of any such pure matter which can
priviledge them from the like change and corruption, as these
inferiour bodies are liable unto._

It hath beene often questioned amongst the ancient Fathers and
Philosophers, what kind of matter that should be, of which the heavens
are framed, whether or no of any fifth substance distinct from the foure
elements, as _Aristotle_[1] holds, and with him some of the late
Schoolemen, whose subtill braines could not be content to attribute to
those vast glorious bodies, but common materialls, and therefore they
themselves had rather take paines to preferre them to some extraordinary
nature, whereas notwithstanding, all the arguments they could invent,
were not able to convince a necessity of any such matter, as is confest
by their owne[2]* side. It were much to be desired, thst these men had
not in other cases, as well as this, multiplied things without
necessity, and as if there had not beene enough to be knowne in the
secrets of nature, have spun out new subjects from their owne braines to
finde more worke for future ages, I shall not mention their arguments,
since 'tis already confest, that they are none of them of any necessary
consequence, and besides, you may see them set downe in any of the
bookes _de Coelo._

[Sidenote 1: _De Coelo., l. 1. cap. 2._]

[Sidenote 2*: _Colleg. Cannimb. De Coelo. l. 1. c. 2. q. 6. art. 3._]

But is it the generall consent of the Fathers, and the opinion of
_Lombard_, that the heavens consist of the same matter with these
sublunary bodies. St. _Ambrose_ is confident of it, that hee esteemes
the contrary a heresie.[1] True indeed, they differ much among
themselves, some thinking them to be made of fire, others of water, but
herein they generally agree, that they are all framed of some element or
other. For a better confirmation of this, you may see _Ludovicus
Molina_, _Euseb. Nirembergius_, with divers others.[2] The venerable
_Bede_ thought the Planets to consist of all the foure elements, and
'tis likely that the other parts are of an aereous substance,[3] as will
be shewed afterward; however, I cannot now stand to recite the arguments
for either, I have onely urged these Authorities to countervaile
_Aristotle_, and the Schoolemen, and the better to make way for a proof
of their corruptibility.

[Sidenote 1: _In Hexam. lib. 4._]

[Sidenote 2: _In opere 6. dierum. disput. 5._]

[Sidenote 3: _In lib. de Mundi constit._]

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