extinguish flames very readily as also by a multiply'd reflection of light to sparkle and flame as it were when 't is stirr'd 6. The same too is no little cause of Sea-sicknesse besides the very tossing which of it self is a cause as appears in those who are sick with riding in a Coach for the stomack being offended with the saltnesse strives to cast it up as appears by that salt humour we oft are sensible of in colds 7. Hence too comes it that the sea is not frozen the mixture of salt hindring the freezing wind 's entrance For where the sea is congeal'd 't is not the sea-water but the snow falling on it which makes the sea seem frozen as our Countrey-men that go Northern voyages witnesse Yet others report that near the shoars a sharp wind will freez the sea in some ev'n hotter Countreys 8. But when vast Rivers flow into narrow Bayes they must needs overflow into larger seas whence of necessity there must needs be a kind of perpetuall flux of some seas into others as of the Euxine into the Propontis of this into the Mediterranean of the Mediterranean into the Ocean The reason is because the lesser sea with the same quantity of water is more swell'd and consequently has a higher levell of water Again the power of the sun drinks more out of a larger sea then out of a narrower whence 't is more easily sunk low to receive the adventitious waters 9. Out of the sea the sun like fire out of a boyling pot extracts continuall vapours which either in Rains or Winds it disperses over all the Earth for all those Winds which we feel cool from the Ocean in the Summer though we perceive it not yet both their extraction makes us confesse they are moist and their density and softnesse savouring a similitude of and derivation from Water 10. The Earth therefore heated by the Sun being sprinkled with these whether in Rain or Wind for the Earth being once hot a great while retains it dissolves it self into Vapours and so by little and little they are rais'd to the higher parts of the Earth where if they feel the cold of the Aire without or by any other cause are coagulated into bigger parts they become Water and by degrees break themselves a passage through and flow down upon the lower grounds LESSON V. Of Fountains Rivers and Lakes 1. ANd because the causes of evaporations are continuall Fountains too continually flow which joyning together make Brooks and Rivers and when they have watered the whole surface of the Earth restore to the Sea the superfluous moisture to repair again the Earth with a new distillation 2. Let him that thinks not the Rain-water sufficient for this imagine the Mountains out of their innate heat are more pory then the rest of the Earth and hollow as we have said wherein there may be receptacles of water out of which the heat that is every where mingled often draws vapours which it transmits to the top of Mountains covered with Rocks whence afterwards water starts as it were out of bare Rocks 3. That this is the generation of Fountains the stones and earth at a Fountain-head all deaw'd like the cover of a boiling pot are an argument also the thinnesse subtilty of the vapours so rais'd through the Earth certain herbs too nourisht by such like vapours by observing all which the Water-finders search for Well-springs 4. Of Fountains the famousest are Baths that is hot ones The Authour of the Demonstrative Physick ripping up some fountains both learnt himself and convinc'd others by the very course of nature and by experiments Masterly made that cold Water full of a salt which he calls hermeticall with a mixture of Sulphur will grow hot 5. The same may be seen in watred lime and in Tartar with the spirit of Vitriol infus'd in it The cause of all these is the same viz. The fiery parts fetter'd as it were in dry bodies being set at liberty by the mixture of a liquid body dissipate into vapours that liquour it consisting of parts easily dissolvable 6. Hence it appears why cold fountains sometimes of the same favour are next neighbours to hot ones viz. because they passe not through the same salt 7. Why some are more some lesse hot viz. either through the abundance of this salt or through its nearnesse to the mouth of the Fountain 8. The same Authour evidenc'd the constant lastingnesse of the heat to proceed from the naturall reparation and recruit of the same salt when extracting the salt he found the remaining mud season'd again within three dayes not by the raining of salt down out of the Aire as that Authour thinks but by the nature of the Earth's being such that mixt with Aire it turn'd into salt or salt was made of the moist Aire and that Mud. 9. It appears again why some Fountains have wonderful vertues either in benefit or prejudice of our bodies why others convert Iron into Copper others petrifie sticks and whatever is thrown into them why some yield gold others silver 10. Namely because flowing through severall sorts of Earth they rub off along with them little particles and dust so minute sometimes that they are not discernable from the very body of the water and then the water is reputed to have such a vertue sometimes they are visible and then the water is said to carry some such thing in it 11. Of Fountains flowing out Brooks and Rivers are made whose running they say requires the declivity of one foot in a Mile Their reason is because a line touching the Earth at a Miles end is rais'd nine inches Artificers therefore adde three inches more that it may conveniently run whence the fountains of Nilus should be almost a mile and half higher then the Port of Alexandria but erroneously for when ever the water running behind is so encreased that it be able to raise it self above the water before this rule of declivity changes 12. Among Rivers 't is strange one should swim upon and as it were run over another as Titaresus upon Peneus Boristhenes upon Hypanis The reason is the gravity of the one and the lightnesse of the other or they will not mix out of some other cause as if one of them be oily 13. The overflowing of Rivers in Summer proceeds either from the melting of Snow shut up in Vallies or from an abundance of Rain falling in a far-distant Climate and therefore not suspected by us as is evident in Nilus Niger and some others of no name and scarce any better then Brooks 14. Fountains if they emerge into a hollow place of the Earth beget a Lake and if this cavity happen in any elevated Superficies of the Earth whether in a Mountain or a high Plain it comes to passe that sometimes great Rivers flow out of Lakes And sometimes vast eruptions of waters without any appearing cause when a Lake emprison'd in the bowells of a Mountain suddenly overflows
and opens it self a way LESSON VI. Of the Aire those things vvhich are done in it near the Earth 1. THe Aire is evidently divided into two parts that which is habitable by Animals and that above this last has no limits we can know of that first is contain'd in the Sphear of Vapours which ascend with a sensible heat out of the Earth that is as much as the Sun cherishes with its heat and renders fit for the life of Animals This therefore is comparatively hot the rest comparatively cold which the Snows and cold winds about the highest Mountains testifie A third which they use to call the Middle Region there 's none since the place of Meteors is very uncertain some residing near the Earth others above the Moon 2. Out of the Globe of Earth and Sea by the power of the Sun little bodies are rais'd up of the minutest bulk which the Sun deserting them sometimes fall down upon the Earth like drops and are call'd Deaw some drop from hard by others from a great height for all night long vapours descend and the higher more slowly both because they are higher and because every drop is lesse Hence 't is that Chymists rather chuse the Deaw that falls last as also the summer Deaw these being the purest and subtilest 3. From this Deaw 't is that the night grows cooler towards day-break though the first Drops breaking and diffusing themselves intends the same cold by the expiration of their cold parts 4. The drops of Deaw especially the least are perfectly round the cause whereof is because the water of Deaw is very tender and encompass'd in and bound together with a skin as it were by the more viscous Aire about it 5. As we see therefore Bladders blown-up become round because in that figure they are capable of most Aire so every fluid body when 't is straightned must of necessity mould it self into a round form And this seems the cause why Quicksilver so easily runs into little sphears for since the least fire will vapour it away the least cold too must needs compresse it 6. Some Deaws are sweeter then the rest especially in the hotter Regions whence a kind of Hony may be lick'd from the leafs of Trees and the Bees are believ'd to make their hony out of Deaw also the Manna in Calabria and Arabia and other hot Regions is a kind of Deaw Cloves too and Nutmeggs are thought to derive their sweetnesse from a kind of Deaw which falls in the Molucco Islands Now sweetnesse proceeds from a concocting and digestion of Moysture into a certain oily softnesse and equability of parts 7. Frost is congealed Deaw A Fogg or Mist properly is the expiration of the Earth or Water out of a certain Vent made by their native heat For we sensibly perceive Foggs rising out of moist Valleys Lakes Rivers and the Sea they presently fill all our Horizon then for the most part they rise either in the Morning or Evening seldome when the Sun shines hot they rise too in great abundance out of some certain place All which agree not to Vapours extracted by the Sun 8. And because they expire out of putrid water they stink and beget a Cough But that which uses to rest upon Mountains and in Woods especially when it rains is another thing for those are really Clouds not Fogs which either fall or are sustain'd by the leafs of Trees whence in certain Islands we read there 's no other water then what is so gather'd and distill'd from Trees Some Mists are purely watry others have a kind of slimy muddynesse withall deriv'd out of the quality of that body whence they are sublimated 9. The Nets we see in trees hedges as also those thrids that fly up down sometimes are made by the parts of the Fog growing together or of little bodies too rais'd up by the Sun minutest humid bodies gluing together other minutest dry ones that we may learn out of these rude principles how Silk-worms and Spiders Webs and even Flesh it self is woven LESSON VII Of Clouds Rain Snovv and Hail 1. HItherto we have kept near the Earth But if the Sun drives the vapours higher they are gather'd into Clouds Now a Cloud is a swarm or heap of minutest bodies elevated by the Sun of such a crassitude thickness that like a solid body it either reflects or deads the Light 2. That 't is no solid body is plain both from the tops of high Mountains upon which it appears like a Mist and does not much wet those that goe into it as also from its generation and rising up in minutest bodies 3. And the reason is plain why they hang above namely because of the littlenesse of their parts as we see Dust thrown up staies a great while in the Aire Besides the motion of the Aire hinders their descending wherefore in a high wind we fear not the Rain which as soon as the wind is down presently falls 4. Now that which makes it fall is the forcing those little bodies into a straight place and therefore wind brings Rain because it thrusts the little drops one against another and makes them bigger 5. Besides the wind it self is often incorporated with the Vapour and by sticking to them makes those particles which before were too little now to be big enough and fit for descending as when a warm wind rushes against a cold vapour or contrariwise and therefore cold winds in the Summer and warm ones in the Winter chiefly bring Rain 6. But because those things that are rais'd out of the Earth ascend not onely from the Superficies but out of its very Bowells too through the pores nay they are expell'd and thrust out from the bottome of the Sea and the Earth under it the Sea-water forcing whatever is dissolved in the bottome lighter then it self to ascend And because there is a perpetuall vicissitude of Vapours bandy'd from the Poles to the Aequator and from the Aequator back again to the Poles these Consequents follow 7. That little particles are drawn up into the Aire and Clouds of all kinds of Earth clayey stony nitrous bituminous metallick whatever other sorts there are again of all sorts of Plants Trees Roots Animals all which being hurry'd up and down in the Clouds from one part to another are scattered and if any where they come to find a convenient receptacle and nourishment there such things or creatures are produc'd 8. But because some are apt to be form'd suddenly as Froggs easily grow out of Mud and 't is told by a man of credit that a certain Chymist in a quarter of an hour brought certain seeds to grow it happens sometimes such as these too rain out of the Clouds 9. So it rain'd Wheat some yeares since in the West of England or rather something like Wheat and the same I believe those other miraculous rains are to be accounted viz. that it rain'd not bloud but a red water something
the Discourse whilst they tamper with objecting The Work is but short and for a little while the affection of Credulity may be fairly exacted in a Learner that he may clearly apprehend the things propos'd When he shall have understood against what he 's to object there will be liberty enough of disputing You see a Walk or Garden may serve well enough for this exercise I have therefore given you a volume which will not load your Pocket I have follow'd that Method which the necessity of consequences drew on not the rules of Logick prescrib'd though yet it be not averse from this If you blame the Obscurity remember Acroases are so to be published that they become not publick that their penetration may be difficult without a Clue yet not unpassable to a resolute pursuance THE TABLE FIRST BOOK Containing that part of LOGICK which is necessary to Sciences LESSON I. OF Propositions as they are the parts of a Syllogism Pag. 1. II. Of a Syllogism and its Conclusion 4. III. Of the Predicaments in common and the three first in particular 8. IV. Of the rest of the Predicaments 13. V. Of the five Predicables and the signification of words 16. VI. Of Definition Division and Disputation 21. SECOND BOOK Containing those things which concern the Nature of BODIES in common LESSON I. OF the composition of bulk or Bignesse Pag. 27. II. Of the Nature of Quantity and Place 32. III. Of Time and locall Motion 39. IV. Of the four First Qualities 47. V. Of the Elements 51. VI. Of Mixtion and the Second Qualities or those which most immediately follow Mixtion 55. VII Of the manner of Mixtion and the Passion of Mixt things 59. VIII Of Impassibility Destruction and the Accidents of Mixt bodies 65. IX Of the Motion of heavy and light bodies and the Conditions of Acting 68. X. Of the Motions of Vndulation Projection Reflection and Refraction 71. XI Of the Electricall and Magneticall Attractions of hot bodies 76. XII Of the generation of Decomposit or compos'd-of-compounded bodies Plants 79. XIII Of the more universall parts of Plants 82. XIV Of the Accidents of Plants 85. XV. Of the generation and augmentation of Animals 88. XVI Of the Motion of the Heart and some consequents of it 92. XVII Of the progressive Motion of Animals 94. XVIII Of the five senses of Animals 98. XIX Of the Objects of the Senses 101. XX. Of Knowledge and Memory 104. XXI Of Sleep and Dreams 106. XXII Of Passions and the expression of them 109. XXIII Of the communicating Affections to others 112. XXIV Of the seeming-Rationall Actions of Animals 115. THIRD BOOK Containing those things which concern the WORLD and its greater Parts LESSON I. OF the limitation Vnity and composition of the World Pag. 118. II. Of the Mortality kinds of those things that are in the world 121. III. Of the parts of the Planetary world and specially those of the Earth 125. IV. Of the Sea and its Accidents 129. V. Of Fountains Rivers and Lakes 132. VI. Of the Aire and those things that are done in it near the Earth 137. VII Of Clouds Rain Snow Hail 140. VIII Of fiery meteors appearing in the Aire 147. IX Of truly fiery meteors hanging in the Aire 152. X. Of the generation and nature of Winds 156. XI Of Earth-quakes their Effects 163. XII Of the Meteors of the other parts of the world and especially of Comets 165. XIII Of the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea and its Accidents 168. XIV Of the Motion of the Earth and the Causes of it 174. XV. Of the Oppositions against the Motion of the Earth and of its Effects 177. XVI Of the Motion of the Aire with the Earth and its Effects 180. XVII Of the Causes of the Motion of the Moon and other Stars 183. XVIII Of the Primum Mobile the Duration and Quiddity of the World 187. FOURTH BOOK Containing that part of METAPHYSICK which explicates the Essentiall Notions of BODIES LESSON I. OF the divisibility of Substance into Formall parts Pag. 191. II. Of the formall parts of Substance in particular 195. III. Of the unity and distinction oâ— Bodies in common 199. IV. Of the essentiall Vnity and Distinction of the Elements and Mixt bodies 203. V. Of the Essence of Animals of the Soul 208. VI. Of the Chief Animal and the essentiall Distinction of Bodies 214. VII Of the mutation of the Individuality in the severall kinds of Bodies 219. VIII Of the proper Action of the Chief Animal 225. IX Of the Soul of the Chief Animal or of the MIND 231. X. Of the Proficiency Deficiency of MAN and of his Essence 236. FIFTH BOOK Containing that part of METAPHYSICK which treats of SUBSTANCES ABSTRACTED from Matter of the Operation of Things LESSON I. OF the Soul's Separation from the Body 243. â—I Of the Science of a separated Soul and its Vnity with the Soul 249. III. Of the Eminency of a separated Souls acts above those it exercises in the Body 255. IV. Of the Felicity and Infelicity of separated Souls and their Immutability 259. V. Of the nature of Existence and its unity with the Thing 264. VI. Of the Existence Simplicity and Eternity of GOD. 267. VII Of the perfection Immutability and Science of GOD. 272. VIII Of the Divine Volition and Liberty 277. IX Of the Divine Names how they are improperly spoken of GOD. 283. X. Of the Degrees of impropriety in the Divine Names 288. XI Of the Existence Nature and Science of INTELLIGENCES 293. XII Of the comparison of Intelligences to Souls and Bodies 297. XIII Of the Distinction Subordination and Number of Intelligences 302. XIV Of the Action of GOD Intelligences and Bodies severally 306. XV. Of the cooperation of the Agents to the making of Substances a Rationall Soul and to all other Effects 213. XVI Of the Government of GOD and the Locality of Incorporeall Things 318. XVII Of the Conservation of Creatures and the Durations of things 324. XVIII Of the Manner of Action on the Subjects side 330. APPENDIX CHAP. I. A Philosophicall Discourse concerning the Creation of Heaven and Earth Pag. 341. II. An Explication of GENESIS concerning the same 345. III. A Philosophicall Discourse of the works of the two first Daies 348. IV. An Explication of Genesis concerning the same 351. V. A Philosophicall Discourse of the works of the other four Daies 354. VI. An Explication of Genesi sconcerning the same 358. VII Some Animadversions about the Text of the first Chapter of Genesis 364. VIII A naturall Discourse of the Creation of Man 370. IX An Explication of Genesis concerning the Creation of Man 372. X. An Explication of the same concerning the Creation of Woman 378. XI An Explication of Genesis concerning Paradise 383. XII The History of ADAM'S FALL out of Genesis 387 XIII Of the Punishment of our first Parents out of the same 391. XIV Of the Evils derived to Posterity out of the same 399. XV. Of the
kinds of Earth and in this sense all consistent things have the notion of Earth all visible fluid things are call'd Waters and there are many kinds of Airs and Fires 7. But when a body that has the consistency of one Element is full of minute parts of another the substance of one Element gets the denomination of the other's quality Thence proceed the degrees of temperaments hot cold c. and in one and the same kind too reduplicated differences of the Elements viz. of Earths some are Earthy some Watry some Aeriall some Fiery and so in the rest ev'n to the lowest species 8. It appears again wherein consist those qualities which distinguish bodies as to their consistency First the notion of liquid consistent plainly follows the nature of rare and dense and soft is a middle between liquid and hard but hard being that which resists division clearly refers to density 9. But grosse and Massive appertain to the quantity of parts for grosse is not so divided into minutest parts as to be able by its subtilty to enter into the least pores or crannies and Massive has no pores or passages in its body but speaks parts constipated and thrust close together Both of them plainly expresse a certain notion of Density 10. As for Fat and tough and viscous or slimy they have this common to them all To stick where they touch but fat in lesser parts viscous in greater tough properly holds its own parts together and cleaves not so much to others 11. They therefore consist of moist and dense well mixt from moist they derive the facility to unite from dense the difficulty to be separated LESSON VII Of the manner of Mixtion and the Passion of mixt things 1. THese things being suppos'd because there are two Active qualities heat and cold which are most eminent in Fire and Water let there first be a mixt body of Earth Water and Aire upon which Fire be suppos'd to act and since there is no mixt thing so compacted but at least some parts of Fire may be forc'd and fly away through it and they in their passage are joyn'd to the parts of Aire or Water 't is apparent that the Fire will carry away some of them with it whence the Compound will become more compacted and solid 2. Again because the parts of Fire are extremely subtile whereever they find a resistance in the solid parts weaker then their power of dividing that way they 'l escape and that not alone but laden with watry or airy parts so that they will leave the Water and Aire to be united with Earth and between themselves by the smallest parts that are possible 3. Whence two things come to passe One that the Whole becomes a like and equall throughout all the Elements being mixt by most minute particles in every part The other that the Elements become lesse divisible from one another in this whole which is to be rendred constant and permanent body 4. Let therebe therefore in another body the natures of Fire Aire and Earth blended together to which let Water be added from without and first you 'l see all the sallies block'd up and the Pores coagulated by vertue of the cold so that the Aire or Fire cannot easily steal out 5. See again the Water with all its weight and force pressing the nearest parts of the Compound on every side whence they are forc'd to compresse and streighten themselves and shrink into a lesse and lesse place to make room for the water and this not in the surface alone but even in the minutest parts as far as the water can pierce which so much the farther it can as its parts are rendred more subtile by the re-active power of the Aire and Fire 6. Behold therefore its parts being even thus condens'd a consistent and hardly-divisible body made which is to be a certain naturall species of Physicall mixt body 7. Hence again the causes of passions are apparent for we see some compounds suffer from Fire a liquefaction and dissolution into minute particles as into Ashes and powder others on the contrary grow hard others again converted into Flame 8. The reason whereof is clear for if the power of the Fire extends it self only so far as to dilate the humid parts which hold together the dry it comes to passe that the humid parts become larger and more rare and consequently the whole it self is rendred more divisible and subject to be diffus'd by its own gravity into the best ply towards the Centre which is to be liquid 9. But if the power of the Fire be so great as to carry away with it the humid parts then the dense ones remain resolv'd into minute particles without a medium to unite them And these operations are effected sometimes by the mere force of the fire it self sometimes by means of some instruments whereby the humid parts are either increas'd or decreas'd according as the Artificer has occasion 10. But farther if humid parts were redundant in the Compound and Fire were so far apply'd as only to restrain the excesse by exhaling those parts which were superfluous the connection of the humid with the Earthy parts will be lesse dissolvable and the proportion of the Earthy to the humid greater whence the Compound grows hard 11. Water too by pressing upon it pierces and enters into the Compound it encompasses sheir's off its lighter and dryer parts which it mingles with the whole dry body and amplifies the humid parts whence it makes the body flaccid and loose and next door to dissolution 12. Some it utterly dissolv's as salts for they are compos'd of certain minute parts betwixt which Water easily enters and so little they are that they swim in the water There becomes therefore a kind of fluid body thickned with little heterogeniall bodies swimming in it to which if Fire be apply'd by exhaling the superfluous humid parts it remains salt as at first 13. But sometimes it happens that something is mix'd with the salt water which has a power of separating the watry parts from those little swimming bodies and of pressing down precipitating them to the bottome for when the supervener has aggregated to it self the parts of that humid body wherein the dissolution was made that which was mixt with them if it be heavier then water descends for before it was sustain'd by its conjunction to the water which was lighter 14. There are bodies too which grow harder and are petrify'd by the mixture of water either because there wanted moisture to make them coagulate as it happens in dry or sandy bodies or because by the addition of the extrinsecall moisture the superfluous humour is suck'd out in which their inward parts were dissolv'd and rendred flaccid or lastly because the pores of the Compound being constipated without the internall heat better dries the inward parts 15. But when the redundant parts are so very minute in themselves that they are easily rarifyable
expiration and consequently that every body more or lesse operates upon and affects other bodies which approach it round about or acts in a Sphear as we see by experience in hot cold odoriferous poys'nous bodies and in Animals c. Every body therefore has a certain Sphear of activity by this motion and its action depends upon this action 7. Again therefore since its action is not effected but by an emission of its own parts 't is plain it cannot act upon a distant thing but by a Medium as also that it suffers from that upon which it acts if it be within that 's Sphear of activity the emanations of the one running by lines different from the emanations of the other 8. Again 't is evident that since these emanations are certain minutest particles in a denser body more will stick to its parts because its pores are narrow and hard to passe through wherefore with greater labour and time and at the cost of more little particles a dense body receiv's the nature and similitude of the body acting upon it retains more strongly and works more vigorously then if it were rarer 9. And hence the nature of intension and remission is evident viz. because there are within the same space more or fewer of these particles as also why in a denser body a quality is more intended LESSON X. Of the Motions of Vndulation Projection Reflection and Refraction 1. 'T Is consequentiall to what has been said that Water stir'd and alter'd by any violence from its planesse and equidistance from the Centre will not suddenly cease its motion and return to rest though that extrinsecall force be withdrawn For since by that violence some of its parts are rais'd higher then they should be 't is manifest that those higher parts by the course of common causes must presse towards the Centre and consequently thrust others out of their place wherefore the motion will continue 'till every one be restor'd to its own proper place 2. And because ther 's no motion without a concitation and a certain degree of velocity therefore by the very stop of the motion a new motion will be occasion'd but weaker and weaker still till it quite faint away 3. 'T is plain too that the very same must of necessity happen in Aire if its parts be either condens'd or stir'd out of their right place 4. Again it appears that if it be thus with the Aire the same must be expected too of any weighty moveable that 's carri'd in the Aire For since the reason why such descend not perpendicularly is because the progressive motion or the causes of it are stronger then the causes of descent at least in part and since the moveable has of it self no inclination this or that way it must needs follow the motion of the Aire that 's next it But since a dense thing mov'd is carri'd more forceably then a rare body in which it is the rare body it self as it gives a beginning to that 's motion so again it receiv's an advance from that whence it comes to passe that both the Aire and the moveable continue their motion longer then the Aire alone would 5. Hence again it appears that Moveables in all other respects alike the denser they are the longer they retain their Motion 6. 'T is plain therefore why Pendents by a thrid fastned above wave up and down if they be rais'd from the perpendicular and then let drop for with their first descent they move the Aire following it when it ascends and returning with it when it returns but with a new and a weaker impulse and so proceed still till they can stir it no longer 7. It appears likewise that if a Moveable be violently struck against a hard resister because the Aire before it must of necessity yield and that which follows it pushes it on it will follow the Aire before it that is 't will be reflected from the hard Resister 8. And this making equall Angles at least without any sensible difference for since an oblique motion is resolv'd into two perpendiculars which are in a certain proportion by vertue of the moving causes and the Angle is caus'd and emerges out of this proportion it must needs be that this proportion remaining the Angle of the result or reflection must needs be the same with that of the impulse or incidence as in light where the reflection diminishes not sensibly the force but where the reflection notably weakens the force the angle of reflection will be proportionably lessen'd 9. But if the Resister do but partly resist and partly admit that which is obliquely mov'd will be refracted as they call it from the resistance towards the contrary part that is at the entring towards the Perpendicular falling from the mover upon the Superficies at the going out from the Perpendicular as experience conformable to reason witnesses 10. You 'l object that Refraction of light and dense bodies is very different I answer all the Experiments I have ever heard of conclude no such thing 11. The cause of Restitution is that those bodies which recover themselves again are chang'd from length to breadth but 't is known an extrinsecall superficies the more equall dimensions it has the greater Quantity 't is capable of whence the more the longitude exceeds the latitude so much the more the parts of the imprison'd body are compress'd whose motion is so much the swifter as they are the more spirituous and so much the easilyer too they are dilated and rarifi'd after they have been compress'd and condens'd by the circumstant causes and this is that we call Restitution 12. But it ordinarily happens that if they stand too long in bent they recover not themselves again afterwards because either the condens'd parts are rarifi'd by the expulsion of some of them or else time has begot some stiffnesse by the concretion of the parts press'd together so that now 't is not so easy for them to return to their former habit 13. This doctrine is evident to the very sight in Flesh which being press'd becomes white the Bloud retiring but when that returnes it comes to it self again and recovers its colour But Steel above all things most swiftly restores it self because it has a many extremely spirited particles imprison'd in it LESSON XI Of the Electricall and Magneticall Attractions of hot bodies 1. OUt of what has been said 't is again deduc'd that since there 's a perpetuall issue and sally of some parts out of bodies abounding with intense heat and thereupon a certain Orbe of Steams other little bodies must of necessity flow in after the same manner to the body it self and consequently there must be the same tumult about every such body Les 9. 2. as we spake of about the Earth 2. Hence we see that hot bodies naturally attract those things which are in the Aire about them Thus we believe hot Loafs Onions Apples Dogs and Cats c. draw infection to them
burn to be reflected refracted collected dispers'd produced and extinguisht is so clear that it cannot be doubted but light is fire 7. Nor imports it against this That it seems to be mov'd in an instant That it fills the whole Aire That it penetrates solid bodies as glasse c. for these things seem so only through the defect of our Senses which perceive not its motion nor those little spaces by which the Aire is separated from the light nor the pores of those bodies through which it passes LESSON XX. Of Knovvledge and Memory 1. FArther it appears that these Motions when they strike against the destin'd part of the Brain in which knowledge is produc'd though it be fatty and clammy according to the nature of the Brain yet are they repell'd from it because frequent new impulses charge upon the same point 2. Those little bodies therefore retreat thence carrying away with them some little particle of the Brain which sticks to them and wander up and down in the ventricles of the brain till they rest upon the bottome or stick to the sides 3. Whence being rub'd off as it were with a brush by the motion of the Spirits when there 's occasion they swimme again and are brought back to that part which is the fountain of knowledge 4. The first stroak produces Knowledge the later actuall Memory which if it be made by design is call'd Remembrance 5. Again since Motion requires that the Nerves be well fill'd with Spirits and that the extrinsecall parts be strong but Sensation needs only a clam and clear disposition of the Humour contain'd in those Nerves 't is plain both that there may be Sensation without Motion and Motion without Sensation 6. It appears too why the Memory is set a work by the Similitude as also by the connection of Objects For since in a liquid body things that are alike naturally gather together and are apt to stick to one another and since those things which enter together and at once must necessarily attain a kind of connection which is easily preserv'd in the clammy nature of the Brain when by any means they are brought again to the fountain of sensation they must needs meet there together and in a kind of Order 7. But since contraries use to enter together into the internall sense and make one another more taken notice of 't is plain if Hunger provokes the Animal 't will remember Meat if Thirst Drink if Seed the Female Whence it appears that Passion and Will stir up the Memory as also other causes too which by pouring in spirits sweep or brush as it were the Brain and for that these causes do this by accident they are all comprehended under the name of Chance 8. It appears again that they whose brain is of a thin and hot constitution easily apprehend conjecture happily opine rashly and changeably they whose disposition is more dry and thin have a good Memory and rememberance too but opine lightly and changeably 9. They that have a temperate Brain have the best judgement since they look upon many things before they establish their Opinion and for the same reason they are not changeable 10. Lastly since by the stroaks of Objects some litle particle is still taken off and carry'd away from the brain when the same returns again it must needs appear that we have been sensible of that before LESSON XXI Of Sleep and Dreams 1. IT appears farther that since the Nerves must needs be distant from that part of the brain wherein Sensation is produc'd it may fall out that the motion by the Nerves being obstructed there may yet a Motion proceed from some part of the brain to the knowing part and then some things will appear to the Animal to be as if it had receiv'd them by its Senses when yet it did not receive them 2. This stopping of the Senses is called Sleep and such apparitions Dreams An Animal therefore will sleep and dream sometimes 3. But because there 's no necessity that all the Senses or Nerves must be stop'd at once 't will happen that an Animal may partly sleep and partly wake Whence it comes to passe that the Nerves of the Tongue being left unstop'd some talk in their Dreams and if the Nerves for hearing too be unstop'd that they answer to those that speak to them or if there be no obstruction towards the Marrow in the Back-bone they walk too and use their hands 4. When therefore some of the Senses are at liberty Dreams may be provok'd by them another way by some naturall disposition which affects the heart and makes a motion in the brain conformable to that impression or lastly by much precedent thinking objects may be stirr'd up and down too in ones Sleep 5. But a Man being in a manner quiet in his Sleep he happens sometimes to judge more truly of things he sees in his sleep then when awake For the Soul undisturb'd of its own nature more clearly perceiv's the force of the Objects playing up and down before it to discover Truth and unperceiv'dly orders them Hence it comes to passe that sometimes we discern in our Sleep future or absent things which we could not find out nor pierce into by consideration or discourse when we were awake 6. And the same may be the case of Fools Mad and Melancholy persons though 't is very rare and to be esteem'd prodigious and they have a great many falsities mixt withall whence neither are these apparitions to be confided in nor is it possible there should be any Art of Divination by Dreams LESSON XXII Of Passions and the expression of them 1. FArther 't is deducible that since impressions made in the Brain are convey'd by a short and open way to the Heart they must necessarily have an effect too in the Heart conformable to the natures of both 2. Since therefore the heart redounds with hot spirits as we see a little drop of red wine dropd into water diffuses it self into the water and changes it according to its nature so the impression of these little bodies will have the like effect upon the fumes of the heart 3. Hence again it proceeds that the motion of the heart through these becomes sometimes freer and better sometimes worse and that these very qualities passe into the Pulse whence according to the variety of Passions the Pulse varies 4. Again Passions must needs differ by dilatation and constriction for by a conformable Object the Spirits of the heart are made more rare whence the heart more freely enjoys its motion by things disagreeable to Nature the Spirits become more crasse and heavy and the heart is as it were oppress'd 5. Again since an absent Object does not equally affect with a present one these motions will be more remisse in its absence then in its presence whence we deduce four differences of Passions Ioy and Grief for a present good or evil Hope and Fear for them absent 6. Anger
crasse it may be and not Iron but a kind of ironish stone so too not Flesh but something like Flesh may have rain'd other where For we are wont to call things by the names of others which they resemble especially when something of miracle is joyn'd with it so greedy we are of seeming to know or have seen something more then others 10. Snow and Hail seem to be accidents of Rain with this difference that snow is rain whilst 't is yet in such little parts that it cannot descend but Hail is it congeal'd when 't is in such drops as are apt for descending For that the generation of Snow is higher then that of Rain the tops of Mountains witnesse cover'd all the yeare with Snow which they could not be were they ever drench'd with Rain 11. And that 't is congeal'd in minutest particles is evident to one that considers it both from the height of its place and the very nature of Snow for the flakes are not of one continu'd body but as it were ashes or little dusts made up together Its whitenesse too proves it that is its eminent virtue of reflecting light for suppose a world of little sphears smooth and extreamly minute made up together into one body as little as can be visible and because every one of those convex Superficies are apt to scatter light in its proportion from every point that quantity must needs appear extreamly white 12. The Rine too witnesses it and a kind of snowy-hail we sometimes see like Coriander Confits for certain minute particles of snow are easily discernable and if one look very curiously upon a flake of snow one shall discern a composition without end as it were of distinct bodies coagulated Lastly the whitenesse of Froth proceeds clearly from the same cause 13. Hence the doubts about snow are easily resolv'd as why the vapours should not rather immediately fall down in Rain then turn into Snow since there needs a lesse intense cold for Rain For either they are admitted to be first in the degree of Rain before they become Snow but descend not because the parts are too little yet or it must be said that Rain does not signifie every moisture but a dropping one such as is not in so minute particles The cause too of its softnesse is plain for even Diamant dust if it be small enough will be soft 14. Again why 't is often sexangular or rather like a Star with six rayes For since six other equall circles just encompasse and inclose a Circle if Snow be compos'd of little Sphears the first composition will have six jettings out to which those things may stick which in motion are apt to touch and stop against what they encounter Such a compound therefore is apt to be form'd into a star-like figure 15. The cold if it has been very intense and dry slacken's before Snow because of the Snow's moisture especially if it come with a gentle a South or West-wind as also because a snowy cloud more compresses and straightens the Aire near the Earth whence the Vapours which rise out of the Earth being thrust and crouded close together grow warmer and thus too Snow lying upon houses makes the upper rooms warmer by hindring both the entrance of the wind and the issuing of the vapours In the same manner also it protects the Earth and Roots from the cold 16. But the warmnesse which is felt after the fall of Snow proceeds from the free action of the Sun which before was restrain'd by a grosse cloud interpos'd against it as also because the cold wherewith we were infested whilst the cloud hung over us lyes now as it were subdu'd and imprison'd under our feet That the falling of Snow hinders Sounds 't is because it deprives the Aire of its agility 17. Hail is Rain congeal'd in falling it receives a figure either from the drops or from the wind and the collision of the drops now growing hard or else by chance or the concurrence of accidentall causes 18. Those that discern monstrous forms and shapes in it sometimes polish and finish up by the help of their imagination certain rude lines as 't is often seen in Stones and whatever other figures 19. That it so soon melts the reason is because there remains in it more water then of the dry vapour the wind or congealing Aire having light upon great drops For that this is the cause of congelation our expecting Ice and a Rine the next day witnesses to wit when the wind is grow'n sharper by the cold of the night LESSON VIII Of fiery Meteors appearing in the Aire 1. who 'd expect Fire out of water Yet we have it sometimes out of the Clouds and even out of Rain Nay in a very Tempest there stick to the Masts things the Ancients call'd Castor and Pollux a wonder familiarly seen by the Mariners 2. But these and many such like seem rather to rellish the nature of vapours that reflect light then of Fire for both Will of the wispe or Ignes fatui do not burn nor flame out but only shine as also those Dioscuri or Castor and Pollux have the form of a globe which is not the figure of Fire Again Flames in a thin and tenuous matter are not long-liv'd as appears in Lightning and in a Candle which we see sometimes blaze up enflaming the smoak about it but suddenly extinguish again and retire to the Wiek The flames too which belch out of the Vulcanian Mountains are often but short-liv'd 3. Be this therefore a sure rule where-ever the figure is determin'd and constant 't is no fiery or flaming matter For the way of Fire is to brandish Pyramids upwards with an uncertain motion the crasser matter pressing downwards 4. Besides an Ignis fatuus has been found fallen down in a slippery viscous substance full of white spots The same too is the matter of Falling-starres as both a learned man hath found it amongst our selves when any such matter is found in the Fields the very Countrey-men cry it fell from Heav'n and the Starres and as I remember call it the Spittle of the Starres 5. Ignes fatui or Wills of the Wisp then are a certain viscous substance reflecting light in the dark evaporated out of a fat Earth and flying in the Aire They commonly haunt Church-yards Privyes and Fens because they are begotten out of fatnesse They fly about Rivers Hedges c. because in those places there 's a certain flux of Aire They follow one that flies them and fly one that follows them because the Aire does so They stay upon Military Ensigns and Spears because such are apt to stop and tenacious of them In the Summer and hot Regions they are more frequent because the good concoction produces fatnesse 6. Flammae lambentes or those we call Haggs are made of Sweat or some other Vapour issuing out of the Head a notunusuall sight amongst us when we ride by night in the Summer
time They are extinguisht like flames by shaking the Horse Mains But I believe rather 't is onely a Vapour reflecting light but fat and sturdy compacted about the Mains of Horses or Men's Hair 7. Cardanus tells of a certain Carmelite that as often as he thrust his head into his Coul it flam'd out and that 't is usuall enough in Spain for sparkles to fly out of woollen garments rubb'd upon ones head Nor doubt I but these are reall fire such as uses to fly out of Wood Canes or Flints by rubbing or striking them for these and such like are full both of fire and a certain vapour which is fewell for it whence when many hot parts light upon a considerable part of the vapour they scorch and kindle it whereupon after such a production of fire there remains in some an offensive sent as of burning 8. The Hair of Horses and Cats as also Sugar rub'd together in the dark are said to produce the same effect The Eyes too of some are said to sparkle viz. when they shine with spirits and reflect the light as if they were glasse Yet doubt I not but the Eyes may by some preternaturall disposition yield reall light it seeming evident in Cats 9. But that the most part of these are idle stories I collect from this experiment that it has seem'd even to my self sometimes that my Chamber was all light and I saw every thing plainly when notwithstanding I have often catch't my self in it and found mine eyes shut all the while and that my memory within was working upon those thiings which I thought I saw and sometimes I found that I err'd too imagining some things to be in this or that Place which indeed were not 10. Falling-Stars are a certain viscid or slimy matter rais'd out of the Earth in very minute parts and coagulated in the Aire which when in its fall it comes within our sight beautifies all its way with reflected light Yet sometimes it falls not downwards but being carry'd traversly by some motion of the Aire 't is call'd a Gliding star 'till either being dissipated or by some other Accident 't is seen no more 11. Caprae Trabes Bolides Faces Dolia Clypei as the Ancients call them or whatever other names such Meteors may have whether they are reall fires or only certain Clouds brighter then ordinary neither is it deducible clearly enough out of Histories they relating scarce any thing save that they burn in such a figure but that they take burning for shining 't is very credible even from hence that they mention no tokens of their burning nor have I ever met with any very curious observer treating of this subject LESSON IX Of truly fiery Meteors hanging in the Aire 1. THe true fires therefore are Lightnings Dragons and those they call Fire-Drakes For first they have not a clear brightnesse as falling and gliding Stars have which is almost a sure sign of reflection but a dimm'd one from the condition of the matter as it were with smoak as we see in our fires though this rule may fail on both sides unlesse it be prudently apply'd Again they are short-liv'd Thirdly the ashes of Dragons are often seen and the effects of Lightning are well known The Nature of Fire-drakes is like that of Lightning or the blazing of Candles so that 't is unquestionably a sudden kindling of an oyly vapour and it varies its figure with every motion as fire uses according to the various dispositions of the combustible matter To apprehend the Causes of these things 2. Let us imagine the hottest days effect that upon the Earth which upon a Chymicall matter the most intense heat does that after the gentler is apply'd to extract Oyles that is the most glutinous and crasse moisture Suppose that out of fat and soft grounds they raise Vapours not liquid but compacted with a deal of dense matter not without a vast abundance of fiery parts imprison'd in them 3. That these Vapours can neither be elevated into a very high station nor long sustain'd above That yet to the proportion of the heat they are carryed higher according to the nature of the Region and of the concurring causes in one Climate then in another And that through the motion and tumult of the Clouds these vapours meeting with one another being of a glutinous substance stick together and are constipated that being constipated they are kindled and being kindled either break out or are thrown out 4. Again this matter being the heaviest of all that are elevated will be hurryed downwards as we see in Golden-gunpowder for the dilating of the fire makes and applyes an impression of the adhering matter that way which the matter leads It breaks therefore through the Clouds there where 't is easiest descending and being in the time of its passage for the most part directed obliquely because the Cloud is thickest towards the Earth 't is so hurry'd to us 5. When nothing but the flame approaches us 't is said to lighten when without Thunder and in a clear season any lightnings appear we say it flashes 6. Hence 't is apparent enough how Thunderbolts come to be darted out of the Clouds For the fire in the Clouds being extreme violent it bakes a light stone like a Pumice or those which are made in furnaces for Metalls and that having the fire still adhering to it and being light of its own nature is carry'd like an iron kettle or earthen Porringer in water and descends with violence 7. Again 't is evident how Thunder is caus'd For that most suddain rarefaction of Fire cannot be made without a most swift compression of one Cloud to another nor this without a mighty noise such as we hear at the suddain extinguishing of a violent and intense fire and at the dashing together of the waves of the Sea in a Storm 8. From the different matter of the Lightning there happens the variety of different effects As when the Purse or Scabbard being intire the Mony or the Blade is melted it proceeds from hence that in the Lightning there is the nature of those Salts which serve to melt Metalls and yet have no power upon slighter subjects when the Wine congeals the Vessell being broken 't is a sign of cold Spirits in the Lightning by which liquid things are rendred consistent and hard things are broken as we see by the congealing of water in a glasse or earthen vessel close stop'd when water will not quench it it has a mixture of Wild-fire in it such as we see in burning Fountains 9. Iron is us'd against Lightning because 't is a kind of matter something akin to Lightning and draws the volatile spirits to it self so that it does other things no hurt Mushromes too come on the better for Tempests because the Rain which accompanies them is warm and fat as the fields of Aetna and Campania are rendred more fruitfull by the eruptions of the Mountains because much heat and
out with violence they take the shortest line which upon the superficies of a Sphear is the Arch of the greatest Circle LESSON XI Of Earth-quakes and their Effects 1. BUt because we have said there are Caves under ground and both our experience of Pits sunk and many extraordinary effects demonstrate Fire water there too there must necessarily be notable effects of the vapours extracted out of the bowells of the Earth 2. If therefore out of some subterraneous humidbody vapours chance to be rais'd by a subterraneous fire too and they prove too bigg for their place 't is manifest that alwaies increasing and becoming condens'd by the continuall accesse of new vapours they 'l seek themselves a way out according to the force they have where ther 's the easiest passage If that chance to lead into any vast under-ground Cave the Earth will quake with a great impetus and groan but nothing will appear above ground 3. But if the easiest issue be towards the superficies of the Earth the vapour will burst out through it and if it be noxious to Beasts or Birds 't will bring either Death or a Disease along with it making with the eruption either a gaping Hollow or a Mountain according as the Earth either sinks or is sustain'd and as it were vaulted Sometimes 't will bury and swallow up Cities sometimes transport vast pieces of Earth and produce other effects whereof we find expresse memorialls in History 4. The Prognosticks of an Earth-quake they say are an infection of the Fountains with a sulphurious savour an unusuall calmnesse of the Air and Birds a swelling of the Sea without any apparent cause blackish streaks under the Sun of an unusuall length all if they are truly Prognosticks and not onely Accidents which sometimes and not for the most part happen are the effects of a spirituous Vapour bursting out from the bowells of the Earth 5. They are said to happen chiefly in the Spring and Autumn therefore if the opinion be true because the Superficies of the Earth being warm becomes slacker with the rain But I should rather believe it a chance that many should be recorded in Histories about these seasons for both Winter and Summer have felt their Earthquakes and in the Torrid Zone where they are most frequent the differences of Spring and Autumn from the other seasons are very inconsiderable 6. The Sea-shores are most subject to these motions because the subterranious flames and fumes receive no little nourishment from the Sea and the moisture which soaks into the Earth renders it very fit for breeding vapours LESSON XII Of the Meteors of the other parts of the World and especially of Comets 1. THese accidents of our Orbe and its parts which are usually call'd Meteors must necessarily be found too in the other bodies which we have said are enlightned by our Sun And that out of the nature of quantity and the mixture of Rare and Dense if they have their severall degrees and differences 2. Nor in these only but in whatever bodies besides wherein alterations are wrought by the operation of fire upon denser matter for the same reasons 3. 'T is evident too that our Sun cannot warm and enlighten all those bodies that reflect light to us for if it were as far distant from us as Astronomers suppose the Sphear of the Fixed stars 't would appear to us to be but of the sixth Magnitude and consequently it could not communicate to us any considerable either light or heat how much lesse in the situation where 't is could it reflect so far as to us a light of the first Magnitude from any Star so far distant 4. Adde to this that one that should collect from the proportion of the basis of a Cone to its Axis how much light the Sun could reflect to us from the eighth Sphear would find it absolutely invisible Besides the very Aire through which the light passes by little and little drinks up and extinguishes it whence in a thicker Aire it spreads it self a lesse way then in a rarer so that in so vast a journey 't would be utterly deaded and not seen 5. A Meteor of the Planets perceptible by us is a Comet which its very-little Parallaxis convinces to be sometimes sited above the Moon 6. That 't is not fire its constant figure its Tayle not oppos'd to its motion but to the Sun its lasting consistency its matter light and to be seen through and lastly its Motion more regular then we observe in fire largely convince farther that it has nothing of fire but the colour adde to this that Fromundus with his very eyes discern'd the Tayle of that Comet in the Year 1618 to consist of the reflection of the Sun 's light 7. Be it therefore A vapour which partly reflects the light of the Sun partly drinking it in either repells it back again to us by refraction from it self or letting it through by reflection from another body And its fore-part will be the Head it s hinder whether part or something only accessnry to it will be the Tayle 8. And since by this generation of a Comet any figure of its Beard any Motion any winding of its tayle but for the most part the opposition of its Tayle to the Sun and the lesser light of its Tayle then of its Head may be fairly solv'd this intire subject is clearly display'd 9. Out of the same principles may be deduc'd that fading Stars are Comets but so far off that the secundary or refracted light of their Tail by reason of the height either cannot be distinguisht from the body or cannot be extended to us because of its extreme faintnesse as also that its motion cannot be discern'd 10. Even these therefore witnesse that there are Meteors among the very fixed Stars and those so much the more constant and lasting as the bodies out of which they are extracted are larger LESSON XIII Of the Ebbing and Flovving of the Sea and its Accidents 1. SInce out of what has been said it appears that the gravity of the vapours and the straightnesse of their issue are the cause of the violent motion of the winds and that the heaviest vapours are extracted out of the Earth when 't is well moistned It becomes evident that where vapours are rais'd out of the Sea only they are lighter that if they be turn'd into winds without being straightned they will be calm ones And since in the great Pacifick Sea in the Indian Atlantick Ocean quite through the whole Torrid Zone there are vast waters consequently in some measure secure from the incursion of Shore-winds there must needs be light vapours rais'd up by the Sun through all that Tract which the Sun retiring must turn into winds taking that course which the Suns rarefaction of the aire makes most easie this all the year long consequently there must be a continuall East-wind 2. And because the Aire naturally moves in a Circle
in this case an Instrument in some sort is made use of for Creation 9. And because the internall Dispositions of a Soul as to know and to will even they are indivisible and follow out of the materiall impressions made upon the Body it must needs be that as the Soul it self follows out of the generation of Man by the help of the universall Action of God so these Dispositions too from the impression made upon the man and from the nature of the Soul must indivisibly alter the Soul 10. And whoever would see an evident example of these things let him conceive how by cutting a piece of wood is made more for all the time of the cutting the figure is chang'd yet the wood remains by the same unity one but indivisibly the cutting being finisht they are now two pieces of wood without the dualities beginning at all before or any thing of its nature but only some variation about the Figure 11. Out of what has been said we are deduc'd to see how God performs all the works of the Creatures in them For first if we speak of Intelligences Since their internall operations are nothing else but to be all other things after a certain manner 't is manifest they are actually even to the uttermost positive circumstances by force of their Creation 12. For by force of that their essence is conjoyn'd to it self as 't is a cognoscitive vertue and out of this conjunction the next divisibility which is of God to the same cognoscitive vertue since all the causes are put is of necessity in them 13. And what is said of this divisibility is with the same facilnesse discover'd of all the rest whatever since they are all connected their externall action too Matter which is its subject being put follows by force of their internall without any other change in them LESSON XVI Of the government of God and the locality of Incorporeall Things 1. AS for the rest the same way leads to the discovery that God is not the cause of any imperfection and not-being or ill which is in created things and their action For since the action of God is only to infuse Being and this as much as the Creature is capable 't is plain what there is of Being is to be attributed to God but what ther 's wanting of Being is to be refunded into the incapacity of the Subject 2. And since the defect of action proceeds out of the defect of the Principle that is out of some not-being in the principle in the same manner all defect in acting is to be reduc'd likewise into some defect in being of the Creature and not into God as its cause Wherefore God is the Authour of all Good because all good is from being but of no ill since ill is from not-being 3. Consequently 't is evident that God cannot annihilate any thing or withdraw his concourse from the action of any Creature For to be able to annihilate is to be able to make a no-Thing and to withdraw his concourse is not to give Being to things created either of which cannot happen but from a defect of Goodnesse and of the overflowing as it were of Being in God 4. You 'l say Therefore God does not act freely ad extra that is upon the Creatures But this Consequence is to be deny'd as 't is said above when we treated of the Liberty of God 5. You 'l say again In the same manner therefore it must be said that God cannot make any thing which He will not make But this Consequence also is deny'd for his Power is refer'd to possible things or which have entity and intelligibility and therefore 't is not to be deny'd that he can doe any thing that 's possible though in another respect it be impossible it should happen that He should actually make this 6. But the Power of God which is the very notion of Being and Thing has not for its act the not-being of any thing and not-acting and therefore 't is not to be said that He can give not-being or can not-act 7. Let us remember now that God understands all and every thing done by the Creatures and wills all things which follow out of his operation and we have it that God is Governour of the World and that there can be no resistance against his Will 8. For since whatever is has its birth from his will nor can there be any thing which is not effected by Him and His works 't is clear whatever He wills not is not nor can be so long as he wills not that it be 9. Nor is it lesse evident that neither the Contingency of naturall causes nor the Liberty of rationall Creatures is infring'd by this government of God For since Contingency is nothing else but that the nature of the cause is such that it may and uses to be hindered by other causes and Liberty that a Creature upon the consideration of more proceeds to action and 't is so manifest that both these are in nature and no waies touched by the operation of God as that operation is explicated that it needs only the remembring 't is clear that the government of God is sweet and offers no violence to the natures of naturall causes 10. You 'l object that Propositions concerning a future whether contingent or free Subject are determinately true especially since they are known by God and are predefin'd wherefore the effect cannot not-be there is therefore no either contingency or liberty whether this happens out of the force of Contradiction or of the irrefragable will of God 11. 'T is answer'd 't is false that Propositions concerning a future contingent have a determinate truth for since a man speaks out of consideration of causes the Sense of his proposition is What the causes may bear Nor imports it whether it be pronounc'd actively or passively as if you should say what the causes will act or what effect will be made by them for it signifies still the same 12. If it be therefore ask'd what men mean by such propositions 't will rain 't will be hot Socrates will be angry or go to Sea c 't is clear they mean to explicate effects as in defectible causes and consequently they have no determinate truth But if it be ask'd what the proposition will signify if it be referr'd immediately to the effect as it sounds 't is answer'd no sensible man uses to speak so or make such propositions and so it belongs not to the present question But if there be suppos'd such a power of Contradiction in the Objects as to determine the truth of propositions all things must fall out by the necessity of Fate and be from themselves which is above sufficiently demonstrated impossible 13. 'T is plain lastly that this action of God by which He moves a Creature is miscall'd a Concourse since such a word leads the hearer into an apprehension of a certain equality in acting between God
is unknown or not reach'd and because the most simple manner of reaching is by Sight it properly signifies such a depth of water that Sight cannot reach its bottom Wherefore the sense is most easie that what it had formerly call'd Heaven was a vast diaphanous body upon which there was no Fire to enlighten it It affirms therefore directly that Fire was not created 5. But it subjoyns two parts of the Abysse whilst it says and the Spirit of the Lord was born upon the waters Clearly therefore it affirms three Elements EARTH WATER and AIRE were Created by God but not FIRE And that they were not confus'd is evident in that otherwise it had not been an Abysse that is a capacity of Light and a privation since by the commixtion of Earth the other Elements had been rendered opake Moreover the Spirits being born upon the waters denotes a distinction of Places between the other two Elements 6. But 't is observable that the word was born according to the force of the Originall term speciâ—ies that motion whereby Birds sustain themselves with open wings over their nests least they should crush their young ones and yet to defend them from the cold Whence a certain person amongst the Hebrews explicates it not weighing upon touching but not striking wherefore the Aire cover'd the water but press'd it not 'T is plain therefore that according to the propriety of the expression 't is specifi'd there was as yet no Gravitie and that the Aire is the first of the Elements whose property it is to have any heat in it 'T is evident therefore ther 's no gravitie in the Aire of its own nature and consequently that 't is not an intrinsecall Quality in the other Elements but is in them from the operation of Fire and the order of Agents CHAP. III. A Philosophicall discourse of the vvorks of the tvvo first daies 1. THe Matter of the World being Created it remains that we see what follow'd by the additional operation of Creatures And because the operation of Angels is no other then rarefaction nature wanted its naturall instrument viz. Fire for This we see principally made use of for almost all naturall effects especially the generation of Substances and This is not rais'd out of Water and Earth immediately without first becoming Aire it must be that the Angels or Angel whose task this was by rarefying the Aire rais'd a vast Fire 2. And since there are many sorts of Fire and that which far from the fiery body smoaks no longer but shoots out directly with pure rayes is by a speciall name call'd Light Light must needs have been made by the Angels through the rarefaction of pure Aire as from which no Smoak rises 3. Nor is it lesse certain this must be done in the very confines of Aire and water For since the Angels could not in an instant convert Aire into Light and a locall motion of the neighbouring bodies follows upon rarefaction the Aire must needs have been mov'd whilst 't was yet in the form of Aire and since motion cannot be without a plurality of Substances 't is plain that the Aire divided the water and consequently the first Fire was rais'd in the confines of both 4. Since therefore the Fire being rais'd of necessity acted upon the water it follows that the Waters being stir'd those particles to which the Fire stuck being rarer then the rest and coveting still a larger place by their own and the denser parts of the Water's motion must needs be thrust out into the Aire which is more yielding and those excluded be aggregated together specially towards the Light where by reason of the more vehement action there must needs be greatest abundance of them and more flowing from one side then another since naturall causes work not rigorously even the whole masse of Water and Earth adhering to it by little and little attain a motion towards the same Light so that successively and by parts it rol'd in a Circle and was enlightned having in some places Night in others Day 5. Besides another effect must evidently have follow'd from this production of Light viz. a vast abundance of Clouds be rais'd up into the Aire which by the circulation of the Light about the inferiour Globe must necessarily be remov'd a vast distance from the Globe it self and the Light Whence being no longer sensible of the Globe's attraction they could not by any order of Causes be remitted back towards the Globe Thus therefore ther 's a vast space establisht between the waters in the Globe whence the Clouds were extracted and between those very Clouds themselves which may keep them from one another separate for ever or at least till the end of the World CHAP. IV. An explication of Genesis concerning the same 1. WHat says Theology to this It says And God said Let there be Light and LIGHT was made Speech and command are address'd to another clearly therefore it reaches that by the intermediate operation of Angels Light was made 2. And it was made clearly shews that the making immediately and instantly began viz. that there was no delay in the intermediate Instrument wherefore that 't was an Incorporeall Substance which needed not be mov'd that it might move Moreover the word he said which implyes Knowledge declares it to have been an Intelligent Instrument 3. It adds And God saw the Light that it was good Goodnesse is perfection namely because the nature of the Elements by the addition of Fire was compleat and perfected therefore Light is said to be good Again because the rest of the Elements were passive and Light active therefore Light is call'd good or perfect for what has attain'd an aptitude to produce or make its like is esteem'd perfect in its kind 4. It follows And he divided the light from the darknesse c. 'T is plain this division was made not by Place but by Time since Day and Night are parts of Time and consequently that motion or the diurnall conversion was now begun which is declar'd by those words and he call'd the light Day and the darknesse Night For since as yet Man was not to whom words might be significant He call'd is as much as he establisht the Essence of Day and Night for a name or appellation denotes the essence or quiddity of the Thing nam'd 5. 'T is added and the Evening and the Morning was made one Day in the originall Text and the Evening was made and the Morning was made or the Evening was and the Morning was From which Phrase 't is understood that this motion had for its term whence the Evening and for its term whether the Morning and consequently that the motion was made in a Subject to which it agrees to have Evening and Morning that is in the Earth and that it was from West to East that is towards the Light 6. Again And God said let there be a FIRMAMENT in the midst of the Waters and let it
divide the Waters from the Waters In the Hebrew an Expansion Either word is properly taken since it was a Space unpassable for its vastnesse and expansion and by consequence fixed and fixing the division of the Waters 7. But those words in the midst of the waters are to be noted which teach that no Substance was made a new but only between the waters and the waters which is evident too from the word Heaven which name he gave the Firmament by which very word 't is express'd that before God created the Heaven The Etymology also of the word is to be noted which both in the Hebrew and Greek Idiom signifies as much as whence the waters or whence or where it drops that it may be evidenc'd even from the name that the Aire it self is the Firmament CHAP. V. A Philosophicall discourse of the vvorks of the other four days 1. FArther by the operation of this vast Fire not only the Water but much of the Earth too with the Water must needs have been rais'd up For Chymists know that the intense heat of fire can raise up and carry away crasse Oyls and Oyntments nay even Salts and very Gold it self Since therefore the Earth before the operation of Light was dissolv'd in minutest parts and Dust as void of all Moisture it must needs be that the Heat mix'd every where the Water with Earth and thus all muddy carry'd it up into the Aire but most of all about those parts over which the Fire perpendicularly hung 2. Whence 't is plain two Effects must needs have risen one that the Earth in that Circle should become more hollowed and low then in the rest of its Superficies the other that the Water from the remoter places should flow into these hollownesses whether by the attraction of the Fire or by naturall connection or by some power of Gravity which through the operation of the Fire by little and little attain'd a force 3. 'T is plain therefore that since the motion of the Earth was of necessity by the greatest Circle the Earth by the course of the foresaid causes must be drain'd and dry'd first about the Poles of that Circle and the waters gathered together in the empty hollownesse under that Circle 4. I said by the course of the foresaid causes for if we consider what was likely to be done by accident this consequence will not be universally necessary For 't is clear that the Earth by the boyling of the water being unequally mixt and remixt with continuall agitation must according to the law of contingency have produc'd by the meeting of different parts as many kinds and species of Earths as we see diversities of Fossils which we divide generally into four kinds Stones Metalls Mold and concrete Iuyces 5. And since from the varieties also of those great parts of that masse now tempered with water a notable variety must needs follow the Earth yet cover'd with Waters may easily here and there have boyl'd up into Excrescencies as Islands have often grown up in the Sea By this irregularity therefore some Mountains growing may have appear'd before the Polar Regions of the Earth 6. From the same principles it follows that the Earth did not appear wholly squallid and desart but already impregnated with the Seeds of all things nor with Seeds only but with Plants too those especially which either require or can endure more moisture the rest by little and little as the dryer Earth grew more apt and fitly dispos'd for their birth they too sprung out 7. And because an Animal is nothing but a more-compounded Plant by the same reason the Earth then most aptly tempered and dispos'd brought forth perfect Animals as it now being barrener of its own accord produces such as we call insecta as Mice and Frogs and sometimes new fashion'd Animals 8. But because the waters must needs have been very muddy even They before the Earth must have sprung into Animals fit to inhabit them viz. Fishes small and great as also into certain middle Animals which might fly up to the higher parts of the Earth that is Birds as even now we see all kind of Birds that are bred of Putrefaction by the Sea shores and Lake's sides grow out of the rottennesse of wood tempered with water 9. 'T was necessary too that by the force of that mighty Flame parts of Earth and Water of a vast bulk carry'd up above the Aire should by naturall attraction and the power of the baking Fire coagulate into many vast Bodies whereof some should more abound with fiery vertue and therefore both conceive and belch out abundance of Flames so that being entirely lucid they should be apt to enlighten other bodies too within a fit distance and that others lesse abounding with fiery parts should be fit in a congruous order and method to be concocted and enlightened by Them and themselves too be able to reflect light from the former to the rest 10. Wherefore were they set moved in a convenient site to the Earth now inhabited they might alwaies more or lesse enlighten it nor would there be any longer need of that vast light made by the Angels And this formation of things the Aegyptians Aethiopians Empedocles and other naturall Philosophers as it were by the conduct of Nature out of the very steps and order of Generation which they still observ'd in nature have emulated and attempted though not throughly attain'd CHAP. VI. An Explication of Genesis concerning the same 1. THe sacred Commentaries concerning these things tell us thus And God said let the Waters which are under the Heaven be gathered together into one place and let the dry Land appear Here is the first mention made of gravity whose effect is said to be to congregate into one place that we may see Gravity is not a motion towards any particular Site but towards the unity of a body and that it was made out of the Order of the Universe now establisht after that between the acting Light and the Earth upon which it acted a great distance full of Aire was interpos'd wherein the motion of things ascending and descending might be free 2. Iob 38. 't is said that the Sea flow'd as it were out of a womb whence 't is understood that the Earth throughly moistned with Water sweat out on all sides into the lower Vaults and increas'd the Water where by the extreme force of the light it had been too much suck'd out and so left the Earth in its due temperament Whence ther 's evidenc'd another cause too besides what we have explicated of the Earths appearing viz. because by the permixtion of hot water it swel'd into a far greater bulk 3. It follows and God call'd the dry Land and the gathering together of the waters he call'd Seas For it was not Earth in the same sense wherein at the beginning 't was said God created the Heaven and the Earth for there the Element of Earth was call'd Earth but