his labours are rational, and uncontroulable upon the grounds assumed, that is, of Physical generation, and a Primary or first matter, beyond which no other hand was apprehended. But herein we remain sufficiently satisfied from _Moses_, and the Doctrin delivered of the Creation; that is, a production of all things out of nothing, a formation not only of matter, but of form, and a materiation even of matter it self.
Others are so far from defining the Original of the World or of mankind, that they have held opinions not only repugnant unto Chronology, but Philosophy; that is, that they had their beginning in the soil where they inhabited; assuming or receiving appellations conformable unto such conceits. [SN: _Why the_ Athenians _did wear a golden Insect upon their head._] So did the _Athenians_, term themselves αá½ÏοÏÎ¸á½¹Î½ÎµÏ or _Aborigines_, and in testimony thereof did wear a golden Insect on their heads: the same name is also given unto the Inlanders, or _Midland_ inhabitants of this Island by _Cæsar_. But this is a conceit answerable unto the generation of the Giants; not admittable in Philosophy, much less in Divinity, which distinctly informeth we are all the seed of _Adam_, that the whole world perished unto eight persons before the flood, and was after peopled by the _Colonies_ of the sons of _Noah_. There was therefore never any _Autochthon_, or man arising from the earth but _Adam_; for the Woman being formed out of the rib, was once removed from earth, and framed from that Element under incarnation. And so although her production were not by copulation, yet was it in a manner seminal: For if in every part from whence the seed doth flow, there be contained the Idea of the whole; there was a seminality and contracted _Adam_ in the rib, which by the information of a soul, was individuated into _Eve_. And therefore this conceit applied unto the Original of man, and the beginning of the world, is more justly appropriable unto its end. For then indeed men shall rise out of the earth: the graves shall shoot up their concealed seeds, and in that great Autumn, men shall spring up, and awake from their Chaos again.