If America is known in the Scripture.
But certainly, Obadiah meant no other than the Restauration of the Jews from the Captivity of Babylon, who after their return, should grow more powerful than ever, and they, led by their Messias, obtain the height of all felicity, who would send his Evangelists and Apostles to declare Salvation to the utmost Borders of the Earth. It is true, that the Rabins Expound Sepharad to be Spain, and therefore he concludes, that Obadiah Prophesi’d of the Spaniard, and their Conquests in America; so they would prove, that America was long known before Christ.
Solomon’s Fleet sail’d not to Peru.
And lastly, It signifies as little what Pineda and Levinus Lemnius drive at, That Solomon first finding the use of the Compass, Rigg’d a Navy at Ezion-Geber, which from the Red-Sea had no indirect Course to the Straights of Magellan; from whence he might Lade his Vessels with the Gold of Peru. In whose Description it shall be manifested, that Peru is not Ophir, as some without any shew of Reason or Truth would make us believe.
Solomon did not find the Compass.
But as concerning King Solomon’s finding out the use of the Magnet, it is soon said, but not easily proved; for though that Prince exceeded all Man-kind in Wisdom and Learning, and was perfect in the Operations, and knew the Occultest Secrets of Nature, understanding what e’re belong’d to Plants, from the Cedar of Libanus, to Hysop, and the meanest Shrub that grows upon the Wall; yet it nothing makes out, that he knew the Mystery of the Navigable use of the Load-Stone: But suppose he did know, there is no where any mention of it; and if this excellent thing, the Compass, had been found in Solomon’s time, how came it afterwards so utterly to be lost?
Load-stone, by whom found.
Strange operations of the Loadstone.
De subtilitate l. 7.
Variance of the Compass.