I. REFUTATION BY OBSERVATION.

Water flows down to the sea from the land; hence the sea cannot be higher than the land.

II.  REFUTATION BY REASONING: 

  A. Water cannot be higher than the dry land.
    Proof:  Water could only be higher than the Earth,
      1.  If it were excentric, or
      2.  If it were concentric, but had some excrescence.

But since

x.  Water naturally moves downwards,
and
y.  Water is naturally a fluid body: 

1.  Cannot be true, for three impossibilities would follow: 
a.  Water would move upwards as well as downwards;
b.  Water and Earth would move downwards in different
directions;
c.  Gravity would be taught ambiguously of the two bodies.

Proof of these impossibilities by a diagram.

2.  Cannot be true, for
a.  The Water of the excrescence would be diffused, and
consequently the excrescence could not exist: 
b.  It is unnecessary, and what is unnecessary is contrary
to the will of God and Nature.

B. All land is higher than the sea.
Proof:  It has been shown that Water is of one level, and
concentric with the Earth: 
Therefore, since the shores are higher than the edges of the sea,
and since the shores are the lowest portions of the land,
It follows that all the land is higher than the sea.

C. Objections to the foregoing reasoning, and their refutation.
1. Possible affirmative argument:  Earth is the heaviest body;
hence it is drawn down to its own center, and lies beneath the
lighter body, Water.
2. Objection to this argument:  Earth is the heaviest body only
by comparison with others; for Earth is itself of different
weights.
3. Refutation of this objection:  On the contrary, Earth is a
simple body, and as such subject to be drawn equally in every part.
4. Answer to the refutation, with minor objections and their
refutation.

Since the objection is in itself sound, and Earth by its own Particular Nature, due to the stubbornness of matter, would be lower than the sea; and since Universal Nature requires that the Earth project somewhere, in order that its object, the mixture of the elements, may be fulfilled: 

    It follows that there must be some final and efficient
    cause, whereby this projection may be accomplished.

a.  The final cause has been seen to be the purpose of Universal Nature. b.  The efficient cause cannot be (i) the Earth, (ii) the Water, (iii) the Air or Fire, (iv) the heaven of the Moon, (v) the Planets, nor (vi) the Primum Mobile: 

Therefore it must be ascribed to the heaven of the Fixed Stars (for this has variety hi efficiency, as is seen in the various constellations),