The Second Part of the Mineral Work

instituted their separation, he established the place where the heavier part of that mass, which is Earth, should withdraw. This was done immediately, because everything heavy, or Earth, agglutinated itself to its assigned point, like bees to their hive, from which this globe upon which we dwell eventually emerged. Soon, what was next in gravity, Water, made its secession from the other Elements and surrounded the surface of the earth, acknowledging a common center with the center of the earth, so that if the earth were not there, Water itself would surround the originally established and founded point of gravity or magnet. But because Earth intercedes, excelling the waters in weight, it holds its destined place by right and merit, receiving the waves upon its back. God similarly sent the other two Elements, namely the lightest, Fire, into its own place, very far removed from the lower globe of heavy things; and he willed that the other light one, Air, should be in the middle between Fire and Water, so that they might touch each other constantly, circulate, foster, and sustain one another until they themselves should be dissolved at the end and reduced to the nothingness from whence they came. For Fire cannot burn without Air, nor can Air be preserved without Water, nor can this be nourished without Earth, nor could this Earth, being as it were dead, bring anything forth into the light, unless the Element of Fire first instilled its seed into it spiritually, where it afterwards becomes corporeal and sensible, such as is necessary for all growing things. But truly, that which I have said, namely that the Earth has its own Center, is impermeable to every thing