all sorts of VVets and Liquors are of a watry kind though of a different sort But as I have said all things that are Fluid are not VVet as Melted Metal Flame Light and the like are fluid but not wet and Smoak and Oyl are of another sort of Liquidness than VVater or Juyce but yet they are not wet and that which causes the difference of different sorts of VVaters and VVatry Liquors are the differences of the watry Circular Lines as some are edged some are pointed some are twisted some are braided some are flat some are round some ruff some smooth and so after divers several Forms or Figures and yet are perfect Circles and of some such a Degree of Extenuations or Dilatations CHAP. XV. Of the Alteration of the Exterior Figurative Motion of Water AS I formerly said The Figurative Motions of the Innate Nature of VVater is a sort of Extenuating as being an equal smooth Circle which is the cause VVater is rare fluid moist liquid and wet But the Exterior Figurative Motions of the watry Circle may be edged pointed sharp blunt flat round smooth ruff or the like which may be either divided or altered without any alteration of the Innate Nature or Property As for example Salt-water may be made fresh or the Salt Parts divided from the watry Circle The like of other sorts of VVaters and yet the Nature of VVater remains CHAP. XVI Of OYL and VITRIOL THE Exterior Figurative Motions of Oyl are so much like those of Water as to be fluid smooth soft moist and liquid although not perfectly wet but the Interior Figurative Motions of Oyl are of that sort of Fire that we name a Dull Dead Fire and the difference between Salt Waters Vitriol or the like and Oyl is That the Exterior Figurative Motions of Vitriol and Salt Waters are of a sort of Fire whereas it is the Interior Figurative Motions of Oyl or the like that are of those sorts of Fire and that is the reason that the fiery Motions of Oyl cannot be altered as the fiery Motions of Vitriol may But this is to be noted That although the Interior Figurative Motions of Oyl are of such a sort of fiery Motions yet not just like those of Vitriol and are not burning corroding or wounding as Vitriols Corrosives and the like are for those are somewhat more of the Nature of bright shining Fires than Oyls CHAP. XVII Of Mineral and Sulphureous Waters IN Sulphureous and Mineral Waters the Sulphureous and Mineral Corporeal Motions are Exterior and not Interior like Salt waters but there are several sorts of such waters also some are occasionally others naturally so affected for some waters running through Sulphureous or Mineral Mines gather like a rowling Stone some of the loose Parts of Gravel or Sand which as they stick or cleave to the rowling Stone so they do to the running Waters as we may perceive by those waters that spring out of Chalk Clay or Lime Grounds which will have some Tinctures of the Lime Chalk or Clay and the same happens to Minerals But some are naturally Sulphureous as for example Some sorts of hot Baths are as naturally Sulphureous as the Sea-water is Salt but all those Effects of Minerals Sulphurs and the like are dividable from and also may be joyn'd to the Body of water without any disturbance to the nature of water as may be proved by Salt-water which will cause fresh Meat to be salt and salt Meat will cause Fresh-water to be salt As for hot Baths those have hot figurative Motions but not burning and the moist liquid and wet Nature of water makes it apt to joyn and divide to and from other sorts of Motions as also to and from its own sort CHAP. XVIII The Cause of the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea THE Nature of water is to flow so that all sorts of waters will flow if they be not obstructed but it is not the Nature of Water to ebb Neither can water flow beyond the Power of its Quantity for a little water will not flow so far as a great one But I do not mean by flowing the falling of water from some Descent but to flow upon a Level for as I have said all waters do naturally flow if they be not obstructed but few sorts of water besides Sea-water ebbs As for the Exterior Figurative Motions of water in the action of flowing they are an Oval or a half Circle or a half Moon where the middle parts of the half Moon or Circle are fuller than the two Ends. Also the figure of a half Moon or half Circle is concave on the inside and convex on the outside of the Circle but these Figurative Motions in a great quantity of water are bigg and full which we name Waves of Water which waves flowing fast upon each other presses each other forward until such time as the half Circle divides for when the Bow of the half Circle is over-bent or stretched it divides into the middle which is most extended and when a half Circle which is a whole wave of water is divided the divided Parts fall equally back on each side of the flowing waves so every wave dividing after that manner in the full extension it causes the motion of ebbing that is to flow back as it flow'd forward for the divided Parts falling back and joining as they meet makes the head of the half Circle where the Ends of the half Circle were and the Convex where the Concave was by which action the ebbing Parts are become the flowing Parts And the reason that it ebbs and flows by degrees is That the flowing half Circles require so much time to be at the utmost extension Also every wave or half Circle divides not all at one time but one after another for two Bodies cannot be in one place at one point of time and until the second third and so the rest flow as far as the first they are not at their full extension And thus the Sea or such a great Body of Water must flow and ebb as being its nature to flow and the flowing Figure being over-extended by endeavouring to flow beyond its power causes a dividing of the Extended Parts which is the Cause of the Ebbing But whether this Opinion of mine be as probable as any of the former Opinions concerning the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea I cannot judg but I would not be mistaken for the flowing of the water is according to its Quantity for the further it flows the fainter or weaker it is CHAP. XIX Of OVERFLOWS AS for Overflows there be many and many more would be if the waters were not hindred and obstructed by Man's Inventions But some Overflows are very Uncertain and Irregular others Certain and Regular as the flowing of Nilus in Egypt but as for the distance of time of its flowing it may proceed from the far Journey of those flowing-waters and the time of its ebbing may be attributed to the great
The Third Part. The Preamble 265 I. Of the Happy and Miserable Worlds 266 II. Whether there be such kinds and sorts of Creatures in the Happy and Blessed World as in this World 267 III. Of the Births and Deaths of the Heavenly World ibid. IV. Whether those Creatures could be named Blessed that are subject to dye 269 V. Of the Productions of the Creatures of the Regular World 270 VI. Whether the Creatures in the Blessed World do feed and evacuate 271 VII Of the Animals and of the food of the Humans of the Happy World 272 VIII Whether it is not irregular for one Creature to feed on another 273 IX Of the continuance of life in the Regular World 275 X. Of the Excellency and Happiness of the Creatures of the Regular World 276 XI Of Human Creatures in the Regular World 278 XII Of the happiness of human Creatures in the Material World ibid. The Fourth Part. I. Of the Irregular World 281 II. Of the Productions and Dissolutions of the Creatures of the irregular World 282 III. Of Animals and of Humans in the irregular World 283 IV. Of Objects and Perceptions 284 V. The Description of the Globe of the irregular World ibid. VI. Of the Elemental Air and Light of the irregular World 286 VII Of Storms and Tempests in the irregular World 287 VIII Of the several Seasons or rather of the several Tempers in the irregular World ibid. IX The Conclusion of the irregular and unhappy or cursed World 288 The Fifth Part. Fifteen Sections concerning Restoring-Beds or Wombs p. 291 to 308 The Conclusion 309 GROUNDS OF Natural Philosophy The First Part. CHAP. I. Of MATTER MATTER is that we name Body which Matter cannot be less or more than Body Yet some Learned Persons are of opinion That there are Substances that are not Material Bodies But how they can prove any sort of Substance to be no Body I cannot tell neither can any of Nature's Parts express it because a Corporeal Part cannot have an Incorporeal Perception But as for Matter there may be degrees as more pure or less pure but there cannot be any Substances in Nature that are between Body and no Body Also Matter cannot be figureless neither can Matter be without Parts Likewise there cannot be Matter without Place nor Place without Matter so that Matter Figure or Place is but one thing for it is as impossible for One Body to have Two Places as for One Place to have Two Bodies neither can there be Place without Body CHAP. II. Of MOTION THough Matter might be without Motion yet Motion cannot be without Matter for it is impossible in my opinion that there should be an Immaterial Motion in Nature and if Motion is corporeal then Matter Figure Place and Motion is but one thing viz. a corporeal figurative Motion As for a First Motion I cannot conceive how it can be or what that First Motion should be for an Immaterial cannot have a Material Motion or so strong a Motion as to set all the Material Parts in Nature or this World a-moving but in my opinion every particular part moves by its own Motion If so then all the Actions in Nature are self-corporeal figurative Motions But this is to be noted That as there is but one Matter so there is but one Motion and as there are several Parts of Matter so there are several Changes of Motion for as Matter of what degree soever it is or can be is but Matter so Motion although it make Infinite Changes can be but Motion CHAP. III. Of the degrees of MATTER THough Matter can be neither more nor less than Matter yet there may be degrees of Matter as more pure or less pure and yet the purest Parts are as much material in relation to the nature of Matter as the grossest Neither can there be more than two sorts of Matter namely that sort which is Self-moving and that which is not Self-moving Also there can be but two sorts of the Self-moving Parts as that sort that moves intirely without Burdens and that sort that moves with the Burdens of those Parts that are not Self-moving So that there can be but these three sorts Those parts that are not moving those that move free and those that move with those parts that are not moving of themselves Which degrees are in my opinion the Rational Parts the Sensitive Parts and the Inanimate Parts which three sorts of Parts are so join'd that they are but as one Body for it is impossible that those three sorts of Parts should subsist single by reason Nature is but one united material Body CHAP. IV. Of VACVVM IN my opinion there cannot possibly be any Vacuum for though Nature as being material is divisible and compoundable and having Self-motion is in perpetual action yet Nature cannot divide or compose from her self although she may move divide and compose in her self But were it possible Nature's Parts could wander and stray in and out of Vacuum there would be a Confusion for where Unity is not Order cannot be Wherefore by the Order and Method of Nature's corporeal Actions we may perceive there is no Vacuum For what needs a Vacuum when as Body and Place is but one thing and as the Body alters so doth the Place CHAP. V. The difference of the Two Self-moving Parts of Matter THE Self-moving Parts of Nature seem to be of two sorts or degrees one being purer and so more agil and free than the other which in my opinion are the Rational Parts of Nature The other sort is not so pure and are the Architectonical Parts which are the Labouring Parts bearing the grosser Materials about them which are the Inanimate Parts and this sort in my opinion are the Sensitive Parts of Nature which form build or compose themselves with the Inanimate Parts into all kinds and sorts of Creatures as Animals Vegetables Minerals Elements or what Creatures soever there are in Nature Whereas the Rational are so pure that they cannot be so strong Labourers as to move with Burdens of Inanimate Parts but move freely without Burdens for though the Rational and Sensitive with the Inanimate move together as one Body yet the Rational and Sensitive do not move as one 〈◊〉 Part as the sensitive doth with the Inanimate But pray mistake me not when I say the Inanimate Parts are grosser as if I meant they were like some densed Creature for those are but Effects and not Causes but I mean gross dull heavy Parts as that they are not Self-moving nor do I mean by Purity Rarity but Agility for Rare or Dense Parts are Effects and not Causes And therefore if any should ask Whether the Rational and Sensitive Parts were Rare or Dense I answer They may be Rare or Dense according as they contract or dilate their Parts for there is no such thing as a Single Part in Nature for Matter or Body cannot be so divided but that it will remain Matter which is divisible CHAP.
every particular Part of a Man is not generally perceived for the Interior Parts do not generally perceive the Exterior nor the Exterior generally or perfectly the Interior and yet both Interior and Exterior Corporeal Motions agree as one Society for every Part or Corporeal Motion knows its own Office like as Officers in a Common-wealth although they may not be acquainted with each other yet they know their Employments So every particular Man in a Common-wealth knows his own Employment although he knows not every Man in the Common-wealth The same do the Parts of a Man's Body and Mind But if there be any Irregularity or Disorder in a Common-wealth every Particular is disturbed perceiving a Disorder in the Common-wealth The same amongst the Parts of a Man's Body and yet many of those Parts do not know the particular Cause of that general Disturbance As for the Disorders they may proceed from some Irregularities but for Peace there must be a general Agreement that is every Part must be Regular CHAP. VI. Of Divided and Composed Perceptions AS I have formerly said There is in Nature both Divided and Composed Perceptions and for proof I will mention Man's Exterior Perceptions As for example Man hath a Composed Perception of Seeing Hearing Smelling Tasting and Touching whereof every several sort is composed though after different manners or ways and yet are divided being several sorts of Perceptions and not all one Perception Yet again they are all Composed being united as proper Perceptions of one Man and not only so but united to perceive the different Parts of one Object for as Perceptions are composed of Parts so are Objects and as there are different Objects so there are different Perceptions but it is not possible for a Man to know all the several sorts of Perceptions proper to every Composed Part of his Body or Mind much less of others CHAP. VII Of the Ignorances of the several Perceptive Organs AS I said That every several composed Perception was united to the proper use of their whole Society as one Man yet every several Perceptive Organ of Man is ignorant of each other as the Perception of Sight is ignorant of that of Hearing the Perception of Hearing is ignorant of the Perception of Seeing and the Perception of Smelling is ignorant of the Perceptions of the other two and those of Scent and the same of Tasting and Touching Also every Perception of every particular Organ is different but some sorts of Human Perceptions require some distance between them and the Object As for example The Perception of Sight requires certain Distances as also Magnitudes whereas the Perception of Touch requires a Joyning-Object or Part. But this is to be noted That although these several Organs are not perfectly or throughly acquianted yet in the Perception of the several parts of one Object they do all agree to make their several Perceptions as it were by one Act at one point of time CHAP. VIII Of the particular and general Perceptions of the Exterior Parts of Human Creatures THere is amongst the Exterior Perceptions of Human Creatures both particular sorts of Perceptions and general Perceptions For though none of the Exterior Parts or Organs have the sense of Seeing but the Eyes of Hearing but the Ears of Smelling but the Nose of Tasting but the Mouth yet all the Exterior Parts have the Perception of Touching and the reason is That all the Exterior Parts are full of pores or at least of such composed Parts that are the sensible Organs of Touching yet those several Parts have several Touches not only because they have several Parts but because those Organs of Touching are differently composed But this is to be noted That every several part hath perception of the other parts of their Society as they have of Foreign parts and as the Sensitive so the Rational parts have such particular and general perceptions But it is to be noted That the Rational parts are parts of the same Organs CHAP. IX Of the Exterior Sensitive Organs of Human Creatures AS for the manner or ways of all the several sorts and particular perceptions made by the different composed parts of Human Creatures it is impossible for a Human Creature to know any otherwise but in part for being composed of parts into Parties he can have but a parted knowledg and a parted perception of himself for every different composed part of his Body have different sorts of Self-knowledg as also different sorts of Perceptions but yet the manner and way of some Human Perceptions may probably be imagined especially those of the exterior parts Man names the Sensitive Organs which Parts in my opinion have their perceptive actions after the manner of patterning or picturing the exterior Form or Frame of Foreign Objects As for example The present Object is a Candle the Human Organ of Sight pictures the Flame Light Week or Snuff the Tallow the Colour and the dimension of the Candle the Ear patterns out the sparkling noise the Nose patterns out the scent of the Candle and the Tongue may pattern out the tast of the Candle but so soon as the Object is removed the figure of the Candle is altered into the present Object or as much of one present Object as is subject to Human Perception Thus the several parts or properties may be patterned out by the several Organs Also every altered action of one and the same Organ are altered Perceptions so as there may be numbers of several pictures or Patterns made by the Sensitive Actions of one Organ I will not say by one act yet there may be much variety in one action But this is to be noted That the Object is not the cause of Perception but is only the occasion for the Sensitive Organs can make such like figurative actions were there no Object present which proves that the Object is not the Cause of the Perception Also when as the Sensitive parts of the Sensitive Organs are Irregular they will make false perceptions of present Objects wherefore the Object is not the Cause But one thing I desire not to be mistaken in for I do not say that all the parts belonging to any of the particular Organs move only in one sort or kind of perception but I say Some of the parts of the Organ move to such or such perception for all the actions of the Ears are not only hearing and all the actions of the Eye seeing and all the actions of the Nose smelling and all the actions of the Mouth tasting but they have other sorts of actions yet all the sorts of every Organ are according to the property of their figurative Composition CHAP. X. Of the Rational Parts of the Human Organs AS for the Rational parts of the Human Organs they move according to the Sensitive parts which is to move according to the Figures of Foreign Objects and their actions are if Regular at the same point of time with the Sensitive but though their
Man knows what another Man perceives but by guess or information of the Party but as I said if they have have no Imperfections all Human Creatures have like Properties Faculties and Perceptions As for example All Human Eyes may see one and the same Object alike or hear the same Tune or Sound and so of the rest of the Senses They have also the like Respirations Digestions Appetites and the like may be said of all the Properties belonging to a Human Creature But as one Human Creature doth not know what another Human Creature knows but by Confederacy so no Part of the Body or Mind of a Man knows each Part 's perceptive knowledg but by Confederacy so that there is as much Ignorance amongst the Parts of Nature as Knowledg But this is to be noted That there are several manners and ways of Intelligences not only between several sorts of Creatures or amongst particulars of one sort of Creatures but amongst the several Parts of one and the same Creature CHAP. X. Of the Irregularity of the Sensitive and of the Rational Corporeal Motions AS I have often mentioned and do here again repeat That the Rational and Sensitive Parts of one Society or Creature do understand as perceiving each other's Self-moving Parts and the proof is That sometimes the Human Sense is regular and the Human Reason irregular and sometimes the Reason regular and the Sense irregular but in these differences the Regular Parts endeavour to reform the Irregular which causes many times repetitions of one and the same Actions and Examinations as sometimes the Reason examines the Sense and sometimes the Sense the Reason and sometimes the Sense and Reason do examine the Object for sometimes an Object will delude both the Sense and Reason and sometimes the Sense and Reason are but partly mistaken As for example A fired end of a Stick by a swift exterior Circular Motion appears a Circle of fire in which they are not deceived for by the Exterior Motion the fired end is a Circle but they are mistaken to conceive the Exterior Figurative Action to be the proper natural Figure but when one man mistakes another that is some small Error both of the Sense and Reason Also when one man cannot readily remember another man with whom he had formerly been acquainted it is an Error and such small Errors the Sense and Reason do soon rectifie but in causes of high Irregularities as in Madness Sickness and the like there is a great Bustle amongst the Parts of a Human Creature so as those Disturbances cause unnecessary Fears Grief Anger and strange Imaginations CHAP. XI Of the Knowledg between the Sensitive Organs of a Human Creature THE Sensitive Organs are only ignorant of each other as they are of Forrein Objects for as all the Parts of Forrein Objects are not subject to one Sensitive Organ so all the Sensitive Organs are not subject to each Sensitive Organ of a Human Creature yet in the perceptive Actions of Forrein Objects they do so agree that they make an united Knowledg Thus we may be particularly ignorant one way and yet have a general Knowledg another way CHAP. XII Of Human Perception or Defects of a Human Creature IT is not the great quantity of Brain that makes a Man wise nor a little quantity that makes a Man foolish but the irregular or regular Rational Corporeal Motions of the Head Heart and the rest of the Parts that causes dull Understandings short Memories weak Judgments violent Passions extravagant Imaginations wild Fancies and the like The same must be said of the Sensitive Irregular Corporeal Motions which make Weakness Pain Sickness disordered Appetites and perturbed Perceptions and the like for Nature poysing her Actions by Opposites there must needs be Irregularities as well as Regularities which is the cause that seldom any Creature is so exact but there is some Exception But when the Sensitive and Rational Corporeal Motions are regular and move sympathetically then the Body is healthful and strong the Mind in peace and quiet understands well and is judicious and in short there are perfect Perceptions proper Digestions easie Respirations regular Passions temperate Appetites But when the Rational Corporeal Motions are curious in their change of Actions there are subtile Conceptions and elevated Fancies and when the Sensitive Corporeal Motions move with curiosity as I may say then there are perfect Senses exact Proportions equal Temperaments and that Man calls Beauty CHAP. XIII Of Natural FOOLS THere is great difference between a Natural Fool and a Mad Man for Madness is a Disease but a Natural Fool is a Defect which Defect was some Error in his Production that is in the form and frame either of the Mind or Sense or both for the Sense may be a Natural Fool as well as the Reason as we may observe in those sorts of Fools whom we name Changelings whose Body is not only deformed but all the Postures of the Body are defective and appear as so many fools but sometimes only some Parts are fools as for example If a Man be born Blind then only his Eyes are Fools if Deaf then only his Ears are Fools which occasions his dumbness Ears being the informing Parts to speak and wanting those informations he cannot speak a Language Also if a Man is born lame his Leggs are Fools that is those Parts have no knowledg of such Properties that belong to such Parts but the Sensitive Parts may be wise as being knowing and the Rational Parts may be defective which Defects Man names Irrational But this is to be noted That there may be Natural and Accidental Fools by some extraordinary Frights or by extraordinary Sickness or through the defects of Old Age. As for the Errors of Production they are incurable as also those of Old Age the First being an Error in the very Foundation and the other a Decay of the whole Frame of the Building for after a Human Creature is brought to that perfection as to be as we may say at full growth and strength at the prime of his age the Human Motions and the very Nature of Man after that time begins to decay for then the Human Motions begin to move rather to the dissolution than to the continuance although some Men last to very old Age by reason the unity of their Society is regular and orderly and moves so Sympathetically as to commit few or no Disorders or Irregularities and such old Men are for the most part Healthful and very wise through long Experience and their Society having got a habit of Regularity is not apt to be disturbed by Forrein Parts But this is to be noted That sometimes the Sensitive Body decays before the Rational Mind and sometimes the Rational Mind before the Sensitive Body Also this is to be noted That when the Body is defective but not the Mind then the Mind is very industrious to find out Inventions of Art to help the Defects that are natural But pray
rarifying after a breathing manner also expelling of those rarified parts through the pores Other sorts of Motions of the Humours are like Boyling motions viz. Bubling motions which occasion steaming or watry vapours to ascend to the Head which vapours are apt to cloud the perception of Sight Other sorts of sick Motions are Circular and those cause a swimming or a dizzie motion in the Head and sometimes a staggering motion in the Leggs Other sorts of sick Motions are occasioned through tough and clammy Humours the motion of which Humours is a winding or turning in such a manner that it removes not from its Center and until such time as that Turning or Winding Motions alter or the Humour is cast out of the Stomack the Patient finds little or no ease CHAP. II. Of PAIN AS I said No Part is subject to be sick but the Stomack but every several Part of a Human Creature is subject to Pain and not only so but every particular Part is subject to several sorts of Pain and every several sort of Pain hath a several Figurative Motion but to know the different Figurative Motions will require a subtile Observation for though those painful Parts know their own Figurarative Motions yet the whole Creature suppose Man doth not know them But it may be observed Whether they are caused by Irregular Contractions or Attractions Dilatations or Retentions Expulsions or Irregular Pressures and Re-actions or Irregular Transformations or the like and by those Observations one may apply or endeavour to apply proper Remedies but all Pain proceeds from Irregular and perturbed Motions CHAP. III. Of DIZZINESS I Cannot say Dizziness belongs only to the Head of an Animal Creature because we may observe by irregular Drinkers that sometimes the Leggs will seem more drunk than their Heads and sometimes all the Parts of their Body will seem to be temperate as being Regular but only the Tongue seems to be drunk for staggering of the Leggs and a staggering of the Tongue or the like in a drunken Distemper is a sort of Dizziness although not such a sort as that which belongs to the Head so that when a man is dead-drunk we may say that every part of the Body is Dizzily drunk But mistake me not for I do not mean that all sorts of dizzinesses proceed from drinking I only bring Drunkenness for an Example but the Effects of dizziness of the Head and other parts of the Body proceed from different Causes for some proceed from Wind not Wine others from Vapour some from the perception of some Forrein Object and numbers of the like Examples may be found But this is to be noted That all such sorts of Swimming and Dizziness in the Head are produced from Circular Figurative Motions Also it is to be noted That many times the Rational Corporeal Motions are Irregular with the Sensitive but not always for sometimes in these and the like Distempers the Sensitive will be Irregular and the Rational Regular but for the most part the Rational is so compliant with the Sensitive as to be Regular or Irregular as the Sensitive is CHAP. IV. Of the Brain seeming to turn round in the Head WHen the Human Brain seems to turn round the cause is that some Vapours do move in a Circular Figure which causes the Head to be dizzy as when a man turns round not only his Head will be dizzy but all the Exterior Parts of his Body insomuch that some by often turning round will fall down but if before they fall they turn the contrary way they will be free from that dizziness The reason of which is That by turning the contrary way the Body is brought to the same posture it was before as when a man hath travell'd some way and returns the same way back he returns to the place where first he began his Journey CHAP. V. Of WEAKNESS THere are many sorts of Weakness some Weakness proceeds from Age others through want of Food others are occasioned by Oppression others by Disorders and Irregularities and so many other sorts that it would be too tedious to repeat them could I know them But such sorts of Weakness as Human Creatures are subject to after some Disease or Sickness are somewhat like Weariness after a Laborious or over-hard Action as when a Man hath run fast or laboured hard he fetches his breath short and thick and as most of the Sensitive Actions are by degrees so is a Returning to Health after Sickness but all Irregularities are Laborious CHAP. VI. Of SWOVNDING THE cause why a Man in Swound is for a time as if he were dead is an Irregularity amongst some of the Interior Corporeal Motions which causes an Irregularity of the Exterior Corporeal Motions and so a general Irregularity which is the cause that a Man appears as if he were dead But some may say A Man in a Swound is void of all Motion I answer That cannot be for if the Man was really dead yet his Parts are moving though they move not according to the property or nature of a living Man but if the Body had not consistent Motions and the Parts did not hold together it would be dissolved in a moment and when the Parts do divide they must divide by Self-motion but in a Man in a Swound some of his Corporeal Motions are only altered from the property and nature of a living Man I say some of his Corporeal Motions not all Neither do those Motions quite alter from the nature of a living Man so as the alterations of the Fundamental Motions do but they are so alter'd as Language may be alter'd viz. From Hebrew to Greek Latin French Spanish English and many others and although they are all but Languages yet they are several Languages or Speeches so the alteration of the Corporeal Motions of a Man in a Swound is but as the altering of one sort of Language to another as put the case English were the Natural Language or Speech then all other Languages were unknown to him that knows no other than his Natural So a Man in a Swound is ignorant of those Motions in the Swound but when those Motions return to the Nature of a living Man he hath the same knowledg he had before Thus Human Ignorance and Human Knowledg may be occasioned by the alterations of the Corporeal Motions The truth is that Swounding and Reviving is like Forgetfulness and Remembrance that is Alteration and Repetition or Exchange of the same Actions CHAP. VII Of Numb and Dead Palsies or Gangren's AS for Numb and Dead Palsies they proceed not only from disordered and Irregular Motions but from such Figurative Motions as are quite different from the nature of the Creature for though it be natural for a Man to dye yet the Figurative Motions of Death are quite different from the Figurative Motions of Life so in respect to that which Man names Life that which Man names Death is unnatural but as there are several sorts of that
Dispute between the Breath and Humors produce the Effect of Straining or Reaching upwards towards the Mouth much like the Nature and Motions of Vomiting but by reason those Motions are not so strong in Coughing as in Vomiting the Coughing Motions bring up only pieces or parts of superfluous Flegm or gross Spittle The like for corrupt Humors Other Coughs proceed from Unnatural or Distempered Heats which Heats cause Unnecessary Vapours and those Vapours ascending up from the Bowels or Stomack to the Head and finding a Depression are converted or changed into a Watry Substance which Watry Substance falls down like mizling or small Rain or in bigger drops through the passage of the Throat and Wind-pipe which being opprest and the Breath hindered causes a Strife which Striving is a Straining like as when Crumbs of Bread or Drops of Drink go not rightly through the Throat but trouble and obstruct the Wind-pipe or when any such Matter sticks in the passage of the Throat for when any Part of the Body is obstructed it endeavours to release it self from those Obstructions Also when the Vapour that arises arises in very Thin and Rarified Vapour that Rarified Vapour thickens or condenses not so suddenly being farther from the degree of Water but when condensed into Water it falls down by drops which drops trickling down the Throat like as Tears from the Eyes trickle down the Cheeks of the Face the Cough is not so violent but more frequent but if the Rheum be salt or sharp that trickles down the Throat it causes a gentle or soft smart which is much like the touch of Tickling or Itching which provokes a faint or weak Strain or Cough Also Wind will provoke to Strain or Cough The Motion of Wind is like as if Hair should tickle the Nose Or Wind will cause a tickling in the Nose which causes the Effect of Sneezing for Sneezing is nothing but a Cough through the Nose I may say It is a Nose-Cough And Hickops are but Stomach-Coughs Wind causing the Stomack to strain Also the Guts have Coughs which are caused by the Wind which makes a strife in the Guts and Bowels Other Coughs are produced from Decayed Parts for when any Part is corrupted it becomes less Solid than naturally it should be As for example The Flesh of the Body when corrupted becomes from Dense Flesh to a Slimy Substance thence into a Watry Substance which falls into Parts or changes from Flesh into a Mixt Corrupted Matter which falls into Parts The several Mixtures or Distempered Substances and Irregular Motions causes Division of the composed Parts but in the time of dissolving and divisions of any Part there is a strife which causes Pain and if the strife be in the Lungs it causes Coughs by obstructing the Breath but some Coughs proceed from Vapours and Winds arising from the decayed Interior Parts sending up Vapours from the Dissolving Substance which causeth Coughs and some Coughs cause Decays of the Prime Interior Parts for when there falls from the Head a constant Distillation this Distillation is like dropping Water which will penetrate or divide Stone and more easily will dropping or drilling Water do it as Rheum will corrupt Spongy Matter as Flesh is but according as the Rheum is Fresh Salt or Sharp the Parts are a longer or shorter time decaying for Salt and Sharp is Corroding and by the Corroding Motions Ulcerates those Parts the Salt Rheums fall on which destroys them soon As for Chin-Cough 't is a Wind or Vapour arising from the Lungs through the Wind-pipe and as long as the Wind or Vapour ascends the Patient cannot draw in Reviving Air or Breath but Coughs violently and incessantly until it faint away or have no Strength left and with straining will be as if it were choaked or strangled and become black in the face and after the Cough is past recover again but some dye of these sorts of Coughs CHAP. IX Of GANGREN'S GAngren's are of the Nature of the Plague and they are of Two sorts as the Plague is the one more sudden and deadly than the other The only difference of their Insecting Qualities is That Gangren's spread by insecting still the next or Neighbouring Parts whereas Plagues infect Forrein as much as Home-Parts Also the deadly sort of Gangren's infect as I may say from the Circumference towards the Center when as the deadly sorts of Plague infect from the Center towards the Circumference But that sort of Gangrene that is the weaker sort infects only the next adjoining Parts by degrees and after a spreading manner rather than after a piercing manner But some may object That Plagues and Gangren's are produced from different Causes as for example Extream Cold will cause Gangren's and Extream Heat causes Plagues I answer That Two opposite Causes may produce like Effects for which may be brought numerous Examples CHAP. X. Of Cancers and Fistula's CAncers and Fistula's are somewhat alike in that they are both produced from Salt or sharp corroding Motions but in this they differ that Cancers keep their Center and spread in streams whereas Fistula's will run from place to place for if it be stopt in one place it is apt to remove and break out in another Yet Cancers are somewhat like Gangren's in infecting adjoining Parts so that unless a Cancer be in such a place as can be divided from the Sound Parts it destroys the Human Life by eating as I may say the Sound Parts of the Body as all Corroding and Sharp or Salt Diseases do CHAP. XI Of the GOVT AS for the Disease named the Gout I never heard but of Two sorts the Fixt and the Running Gout but mistake me not I mean Fixt for Place not Time The Fixt proceeds from Hot Sharp or Salt Motions The Running Gout from Cold Sharp Motions but both sorts are Intermitting Diseases and very painful and I have heard those that have had the Fixt Gout say That the pain of the Fixt Gout is somewhat like the Tooth-ach but all Gouts are occasioned by Irregular Pressures and Re-actions As for that sort that is named the Windy Gout it is rather a Sciatica than a Gout CHAP. XII Of the STONE OF the Disease of the Stone in Human Creatures there are many sorts for though the Stone of the Bladder of the Kidneys and in the Gaul be all of one kind of Disease called the Stone yet they are of different sorts but whether the Disease of the Stone be produced of Hot or Cold Motions I cannot judg but 't is probable some are produced of Hot Motions others of Cold and perchance others of such sorts of Motions as are neither perfectly Hot nor Cold for the Stone is produced as all other Creatures by such or such sorts of Figurative Motions Here is to be noted That some of the Humours of the Body may alter their Motion and turn from being Flegm Choler or the like to be Stone and so from being a Rare Moist or Loose Body to
do digest the Food although they may be an occasion through their own Regularities or Irregularities to cause good or bad digestions but the Parts of the Food do digest themselves that is alter their actions to the Property and Nature of a Human Body so that Digestive Parts are only Additional Parts and if those Nourishing Motions be Regular they distribute their several Parts and joyn their several Parts to those several Parts of the Body that require Addition Also the Digestive Motions are according to the Nature or Property of each several Part of the Human Body As for example Those Digestive Parts alter into Blood Flesh Fat Marrow Brains Humors and so into any other Figurative Parts of the Sensitive Body The same may be said of the Rational Parts of the Mind but if those Digestive Parts be Irregular they will cause a Disorder in a well-ordered Body and if the Parts of the Body be Irregular they will occasion a Disorder amongst the Digestive Parts but according to the Regularities and Irregularities of the Digestive Parts is the Body more or less nourished But this is to be noted That according to the Superfluity or Scarcity of those Digestive Parts the Body is opprest or starved CHAP. XIX Of SVRFEITS SVrfeits are occasioned after different manners for though many Surfeits proceed from those Parts that are received into the Body yet some are occasioned through often repetitions of one and the same actions As for example The Eyes may surfeit with too often viewing one Object the Ears with often hearing one Sound the Nose with smelling one Sent the Tongue with one Tast. The same is to be said of the Rational Actions which Surfeits occasion an aversion to such or such Particulars but for those Surfeits that proceed from the Parts that are received into the Body they are either through the quantity that oppresses the Nature of the Body or through the quality of those Parts being not agreeable to the Nature of the Body or through their Irregularities that occasion the like Irregularities in the Body and sometimes the fault is through the Irregularities of the Body that hinder those received Parts or obstruct their Regular Digestions and sometimes the fault is both of the Parts of the Body and those of the Food but the Surfeits of those Parts that receive not Food are caused through the often repetition of one and the same Action CHAP. XX. Of Natural Evacuations or Purgings THere are many sorts and several ways or means of Purging actions whereof some we name Natural which purge the Excremental Parts and such Natural Purgings are only of such Parts as are no ways useful to the Body or of those that are not willing to convert themselves into the Nature and Property of the Substantial Parts There must of necessity be Purging actions as well as Digestive actions because no Creature can subsist singly of it self but all Creatures subsist each by other so that there must be Dividing actions as well as Uniting actions only several sorts of Creatures have several sorts of Nourishments and Evacuations But this is to be noted in the Human Nourishments and Evacuations that through their Irregularities some Men may nourish too much and others purge too much and some may nourish too little and some may purge too little The Irregularities concerning Nourishments are amongst the adjoining Parts the Errors concerning Purging are amongst the Dividing Parts CHAP. XXI Of PVRGING DRVGGS THere are many sorts of Druggs whereof some are beneficial by assisting those particular Parts of the Body that are oppressed and offended either by Superfluous Humours or Malignant Humours but there are some sorts of Druggs that are as malicious to the Human Life as the Assistant Druggs are friendly Several sorts of Druggs have several sorts of Actions which causes several Effects as some Druggs work by Siege others by Urine some by Vomit others by Spitting others by Sweating some cause sleep some are hot others are cold some dry others moist But this is to be noted That 't is not the Motions of the Druggs but the Motion of the Humours which the Druggs occasion to flow and not only to flow but to flow after such or such a manner and way The Actions of Druggs are like the Actions of Hounds or Hawks that flye at a particular Bird or run after a particular beast of their own kind although of a different sort The only difference is That Druggs are not only of a different sort but of a different Kind from Animal Kind at least from Human Sort. CHAP. XXII Of the Various Humours of Druggs THE reason one and the same Quantity or Dose of one and the same sort of Purging-Druggs or Medicine will often work differently in several Human Bodies as also differently in one and the same Body at several times of taking the same sorts of Medicines is That several Parts of one and the same sort may be differently humoured as some to be duller and slower than others and some to be more active than others Also some Parts may be ill-natured and cause Factions amongst the Parts of the Body whereas others will endeavour to rectifie Disorders or Factions And sometimes both the Druggs and the Body falls out and then there is a dangerous strife the Body striving to expel the Physick and the Physick endeavouring to stay in the Body to do the Body some mischief Also some Parts of one and the same sort may be so Irregular as to hunt not only the superfluous Humours or the Malignant Humors but all sorts of flowing Parts which may cause so great and general Disorder as may endanger Human Life CHAP. XXIII Of CORDIALS THere are many sorts of Cordials for I take every Beneficial Remedy to be a Cordial but many of the Vulgar believe That there is no Cordial but Brandy or such like Strong-waters at least they believe all such Remedies that are virtually Hot to be Cordials but when they take too much of such Cordials either in Sickness or Health they will in some time find them as bad as Poyson But all such Applications as are named Cordials are not hot for some are cool at least of a temperate degree And as there are Regular and Irregular Corporeal Motions so there are Sympathetical and Antipathetical Motions and yet both sorts may be Regular Also there is a Neutral sort that has neither Sympathy nor Antipathy but is Indifferent But in Disputes between Two different Parties a Third may come in to the assistance of one Side more out of hate to the Opposite than love to the Assisted The same may Cordials or such like Applications do when the Corporeal Motions of Human Life are in disorder and at variance for oftentimes there is as great a Mutiny and Disorder amongst the Corporeal Motions both in the Mind and Body of a Man as in a Publick State in time of Rebellion but all Assistant Cordials endeavour to assist the Regular Parts of
or Shape of particular Creatures but also the Regularity or Irregularity of the Corporeal motions of particular Creatures doth cause that which Man names Strength or Weakness Obedience or Disobedience Advantages or Disadvantages of Power and Authority or the like As for example A greater Number will overpower a lesse for though there be no Differences as being no Degrees of Self-strength amongst the Self-moving Parts or Corporeal motions yet there may be stronger and weaker Compositions or Associations and a greater Number of Corporeal motions makes a stronger Party but if the greater Party be Irregular and the lesser Party be Regular a hundred to one but the weaker Party is victorious Also the manner of the Corporeal motions as a Diving-motion may get the better of a Swimming-motion and in some cases the Swimming the better of the Diving Jumping may have the advantage over Running and in other cases Running over Jumping Also Creeping may have the advantage over Flying and in other cases Flying over Creeping A Cross Motion may have the advantage over a Straight and in other cases a Straight over a Cross. So it may be said of Turning and Lifting of Contracting and Dilating Motions And many the like Examples may be had but as I have often said There is much Advantage and Disadvantage in the manner and way of the Composed Form and Figure of Creatures CHAP. X. Of the Actions of some sorts of Creatures over others SOME sorts of Creatures are more Exteriorly active than other sorts and some more Interiorly active some more rare some more dense and the like also some dense Creatures are more active than the rare and some rare are more active than other sorts that are dense Also some Creatures that are rare have advantage of some that are dense and some that are dense over some sorts that are rare some leight Bodies over some heavy Bodies and some heavy Bodies over some sorts of leight Bodies Also several sorts of Exterior Motions of several sorts of Creatures have advantage and disadvantage of each other as for example Springs of Water and Air will make Passages and so divide hard strong Rocks And on the other side a Straw will divide Parts of Water and a small Flye will divide Parts of the Air but mistake me not I mean that they occasion the Airy or Watry Parts to divide CHAP. XI Of GLASSIE BODIES T IS impossible as I have said to describe the Infinite Corporeal Figurative Motions but amongst those Creatures that are subject to Human Perception there are some that resemble each other and yet are of different Natures as for example Black Ebony and Black Marble they are both Glassie smooth and black yet one is Stone the other Wood. Also there be many light and shining Bodies that are of different Natures as for example Metal is a bright shining Body and divers sorts of Stones are bright shining Bodies also clear Water is a bright shining Body yet the Metal and Stones are Minerals and Water is an Element Indeed Most Bodies are of a Glassie Hue or as I may say Complexion as may be observed in most Vegetables as also Skins Feathers Scales and the like But some may say That Glassiness is made by the Brightness of the Light that shines upon them I answer If so then the ordinary Earth would have the like Glassiness but we perceive the Earth to appear dull in the clearest Sun-shining Day wherefore it is not the Light but the nature of their own Bodies Besides every Body hath not one and the same sort of Glassiness but some are very different 'T is true some sorts of Bodies do not appear Glassie or shining until they be polished but as for such sorts of shining Bodies that appear in the dark there is not many of them perceiv'd by us besides the Moon and Starrs but yet some there are as Fire but that is an Element There are also Glow-worms Tayles Cats Eyes Rotten Wood and such like shining-Bodies CHAP. XII Of Metamorphoses or Transformations of Animals and Vegetables THere are some Creatures that cannot be Metamorphosed as for example Animals and Vegetables at least most of those sorts by reason they are composed of many several and different Figurative Motions and I understand Metamorphose to be a change and alteration of the Exterior Form but not any change or alteration of the Interior or Intellectual Nature and how can there be a general change of the Exterior Form or Shape of a Human Creature or such like Animal when the different Figurative Motions of his different Compositions are for the most part ignorant of each others particular Actions Besides as Animals and Vegetables require degrees of time for their Productions as also for their Perfections so some Time is requir'd for their Alterations but a sudden alteration amongst different Figurative Motions would cause such a Confusion that it would cause a Dissolution of the whole Creature especially in actions that are not natural as being improper to their kind or sort The same of Vegetables which have many different Figurative Motions This considered I cannot chuse but wonder that wise men should believe as some do the Change or Transformation of Witches into many sorts of Creatures CHAP. XIII Of the Life and Death of several Creatures THAT which Man names Life and Death which are some sorts of Compositions and Divisions of Parts of Creatures is very different in different kinds and sorts of Creatures as also in one and the same sort As for example Some Vegetables are old and decrepit in a Day others are not in Perfection or in their Prime in less than a hundred years The same may be said of Animal kinds A Silk-worm is no sooner born but dyes when as other Animals may live a hundred years As for Minerals Tinn and Lead seem but of a short Life to Gold as a Worm to an Elephant or a Tulip to an Oak for lasting and 't is probable the several Productions of the Planets and Fixed Starrs may be as far more lasting than the parts of Gold more lasting than a Flye for if a Composed Creature were a Million of years producing or Millions of years dissolving it were nothing to Eternity but those produced Motions that make Vegetables Minerals Elements and the like the subtilest Philosopher or Chymist in Nature can never perceive or find out because Human Perception is not so subtile as to perceive that which Man names Natural Productions for though all the Corporeal Motions in Nature are perceptive yet every Perceptive Part doth not perceive all the actions in Nature for though every different Corporeal Motion is a different Perception yet there are more Objects than any one Creature can perceive also every particular kind or sort of Creatures have different Perceptions occasioned by the Frame and Form of their Compositions or unities of their Parts So as the Perceptions of Animals are not like the Perceptions of Vegetables nor Vegetables like the Perceptions of
great heavy Ship as big as an ordinary House fraughted with Iron will swim upon the face of the Water when as a small Bullet no bigger than a Hasle-Nut will sink to the bottom of the Sea A great Bodied Bird will flye up into the air when as a small Worm lies on the earth with a slow kind of crawling and cannot ascend All which is caused by the manner of their Shapes and not the matter of Gravity and Levity CHAP. VII Why Heavy Bodies descend more forcibly than Leight Bodies ascend ALthough the manner of the Shape of several Creatures is the chief cause of their Ascent and Descent yet Gravity and Levity doth occasion more or less Agility for a Heavy Body shall descend with more force than a Leight Body ascend and the reason is not only that there may be more Parts in a Heavy Body than a Leight but that in a Descent every Corporeal Motion seems to press upon each other which doubles and trebles the Strength Weight and Force as we may perceive in the Ascending and Descending of the Flight of Birds especially of Hawks of which the weight of the Body is some hindrance to the Ascent but an advantage to the Descent but yet the Shape of the Bird hath some advantage by the Weight in such sort that the Weight doth not so much hinder the Ascent as it doth assist the Descent CHAP. VIII Of several sorts of Densities and Rarities Gravities and Levities THere are different sorts of Densities and Rarities Softness and Hardness Levities and Gravities as for example The density of Earth is not like the density of Stone nor the density of Stone like the density of Metal nor are all the Parts of the Earth dense alike nor all Stones nor all Metals as we may perceive in Clay Sand Chalk and Lime-Grounds Also we may perceive difference between Lead Tynne Copper Iron Silver and Gold and between Marble Alablaster Walling-Stone Diamonds Crystals and the like and so much difference there is between one and the same kind that some particulars of one sort shall more resemble another kind than their own as for example Gold and Diamonds resemble each other's Nature more than Lead doth Gold or Diamonds Crystal I say in their Densities Also there is a great difference of the Rarity Gravity and Levity of seral sorts of Waters and of several sorts of Air. CHAP. IX Of VEGETABLES VEgetables are of numerous sorts and every sort of very different Natures as for example Some are Reviving Cordials others Deadly Poyson some are Purgers others are Nourishers some have Hot Effects some Cold some Dry some Moist some bear Fruit some bears no Fruit some appear all the year Young others appear but part of the year Young and part Old some are many years a producing others are produced in few hours some will last many hundred years others will decay in the compass of few hours some seem to dye one part of the year and revive again in another part of the year some rot and consume in the Earth after such a time and will continue in perfection if parted from the Earth Others will wither and decay as soon as parted from the Earth Some are of a dense Nature some of a rare Nature some grow deep into the Earth others grow high out of the Earth some will only produce in dry Soyls some in moist some will produce only in Water as we may perceive by some Ponds others on Houses of Brick or Stone Also some grow out of Stone as many Stones will have a green Moss some are produced by sowing their Seed into the Earth others by setting their Roots or Slips into the Earth others again by joyning or engrafting one Plant into another so that there is much variety of Vegetables and those of such different Natures that they are not only different Sorts but are variety of Effects of one and the same sort and it requires not only the study of one Human Creature or many Human Creatures but of all the Human Creatures in all Nations and Ages to know them which is the reason that those that have writ of the Natures of Herbs Flowers Roots and Fruits may be much mistaken But I living more constantly in my Study than in my Garden shall not venture to treat much of the particular Natures and Natural Effects of Vegetables CHAP. X. Of the Production of Vegetables T IS no wonder that some sorts of Vegetables are produced out of Stone or Brick as some that will grow on the top of Houses by reason that Brick is made of Earth and Stone is generated in the Bowels of the Earth which shows they are of an Earthly Nature or Substance Neither is it a wonder that Vegetables will grow upon some sorts of Water by reason some sorts of Waters may be mixt with some Parts of Earth But I have been credibly informed That a Man whose Legg had been cut and a Seed of an Oat being gotten into the Wound by chance the Oat did sprout out into a green Blade of Grass which proves that Vegetables may be produced in several Soyls But 't is probable that though many sorts of Vegetables may sprout as Barly in Water yet they cannot produce any of the off-spring of the same Sort or Kind But my Thoughts are at this present in some dispute as Whether the Earth is a Part of the Production of Vegetables as being the Breeder or whether the Earth is only Parts of Respiration and not Parts of Production and so rather Breathing-Parts than Breeding-Parts as Water to Fishes But if so then every particular Seed must encrease not only by a bare Transformation of their Parts into the first Form of Production but by division of their united Parts must produce many other Societies of the same sort as Religious Orders where one Convent divides into many Convents of the same Order which occasions a numerous Encrease So the several Parts of one Seed may divide into many Seeds of the same sort as being of the same Species but then every Part of that Seed must be encreased by additional Parts which must be by Nourishing Parts which Nourishing Parts are in all probability Earthy Parts or at least partly of Earthy Parts and partly of some of the other Elemental Parts but as I have often said all Creatures in Nature are Assisted and do Subsist by each other CHAP. XI Of Replanting Vegetables REplanting of Vegetables many times occasions great Alterations in so much as a Vegetable by often Replanting will be so altered as to appear of another sort of Vegetable the reason is that several sorts or parts of Soyls may occasion other sorts of Actions and Orders in one and the same Society But this is to be noted in the Lives of many Animals That several sorts of Food make great alterations in their Temper and Shape though not to alter their Species yet so as to cause them to appear worse or better but
To all the UNIVERSITIES IN EUROPE Most Learned Societies ALL Books without exception being undoubtedly under your Iurisdiction it is very strange that some Authors of good note are not asham'd to repine at it and the more forward they are in judging others the less liberty they will allow to be judg'd themselves But if there was not a necessity yet I would make it my choice To submit willingly to your Censures these Grounds of Natural Philosophy in hopes that you will not condemn them because they want Art if they be found fraught with Sense and Reason You are the Starrs of the First Magnitude whose Influence governs the World of Learning and it is my confidence That you will be propitious to the Birth of this beloved Child of my Brain whom I take the boldness to recommend to your Patronage and as if you vouchsafe to look on it favourably I shall be extreamly obliged to your Goodness for its everlasting Life So if you resolve to Frown upon it I beg the favour That it be not buried in the hard and Rocky Grave of your Displeasure but be suffer'd by your gentle silence to lye still in the soft and easie Bed of Oblivion which is incomparably the less Punishment of the Two It is so commonly the error of indulgent Parents to spoil their Children out of Fondness that I may be forgiven for spoiling This in never putting it to suck at the Breast of some Learned Nurse whom I might have got from among your Students to have assisted me but would obstinately suckle it my self and bring it up alone without the help of any Scholar Which having caused in the First Edition which was published under the name of Philosophical and Physical Opinions many Imperfections I have endeavoured in this Second by many Alterations and Additions which have forc'd me to give it another Name to correct them whereby I fear my Faults are rather changed and encreased than amended If you expect fair Proportions in the Parts and a Beautiful Symmetry in the Whole having never been taught at all and having read but little I acknowledg my self too illiterate to afford it and too impatient to labour much for Method But if you will be contented with pure Wit and the Effects of meer Contemplation I hope that somewhat of that kind may be found in this Book and in my other Philosophical Poetical and Oratorical Works All which I leave and this especially to your kind Protection and am Your most humble Servant and Admirer MARGARET NEWCASTLE A TABLE of the CONTENTS The First Part. Chap. Pag. I. OF Matter 1 II. Of Motion 2 III. Of the Degrees of Matter 3 IV. Of Vacuum 4 V. The difference of the two Self-moving Parts of Matter 4 VI. Of dividing and uniting of Parts 6 VII Of Life and Knowledg 6 VIII Of Nature's Knowledg and Perception 7 IX Of Perception in general 8 X. Of double Perception 9 XI Whether the Triumphant Parts can be perceived distinctly from each other 9 XII Whether Nature can know her self or have an absolute Power of her self or have an exact Figure 10 XIII Nature cannot judg herself 12 XIV Nature poyses or balances her Actions 12 XV. Whether there be degrees of Corporal Strength 13 XVI Of Effects and Cause 15 XVII Of Influence 15 XVIII Of Fortune and Chance 16 XIX Of Time and Eternity 16 The Second Part. I. Of Creatures 17 II. Of Knowledg and Perception of different kinds and sorts of Creatures 18 III. Of Perception of Parts and united Perception 19 IV. Whether the Rational and Sensitive Parts have a Perception of each other 20 V. Of Thoughts and the whole Mind of a Creature 21 VI. Whether the Mind of one Creature can perceive the Mind of another Creature 22 VII Of Perception and Conception 23 VIII Of Human Supposition 24 IX Of Information between several Creatures 24 X. The reason of several kinds and sorts of Creatures 25 XI Of the several Properties of several kinds and sorts of Creatures 26 The Third Part. Chap. 1. to 7. Of Productions in general pag. 27 to 35 VIII Productions must partake of some parts of their Producers 36 IX Of Resemblances of several Off-springs or Producers 37 X. Of the several appearances of the Exterior parts of one Creature 38 The Fourth Part. I. Of Animal Productions and of the difference between Productions and Transformations 39 II. Of different Figurative Motions in Man's production 40 III. Of the Quickning of a Child or any other sort of Animal Creatures 41 IV. Of the Birth of a Child 41 V. Of Mischances or Miscarriages of Breeding-Creatures 42 VI. Of the encrease of Growth and Strength of Mankind or such like Creatures 43 VII Of the several properties of the several exterior shapes of several sorts of Animals 44 VIII Of the Dividing and Uniting parts of a particular Creature 44 The Fifth Part. I. Of Man 47 II. Of the variety of Man's Natural Motions 48 III. Of Man's Shape and Speech 49 IV. Of the several Figurative Parts of human Creatures 50 V. Of the several perceptions a-amongst the several parts of Man 51 VI. Of divided and composed Perceptions 52 VII Of the ignorances of the several perceptive Organs 53 VIII Of the particular and general perceptions of the exterior parts of human Creatures 54 IX Of the exterior Sensitive Organs of human Creatures 55 X. Of the Rational parts of the human Organs 57 XI Of the difference between the human Conception and Perception 57 XII Of the several varieties of Actions of human Creatures 58 XIII Of the manner of information between the Rational and Sensitive parts 59 XIV Of irregularities and regularities of the Restoring-parts of human Creatures 60 XV. Of the agreeing and disagreeing of the Sensitive and Rational parts of human Creatures 61 XVI Of the power of the Rational or rather of the indulgency of the Sensitive 62 XVII Of human Appetites and Passions 63 XVIII Of the Rational actions of the Head and Heart of human Creatures 65 XIX Of Passions and Imaginations 65 XX. That Associations Divisions and Alterations cause several Effects 66 XXI Of the differences between Self-love and Passionate love 68 The Sixth Part. I. Of the Motions of some parts of the Mind and of Forrein Objects 69 II. Of the Motions of some parts of the Mind 70 III. Of the Motions of human Passions and Appetites as also of the Motions of the Rational and Sensitive parts towards Forrein Objects 71 IV. Of the Repetitions of the Sensitive and Rational actions 73 V. Of the passionate Love and sympathetical Endeavours amongst the Associate parts of a human Creature 75 VI. Of Acquaintance 77 VII Of the Effects of Forrein Objects of the Sensitive Body and of the Rational Mind of a human Creature 78 VIII Of the advantage and disadvantage of the Encounters of several Creatures 80 IX That all human Creatures have the like kind and sorts of properties 81 X. Of the singularity of the Sensitive and of
VI. Of Dividing and Vniting of Parts THough every Self-moving Part or Corporeal Motion have free-will to move after what manner they please yet by reason there can be no Single Parts several Parts unite in one Action and so there must be united Actions for though every particular Part may divide from particular Parts yet those that divide from some are necessitated to join with other Parts at the same point of time of division and at that very same time is their uniting or joining so that Division and Composition or Joining is as one and the same act Also every altered Action is an altered figurative Place by reason Matter Figure Motion and Place is but one thing and by reason Nature is a perpetual motion she must of necessity cause infinite Varieties CHAP. VII Of Life and Knowledg ALL the Parts of Nature have Life and Knowledg but all the Parts have not Active Life and a perceptive Knowledg but onely the Rational and Sensitive And this is to be noted That the variousness or variety of Actions causes varieties of Lives and Knowledges For as the Self-moving parts alter or vary their Actions so they alter and vary their Lives and Knowledges but there cannot be an Infinite particular Knowledg nor an Infinite particular Life because Matter is divisible and compoundable CHAP. VIII Of Nature's Knowledg and Perception IF Nature were not Self-knowing Self-living and also Perceptive she would run into Confusion for there could be neither Order nor Method in Ignorant motion neither would there be distinct kinds or sorts of Creatures nor such exact and methodical Varieties as there are for it is impossible to make orderly and methodical Distinctions or distinct Orders by Chances Wherefore Nature being so exact as she is must needs be Self-knowing and Perceptive And though all her Parts even the Inanimate Parts are Self-knowing and Self-living yet onely her Self-moving Parts have an active Life and a perceptive Knowledg CHAP. IX Of PERCEPTION in general PErception is a sort of Knowledg that hath reference to Objects that is Some Parts to know other Parts But yet Objects are not the cause of Perception for the cause of Perception is Self-motion But some would say If there were no Object there could be no Perception I answer It is true for that cannot be perceived that is not but yet corporeal motions cannot be without Parts and so not without Perception But put an impossible case as That there could be a single Corporeal Motion and no more in Nature that Corporeal Motion may make several Changes somewhat like Conceptions although not Perceptions but Nature being Corporeal is composed of Parts and therefore there cannot be a want of Objects But there are Infinite several manners and ways of Perception which proves That the Objects are not the Cause for every several kind and sort of Creatures have several kinds and sorts of Perception according to the nature and property of such a kind or sort of Composition as makes such a kind or sort of Creature as I shall treat of more fully in the following Parts of this Book CHAP. X. Of Double PERCEPTION THere is a Double Perception in Nature the Rational Perception and the Sensitive The Rational Perception is more subtil and penetrating than the Sensitive also it is more generally perceptive than the Sensitive also it is a more agil Perception than the Sensitive All which is occasioned not onely through the purity of the Rational parts but through the liberty of the Rational parts whereas the Sensitive being incumbred with the Inanimate parts is obstructed and retarded Yet all Perceptions both Sensitive and Rational are in parts but by reason the Rational is freer being not a painful Labourer can more easily make an united Perception than the Sensitive which is the reason the Rational parts can make a Whole Perception of a Whole Object Whereas the Sensitive makes but Perceptions in part of one and the same Object CHAP. XI Whether the Triumphant Parts can be perceived distinctly from each other SOme may make this Question Whether the Three sorts of Parts the Rational Sensitive and Inanimate may be singly perceived I answer Not unless there were single Parts in Nature but though they cannot be singly perceived yet they singly perceive because every Part hath its own motion and so it s own perception And though those Parts that have not self-motion have not perception yet being joined as one Body to the Sensitive they may by the Sensitive Motion have some different sorts of Self-knowledg caused by the different actions of the Sensitive parts but that is not Perception But as I said the Triumphant Parts cannot be perceived distinctly asunder though their Actions may be different for the joining or intermixing of Parts hinders not the several Actions as for example A Man is composed of several Parts or as the Learned term them Corporeal Motions yet not any of those different Parts or Corporeal Motions are a hindrance to each other The same between the Sensitive and Rational Parts CHAP. XII Whether Nature can know her self or have an Absolute Power of her self or have an exact Figure I Was of an opinion That Nature because Infinite could not know her Self because Infinite hath no limit Also That Nature could not have an Absolute Power over her own Parts because she had Infinite Parts and that the Infiniteness did hinder the Absoluteness But since I have consider'd That the Infinite Parts must of necessity be Self-knowing and that those Infinite Self-knowing Parts are united in one Infinite Body by which Nature must have both an United Knowledg and an United Power Also I questioned Whether Nature could have an Exact Figure but mistake me not for I do not mean the Figure of Matter but a composed Figure of Parts because Nature was composed of Infinite Variety of Figurative Parts But considering that those Infinite Varieties of Infinite Figurative Parts were united into one Body I did conclude That she must needs have an Exact Figure though she be Infinite As for example This World is composed of numerous and several Figurative parts and yet the World hath an exact Form and Frame the same which it would have if it were Infinite But as for Self-knowledg and Power certainly God hath given them to Nature though her Power be limited for she cannot move beyond her Nature nor hath she power to make her self any otherwise than what she is since she cannot create or annihilate any part or particle nor can she make any of her Parts Immaterial or any Immaterial Corporeal Nor can she give to one part the Nature viz. the Knowledg Life Motion or Perception of another part which is the reason one Creature cannot have the properties or faculties of another they may have the like but not the same CHAP. XIII Nature cannot judg her self ALthough Nature knows her self and hath a free power of her self I mean a natural Knowledg and Power yet Nature cannot
be an upright and just Judg of her self and so not of any of her Parts because every particular part is a part of her self Besides as she is Self-moving she is Self-changeing and so she is alterable Wherefore nothing can be a perfect and a just Judg but something that is Individable and Unalterable which is the Infinite GOD who is Unmoving Immutable and so Unalterable who is the Judg of the Infinite Corporeal Actions of his Servant Nature And this is the reason that all Nature's Parts appeal to God as being the only Judg. CHAP. XIV Nature Poyses or Balances her Actions ALthough Nature be Infinite yet all her Actions seem to be poysed or balanced by Opposition as for example As Nature hath dividing so composing actions Also as Nature hath regular so irregular actions as Nature hath dilating so contracting actions In short we may perceive amongst the Creatures or Parts of this World slow swift thick thin heavy leight rare dense little big low high broad narrow light dark hot cold productions dissolutions peace warr mirth sadness and that we name Life and Death and infinite the like as also infinite varieties in every several kind and sort of actions but the infinite varieties are made by the Self-moving parts of Nature which are the Corporeal Figurative Motions of Nature CHAP. XV. Whether there be Degrees of Corporeal Strength AS I have declared there are in my Opinion Two sorts of Self-moving Parts the one Sensitive the other Rational The Rational parts of my Mind moving in the manner of Conception or Inspection did occasion some Disputes or Arguments amongst those parts of my Mind The Arguments were these Whether there were degrees of Strength as there was of Purity between their own sort as the Rational and the Sensitive The Major part of the Argument was That Self-motion could be but Self-motion for not any part of Nature could move beyond its power of Self-motion But the Minor part argued That the Self-motion of the Rational might be stronger than the Self-motion of the Sensitive But the Major part was of the opinion That there could be no degrees of the Power of Nature or the Nature of Nature for Matter which was Nature could be but Self-moving or not Self-moving or partly Self-moving or not Self-moving But the Minor argued That it was not against the nature of Matter to have degrees of Corporeal Strength as well as degrees of Purity for though there could not be degrees of Purity amongst the Parts of the same sort as amongst the Parts of the Rational or amongst the Parts of the Sensitive yet if there were degrees of the Rational and Sensitive Parts there might be degrees of Strength The Major part said That if there were degrees of Strength it would make a Confusion by reason there would be no Agreement for the Strongest would be Tyrants to the Weakest in so much as they would never suffer those Parts to act methodically or regularly But the Minor part said that they had observed That there was degrees of Strength amongst the Sensitive Parts The Major part argued That they had not degrees of Strength by Nature but that the greater Number of Parts were stronger than a less Number of Parts Also there were some sorts of Actions that had advantage of other sorts Also some sorts of Compositions are stronger than other not through the degrees of innate Strength nor through the number of Parts but through the manner and form of their Compositions or Productions Thus my Thoughts argued but after many Debates and Disputes at last my Rational Parts agreed That If there were degrees of Strength it could not be between the Parts of the same degree or sort but between the Rational and Sensitive and if so the Sensitive was Stronger being less pure and the Rational was more Agil being more pure CHAP. XVI Of Effects and Cause TO treat of Infinite Effects produced from an an Infinite Cause is an endless Work and impossible to be performed or effected only this may be said That the Effects though Infinite are so united to the material Cause as that not any single effect can be nor no Effect can be annihilated by reason all Effects are in the power of the Cause But this is to be noted That some Effects producing other Effects are in some sort or manner a Cause CHAP. XVII Of INFLVENCE AN Influence is this When as the Corporeal Figurative Motions in different kinds and sorts of Creatures or in one and the same sorts or kinds move sympathetically And though there be antipathetical Motions as well as sympathetical yet all the Infinite parts of Matter are agreeable in their nature as being all Material and Self-moving and by reason there is no Vacuum there must of necessity be an Influence amongst all the Parts of Nature CHAP. XVIII Of FORTVNE and CHANCE FOrtune is only various Corporeal Motions of several Creatures design'd to one Creature or more Creatures either to that Creature or those Creatures Advantage or Disadvantage If Advantage Man names it Good Fortune if Disadvantage Man names it Ill Fortune As for Chance it is the visible Effects of some hidden Cause and Fortune a sufficient Cause to produce such Effects for the conjunction of sufficient Causes doth produce such or such Effects which Effects could not be produced if any of those Causes were wanting So that Chances are but the Effects of Fortune CHAP. XIX Of TIME and ETERNITY TIME is not a Thing by it self nor is Time Immaterial for Time is only the variations of Corporeal Motions but Eternity depends not on Motion but of a Being without Beginning or Ending The Second Part. CHAP. I. Of CREATVRES ALL Creatures are Composed-Figures by the consent of Associating Parts by which Association they joyn into such or such a figured Creature And though every Corporeal Motion or Self-moving Part hath its own motion yet by their Association they all agree in proper actions as actions proper to their Compositions and if every particular Part hath not a perception of all the Parts of their Association yet every Part knows its own Work CHAP. II. Of Knowledg and Perception of different kinds and sorts of Creatures THere is not any Creature in Nature that is not composed of Self-moving Parts viz. both of Rational and Sensitive as also of the Inanimate Parts which are Self-knowing so that all Creatures being composed of these sorts of Parts must have a Sensitive and Rational Knowledg and Perception as Animals Vegetables Minerals Elements or what else there is in Nature But several kinds and several sorts in these kinds of Creatures being composed after different manners and ways must needs have different Lives Knowledges and Perceptions and not only every several kind and sort have such differences but every particular Creature through the variations of their Self-moving Parts have varieties of Lives Knowledges Perceptions Conceptions and the like and not only so but every particular part of one and
the same Creature have varieties of Knowledges and Perceptions because they have varieties of Actions But as I have declared there is not any different kind of Creature that can have the like Life Knowledg and Perception not only because they have different Productions and different Forms but different Natures as being of different kinds CHAP. III. Of Perception of Parts and Vnited Perception ALL the Self-moving Parts are perceptive and all Perception is in Parts and is dividable and compoundable as being Material also Alterable as being Self-moving Wherefore no Creature that is composed or consists of many several sorts of Corporeal Figurative Motions but must have many sorts of Perception which is the reason that one Creature as Man cannot perceive another Man any otherwise but in Parts for the Rational and Sensitive nay all the Parts of one and the same Creature perceive their Adjoining Parts as they perceive Foreign Parts only by their close conjunction and near relation they unite in one and the same actions I do not say they always agree for when they move irregularly they disagree And some of those United Parts will move after one manner and some after another but when they move regularly then they move to one and the same Design or one and the same United Action So although a Creature is composed of several sorts of Corporeal Motions yet these several sorts being properly united in one Creature move all agreeably to the Property and Nature of the whole Creature that is the particular Parts move according to the property of the whole Creature because the particular Parts by conjunction make the Whole So that the several Parts make one Whole by which a Whole Creature hath both a general Knowledg and a Knowledg of Parts whereas the Perceptions of Foreign Objects are but in the Parts and this is the reason why one Creature perceives not the Whole of another Creature but only some Parts Yet this is to be noted That not any Part hath another Part 's Nature or Motion nor therefore their Knowledg or Perception but by agreement and unity of Parts there is composed Perceptions CHAP. IV. Whether the Rational and Sensitive Parts have a Perception of each other SOme may ask the Question Whether the Rational and Sensitive have Perception of each other I answer In my Opinion they have For though the Rational and Sensitive Parts be of two sorts yet both sorts have Self-motion so that they are but as one as that they are both Corporeal Motions and had not the Sensitive Parts incumbrances they would be in a degree as agil and as free as the Rational But though each sort hath perception of each other and some may have the like yet they have not the same for not any Part can have another's Perception or Knowledg but by reason the Rational and Sensitive are both Corporeal Motions there is a strong sympathy between those sorts in one Conjunction or Creature Indeed the Rational Parts are the Designing Parts and the Sensitive the Labouring Parts and the Inanimate are as the Material Parts not but all the three sorts are Material Parts but the Inanimate being not Self-moving are the Burdensome Parts CHAP. V. Of Thoughts and the whole Mind of a Creature AS for Thoughts though they are several Corporeal Motions or Self-moving Parts yet being united by Conjunction in one Creature into one whole Mind cannot be perceived by some Parts of another Creature nor by the same sort of Creature as by another Man But some may ask Whether the whole Mind of one Creature as the whole Mind of one Man may not perceive the whole Mind of another Man I answer That if the Mind was not joyn'd and mix'd with the Sensitive and Inanimate Parts and had not interior as well as exterior Parts the whole Mind of one Man might perceive the whole Mind of another Man but that being not possible one whole Mind cannot perceive another whole Mind By which Observation we may perceive there are no Platonick Lovers in Nature But some may ask Whether the Sensitive Parts can perceive the Rational in one and the same Creature I answer They do for if they did not it were impossible for the Sensitive Parts to execute the Rational Designs so that what the Mind designs the Sensitive Body doth put in execution as far as they have Power But if through Irregularities the Body be sick and weak or hath some Infirmities they cannot execute the Designs of the Mind CHAP. VI. Whether the Mind of one Creature can perceive the Mind of another Creature SOme may ask the reason Why one Creature as Man cannot perceive the Thoughts of another Man as well as he perceives his exterior Sensitive Parts I answer That the Rational Parts of one Man perceive as much of the Rational Parts of another Man as the Sensitive Parts of that Man doth of the Sensitive Parts of the other Man that is as much as is presented to his Perception for all Creatures and every part and particle have those three sorts of Matter and therefore every part of a Creature is perceiving and perceived But by reason all Creatures are composed of Parts viz. both of the Rational and Sensitive all Perceptions are in parts as well the Rational as the Sensitive Perception yet neither the Rational nor the Sensitive can perceive all the Interior Parts or Corporeal Motions unless they were presented to their perception Neither can one Part know the Knowledg and Perception of another Part but what Parts of one Creature are subject to the perception of another Creature those are perceived CHAP. VII Of Perception and Conception ALthough the Exterior Parts of one Creature can but perceive the Exterior Parts of another Creature yet the Rational can make Conceptions of the Interior Parts but not Perception for neither the Sense nor Reason can perceive what is not present but by rote as after the manner of Conceptions or Remembrances as I shall in my following Chapters declare So that the Exterior Rational Parts that are with the Exterior Sensitive Parts of an Object are as much perceived the one as the other but those Exterior Parts of an Object not moving in particular Parties as in the whole Creature is the cause that some Parts of one Creature cannot perceive the whole Composition or Frame of another Creature that is some of the Rational Parts of one Creature cannot perceive the whole Mind of another Creature The like of the Sensitive Parts CHAP. VIII Of Human Suppositions ALthough Nature hath an Infinite Knowledg and Perception yet being a Body and therefore divisible and compoundable and having also Self-motion to divide and compound her Infinite Parts after infinite several manners is the reason that her finite Parts or particular Creatures cannot have a geral or infinite Knowledg being limited by being finite to finite Perceptions or perceptive Knowledg which is the cause of Suppositions or Imaginations concerning Forrein Objects As for example
A Man can but perceive the Exterior Parts of another Man or any other Creature that is subject to Human Perception yet his Rational Parts may suppose or presuppose what another Man thinks or what he will act and for other Creatures a Man may suppose or imagine what the innate nature of such a Vegetable or Mineral or Element is and may imagine or suppose the Moon to be another World and that all the fixed Starrs are Sunns which Suppositions Man names Conjectures CHAP. IX Of Information between several Creatures NO question but there is Information between all Creatures but several sorts of Creatures having several sorts of Informations it is impossible for any particular sort to know or have perceptions of the Infinite or Numberless Informations between the Infinite and Numberless Parts or Creatures of Nature Nay there are so many several Informations amongst one sort as of Mankind that it is impossible for one Man to perceive 〈◊〉 them all no nor can one Man generally perceive the particular Informations that are between the particular Parts of his Sensitive Body or between the particular Informations of his Rational Body or between the particular Rational and Sensitive Parts much less can Man perceive or know the several Informations of other Creatures CHAP. X. The Reason of several kinds and sorts of Creatures SOme may ask Why there are such sorts of Creatures as we perceive there are and not other sorts I answer That 't is probable we do not perceive all the several kinds and sorts of Creatures in Nature In truth it is impossible if Nature be Infinite for a Finite to perceive the Infinite varieties of Nature Also they may ask Why the Planets are of a Spherical Shape and Human Creatures are of an Vpright shape and Beasts of a Bending and stooping shape Also Why Birds are made to flye and not Beasts And for what Cause or Design have Animals such and such sorts of shapes and properties And Vegetables such and such sorts of shapes and properties And so of Minerals and Elements I answer That several sorts kinds and differences of Particulars causes Order by reason it causes Distinctions for if all Creatures were alike it would cause a Confusion CHAP. XI Of the several Properties of several Kinds and sorts of Creatures AS I have said There are several kinds and several sorts and several particular Creatures of several kinds and sorts whereof there are some Creatures of a mixt kind and some of a mixt sort and some of a mixture of some particulars Also there are some kind of Creatures and sorts of Creatures as also Particulars of a Dense Nature others of a Rate Nature some of a Leight Nature some of a Heavy Nature some of a Bright Nature some of a Dark Nature some of an Ascending Nature some of a Descending Nature some of a Hard Nature some of a Soft Nature some of a Loose Nature and some of a Fixt Nature some of an Agil Nature and some of a Slow Nature some of a Consistent Nature and some of a Dissolving Nature All which is according to the Frame and Form of their Society or Composition The Third Part. CHAP. I. Of Productions in general THE Self-moving Parts or Corporeal Motions are the Producers of all Composed Figures such as we name Creatures for though all Matter hath Figure by being Matter for it were non-sense to say Figureless Matter since the most pure Parts of Matter have Figure as well as the grossest the rarest as well as the densed But such Composed Figures which we name Creatures are produced by particular Associations of Self-moving Parts into particular kinds and sorts and particular Creatures in every kind or sort The particular kinds that are subject to Human Perceptions are those we name Animals Vegetables Minerals and Elements of which kinds there are numerous sorts and of every sort infinite particulars And though there be Infinite Varieties in Nature made by the Corporeal Motions or Self-moving Parts which might cause a Confusion Yet considering Nature is intire in her self as being only Material and as being but one United Body also poysing all her Actions by Opposites 't is impossible to be any ways in Extreams or to have a Confusion CHAP. II. Of Productions in general THE Sensitive Self-moving Parts or Corporeal Motions are the Labouring Parts of all Productions or Fabricks of all Creatures but yet those Corporeal Motions are parts of the Creature they produce for Production is only a Society of particular Parts that joyn into particular Figures or Creatures but as Parts produce Figures by Association so they dissolve those Figures by Division for Matter is a perpetual Motion that is always dividing and composing so that not any Creature can be eternally one and the same for if there were no Dissolvings and Alterings there would be no varieties of Particulars for though the kinds and sorts may last yet not the Particulars But mistake me not I do not say those Figures are lost or annihilated in Nature but only their Society is dissolved or divided in Nature But this is to be noted That some Creatures are sooner produced and perfected than others and again some Creatures are sooner decayed or dissolved CHAP. III. Of Productions in general THere are so many different composed Parts and so much of variety of Action in every several Part of one Creature as 't is impossible for Human Perception to perceive them nay not every Corporeal Motion of one Creature doth perceive all the varieties of the same Society and by the several actions not only of several Parts but of one and the same Parts cause such obscurity as not any Creature can tell not only how they were produced but not how they consist But by reason every Part knows his own Work there is Order and Method For example In a Human Creature those Parts that produce or nourish the Bones those of the Sinews those of the Veins those of the Flesh those of the Brains and the like know all their several Works and consider not each several composed Part but what belongs to themselves the like I believe in Vegetables Minerals or Elements But mistake me not for I do not say those Corporeal Motions in those particulars are bound to those particular Works as that they cannot change or alter their actions if they will and many times do as some Creatures dissolve before they are perfect or quite finished and some as soon as finished and some after some short time after they are finished and some continue long as we may perceive by many Creatures that dye which I name Dissolving in several Ages but untimely Dissolutions proceed rather from some particular Irregularities of some particular Parts than by a general Agreement CHAP. IV. Of Productions in general THE Reason that all Creatures are produced by the ways of Production as one Creature to be composed out of other Creatures is That Nature is but one Matter and that all her Parts
are united as one Material Body having no Additions or Diminutions no new Creations or Annihilations But were not Nature one and the same but that her Parts were of different natures yet Creatures must be produced by Creatures that is Composed Figures as a Beast a Tree a Stone Water c. must be composed of Parts not a single Part for a single Part cannot produce composed Figures nor can a single Part produce another single Part for Matter cannot create Matter nor can one Part produce another Part out of it self Wherefore all Natural Creatures are produced by the consent and agreement of many Self-moving Parts or Corporeal Motions which work to a particular Design as to associate into particular kinds and sorts of Creatures CHAP. V. Of Productions in general AS I said in my former Chapter That all Creatures are produced or composed by the agreement and consent of particular Parts yet some Creatures are composed of more and some of fewer Parts neither are all Creatures produced or composed after one and the same manner but some after one manner and some after another manner Indeed there are divers manners of Productions both of those we name Natural and those we name Artificial but I only treat of Natural Productions which are so various that it is a wonder if any two Creatures are just alike by which we may perceive that not only in several kinds and sorts but in Particulars of every kind or sort there is some difference so as to be distinguished from each other and yet the species of some Creatures are like to their kind and sort but not all and the reason that most Creatures are in Species according to their sort and kind is not only that Nature's Wisdom orders and regulates her Corporeal Figurative Motions into kinds and sorts of Societies and Conjunctions but those Societies cause a perceptive Acquaintance and an united Love and good liking of the Compositions or Productions and not only a love to their Figurative Compositions but to all that are of the same sort or kind and especially their being accustom'd to actions proper to their Figurative Compositions is the cause that those Parts that divide from the Producers begin a new Society and by degrees produce the like Creature which is the cause that Animals and Vegetables produce according to their likeness The same may be amongst Minerals and Elements for all we can know But yet some Creatures of one and the same sort are not produced after one and the same manner As for example One and the same sort of Vegetables may be produced after several manners and yet in the effect be the same as when Vegetables are sowed planted engrafted as also Seeds Roots and the like they are several manners or ways of Productions and yet will produce the same sort of Vegetable but there will be much alterations in replanting which is occasioned by the change of associating Parts and Parties but as for the several Productions of several kinds and sorts they are very different as for example Animals are not produced as Vegetables or Vegetables as Minerals nor Minerals as any of the rest Nor are all Animals produced alike nor Minerals or Vegetables but after many different manners or ways Neither are all Productions like their Producers for some are so far from resembling their Figurative Society that they produce another kind or sort of Composed Figures as for example Maggots out of Cheese other Worms out of Roots Fruits and the like but these sorts of Creatures Man names Insects but yet they are Animal Creatures as well as others CHAP. VI. Of Productions in general ALL Creatures are Produced and Producers and all these Productions partake more or less of the Producers and are necessitated so to do because there cannot be any thing New in Nature for whatsoever is produced is of the same Matter nay every particular Creature hath its particular Parts for not any one Creature can be produced of any other Parts than what produced it neither can the same Producer produce one and the same double as I may say to express my self for though the same Producers may produce the like yet not the same for every thing produced hath its own Corporeal Figurative Motions but this might be if Nature was not so full of variety for if all those Corporeal Motions or Self-moving Parts did associate in the like manner and were the very same Parts and move in the very same manner the same Production or Creature might be produced after it was dissolved but by reason the Self-moving Parts of Nature are always dividing and composing from and to Parts it would be very difficult if not impossible CHAP. VII Of Productions in general AS there are Productions or Compositions made by the Sensitive Corporeal Motions so there are of the Rational Corporeal Motions which are Composed Figures of the Mind And the reason the Rational Productions are more various as also more numerous is That the Rational is more loose free and so more agil than the Sensitive which is also the reason that the Rational Productions require not such degrees of Time as the Sensitive But I shall treat more upon this Subject when I treat of that Animal we name MAN CHAP. VII Lastly Of Productions in general THough all Creatures are made by the several Associations of Self-moving Parts or as the Learned name them Corporeal Motions yet there are infinite varieties of Corporeal Figurative Motions and so infinite several manners and ways of Productions as also infinite varieties of Figurative Motions in every produced Creature Also there is variety in the difference of Time of several Productions and of their Consistency and Dissolution for some Creatures are produced in few Hours others not in many Years Again some continue not a Day others numbers of Years But this is to be noted That according to the Regularity or Irregularity of the Associating Motions their Productions are more or less perfect Also this is to be noted That there are Rational Productions as well as Sensitive for though all Creatures are composed both of Sensitive and Rational Parts yet the Rational Parts move after another manner CHAP. VIII Productions must partake of some Parts of their Producers NO Animal or Vegetable could be produced but by such or such particular Producers neither could an Animal or Vegetable be produced without some Corporeal Motions of their Producers that is some of the Producers Self-moving Parts otherwise the like Actions might produce not only the like Creatures but the same Creatures which is impossible Wherefore the things produced are part of the Producers for no particular Creature could be produced but by such particular Producers But this is to be noted That all sorts of Creatures are produced by more or fewer Producers Also the first Producers are but the first Founders of the things produced but not the only Builders for there are many several sorts of Corporeal Motions that are the
Hopping Leaping Climbing Galloping Trotting Ambling Turning Winding and Rowling also Creeping Crawling Flying Soaring or Towring Swimming Diving Digging Stinging or Piercing Pressing Spinning Weaving Twisting Printing Carving Breaking Drawing Driving Bearing Carrying Holding Griping or Grasping Infolding and Millions of the like Also the Exterior Shapes cause Defences as Horns Claws Teeth Bills Talons Finns c. Likewise the Exterior Shapes cause Offences and give Offences As also the different sorts of Exterior Shapes cause different Exterior Perceptions CHAP. VIII Of the Dividing and Vniting Parts of a particular Creature THose Parts as I have said that were the First Founders of an Animal or other sort of Creature may not be constant Inhabitants for though the Society may remain the particular Parts may remove Also all particular Societies of one kind or sort may not continue the like time but some may dissolve sooner than others Also some alter by degrees others of a sudden but of those Societies that continue the particular Parts remove and other particular Parts unite so as some Parts were of the Society so some other Parts are of the Society and will be of the Society But when the Form Frame and Order of the Society begins to alter then that particular Creature begins to decay But this is to be noted That those particular Creatures that dye in their Childhood or Youth were never a full and regular Society and the dissolving of a Society whether it be a Full or but a Forming Society Man names DEATH Also this is to be noted That the Nourishing Motion of Food is the Uniting Motion and the Cleansing or Evacuating Motions are the Dividing Corporeal Motions Likewise it is to be noted That a Society requires a longer time of uniting than of dividing by reason uniting requires assistance of Foreign Parts whereas dividings are only a dividing of home-Parts Also a particular Creature or Society is longer in dividing its Parts than in altering its Actions because a Dispersing Action is required in Division but not in Alteration of Actions The Fifth Part. CHAP. I. Of MAN NOW I have discoursed in the former Parts after a general manner of Animals I will in the following Chapters speak more particularly of that sort we name Mankind who believe being ignorant of the Nature of other Creatures that they are the most knowing of all Creatures and yet a whole Man as I may say for expression-sake doth not know all the Figurative Motions belonging either to his Mind or Body for he doth not generally know every particular Action of his Corporeal Motions as How he was framed or formed or perfected Nor doth he know every particular Motion that occasions his present Consistence or Being Nor every particular Digestive or Nourishing Motion Nor when he is sick the particular Irregular Motion that causes his Sickness Nor do the Rational Motions in the Head know always the Figurative Actions of those of the Heel In short as I said Man doth not generally know every particular Part or Corporeal Motion either of Mind or Body Which proves Man's Natural Soul is not inalterable or individable and uncompoundable CHAP. II. Of the variety of Man's Natural Motions THere is abundance of varieties of Figurative Motions in Man As first There are several Figurative Motions of the Form and Frame of Man as of his Innate Interior and Exterior Figurative Parts Also there are several Figures of his several Perceptions Conceptions Appetite Digestions Reparations and the like There are also several Figures of several Postures of his several Parts and a difference of his Figurative Motions or Parts from other Creatures all which are Numberless And yet all these different Actions are proper to the Nature of MAN CHAP. III. Of Man's Shape and Speech THE Shape of Man's Sensitive Body is in some manner of a mixt Form but he is singular in this That he is of an upright and straight Shape of which no other Animal but Man is which Shape makes him not only fit proper easie and free for all exterior actions but also for Speech for being streight as in a straight and direct Line from the Head to the Feet so as his Nose Mouth Throat Neck Chest Stomack Belly Thighs and Leggs are from a straight Line also his Organ-Pipes Nerves Sinews and Joynts are in a straight and equal posture to each other which is the cause Man's Tongue and Organs are more apt for Speech than those of any other Creature which makes him more apt to imitate any other Creature 's Voyces or Sounds Whereas other Animal Creatures by reason of their bending Shapes and crooked Organs are not apt for Speech neither in my Opinion have other Animals so melodious a Sound or Voice as Man for though some sorts of Birds Voices are sweet yet they are weak and faint and Beasts Voices are harsh and rude but of all other Animals besides Man Birds are the most apt for Speech by reason they are more of an upright shape than Beasts or any other sorts of Animal Creatures as Fish and the like for Birds are of a straight and upright shape as from their Breasts to their Heads but being not so straight as Man causes Birds to speak uneasily and constrainedly Man's shape is so ingeniously contrived that he is fit and proper for more several sorts of exterior actions than any other Animal Creature which is the cause he seems as Lord and Sovereign of other Animal Creatures CHAP. IV. Of the several Figurative Parts of Human Creatures THE manner of Man's Composition or Form is of different Figurative Parts whereof some of those Parts seem the Supreme or as I may say Fundamental Parts as the Head Chest Lungs Stomack Heart Liver Spleen Bowels Reins Kidnies Gaul and many more also those Parts have other Figurative Parts belonging or adjoining to them as the Head Scull Brains Pia-mater Dura-mater Forehead Nose Eyes Cheeks Ears Mouth Tongue and several Figurative Parts belonging to those so of the rest of the Parts as the Arms Hands Fingers Leggs Feet Toes and the like all which different Parts have different sorts of Perceptions and yet as I formerly said their Perceptions are united for though all the Parts of the Human Body have different Perceptions yet those different perceptions unite in a general Perception both for the Subsistence Consistence and use of the Whole Man but concerning Particulars not only the several composed Figurative Parts have several sorts of Perceptions but every Part hath variety of Perceptions occasioned by variety of Objects CHAP. V. Of the several Perceptions amongst the several Parts of MAN THere being infinite several Corporeal Figurative Motions or Actions of Nature there must of necessity be infinite several Self-knowledges and Perceptions but I shall only in this Part of my Book treat of the Perception proper to Mankind And first of the several and different Perceptions proper for the several and different Parts for though every Part and Particle of a Man's Body is perceptive yet
Actions are alike yet there is a difference in their Degree for the figure of an Object in the Mind is far more pure than the figure in the Sense But to prove that the Rational if Regular moves with the Sense is That all the several Sensitive perceptions of the Sensitive Organs as all the several Sights Sounds Scents Tasts and Touches are thoughts of the same CHAP. XI Of the difference between the Human Conception and Perception THere are some differences between Perception and Conception for Perception doth properly belong to present Objects whereas Conceptions have no such strict dependency But Conceptions are not proper to the Sensitive Organs or parts of a Human Creature wherefore the Sensitive never move in the manner of Conception but after an irregular manner as when a Human Creature is in some violent Passion Mad Weak or the like Distempers But this is to be noted That all sorts of Fancies Imaginations c. whether Sensitive or Rational are after the manner of Conceptions that is do move by Rote and not by Example Also it is to be noted That the Rational parts can move in more various Figurative Actions than the Sensitive which is the cause that a Human Creature hath more Conceptions than Perceptions so that the Mind can please it self with more variety of Thoughts than the Sensitive with variety of Objects for variety of Objects consists of Foreign Parts whereas variety of Conceptions consists only of their own Parts Also the Sensitive Parts are sooner satisfied with the perception of particular Objects than the Mind with particular Remembrances CHAP. XII Of the Several Varieties of Actions of Human Creatures TO speak of all the Several Actions of the Sensitive and Rational parts of one Creature is not possible being numberless but some of those that are most notable I will mention as Respirations Digestions Nourishments Appetites Satiety Aversions Conceptions Opinions Fancies Passions Memory Remembrance Reasoning Examining Considering Observing Distinguishing Contriving Arguing Approving Disapproving Discoveries Arts Sciences The Exterior Actions are Walking Running Dancing Turning Tumbling Bearing Carrying Holding Striking Trembling Sighing Groaning Weeping Frowning Laughing Speaking Singing and Whistling As for Postures they cannot be well described only Standing Sitting and Lying CHAP. XIII Of the manner of Information between the Rational and Sensitive Parts THE manner of Information amongst the Self-moving Parts of a Human Creature is after divers and several manners or ways amongst the several parts but the manner of Information between the Sensitive and Rational parts is for the most part by Imitation as imitating each other's actions As for example The Rational parts invent some Sciences the Sensitive endeavour to put those Sciences into an Art If the Rational perceive the Sensitive actions are not just according to that Science they inform the Sensitive then the Sensitive Parts endeavour to work according to the directions of the Rational but if there be some obstruction or hindrance then the Rational and Sensitive agree to declare their Design and to require assistance of other Associates which are other Men as also other Creatures As for the several Manners and Informations between Man and Man they are so ordinary I shall not need to mention them CHAP. XIV Of Irregularities and Regularities of the Self-moving Parts of Human Creatures NAture being poised there must of necessity be Irregularities as well as Regularities both of the Rational and Sensitive parts but when the Rational are Irregular and the Sensitive Regular the Sensitive endeavour to rectifie the Errors of the Rational And if the Sensitive be Irregular and the Rational Regular the Rational do endeavour to rectifie the Errors of the Sensitive for the particular parts of a Society are very much assistant to each other as we may observe by the Exterior parts of Human Bodies the Hands endeavour to assist any part in distress the Leggs will run the Eyes will watch the Ears will listen for any advantage to the Society but when there is a general Irregularity then the Society falls to ruine CHAP. XV. Of the Agreeing or Disagreeing of the Sensitive and Rational Parts of Human Creatures THere is for the most part a general agreement between the Rational and Sensitive Parts of Human Creatures not only in their particular but general actions only the Rational are the Designing-parts and the Sensitive the Labouring parts As for proof The Mind designs to go to such or such Foreign Parts or Places upon which design the Sensitive Parts will labour to execute the Mind's intention so as the whole Sensitive Body labours to go to the designed place without the Mind 's further Concern for the Mind takes no notice of every action of the Sensitive parts neither of those of the Eyes Ears or of the Leggs or feet nor of their perceptions for many times the Mind is busied in some Conception Imagination Fancy or the like and yet the Sensitive Parts execute the Mind's Design exactly But for better proof When as the Sensitive parts are sick weak or defective through some irregularities the Sensitive parts cannot execute the Mind's Design also when the Sensitive parts are careless they oft mistake their way or when they are irregularly opposed or busied about some Appetite they will not obey the Mind's desire all which are different degrees of Parts But as it is amongst the particular parts of a Society so many times between several Societies for sometimes the Sensitive parts of two Men will take no notice of each other As for example When two men speak together one man regards not what the other says so many times the Sensitive parts regard not the Propositions of the Rational but then the Sensitive is not perfectly Regular CHAP. XVI Of the Power of the Rational or rather of the Indulgency of the Sensitive THE Rational Corporeal Motions being the purest most free and so most active have great power over the Sensitive as to perswade or command them to obedience As for example When a man is studying about some Inventions of Poetical Fancies or the like though the Sensitive Corporeal Motions in the Sensitive Organs desire to desist from patterning of Objects and would move towards sleep yet the Rational will not suffer them but causes them to work viz. to write or to read or do some other Labour Also when the Rational Mind is merry it will cause the Leggs to dance the Organs of the Voice to sing the Mouth to speak to eat to drink and the like If the Mind moves to sadness it causes the Eyes to weep the Lungs to sigh the Mouth to speak words of Complaint Thus the Rational Corporeal Motions of the Mind will occasion the Senses to watch to work or to sport and play But mistake me not for I do not mean the Senses are bound to obey the Rational Designs for the Sensitive Corporeal Motions have as much freedom of Self-moving as the Rational for the Command of the Rational and the Obedience of
the Sensitive is rather an Agreement than a Constraint for in many cases the Sensitive will not agree and so not obey also in many cases the Rational submits to the Sensitive also the Rational sometimes will be irregular and on the other side sometimes the Sensitive will be irregular and the Rational regular and sometimes both irregular CHAP. XVII Of Human Appetites and Passions THE Sensitive Appetites and the Rational Passions do so resemble each other as they would puzzle the most wise Philosopher to distinguish them and there is not only a Resemblance but for the most part a sympathetical Agreement between the Appetites and the Passions which strong conjunction doth often occasion disturbances to the whole life of Man with endless Desires unsatiable Appetites violent Passions unquiet Humors Grief Pain Sadness Sickness and the like through which Man seems to be more restless than any other Creature but whether the cause be in the Manner or Form of Man's Composition or occasioned by some Irregularities I will leave to those who are wiser than I to judg But this is to be noted That the more Changes and Alterations the Rational and Sensitive Motions make the more variety of Passions and Appetites the Man hath also the quicker the Motions are the sharper Appetite and the quicker Wit Man hath But as all the Human Senses are not bound to one Organ so all Knowledges are not bound to one Sense no more than all the Parts of Matter to the composition of one particular Creature but by some of the Rational and Sensitive actions we may perceive the difference of some of the Sensitive and Rational actions as Sensitive Pain Rational Grief Sensitive Pleasure Rational delight Sensitive Appetite Rational Desire which are sympathetical actions of the Rational and Sensitive Parts Also through sympathy Rational Passions will occasion Sensitive Appetites and Appetites the like Passions CHAP. XVIII Of the Rational Actions of the Head and Heart of Human Creatures AS I formerly said In every Figurative Part of a Human Creature the Actions are different according to the Property of their different Composers so that the Motions of the Heart are different to the Motions of the Head and of the other several Parts but as for the Motions of the Head they are in my Opinion more after the manner of Emboss'd Figures and those of the Heart more after the manner of Flat Figures like Painting Printing Engraving c. For if we observe the Thoughts in our Heads are different from the Thoughts in our Hearts I only name these two Parts by reason they seem to sympathize or to agree more particularly to each other's actions than some of the other Parts of Human Creatures CHAP. XIX Of Passions and Imaginations SOme sorts of Passions seem to be in the Heart as Love Hate Grief Joy Fear and the like and all Imaginations Fancies Opinions Inventions c. in the Head But mistake me not I do not say that none of the other Parts of a Man have not Passions and Conceptions but I say they are not after the same manner or way as in the Heart or Head as for example Every Part of a Man's Body is sensible yet not after one and the same manner for every Part of a Man's Body hath different perceptions as I have formerly declared and yet may agree in general actions but unless the several composed Parts of a Human Creature had not several perceptive actions it were impossible to make a general perception either amongst the several Parts of their own Society or of Foreign Objects But it is impossible for me to describe the different manners and ways of the particular Parts or the different actions of any one Part for what Man can describe the different perceptive actions of that composed Part the Eye and so of the rest of the Parts CHAP. XX. That Associations Divisions and Alterations cause several Effects THE Rational and Sensitive Corporeal Motions are the perceptive Parts of Nature and that which causes acquaintance amongst some parts is their Uniting and Association That which loses acquaintance of other Parts is their Divisions and Alterations for as Self-compositions cause particular Knowledges or Acquaintances So Self-divisions cause particular Ignorances or Forgetfulnesses for as all kinds and sorts of Creatures are produced nourished and encreased by the Association of Parts so are all kinds and sorts of Perceptions and according as their Associations or their Compositions do last so doth their Acquaintance which is the cause that the Observations and Experiences of several and particular Creatures such as Men in several and particular Ages joyned as into one Man or Age causes strong and long-liv'd Opinions subtile and ingenious Inventions happy and profitable Advantages as also probable Conjectures and many Truths of many Causes and Effects Whereas the Divisions of particular Societies causes what we name Death Ignorance Forgetfulness Obscurity of particular Creatures and of perceptive Knowledges so that as particular perceptive Knowledges do alter and change so do particular Creatures for though the Kinds and Sorts last yet the Particulars do not CHAP. XXI Of the Differences between Self-Love and Passionate Love SElf-love is like Self-knowledg which is an innate Nature and therefore is not that Love Man names Passionate Love for Passionate Love belongs to several Parts so that the several parts of one Society as one Creature have both Passionate Love and Self-love as being sympathetically united in one Society Also not only the Parts of one and the same Society may have Passionate Love to each other but between several Societies and not only several Societies of one Sort but of different Sorts The Sixth Part. CHAP. I. Of the Motions of some parts of the Mind and of Forrein Objects NOtions Imaginations Conceptions and the like are such Actions of the Mind as concern not Forrein Objects and some Notions Imaginations or Conceptions of one man may be like to another man or many men Also the Mind of one man may move in the like Figurative Actions as the Sensitive Actions of other sorts of Creatures and that Man names Vnderstanding and if those Conceptions be afterwards produced Man names them Prudence or Fore-sight but if those Parts move in such Inventions as are capable to be put into Arts Man names that Ingenuity but if not capable to be put into the practice of Arts Man names it Sciences if those Motions be so subtile that the Sensitive cannot imitate them Man names them Fancies but when those Rational Parts move promiscuously as partly after their own inventions and partly after the manner of Forrein or outward Objects Man names them Conjectures or Probabilities and when there are very many several Figurative Rational Motions then Man says The Mind is full of Thoughts when those Rational Figurative Motions are of many and different Objects Man names them Experiences or Learning but when there are but few different sorts of such Figurative Motions Man names them Ignorances CHAP.
mistake me not for I do not say That all Deformities or Defects but only some particular sorts of Deformity or Defects are Foolish The Seventh Part. CHAP. I. Of the Sensitive Actions of Sleeping and Waking THE Sensitive and Rational Corporeal Figurative Motions are the cause of infinite varieties for though Repetitions make no varieties yet every altered action is a variety Also different Actions make different Effects opposite Actions opposite Effects not only of the actions of the several Self-moving Parts or Corporeal Motions but of the same Parts As for example The same Parts or Corporeal Motions may move from that Man names Life to that which Man names Death or from Health to Sickness from Ease to Pain from Memory to Forgetfulness from Forgetfulness to Remembrance from Love to Hate from Grief to Joy from Irregularity to Regularity or from Regularity to Irregularity and the like and from one Perception to another for though all actions are perceptive yet there are several kinds several sorts and several particular perceptions But amongst the several Corporeal Motions of Animal or Human kind there are the opposite Motions of what we name Waking and Sleeping the difference is That Waking-actions are most commonly actions of Imitation especially of the Sensitive Parts and are more the Exterior than the Interior actions of a Human Creature But the actions of Sleep are the alterations of the Exterior Corporeal Motions moving more interiorly as it were inwardly and voluntarily As for example The Optick Corporeal Motions in Waking-actions work or move according to the outward Object but in Sleeping-actions they move by rote or without Examples also as I said they move as it were inwardly like as a Man should turn himself inward or outward of a door without removing from the door or out of the place he stood in CHAP. II. Of SLEEPING ALthough the Rational and Sensitive Corporeal Motions can never be tired or weary of moving or acting by reason it is their nature to be a perpetual Corporeal Motion yet they may be weary or tired with particular actions Also it is easier and more delightful to move by Rote than to take Copies or Patterns which is the reason that Sleep is easie and gentle if the Corporeal Motions be regular but if they be irregular Sleep is perturbed But this is to be noted That the Corporeal Motions delight in varieties so well that many times many and various Objects will cause the Sensitive and Rational Corporeal Motions in a Man to retard their actions of Sleep and oft-times want of variety of Forrein or outward Objects will occasion the action of Sleep or else Musing and Contemplating actions Also it is to be noted That if some Parts of the Body or Mind be distempered with Irregularities it occasions such disturbances to the Whole as hinders that repose but if the Regular Parts endeavour not to be disturbed with the Irregular and the Irregulars do disturb the Regular then it occasions that which Man names Half-sleeps or Slumbers or Drowsiness And if the Regular Corporeal Motions get the better as many times they do then we say Sleep hath been the occasion of the Cure and it oft proves so And it is a common saying That a good Sleep will settle the Spirits or ease the Pains that is when the Regular Corporeal Motions have had the better of the Irregular CHAP. III. Of Human DREAMS THere are several kinds sorts and particulars of Corporeal Irregularities as well as of Regularities and amongst the infinite kinds sorts and particulars there is that of Human Dreams for the Exterior Corporeal Motions in Waking-actions do copy or pattern outward Objects whereas in actions of Sleep they act by rote which for the most part is erronious making mixt Figures of several Objects as partly like a Beast and partly like a Bird or Fish nay sometimes partly like an Animal and partly like a Vegetable and millions of the like Extravagancies yet many times Dreams will be as exact as if a Man was awake and the Objects before him but those actions by rote are more often false than true but if the Self-moving Parts move after their own inventions and not after the manner of Copying or if they move not after the manner of Human Perception then a Man is as ignorant of his Dreams or any Human Perception as if he was in a Swound and then he says he did not dream and that such Sleeps are like Death CHAP. IV. Of the Actions of DREAMS VVHen the Figures of those Friends and Acquaintants that have been dead a long time are made in our Sleep we never or seldom question the truth of their being alive though we often question them how they came to be alive And the reason that we make no doubt of their being alive is That those Corporeal Motions of Sleep make the same pattern of that Object in Sleep as when that Object was present and patterned awake so as the Picture in Sleep seems to be the Original awake and until such times that the Corporeal Motions alter their Sleeping-Actions to Waking-Actions the truth is not known Though Sleeping and Dreaming is somewhat after the manner of Forgetfulness and Remembrance yet perfect Dreams are as perceptive as Waking-patterns of present Objects which proves That both the Sensitive and Rational Motions have Sleeping Actions but both the Sensitive and Rational Corporeal Actions in Sleep moving partly by rote and partly voluntarily or by invention make Walking-Woods or Woodden Men or make Warrs and Battels where some Figures of Men are kill'd or wounded others have victory They also make Thieves Murderers falling Houses great Fires Floods Tempests high Mountains great Precipices and sometimes pleasant Dreams of Lovers Marriage Dancing Banquetting and the like And the Passions in Dreams are as real as in waking actions CHAP. V. Whether the Interior Parts of a Human Creature do sleep THE Parts of my Mind were in dispute Whether the Interior Parts of a Human Creature had sleeping and waking actions The Major Part was of opinion That Sleep was not proper to those Human Parts because the Interior Motions were not like the Exterior The Opinion of the Minor Part was That change of Action is like Ease after Labour and therefore it was probable the Interior Parts had sleeping and waking actions The Opinion of the Major Parts was That if those Parts as also the Food received into the Body had sleeping actions the Body could not be nourished for the Meat would not be digested into the like Parts of the Body by reason sleeping actions were not such sorts of actions The Opinion of the Minor Parts was That the sleeping actions were nourishing actions and therefore were most proper for the Interior Parts and for proof the whole Human Body becomes faint and weak when they are hindred either by some Interior Irregularity or through some Exterior Occasion from their sleeping actions The Opinion of the Major Part was That sleeping actions are
Man names Life or Lives so there are several sorts of those Corporeal Motions Man names Death but Dead Palsies of some Parts of a Man's Body are not like those of a Man when he is as we say quite dead for those are not only such sorts of Motions that are quite or absolutely different from the life of the Man or such like Creature but such as dissolve the whole Frame or Figure of the Creature But the Motions of a Dead Palsie are not dissolving Motions although they are different from the natural living Motions of a Man The same in some manner are Numb Palsies only the Motions of Numb Palsies are not so absolutely different from the Natural living Motions but have more Irregularities than perfect Alterations As for that sort of Numbness we name Sleepy Numbness it is occasioned through some obstruction that hinders and stops the Exterior Sensitive Perception As when the Eyes are shut or blinded or the Ears stopt or the Nostrils the Sensitive Figurative Motions of those Sensitive Organs cannot make Perceptions of Forrein Objects so when the Pores of the Flesh which are the perceptive Organs of Forrein Touches are stopt either by too heavy burthens or pressings or tying some Parts so hard as to close the Exterior Organs viz. the Pores they cannot make such Perceptions as belong to Touch but when those hinderances are removed then the Sensitive Perception of Touch is in a short time as perfect as before As for Gangren's although they are somewhat like Dead Palsies yet they are more like those sorts of dead Corporeal Motions that dissolve the Frame and Form of a Creature for Gangren's dissolve the Frame and Form of the Diseased Part and the like do all those Corporeal Motions that cause Rottenness or Parts to divide and separate after a rotten manner CHAP. VIII Of MADNESS THere are several sorts of that Distemper named Madness but they all proceed through the Irregularities either of the Rational or the Sensitive Parts and sometimes from the Irregularities both of Sense and Reason but these Irregularities are not such as are quite different from the Nature or Property of a Human Creature but are only such Irregularities as make false Perceptions of Forrein Objects or else make strange Conceptions or move after the manner of Dreams in waking-actions which is not according to the Perception of present Objects As for example The Sensitive Motions of the Exterior Parts make several Pictures on the outside of the Organs when as no such Object is present and that is the reason Mad-men see strange and unusual Sights hear strange and unusual Sounds have strange and unusual Tasts and Touch but when the Irregularities are only amongst the Rational Parts then those that are so diseased have violent Passions strange Conceptions wild Fancies various Opinions dangerous Designs strong Resolutions broken Memories imperfect Remembrances and the like But when both the Sensitive and Rational are sympathetically disorderly then the Mad-men will talk extravagantly or laugh sing sigh weep tremble complain c. without cause CHAP. IX The Sensitive and Rational Parts may be distinctly Mad. THE Senses may be irregularly Mad and not the Reason and the Reason may be irregularly mad and not the Sense and both Sense and Reason may be both sympathetically mad And an evident proof that there is a Rational and Sensitive Madness is That those whose Rational Parts are Regular and only some of the Sensitive Irregular will speak soberly and declare to their Friends how some of their Senses are distemper'd and how they see strange and unusual Sights hear unusual Sounds smell unusual Sents feel unusual Touches and desire some Remedy for their Distempers Also it may be observed That sometimes the Rational Parts are madly distemper'd and not the Sensitive as when the Sensitive Parts make no false Perceptions but only the Rational and then only the Mind is out of order and is extravagant and not the Senses but when the Senses and Reason are madly Irregular then the diseased Man is that we name Outragiously Mad. CHAP. X. The Parts of the Head are not only subject to Madness but also the other Parts of the Body MAdness is not only in the Head but in other Parts of the Body As for example Some will feel unusual Touches in their Hands and several other parts of their Body We may also observe by the several and strange Postures of Mad-men that the several Parts of the Body are madly distemper'd And it is to be noted That sometimes some Parts of the Body are mad and not the other as sometimes only the Eyes sometimes only the Ears and so of the rest of the Organs and of the rest of the Parts of the Body one Part only being mad and the rest in good order Moreover it is to be noted That some are not continually mad but only mad by fits or at certain times and those fits or certain times of disorders proceed from a custom or habit of the Rational or Sensitive Motions to move Irregularly at such times and a proof that all the Parts are subject to the Distemper of Madness is That every part of the Body of those sorts of Mad-men that believe their Bodies to be Glass moves in a careful and wary motion for fear of breaking in pieces Neither are the Exterior Parts only subject to the Distemper of Madness but the Interior Parts as may be observed when the whole Body will tremble through a mad fear and the Heart will beat disorderly and the Stomack will many times be sick CHAP. XI The Rational and Sensitive Parts of a Human Creature are apt to disturb each other ALthough the Rational and Sensitive Corporeal Motions may and do sometimes disagree yet for the most part there is such a sympathetical Agreement between the Sensitive and Rational Corporeal Motions of one Society viz. of one Creature as they often disturb each other As for example If the Rational Motions are so irregular as to make imaginary Fears or fearful Imaginations these fearful Imaginations cause the Sensitive Corporeal motions to move according to the Irregularities of the Rational which is the cause in such fears that a man seems to see strange and unusual Objects to hear strange and unusual Sounds to smell unusual Sents to feel unusual Touches and to be carried to unusual Places not that there are such Objects but the Irregular Senses make such Pictures in the Sensitive Organs and the whole Body may through the strength of the Irregular motions move strangely to unusual places As for example A Mad-man in a strong mad fit will be as strong as Ten men whereas when the mad Fit is over he seems weaker than usually or regularly he uses to be not that the Self-moving Parts of Nature are capable of being weaker or stronger than naturally they are but having liberty to move as they will they may move stronger or weaker swifter or slower regularly or irregularly as they please nor
doth Nature commonly use Force But this is to be noted That there being a general Agreement amongst the particular Parts they are more forcible than when those Parts are divided into Factions and Parties so that in a general Irregular Commotion or Action all the Sensitive Parts of the Body of a man agree to move with an extraordinary force after an unusual manner provided it be not different from the property and nature of their Compositions that is not different from the Property and Nature of a Man But this is likewise to be noted That in a general Agreement man may have other Properties than when the whole Body is governed by Parts as it is usual when the Body is Regular and that every Part moves in his proper Sphere as I may say for example the Head Heart Lungs Stomack Liver and so the rest where each Part doth move in several sorts of Actions The like may also may be said of the Parts of the Leggs and Hands which are different sorts of Actions yet all move to the use and benefit of the whole Body but if the Corporeal motions in the Hands and so in the Leggs be irregular they will not help the rest of the Parts and so in short the same happens in all the Parts of the Body whereof some Parts may be Regular and others Irregular and sometimes all may be Irregular But to conclude this Chapter the Body may have unusual Force and Properties as when a man says He was carried and flung into a Ditch or some place distant and that he was pinch't and did see strange sights heard strange sounds smelt strange scents all which may very well be caused by the Irregular motions either by a general Irregularity or by some particular Irregularity and the truth is The particular Corporeal motions know not the power of the general until they unite by a general Agreement and sometimes there may be such Commotions in the Body of a Man as in a Common-wealth where many times there is a general Uproar and Confusion and none know the Cause or who began it But this is to be noted That if the Sensitive motions begin the Disorder then they cause the Rational to be so disordered as they can neither advise wisely or direct orderly or perswade effectually CHAP. XII Of Diseases produced by Conceit AS there are numerous sorts of Diseases so there are numerous manners or ways of the production of Diseases and those Diseases that are produced by Conceit are first occasioned by the Rational Corporeal Figurative Motions for though every several Conceit or Imagination is a several Rational Corporeal Figurative Motion yet every Conceit or Imagination doth not produce a Sensitive Effect but in those that do produce a Sensitive Effect it is the Conceit or Imagination of some sorts of Diseases but in most of those sorts that are dangerous to Life or causes Deformity The reason is That as all the Parts of Nature are Self-knowing so they are Self-loving Also Regular Societies beget an united Love by Regular Agreements which cause a Rational Fear of a disuniting or dissolving and that is the reason that upon the perception of such a Disease the Rational through some disorder figures that Disease and the Sensitive Corporeal Motions take a pattern from the Rational and so the Disease is produced The Tenth Part. CHAP. I. Of FEVERS SOME are of opinion That all or at least most Diseases are accompanied more or less with a Feverous Distemper If so then we may say A Fever is the Fundamental Disease but whether that Opinion is true or no I know not but I observe there are many sorts of Fevers and so there are of all other Diseases or Distempers for every alteration or difference of one and the same kind of Disease is a several sort As for Fevers I have observed there are Fevers in the Blood or Humours and not in any of the Vital Parts and those are ordinary Burning-Fevers and there are other sorts of Fevers that are in the Vital Parts and all other Parts of the Body and those are Malignant Fevers and there are some sorts of Fevers which are in the Radical Humours and those are Hectick Fevers and there are other sorts of Fevers that are in those Parts which we name the Spiritous Parts Also all Consumptions are accompanied with a Feverish Distemper but what the several Figurative Motions are of these several sorts of Fevers I cannot tell CHAP. II. Of the PLAGVE THere are Two visible sorts of the Disease named the Plague The weaker sort is that which produces Swellings or inflamed or corrupted Sores which are accompanied with a Fever The other sort is that which is named the Spotted Plague The First sort is sometimes Curable but the Second is Incurable at least no Remedy as yet hath been found The truth is the Spotted Plague is a Gangrene but is somewhat different from other sorts of Gangren's for this begins amongst the Vital Parts and by an Infection spreads to the Extream Parts and not only so but to Forrein Parts which makes not only a general Infection amongst all the several Parts of the Body but the Infection spreads it self to other Bodies And whereas other sorts of Gangren's begin outwardly and pierce inwardly the Plaguy Gangrene begins inwardly and pierces outwardly so as the difference as I said is That the ordinary sort of Gangren's infect the next adjoining Parts of the Body by moderate degrees whereas the Plaguy Gangrene infects not only the adjoining Parts of the same Body and that suddenly but infects Forreign Bodies Also the ordinary Gangren's may be stopped from their Infection by taking off the Parts infected or diseased But the Plaguy Gangrene can no ways be stopped because the Vital Parts cannot be separated from the rest of the Parts without a total ruine besides it pierces and spreads more suddenly than Remedies can be applyed But whether there are Applications of Preventions I know not for those Studies belong more to the Physicians than to a Natural Philosopher As for the Diseases we name the Purples and the Spotted Fever they are of the same Kind or Kindred although not of the same sort as Measles and the Small-Pox But this is to be noted That Infection is an act of Imitation for one Part cannot give another Part a Disease but only that some imitate the same sorts of Irregular Actions of other Parts of which some are near adjoining Imitators and some occasion a general Mode CHAP. III. Of the Small-Pox and Measles THE Small-Pox is somewhat like the Sore-Plague not only by being Infectious as both sorts of Plagues are but by being of a corrupt Nature as the Sore-Plague is only the Small-Pox is innumerable or very many small Sores whereas the Sore-Plague is but one or two great Sores Also the Small-Pox and Sore-Plague are alike in this That if they rise and break or if they fall not flat but remain until they be dry and
scabbed the Patient lives but if they fall flat and neither break nor are scabbed the Patient is in danger to dye Also it is to be noted That this Disease is sometimes accompanied with a Feverish Distemper I say Sometimes not Always and that is the cause that many dye either with too hot or too cooling Applications for in a Feverish Distemper hot Cordials are Poyson and when there is no Fever Cooling Remedies are Opium The like for letting Blood for if the Disease be accompanied with a Fever and the Fever be not abated by letting Blood 't is probable the Fever joyned with the Pox will destroy the Patient and if no Fever and yet loose Blood the Pox hath not sufficient Moisture to dilate nor a sufficient natural Vapour to breathe or respirate so as the Life of the Patient is choaked or stifled with the contracted Corruptions As for Measles though they are of the same kind yet not of the same sort for they are rather Small Risings than Corrupted Sores and so are less dangerous CHAP. IV. Of the Intermission of Fevers or Agues AGVES have several sorts of Distempers and those quite opposite to each other as Cold and Shaking Hot and Burning besides Sweating Also there are several times of Intermissions as some are Every-day Agues some Third-day Agues and some Quartan Agues and some Patient may be thus distempered many times in the compass of Four and twenty hours but those are rather of the Nature of Intermitting Fevers than of perfect Agues Also in Agues there is many times a difference of the Hot and Cold fits for sometimes the Cold Fits will be long and the Hot short other times the Hot Fits will be long and the Cold Fits short other times much of an equal degree but most Intermitting Fevers and Agues proceed either from ill-digestive Motions or from a superfluity of Cold and Hot Motions or an Irregularity of the Cold Hot Dry or Moist Motions where each sort strives and struggles with each other But to make a comparison Agues are somewhat like several sorts of Weather as Freezing and Thawing Cloudy or Rainy or Fair and Sun-shining days or like the Four Seasons of the Year where the Cold Fits are like Winter cold and windy the Hot Fits like Summer hot and dry the Sweating Fits like Autumn warm and moist and when the Fit is past like the Spring But to conclude the chief Cause of Agues is Irregular Digestions that make half-concocted Humours and according as these half-concocted Humours digest the Patient hath his Aguish Distempers where some are every day others every second day some every third day and some Quartans but by reason those half-concocted Humours are of several sorts of Humors some Cold some Hot some Cold and Dry some Hot and Dry or Hot and Moist and those different sorts raw or but half-concocted Humours they occasion such disorder not only by an unnatural manner of Digestion as not to be either timely or regular by degrees but those several sorts of Raw Humours strive and struggle with each other for Power or Supremacy but according as those different Raw Humours concoct the Fits are longer or shorter also according to the quantity of those Raw Humours and according as those Humours are a gathering or breeding so are the times of those Fits and Intermissions But here is to be noted That some Agues may be occasioned from some Particular Irregular Digestions others from a General Irregular Digestion some from some obscure Parts others from ordinary Humours CHAP. V. Of CONSVMPTIONS THere are many sorts of Consumptions as some are Consumptions of the Vital Parts as the Liver Lungs Kidneys or the like Parts Others a Consumption of the Radical Parts Others a Consumption of the Spiritous Parts Other Consumptions are only of the Flesh which in my opinion is the only Curable Consumption But all Consumptions are not only an Alteration but a Wasting and Dis-uniting of the Fundamental Parts only those Consuming Parts do as it were steal away by degrees and so by degrees the Society of a Human Creature is dissolved CHAP. VI. Of DROPSIES DRopsies proceed from several Causes as some from a decay of some of the Vital Parts others through a superfluity of indigested Humours some from a supernatural Driness of some Parts others through a superfluity of Nourishing Motions some through some Obstructions others through an excess of Moist Dyet but all Dropsies proceed not only from Irregular Motions but from such a particular Irregularity as all the Motions endeavour to be of one Mode as I may say that is To move after the manner of those sorts of Motions which are the innate Nature of Water and are some sorts of Circular Dilatations but by these actions the Human Society endeavours to make a Deluge and to turn from the Nature of Blood and Flesh to the Nature of Water CHAP. VII Of SWEATING ALL Sweating-Diseases are somewhat of the nature of Dropsies but they are at least seem to be more Exterior than Interior Dropsies but though there be Sweating-Diseases which are Irregular yet Regular Sweating is as proper as Regular Breathing and so healthful that Sweating extraordinary in some Diseases occasions a Cure for Sweating is a sort of Purging so that the evacuation of Sweat through the Pores is as necessary as other sorts of evacuation as Breathing Urine Siege Spitting Purging through the Nose and the like But Excess of Sweating is like other sorts of Fluxes of which some will scowr to death others vomit to death and others the like Fluxes will occasion death the like is of Sweating so that the Sweating-Sickness is but like a Fluxive-Sickness But as I said Regular Sweating is as necessary as other ordinary Evacuations and as some are apt to be restringent others laxative and sometimes one and the same Man will be laxative other times costive so are Men concerning Sweating and as some Men take Medicines to purge by Stool or Vomits or Urine so they take Medicines to purge by Sweating And as Man hath several sorts of Excremental Humours so several sorts of Sweats as Clammy Sweats Cold Sweats Hot Sweats and Faint Sweats and as all Excess of other sorts of Purgings causes a Man to be weak and faint so doth Sweating CHAP. VIII Of COVGHS THere are many several sorts of Coughs proceeding from several Causes as some Coughs proceed from a Superfluity of Moisture others from an Unnatural Heat others from a Corruption of Humors others from a Decay of the Vital Parts others from sudden Colds upon Hot Distempers Some are caused by an Interior Wind some Coughs proceed from Salt Humors Bitter Sharp and Sweet some Coughs proceed from Flegm which Flegm ariseth like a Scum in a Pot when Meat is boiling on a Fire for when the Stomack is distemperedly hot the Humors in the Stomack boyl as Liquid Substances on the Fire those boiling Motions bearing up the gross Humors beyond the Mouth of the Stomack and causing a
sometimes nay very often Cold and Hot Motions will dispute for Power and some sorts of Hot with other sorts The like Disputes are amongst several sorts of Cold Motions Dry with Moist Dry with Dry Moist with Moist And the like Disputes are also often amongst all Creatures As for Density it doth not make Gravity for there may be Dense Bodies that are not Grave as for example Feathers and Snow Neither doth Gravity make Density for a quantity of Air hath some weight and yet is not dense But mistake me not for I mean by Grave Heavy and not for the Effects of Ascending and Descending for Feathers though Dense are more apt to ascend than descend and Snow to descend Also all sorts of Fluidity do not cause Moist Liquid or Wet nor all Extenuations cause Light but they are such and such sorts of Fluidities and Extenuations that cause such and such Effects And so for Heats Colds Droughts Moistures Rarities The same for Gravities Levities and the like So that Creatures are Rare Fluid Moist Wet Dry Dense Hard Soft Leight Heavy and the like according to their Figurative Motions CHAP. III. Of the Change and Rechange and of Dividing and Ioyning of the Parts of the Elements OF all Creatures subject to Human Perception the Elements are most apt to Transform viz. to Change and Rechange also to Divide and Ioyn their Parts without altering their Innate Nature and Property The reason is because the Innate Figurative Motions of Elements are not so different as those of Animals and Vegetables whose Compositions are of many different Figurative Motions in so much that dis-joining any Part of Animals or Vegetables they cannot be joined again as they were before at least it is not commonly done but the Nature and Property of the Elements is That every Part and Particle are of one innate Figurative Motion so that the least grain of Dust or the least drop of Water or the least spark of Fire is of the same Innate Nature Property and Figurative Motions as the whole Element when as of Animals and Vegetables almost every Part and Particle is of a different Figurative Motion CHAP. IV. Of the Innate Figurative Motions of Earth THere are many sorts of Earth yet all sorts are of the same kind that is they are all Earth but in my opinion the prime Figurative Motions of Earth are Circles but not dilated Circles but contracted Circles neither are those Circles smooth but rugged which is the cause that Earth is dull or dim and is easily divided into dusty Parts for all or at least most Bodies that are smooth are more apt to joyn than divide and have a Glassie Hew or Complexion which is occasioned by the smoothness and the smoothness occasioned by the evenness of Parts being without Intervals but according as these sorts of Circular Motions are more or less contracted and more or less rugged they cause several sorts of Earth CHAP. V. Of the Figurative Motions of Air. THere are many sorts of Airs as there is of other Creatures of one and the same kind but for Elemental Air is composed of very Rare Figurative Motions and the Innate Motions I conceive to be somewhat of the Nature of Water viz. Circular Figurative Motions only of a more Dilating Property which causes Air not to be Wet but extraordinary Rare which again causes it to be somewhat of the nature of Light for the Rarity occasions Air to be very searching and penetrating also dividable and compoundable but the Rarity of Air is the cause that it is not subject to some sorts of Human Perception but yet not so Rare as not to be subject to Human Respirations which is one sort of Human Perception for all Parts of all Creatures are perceptive one way or another but as I said there are many sorts of Air as some Cold some Hot some Dry some Moist some Sharp some Corrupt some Pure some Gross and numbers more but many of these sorts are rather Metamorphosed Vapours and Waters than pure Elemental Air for the pure Elemental Air is in my opinion more searching and penetrating than Light by reason Light may be more easily eclipsed or stopt when as Air will search every Pore and every Creature to get entrance CHAP. VI. Of the Innate Figurative Motion of Fire THE Innate Figurative Motions of Elemental Fire seem the most difficult to Human Perception and Conception for by the Agilness it seems to be more pure than the other sorts of Elements yet by the Light or Visibleness it seems more gross than Air but by the dilating Property it seems to be more rare than air at least as rare as Air. By the Glassie or Shining Property it seems to be of Smooth and Even Parts also by the piercing and wounding Property Fire seems to be composed of sharp-pointed Figurative Motions Wherefore the Innate Figurative Motions of Fire are Pure Rare Smooth Sharp Points which can move in Circles Squares Triangles Parallels or any other sorts of Exterior Figures without an alteration of its Interior Nature as may be observed by many sorts of Fuels as also it can contract and dilate its Parts without any alteration of its Innate Property CHAP. VII Of the Productions of Elemental Fire IT is to be observed That Points of Fire are more numerous and more suddenly propagating than any other Element or any other Creature that is subject to Human Perception But Sparks of Fire resemble the Seeds of Vegetables in this That as Vegetables will not encrease in all sorts of Soyles alike neither will the Points of Fire in all sorts of Fuel alike And as Vegetables produce different Effects in several Soyls so doth Fire on several Fuels As for example The Seeds of Vegetables do not work the same Effect in a Birds Crop as in the Earth for there they encrease the Bird by digestion but in the ground they encrease their own Issue as I may say So Fire in some Fuels doth destroy it self and occasions the Fuel to be more consumed when as in other sorts of Fuel Fire encreases extreamly But Fire as all other Creatures cannot subsist single of it self but must have Food and Respiration which proves Fire is not an Immaterial Motion Also Fire hath Enemies as well as Friends and some are deadly namely Water or Watry Liquors Also Fire is forced to comply with the Figurative Motions of those Creatures it is joyned to for all Fuels will not burn or alter alike CHAP. VIII Of FLAME FLAME is the Rarest Part of Fire and though the Fuel of Flame be of a vaporous and smoaky Substance yet surely there are pure Flames which are perfect Fires and for proof we may observe That Flame will dilate and run as it were to catch Smoak but when the Smoak is above the Flame if it be higher than the Flame can extend it contracts back to the Fiery Body But Flame doth somewhat resemble that we name Natural Light but yet in my opinion
Light is not Flame nor hath it any Fiery Property although it be such a sort of Extenuating or Dilating Actions as Flame hath CHAP. IX Of the two sorts of Fire most different THere are many sorts of Fires but two sorts are most opposite that is the Hot Glowing Burning Bright Shining Fire and that sort of Fire we name a Dead Dull Fire as Vitriol Fires Cordial Fires Corrosive Fires Feverish Fires and numerous other sorts and every several sort hath some several Property as for example There is greater difference between the Fiery Property of Oyl and the Fiery Property of Vitriol for Oyl is neither Exteriorly Hot nor Burning whereas Vitriol is Exteriorly Burning though not Exteriorly Hot but the difference of these sorts of Fires is That the Actions of Elemental Fire are to ascend rather than to descend and the Dull Dead Fire is rather apt to descend than ascend that is to pierce or dilate either upwards or downwards but they are both of Dilating and Dividing Natures But this is to be noted That all sorts of Heats or Hotness are not Fire Also it is to be noted That all Fires are not Shining CHAP. X. Of Dead or Dull Fires OF Dull Dead Fires some sorts seem to be of a mixt sort as for example Vitriol and the like seem to be Exteriorly of the Figurative Motions of Fire and Interiorly of the Figurative Motions of Water or of Watry Liquors And Oyl is of Fiery Figurative Motions Interiorly and of Liquid Figurative Motions Exteriorly which is the cause that the Fiery Properties of Oyl cannot be altered without a Total Dissolution of their Natures But such sorts whose Fiery Figurative Motions are Exterior as being not their Innate Nature may be divided from those other Natural Parts they were joyned to without altering their Innate Nature CHAP. XI Of the Occasional Actions of Fire ALL Creatures have not only Innate figurative Motions that cause them to be such or such a sort of Creature but they have such and such actions that cause such and such Effects also every Creature is occasioned to particular Actions by forrein Objects many times to improper actions and sometimes to ruinous actious even to the dissolution of their Nature And of all Creatures Fire is the most ready to occasion the most Mischief at least Disorders for where it can get entrance it seldom fails of causing such a Disturbance as occasions a Ruine The reason is that most Creatures are porous for all Creatures subsisting by each other must of necessity have Egress and Regress being composed of Interior and Exterior Corporeal Motions And Fire being the sharpest figurative Motion is apt to enter into the smallest Pores But some may ask Whether Fire is porous it self I answer That having Respiration it is a sufficient proof that it is Porous for Fire dyes if it hath not Air. But some may say How can a Point be porous I answer That a Point is composed of Parts and therefore may very well be porous for there is no such thing as a Single Part in Nature and therefore not a Single Point Also some may say If there be Pores in Nature there may be Vacuum I answer That in my opinion there is not because there is no empty Pores in Nature Pores signifying only an Egress and Regress of Parts CHAP. XII Fire hath not the Property to Change and Rechange OF all the Elemental Creatures Fire is the least subject to change for though it be apt to occasion other Creatures to alter yet it keeps close to its own Properties and proper Actions for it cannot change and rechange as Water can Also Natural Air is not apt to change and rechange as Water for though it can as all the Elements divide and join its Parts without altering the Property of its Nature yet it cannot readily alter and alter again its Natural Properties as Water can The truth is Water and Fire are opposite in all their Properties but as Fire is of all the Elements the furthest from altering so Water is of all the Elements the most subject to alter for all Circular Figures are apt to variety CHAP. XIII Of the Innate Figurative Motions of Water THE Nature of Water is Rare Fluid Moist Liquid Wet Glutinous and Glassie Likewise Water is apt to divide and unite its Parts most of which Properties are caused by several sorts of Dilatations or Extenuations but the Interior or Innate Figure of Water is a Circular Line But yet it is to be observed That there are many several sorts of Waters as there are many several sorts of Airs Fires and Earths and so of all Creatures for some Waters are more rare than others some more leight and some more heavy some more clear and some more dull some salt some sharp some bitter some more fresh or sweet some have cold Effects some hot Effects all which is caused by the several Figurative Motions of several sorts of Waters but the nature of Water is such as it can easily alter or change and rechange and yet keep its Interior or Innate Nature or Figure But this is also to be observed That the Dilating or Extenuating Circle of Water is of a middle Degree as between Two Extreams CHAP. XIV The Nature or Property of Water WEtness which is the Interior or Innate Property or Nature of Water is in my opinion caused by some sort of Dilatations or Extenuations As all Droughts or Dryness are caused by some sorts of Contractions so all Moistures Liquors and Wets by Dilatations yet those Extenuations or Dilatations that cause Wet must be of such a sort of Dilatations as are proper to Wet viz. Such a sort of Extenuations as are Circular Extenuations which do dilate or extenuate in a smooth equal dilatation from the Center to the Circumference which Extenuations or Dilatations are of a middle Degree for otherwise the Figure of Water might be extended beyond the Degree of Wet or not extended to the Degree of Wet And it is to be observed That there is such a Degree as only causes moistness and another to cause liquidness the third to cause wetness for though Moistness and Liquidness are in the way of Wetness yet they are not that which we name Wet also all that is Soft or Smooth is not Wet nor is all that is Liquid or Flowing Wet for some sorts of Air are liquid and flowing but not wet nay Flame is liquid and flowing but yet quite opposite from wet Dust is flowing but neither liquid or wet in its Nature And Hair and Feathers are soft and smooth but neither liquid nor wet But as I said Water is of such a Nature as to have the Properties of Soft Smooth Moist Liquid and VVet and is also of such flowing Properties caused by such a sort of Extenuating Circles as are of a Middle or Mean Degree but yet there are many several sorts of Liquors and VVets as we may perceive in Fruit Herbs and the like but
Quantity of Water so that the great quantity of water will cause a longer or a shorter time in the flowing or ebbing and certainly the waters are as long a flowing back as flowing forward As for Spring Tides they are only in such a time when there is a Naturall Issue of a greater quantity of water so that Spring-Tides are but once a Month and Single-Tides in so many hours but many several occasions may make the Tides to be more or less full As for Double-Tides they are occasioned through the Irregular dividing of the Half-Circle as when they divide not orderly but faster than they orderly should do which falling back in a Crowd and being by that means obstructed so that they cannot get forward they are necessitated to flow where they ebb'd The reason the Tides flow through Streams of Running-waters is That the Tide is stronger than the Stream but if the Stream and Tides pass through each other then the Tide and Stream are somewhat like Duellers together which make Passes and Passages for their conveniency CHAP. XX. Of the Figure of Ice and Snow A Circle may not only extend and contract it self without dividing but may draw it self into many several Figures as Squares or Triangles as also into many other Figures mix'd of Squares Triangles Cubes or the like being partly one and partly another and into other several ways and after several manners which is the reason Water may appear in many several Postures of Snow Ice Hail Frost and the like and in my Opinion when the Water-Circle is Triangular it is Snow when the Circle is Square it is Ice as for Hail they are but small pieces of Ice that is small Parts or few Drops of Water changed into Ice and those several Parts moving after several manners make the Exterior Figures after several shapes as great Bodies of Ice will be of many several shapes occasioned by many or fewer Parts and by the several Postures of those Parts but such Figures though they are of Ice yet are not the Innate Figures of Ice The same is to be said of Snow But the reason of these my Opinions concerning the Figures of Ice and Snow is That Snow is leighter than the Water it self and Ice is heavier at least as heavy And the reason Snow is so leight is That a Triangular Figure hath no poyse being an odd Figure whereas a Square is poysed by Even and Equal Lines and just Number of Points as Two to Two but a Triangle is Two to One. Also a Circle is a poysed Figure as being equal every way from the Center to the Circumference and from the Circumference to the Center all the Lines drawing to one Point But mistake me not for I treat concerning the Figures of Snow and Ice only of those Figures that cause Water to be Snow or Ice and not of the Exterior Figures of Snow and Ice which are occasioned by the Order or Disorder of Adjoining Parts for several Parts of Water may order themselves into numerous several Figures which concern not the nature of Water as it is Water Snow or Ice As for example Many Men in a Battel or upon Ceremony joyn into many several Figures or Forms which Figures or Forms are of no concern to their Innate Nature Also the several Figures or Forms of several Houses or several sorts of Building in one House are of no concern to the Innate Nature of the Materials The like for the Exterior Figures of Ice and Snow and therefore Microscopes may deceive the Artist who may take the Exterior for the Interior Figure but there may be great difference between them CHAP. XXI Of the Change and Rechange of Water WATER being of a Circular Figurative Motion is as it were but one Part having no divisions and therefore can more easily change and rechange it self into several Postures viz. into the Posture of a Triangle or Square or can be dilated or extended into a larger compass or contracted into a lesser compass which is the cause it can turn into Vapour and Vaporous Air or into Slime or into some grosser Figure For example Water can extend it self beyond the proper degrees of Water into the degree of Vapour and the Circle extending further than the degree of a Vaporous Circle is extended into a Vaporous Air and if the Vaporous Airy Circle be extreamly extended it becomes so small as it becomes to be a sharp Edg and so in a degree next to Fire at least to have a hot Effect but if it extends further than an Edg the Circle breaks into Flashes of Fire like Lightning which is a flowing Flame for being produced from Water it hath the property of Flowing or Streaming as VVater hath as we may perceive by the Effects of some few Parts of VVater flung on a bright Fire for those few drops of VVater being not enough to quench the Fire straight dilate so extreamly that they break into a Flame or else cause the Fire to be more brisk and bright and as the Water-Circle can be turned into Vapour Air and Flame by Extension so it can be turned into Snow Hail or Ice by Contraction CHAP. XXII Of Water Quenching Fire and Fire Evaporating Water THERE is such an Antipathy betwixt Water and Fire I mean bright shining Fire that they never meet Body to Body but Fire is in danger to be quenched out if there be a sufficient Quantity of Water But it is to be observed That it is not the actual Coldness of Water that quenches out Fire for Scalding-water will quench out Fire wherefore it is the Wetness that quenches out Fire which Wetness choaks the Fire as a Man that is drown'd for Water being not fit for Man's Respiration because it is too thick choaks and smuthers him and the same doth Water to Fire for though Air is of a proper temper for Respiration both to some sorts of Animals such as Man as also to Fire yet Water is not which is most proper for other sorts of Animals namely Fish as also for some sorts of Animals that are of a mixt kind or sort partly Fish and partly Flesh to which sort of Creatures both Air and Water are both equally proper for their Respiration or their Respiration equal to either for certainly all sorts of Creatures have Respiration by reason all Creatures subsist by each other I say By each other not Of each other But there are many several sorts and kinds of Respirations as concerning VVater and Fire though a sufficient quantity of VVater to Fire doth always choak smuther or quench out the Fire's Life if joyn'd Body to Body yet when there is another Body between those two Bodies water is in danger to be infected with the Fire's heat the Fire first infecting the Body next to it and that Body infecting the VVater by which Infection VVater is consumed either by a languishing Hectick Fever or by a raging Boyling Fever and the Life of VVater evaporates away
subject to our Perception which proves That Light may be without Heat But whether the Light of the Sun which we name Natural Light is naturally hot may be a dispute for many times the Night is hotter than the Day CHAP. XXVIII Of DARKNESS THE Figurative Motions of Light and Darkness are quite opposite and the Figurative Motions of Colours are as a Mean between both being partly of the Nature of both but as the Figurative Motions of Light in my opinion are rare straight equal even smooth Figurative Motions those of Darkness are uneven ruff or rugged and more dense Indeed there is as much difference between Light and Darkness as between Earth and Water or rather between Water and Fire because each is an Enemy to other and being opposite they endeavour to out-power each other But this is to be noted That Darkness is as visible to Human Perception as Light although the Nature of Darkness is To obscure all other Objects besides it self but if Darkness could not be perceived the Optick Perception could not know when it is dark nay particular dark Figurative Motions are as visible in a general Light as any other Object which could not be if Darkness was only a privation of Light as the Opinions of many Learned Men are but as I said before Darkness is of a quite different Figurative Motion from Light so different that it is just opposite for as the property of Light is to divulge Objects so the property of Darkness is to obscure them but mistake me not I mean that Light and Darkness have such properties to our Perception but whether it is so to all Perceptions is more than I know or is as I believe known to any other Human Creature CHAP. XXIX Of COLOVRS AS for Colour it is the same with Body for surely there is no such thing in Nature as a Colourless Body were it as small as an Atom nor no such thing as a Figureless Body or such a thing as a Placeless Body so that Matter Colour Figure and Place is but one thing as one and the same Body but Matter being self-moving causes varieties of Figurative Actions by various changes As for Colours they are only several Corporeal Figurative Motions and as there are several sorts of Creatures so there are several sorts of Colours but as there are those Man names Artificial Creatures so there are Artificial Colours But though to describe the several Species of all the several sorts of Colours be impossible yet we may observe that there is more variety of Colours amongst Vegetables and Animals than amongst Minerals and Elements for though the Rain-bow is of many fine Colours yet the Rain-bow hath not so much Variety as many particular Vegetables or Animals have but every several Colour is a several Figurative Motion and the Brighter the Colours are the Smoother and Evener are the Figurative Motions And as for Shadows of Colours they are caused when one sort of Figurative Motions is as the Foundation for example If the Fundamental Figurative Motion be a deep Blew or Red or the like then all the variations of other Colours have a tincture But in short all Shadows have a ground of some sort of dark Figurative Motions But the Opinions of many Learned Men are That all Colours are made by the several Positions of Light and are not inherent in any Creature of which Opinion I am not For if that were so every Creature would be of many several Colours neither would any Creature produce after their own Species for a Parrot would not produce so fine a Bird as her self neither would any Creature appear of one and the same Colour but their Colour would change according to the Positions of Light and in a dark day in my opinion all fine coloured Birds would appear like Crows and fine coloured Flowers appear like the Herb named Night-shade which is not so I do not say That several Positions of Light may not cause Colours but I say The Position of Light is not the Maker of all Colours for Dyers cannot cause several Colours by the Positions of Light CHAP. XXX Of the Exterior Motions of the Planets BY the Exterior Motions of the Planets we may believe their Exterior Shape is Spherical for it is to be observed That all Exterior Actions are according to their Exterior Shape but by reason Vegetables and Minerals have not such sorts of Exterior Motions or Actions as Animals some Men are of opinion they have not Sensitive Life which opinion proceeds from a shallow consideration neither do they believe the Elements are sensible although they visibly perceive their Progressive Motions and yet believe all sorts of Animals to have sense only because they have Progressive Motions CHAP. XXXI Of the Sun and Planets and Seasons THE Sun Moon Planets and all those glittering Starrs we see are several sorts of that Man names Elemental Creatures but Man having not an infinite Perception cannot have an infinite perceptive knowledg for though the Rational Perception is more subtil than the Sensitive yet the particular Parts cannot perceive much further than the Exterior Parts of Objects but Human Sense and Reason cannot perceive what the Sun Moon and Starrs are as whether solid or rare or whether the Sun be a Body of Fire or the Moon a Body of Water or Earth or whether the Fixed Starrs be all several Suns or whether they be other kinds or sorts of Worlds But certainly all Creatures do subsist by each other because Nature seems to be an Infinite united Body without Vacuum As for the several Seasons of the Year they are divided into Four Parts but the several Changes and Tempers of the Four Seasons are so various altering every moment as it would be an endless work nay impossible for one Creature to perform for though the Almanack-makers pretend to fore-know all the variations of the Elements yet they can tell no more than just what is the constant and set-motions but not the variations of every Hour or Minute neither can they tell any thing more than their Exterior Motions CHAP. XXXII Of Air corrupting Dead Bodies SOME are of opinion That Air is a Corrupter and so a Dissolver of all dead Creatures and yet is the Preserver of all living Creatures If so Air hath an Infinite Power but all the reason I can perceive for this Opinion is That Man perceives that when any Raw or that we name Dead Flesh is kept from the air it will not stink or corrupt so soon as when it is in the air but yet it is well known that extream cold air will keep Flesh from corrupting Another Reason is That a Flye entomb'd in Amber being kept from air the Flye remains in her Exterior Shape as perfectly as if she were alive I answer The cause of that may be that the Figurative Motions of Amber may sympathize with the Exterior consistent Motions of the Fly which may cause the Exterior Shape of the Flye to
continue although the Innate Nature be altered But Air is as all other Creatures are both Beneficial and Hurtful to each other for Nature is poysed with Opposites for we may perceive that several Creatures are both Beneficial and Hurtful to each other as for example A Bear kills a Man and on the other side a Bear 's Skin will cure a Man of some Disease Also a Wild-Boar will kill a Man and the Boar's Flesh will nourish a Man Fire will burn a Man and preserve a Man and Millions of such Examples may be proposed The same may be said of Air which may occasion Good or Evil to other Creatures as the Amber may occasion the death of a Fly and on the other side may occasion the Preservation or Continuation of the Fly 's Exterior Figure or Form but Nature being without Vacuum all her Parts must be be joined and her Actions being poysed there must be both Sympathetical and Antipathetical actions amongst all Creatures The Thirteenth Part. CHAP. I. Of the Innate Figurative Motions of Metals ALL sorts of Metals in my opinion are of some sorts of Circular Motions but not like that sort that is Water for the Water-Circle doth extend outward from the Center whereas in my opinion the Circular Motion of Metal draws inward from the Circumference Also in my opinion the Circular Motions are dense flat edged even and smooth for all Bright and Glassie Bodies are smooth and though Edges are wounding Figures yet Edges are rather of the Nature of a Line than of a Point Again all Motions that tend to a Center are more fixt than those that extend to a Circumference but it is according to the degree of their Extensions that those Creatures are more or less fixt which is the cause that some sorts of Metals are more fixt than others and that causes Gold to be the most fixt of all other sorts of Metals and seems to be too strong for the Effects of Fire But this is to be noted That some Metals are more near related to some sort than other as for example There is no Lead without some Silver so that Silver seems to be but a well-digested Lead And certainly Copper hath some near relation to Gold although not so near related as Lead is to Silver CHAP. II. Of the Melting of Metals METALS may be occasioned by Fire to slack their Retentive Motions by which they become fluid and as soon as they are quit of their Enemy Fire the Figurative Motions of Metal return to their proper Order and this is the reason that occasions Metal to melt which is to flow but yet the Flowing Motion is but like the Exterior and not the Innate actions of 〈◊〉 for the Melting actions do not alter the Innate actions that is they do not alter from the Nature of being Metal but if the Exterior Nature be occasioned by the Excess of those Exterior actions to alter their Retentive actions then Metal turns to that we name Dross and as much as Metal loses of its weight so much of the Metal dissolves that is so much of those Innate motions are quite altered but Gold hath such an Innate Retentiveness that though Fire may cause an extream alteration of the Exterior actions yet it cannot alter the Interior motions The like is of Quick-silver And yet Gold is not a God to be Unalterable though man knows not the way and Fire has not the power to alter the Innate Nature of Gold CHAP. III. Of Burning Melting Boyling and Evaporating BVrning Melting Boyling and Evaporating are for the most part occasioned by Fire or somewhat that is in effect Hot I say occasioned by reason they are not the actions of Fire but the actions of those Bodies that melts boyls evaporates or burns which being near or joyned to Fire are occasioned so to do as for example Put several sorts of Creatures or Things into a Fire and they shall not burn alike for Leather and Metal do not burn alike for Metal flows and Leather shrinks up and Water evaporates and Wood converts it self as it were into Fire which other things do not which proves That all Parts act their own actions For though some Corporeal motions may occasion other Corporeal motions to act after such or such a manner yet one Part cannot have another Part 's motion because Matter can neither give nor take motion CHAP. IV. Of STONE ALL Minerals seem to be some kinds of Dense and Retentive motions but yet those kinds of Dense and Retentive motions seem to be of several sorts which is the cause of several sorts of Minerals and of several sorts of Stones and Metals Also every several sort hath several sorts of Properties but in my opinion some sorts are caused by Hot Contractions and Retentions others by Cold Contractions and Retentions as also by Hot or Cold Densations and the reason why I believe so is That I observe that many Artificial Stones are produced by Heat but Ice which is but in the first Degree of a Cold Density seems somewhat like transparent Stones so that several sorts of Stones are produced by several sorts of Cold and Hot Contractions and Densations CHAP. V. Of the LOADSTONE AS for the Loadstone it is not more wonderful in attracting Iron than 〈◊〉 Beauty which admirably attracts the Optick Perception of Human Creatures and who knows but the North and South Air may be the most proper Air for the Respiration of the Loadstone and that Iron may be the most proper Food for it But by reason there hath been so many Learned Men puzled in their Opinions concerning the several Effects of the Loadstone I dare not venture to treat of the Nature and Natural Effects of that Mineral neither have I had much experience of it but I observe That Iron and some sorts of Stone are nearly allied for there is not any Iron but what is growing or is intermixt and united in some sorts of Stone as that which we call Iron-stone Wherefore it is no wonder if the Loadstone and Iron should be apt to embrace one another CHAP. VI. Of Bodies apt to ascend or descend THERE are so many several Causes that occasion some sorts of Creatures to be apt to ascend and others to descend as they are neither known or can be conceived by one finite Creature for it is not Rarity or Density that causes Levity and Gravity but the Frame or Form of a Creature 's Exterior Shape or Parts As for example A Flake of Snow is as Rare as a Downy Feather yet the Feather is apt to ascend and the Flake of Snow to descend Also Dust that is hard and dense is apt to ascend and Water that is soft and rare is more apt to descend Again a Bird that is both a bigger and a more dense Creature by much than a small Worm yet a Bird can flye up into the air when as a leight Worm cannot ascend or flye having not such a sort of Shape Also a
this is most visible amongst Human Creatures whom some sorts of Food will make weak sick faint lean pale old and withered other sorts of Food will make them strong and healthy fat fair smooth and ruddy So some sorts of Soyls will cause some Vegetables to be larger brighter smoother sweeter and of more various and glorious Colours CHAP. XII Of Artificial Things ARtificial Things are Natural Corporeal Figurative Motions for all Artificial Things are produced by several produced Creatures But the differences of those Productions we name Natural and Artificial are That the Natural are produced from the Producer's own Parts whereas the Artificial are produced by composing or joyning or mixing several Forrein Parts and not any of the particular Parts of their composed Society for Artificial things are not produced as Animals Vegetables Minerals or the like but only they are certain seral Mixtures of some of the divided or dead Parts as I may say of Minerals Vegetables Elements and the like But this is to be noted That all or at least most are but Copied and not Originals But some may ask Whether Artificial Productions have Sense Reason and Perception I answer That if all the Rational and Sensitive Parts of Nature are Perceptive and that no part is without Perception then all Artificial Productions are Perceptive CHAP. XIII Of several Kinds and Sorts of Species ACCording to my Opinion though the Species of this World and all the several Kinds and Sorts of Species in this World do always continue yet the particular Parts of one and the same Kind or sort of Species do not continue for the particular Parts are perpetually altering their Figurative Actions But by reason some Parts compose or unite as well as some Parts dissolve or disunite all kinds and sorts of Species will and must last so long as Nature lasts But mistake me not I mean such kinds and sorts of Species as we name Natural that is the Fundamental Species but not such Species as we name Artificial CHAP. XIV Of Different WORLDS T IS probable if Nature be Infinite there are several kinds and sorts of those Species Societies or Creatures we name Worlds which may be so different from the Frame Form Species and Properties of this World and the Creatures of this World as not to be any ways like this World or the Creatures in this World But mistake me not I do not mean not like this World as it is Material and Self-moving but not of the same Species or Properties as for example That they have not such kind of Creatures or their Properties as Light Darkness Heat Cold Dry Wet Soft Hard Leight Heavy and the like But some may say That is impossible for there can be no World but must be either Light or Dark Hot or Cold Dry or Wet Soft or Hard Heavy or Leight and the like I answer That though those Effects may be generally beneficial to most of the Creatures in this World yet not to all the Parts of the World as for example Though Light is beneficial to the Eyes of Animals yet to no other Part of an Animal Creature And though Darkness is obstructive to the Eyes of Animals yet to no other Parts of an Animal Creature Also Air is no proper Object for any of the Human Parts but Respiration So Cold and Heat are no proper Objects for any Part of a Human Creature but only the Pores which are the Organs of Touch. The like may be said for Hard and Soft Dry and Wet and since they are not Fundamental actions of Nature but Particular I cannot believe but that there may be such Worlds or Creatures as may have no use of Light Darkness and the like for if some Parts of this World need them not nor are any ways beneficial to them as I formerly proved surely a whole World may be and subsist without them for these Properties though they may be proper for the Form or Species of this World yet they may be no ways proper for the Species of another kind or sort of World as for example The Properties of a Human Creature are quite different from other kinds of Creatures the like may be of different Worlds but in all Material Worlds there are Self-moving Parts which is the cause there is self-joyning uniting and composing self dividing or dissolving self-regularities and self-irregularities also there is Perception amongst the Parts or Creaturs of Nature and what Worlds or Creatures soever are in Nature they have Sense and Reason Life and Knowledg but for Light and Darkness Hot and Cold Soft and Hard Leight and Heavy Dry and Wet and the like they are all but particular actions of particular Corporeal Species or Creatures which are finite and not infinite and certainly there may be in Nature other Worlds as full of varieties and as glorious and beautiful as this World and are and may be more glorious or beautiful as also more full of variety than this World and yet be quite different in all kinds and sorts from this World for this is to be noted That the different kinds and sorts of Species or Creatures do not make Particulars more or less perfect but according to their kind And one thing I desire That my Readers would not mistake my meaning when I say The Parts dissolve for I do not mean that Matter dissolves but that their particular Societies dissolve APPENDIX TO THE GROUNDS OF Natural Philosophy The FIRST PART CHAP. I. Whether there can be a Substance that is not a Body WHAT a Substance that is not Body can be as I writ in the First Chapter of this Book I cannot imagine nor that there is any thing between Something and Nothing But some may say That Spiritual Substances are so I answer That Spirits must be either Material or Immaterial for it is impossible for a thing to be between Body and no Body Others may say There may be a Substance that is not a Natural Substance but some sort of Substance that is far more pure than the purest Natural Substance I answer Were it never so pure it would be in the List or Circle of Body and certainly the purest Substance must have the Properties of Body as to be divisible and capable to be united and compounded and being divisible and compoundable it would have the same Properties that grosser Parts have but if there be any difference certainly the purest Substance would be more apt to divide and unite or compound than the grosser sort But as to those sorts of Substance which some Learned Men have imagined in my opinion they are but the same sort of Substance that the Vulgar call Thoughts and I name the Rational Parts which questionless are as truly Body as the grossest Parts in Nature but most Human Creatures are so troubled with the Thoughts of Dissolving and Dis-uniting that they turn Fancies and Imaginations into Spirits or Spiritual Substances as if all the other Parts of their Bodies
should become Rational Parts that is that all their Parts should turn into such Parts as Thoughts which I name the Rational Parts But that Opinion is impossible for Nature cannot alter the nature of any Part nor can any Part alter its own Nature neither can the Rational Parts be divided from the Sensitive and Inanimate Parts by reason those Three sorts constitute but one Body as being Parts of one Body But put the case that the Rational Parts might divide and subsist without the Sensitive and Inanimate Parts yet as I said they must of necessity have the Properties and Nature of a Body which is to be divisible and capable to be united and so to be Parts for it is impossible for a Body were it the most pure to be indivisible CHAP. II. Of an IMMATERIAL I Cannot conceive how an Immaterial can be in Nature for first An Immaterial cannot in my opinion be naturally created nor can I conceive how an Immaterial can produce particular Immaterial Souls Spirits or the like Wherefore an Immaterial in my opinion must be some uncreated Being which can be no other than GOD alone Wherefore Created Spirits and Spiritual Souls are some other thing than an Immaterial for surely if there were any other Immaterial Beings besides the Omnipotent God those would be so near the Divine Essence of God as to be petty gods and numerous petty gods would almost make the Power of an Infinite God But God is Omnipotent and only God CHAP. III. Whether an Immaterial be Perceivable WHatsoever is Corporeal is Perceivable that is may be perceived in some manner or other by reason it hath a Corporeal Being but what Being an Immaterial hath no Corporeal can perceive Wherefore no Part in Nature can perceive an Immaterial because it is impossible to have a perception of that which is not to be perceived as not being an Object fit and proper for Corporeal Perception In truth an Immaterial is no Object because no Body But some may say that A Corporeal may have a Conception although not a Perception of an Immaterial I answer That surely there is an innate Notion of God in all the Parts of Nature but not a perfect knowledg for if there was there would not be so many several Opinions and Religions amongst one Kind or rather sort of Creatures as Mankind as there are insomuch that there are but few of one and the same Opinion or Religion but yet that Innate Notion of God being in all the Parts of Nature God is infinitely and eternally worshipped and adored although after several manners and ways yet all manners and ways are joyned in one VVorship because the Parts of Nature are joyned into one Body CHAP. IV. Of the Differences between God and Nature GOD is an Eternal Creator Nature his Eternal Creature GOD an Eternal Master Nature GOD's Eternal Servant GOD is an Infinite and Eternal Immaterial Being Nature an Infinite Corporeal Being GOD is Immovable and Immutable Nature Moving and Mutable GOD is Eternal Indivisible and of an Incompoundable Being Nature Eternally Divisible and Compoundable GOD Eternally Perfect Nature Eternally Imperfect GOD Eternally Inalterable Nature Eternally Alterable GOD without Error Nature full of Irregularities GOD knows exactly or perfectly Nature Nature doth not perfectly know GOD. GOD is Infinitely and Eternally worshipped Nature is the Eternal and Infinite Worshipper CHAP. V. All the Parts of Nature worship God ALL Creatures as I have said have an Innate Notion of GOD and as they have a Notion of God so they have a Notion to worship GOD but by reason Nature is composed of Parts so is the Infinite Worship to God and as several Parts are dividing and uniting after several kinds sorts manners and ways so is their Worship to GOD but the several manners and ways of Worship make not the Worship to GOD less for certainly all Creatures Worship and Adore GOD as we may perceive by the Holy Scripture where it says Let the Heavens Earth and all that therein is praise God But 't is probable that some of the Parts being Creatures of Nature may have a fuller Notion of GOD than others which may cause some Creatures to be more Pious and Devout than others but the Irregulalarity of Nature is the cause of Sin CHAP. VI. Whether GOD's Decrees are limited IN my opinion though God is Inalterable yet no ways bounded or limited for though GOD's Decrees are fixt yet they are not bound but as GOD hath an Infinite Knowledg He hath also an Infinite Fore-knowledg and so fore-knows Nature's Actions and what He will please to decree Nature to do so that GOD knows what Nature can act and what she will act as also what He will decree and this is the cause that some of the Creature 's or Parts of Nature especially Man do believe Predestination But surely GOD hath an Omnipotent Divine Power which is no ways limited for GOD being above the nature of Nature cannot have the Actions of Nature because GOD cannot make Himself no GOD neither can He make Himself more than what he is He being the All-powerful Omnipotent Infinite and Everlasting Being CHAP. VII Of GOD's Decrees concerning the particular Parts of Nature THough Nature's Parts have Free-will of Self-motion yet they have not Free-will to oppose GOD's Decrees for if some Parts cannot oppose other Parts being over-power'd it is probable that the Parts of Nature cannot oppose the All-powerful Decrees of GOD. But if it please the All-powerful GOD to permit the Parts of Nature to act as they please according to their own natural Will and upon condition if they act so they shall have such Rewards as Nature may be capable to receive or such Punishments as Nature is capable of then the Omnipotent GOD doth not predestinate those Rewards or Punishments any otherwise than the Parts of Nature do cause by their own Actions Thus all Corporeal Actions belong to Corporeal Parts but the Rewards and Punishments to GOD alone but what those Punishments and Blessings are no particular Creature is capable to know for though a particular Creature knows there is a GOD yet not what GOD is so although particular Creatures know there are Rewards and Punishments yet not what those Rewards and Punishments are But mistake me not for I mean the general Rewards and Punishments to all Creatures but 't is probable that GOD might decree Nature and her Parts to make other sorts of Worlds besides this World of which Worlds this may be as ignorant as a particular Human Creature is of GOD. And therefore it is not probable since we cannot possibly know all the Parts of Nature of which we are parts that we should know the Decrees of GOD or the manners and ways of Worship amongst all kinds and sorts of Creatures CHAP. VIII Of the Ten Commandments IN my opinion the Notions Man hath of GOD's Commands concerning their Behaviour and Actions to Himself and their Fellow-Creatures is the very same that Moses writ and
presented to all those of whom he was Head and Governour But mistake me not I mean only the Ten Commandments which Commandments are a sufficient Rule for all Human Creatures and certainly GOD had decreed that Moses should be a wise Man and should publish these wise Commands But the Interpretation of the Law must be such as not to make it no such Law but by reason Nature is as much Irregular as Regular Human Notions are also Irregular as much as Regular which causes great variety of Religions and their Actions being also Irregular is the cause that the practise of Human Creatures is Irregular and that occasions Irregular Devotions and is the cause of SIN CHAP. IX Of Several RELIGIONS COncerning the several Religions and several Opinions in Religions which are like several Kinds and Sorts the Question is Whether all Mankind could be perswaded to be of one Religion or Opinion The opinion of the Minor part of my Thoughts was That all men might be perswaded And the opinion of the Major part of my Thoughts was That Nature being divisible and compoundable and having Free-will as well as Self-motion and being Irregular as well as Regular as also Variable taking delight in variety it was impossible for all Mankind to be of one Religion or Opinion The opinion of the Minor part of my Thoughts was That the Grace of GOD could perswade all Men to one Opinion The Major part of my Thoughts was of opinion That GOD might decree or command Nature but to alter Nature's nature could not be done unless GOD by his Decree would annihilate this Nature and create another Nature and such a Nature as was not like this Nature for it is the nature of this Material Nature to be Alterable as also to be Irregular as well as Regular and being Regular and Irregular was a fit and proper Subject for GOD's Justice and Mercies Punishments and Rewards CHAP. X. Of Rules and Prescriptions AS Saint Paul said We could not know Sin but by the Law so we could not know what Punishment we could or should suffer but by the Law not only Moral but Divine Law But some may ask What is Law I answer Law is Limited Prescriptions and Rules But some may ask Whether all Creatures in Nature have Prescriptions and Rules I answer That for any thing Man can know to the contrary all Creatures may have some Natural Rules but every Creature may chuse whether they will follow those Rules I mean such Rules as they are capable to follow or practise for several kinds and sorts of Creatures cannot possibly follow one and the same Prescription and Rule Wherefore Divine Prescriptions and Rules must be according to the sorts and kinds of Creatures and yet all Creatures may have a Notion and so an Adoration of God by reason all the Parts in Nature have Notions of God But concerning particular Worships those must be Prescriptions and Rules or else they are according to every particular Creature 's conception or choice CHAP. XI Sins and Punishments are Material AS all Sins are Material so are Punishments for Material Creatures cannot have Immaterial Sins nor can Material Creatures be capable of Immaterial Punishments which may be proved out of the Sacred Scripture for all the Punishments that are declared to be in Hell are Material Tortures nay Hell it self is described to be Material and not only Hell but Heaven is described to be Material But whether Angels and Devils are Material that is not declared for though they are named Spirits yet we know not whether those Spirits be Immaterial But considering that Hell and Heaven is described to be Material it is probable Spirits are also Material nay our blessed Saviour Christ who is in Heaven with God the Father hath a Material Body and in that Body will come attended by all the Hosts of Heaven to judg the quick and the dead which quick and dead are the Material Parts of Nature which could not be actually judged and punished but by a Material Body as Christ hath But pray mistake me not I say They could not be actually judged and punished that is not according to Nature as Material Actions for I do not mean here Divine and Immaterial Decrees But Christ being partly Divine and partly Natural may be both a Divine and Natural Judg. CHAP. XII Of Human Conscience THE Human Notions of GOD Man calls Conscience but by reason that Nature is full of Varieties as having Self-moving Parts Human Creatures have different Notions and so different Consciences which cause different Opinions and Devotions but Nature being as much compoundable as dividable it causes unity of some as also divisions of other Opinions which is the cause of several Religions which Religions are several Communities and Divisions But as for Conscience and holy Notions they being Natural cannot be altered by force without a Free-will so that the several Societies or Communicants commit an Error if not a Sin to endeavour to compel their Brethren to any particular Opinion and to prove it is an Error or Sin the more earnest the Compellers are the more do the Compelled resist which hath been the cause of many Martyrs But surely all Christians should follow the Example of Christ who was like a meek Lamb not a raging Lyon neither did Christ command his Apostles to Persecute but to suffer Persecution patiently Wherefore Liberty of Conscience may be allowed conditionally it be no ways a prejudice to the Peaceable Government of the State or Kingdom The Second Part. CHAP. I. Whether it is possible there could be Worlds consisting only of the Rational Parts and others only of the Sensitive Parts THE Parts of my Mind did argue amongst themselves Whether there might not be several kinds and sorts of Worlds in Infinite Nature And they all agreed That probably there might be several kinds and sorts of Worlds But afterwards the Opinion of the Major parts of my Mind was That it is not possible for though the Rational parts of Nature move free without Burdens of the Inanimate Parts yet being Parts of the same Body viz. of the Body of Nature they could not be divided from the Sensitive and Inanimate Parts nor the Sensitive and Inanimate Parts from the Rational The Opinion of the Minor Parts of my Mind was That a Composed World of either degree was not a division from the Infinite Body of Nature though they might divide so much as to compose a World meerly of their own Degree The Major's Opinion was That it was impossible because the three Degrees Rational Sensitive and Inanimate were naturally joyned as one Body or Part. The Minor's Opinion was That a World might be naturally composed only of Rational Parts as a Human Mind is only composed of Rational Parts or as the Rational Parts of a Human Creature could compose themselves into several Forms viz. into several sorts and kinds of Worlds without the assistance of the Sensitive or the Inanimate Parts for they
all the Parts of the Happy World being Regular they could not obstruct each other's Designs or Actions which might be a cause that both the Sensitive and Rational Parts may not only make their Societies more curious and their Perceptions more perfect but their Perceptions more subtile for all the actions of that VVorld being Regular must needs be exact and perfect in so much that every Creature is a perfect Object to each other and so every Creature must have in some sort a perfect Knowledg of each other CHAP. XI Of Human Creatures in the Regular World THE Opinion of my Mind was That the Happy World having no Irregularities all Creatures must needs be Excellent and most Perfect according to their Kind and Sort amongst which are Human Creatures whose Kinds or Sorts being of the Best must be more excellent than the rest being Exactly formed and Beautifully produced there being also no Irregularities Human Creatures cannot be subject to Pains Sickness Aversions or the like or to Trepidations or Troubles neither can their Appetites or Passions be irregular wherefore their Understanding is more clear their Judgments more poysed and by reason their Food is Pure it must be Delicious as being most tastable also it must be wholsome and nourishing which occasions the Parts of Body and Mind to be more Lively and Pleasant CHAP. XII Of the Happiness of Human Creatures in the Material World THE Happiness that Human Creatures have in the Regular World is That they are free from any kind or sort of Disturbance by reason there are no Irregular Actions and so no Pride Ambition Faction Malice Envy Suspition Jealousie Spight Anger Covetousness Hatred or the like all which are Irregular Actions among the Rational Parts which occasions Treachery Slander false Accusations Quarrels Divisions Warr and Destruction which proceeds from the Irregularities of the Sensitive Parts occasioned by the Rational by reason the Sense executes the Mind's Designs but there are no Plots or Intrigues neither in their State nor upon their Stage because though they may act the parts of Harmless Pleasures yet not of Deceitful Designs for all Human Creatures live in the Regular World so united that all the particular Human Societies which are particular Human Creatures live as if they were but one Soul and Body that is as if they were but one Part or particular Creature As for their pleasures and pleasant Pastimes in my opinion they are such as not any Creature can express unless they were of that World or Heaven for all kinds and sorts of Creatures and all their Properties or Associations in this World we are of are mixt as partly Irregular and partly Regular and so it is but a Purgatory-World But surely all Human Creatures of that World are so pleasant and delightful to each other as to cause a general Happiness The Fourth Part. CHAP. I. Of the Irregular World AFTER the Arguments and Opinions amongst the Parts of my Mind concerning a Regular World their Discourse was of an Irregular World Upon which they all agreed That if there was a World that was not in any kind or sort Irregular there must be a World that was not in any kind or sort Regular But to conceive those Irregularities that are in the Irregular World is impossible much less to express them for it is more difficult to express Irregularities than Regularities and what Human Creature of this World can express a particular Confusion much less a World of Confusions Which I will however endeavour to declare according to the Philosophical Opinions of the Parts of my Mind CHAP. II. Of the Productions and Dissolutions of the Creatures of the Irregular World ACcording to the Actions of Nature all Creatures are produced by the Associations of Parts into particular Societies which we name Particular Creatures but the Productions of the Parts of the Irregular World are so Irregular that all Creatures of that World are Monstrous neither can there be any orderly or distinct kinds and sorts by reason that Order and Distinction are Regularities Wherefore every particular Creature of that World hath a monstrous and different Form insomuch that all the several Particulars are affrighted at the Perception of each other yet being Parts of Nature they must associate but their Associations are after a confused and perturbed manner much after the manner of Whirlwinds or AEtherial Globes wherein can neither be Order nor Method and after the same manner as they are produced so are they dissolved so that their Births and Deaths are Storms and their Lives are Torments CHAP. III. Of Animals and of Humans in the Irregular World IT has been declared in the former Chapter That there was not any perfect Kind or Sort of Creatures in the Irregular World for though there be such Creatures as we name Animals and amongst Animals Humans yet they are so Monstrous that being of confused Shapes or Forms none of those Animal Creatures can be said to be of such or such a sort because they are of different disordered Forms Also they cannot be said to be of a perfect Animal-kind or any Kind by reason of the variety of their Forms for those that are of the nature of Animals especially of Humans are the most miserable and unhappy of all the Creatures of that World and the Misery is That Death doth not help them for Nature being a perpetual Motion there is no rest either alive or dead In this World it 's true some Societies viz. some Creatures may sometimes after their Dissolutions be united into more Happy Societies or Forms which in the Irregular World is impossible because all Forms Creatures or Societies are miserable so that after dissolution those dispersed Parts cannot joyn to any other Society but what is as bad as the former and so those Creatures may dissolve out of one Misery and unite into another but cannot be released from Misery CHAP. IV. Of Objects and Perceptions THE Opinions amongst the Parts of my Mind were That in the Unhappy or Miserable World all the actions of that World being irrregular it must needs be that all sorts of Perceptions of that World must also be irregular not only because the Objects are all irregular but the perceptive actions are so too in such manner that what with the irregularity of the Objects and the irregularity of the Perceptions it must of necessity cause a horrid confusion both of the Sensitive and Rational Parts of all Creatures of that World in so much that not only several Creatures may appear as several Devils to each other but one and the same Creature may appear both to the Sense and Reason like several Devils at several times CHAP. V. The Description of the Globe of the Irregular World THE Opinion of my Mind was That the Globe of the Irregular World was so irregular that it was a Horrid World for though being a World it might be somewhat like other Worlds both Globous and a Society of it self by its
occasion those Parts to place themselves into their proper Order and Form VI. AFter the former Discourse some of the Parts of my Mind were sad to think that those that had been embowelled were made incapable of ever being restored and that it was a greater cruelty to murder a dead man and to rob him of his Interior Parts than to murder a living man and yet suffer his whole Body to lye peaceably in the Urn or Grave But the other Parts endeavouring to comfort those sad Parts made this Argument viz. Whether it might not probably be that the Bones or Carcase of a Human Creature were the Root of Human Life and if so then if all the Parts were dissolved and none were left undissolved but the bare Carcase they might be restored to life The sad Part 's Opinion was That it was impossible they could be restored by reason the Roots of Human Life were those we name the Vital Parts and those being divided from the Carcase and dispersed and united unto other Societies could not meet and joyn into their former state of Life or Society so as to be the same Man The Comforting Parts were of opinion It was not probable that the Fleshy and Spungy Parts being the Branches of Human Life could also be the Roots Wherefore in all probability the Bones were the Roots and the Bones being the Roots if the bare Carcase of a Man should be put into a Restoring Bed all the Fleshy and Spungy Parts both those that were the Exterior and those that were Interior would spring and encrease to their full Maturity The sad Part 's Opinion was That if the Bones were the Roots and that from the Roots all the Exterior and Interior Parts belonging to a Human Creature should spring and so encrease to full Maturity yet those Branches would not be the same they were viz. the same Parts of the same Man and besides those Branches would rather be new Productions than Restorations The Comforting Part 's Opinion was That though the Branches were new the Carcase as the Root being the same the Man would be the same for though the Spungy and Fleshy Parts divide and unite from Home and to Forrein Parts yet the Man is the same and to prove that the Bony Parts are the Roots of Human Life doth it not happen That if the Flesh be cut from the Bone and the Bone be left bare yet in time the bone produces new flesh but if any bone be separated from the Body that Bone cannot be restored nor can a new bone spring forth nor can the divided bone be joyned or knit to the body as it was before for although a broken bone may be set yet a divided bone cannot be rejoyned All which Arguments were a sufficient proof That the Bones were the Roots of Life The Sad Part 's Argument was That it was well known that if any of the Vital Parts of a Human Creature as the Liver Lungs Heart Kidneys and the like were decayed pierced or wounded the Human Creature dyed by reason those Parts are incurable The Comforting Parts were of opinion That there were many less Causes which did often occasion Human Death yet those Causes were not the Roots of Life nor were those Parts the Roots of Life although those Parts which we name Vital were the chief Branches of Human Life But at last they all agreed in this opinion That the Bones were the Roots the Marrow the Sapp and the Vitals the chief branches of Life Also they agreed That when an Human Life was restored the bones did first fill with some Oylie Juyces and from the bones and the sap or juyce of the bones did all the Parts belonging to a Human Creature spring forth and grow up to Maturity and certainly Not to disturb the Bones of the dead was a Holy and Religious Charge to Human Creatures VII AFter the pacifying the Sad Parts of my Mind their Argument was That supposing Creatures could be restored whether they should be restored as when they were first produced or as when they were at the perfection of their Age or as when they were at old Age But after many Disputes they all agreed That those that should be restored should be restored to that degree of Age and Strength which is the most perfect and as all Productions arrived towards Perfection by degrees so those that were restored should return to Perfection by degrees if they were past the perfect time of their age and those that were not arrived to their Perfection before they dyed should arrive to it however as those that had it so that both Youth and Age shall meet in Perfection for as the one encreases as it were forward so the other return to their Strength and Perfection of their past Age. VIII AFter the former Opinions the Parts of my Mind were somewhat puzled in their Arguments concerning the degrees of the Restoring Times as Whether Restoration was done by a General Act or by Degrees The most Doubting Part 's Opinion was That it was not natural to Restore although it was natural to Produce and that all Natural Productions were by degrees but for Restorations being not Natural Productions they could not be done by degrees and therefore the Action of Restoration was but as one Action although of many Parts The Believing Parts of my Mind were of opinion That all Nature's Actions being by degrees all Restorations were also by degrees The Doubting Part 's Opinion was That there were some actions that had no degrees for One action might signifie a Thousand The other Part 's Opinion was That a Thousand actions or degrees were in the figure of One. The Doubting Parts were of opinion That it was impossible But at last they agreed That the Restoring actions were by degrees IX THE Parts of my Mind were divided into Minor and Major Parts about the Time or Degrees of Restoration of Human Creatures The Minor's Opinion was That the Restoring actions of Nature were so much quicker than the Producing actions that a Human Creature might be restored in a Months time whereas the production of a Human Creature was in ten Months for though a Human Creature may Quicken at Three Months time yet it was not fully Ripe for Birth before the time of Ten Months The Major Part 's Opinion was That Restoration was according as the Creature was Dissolved for a Man that was newly dead or not so long dead that his Parts were not yet divided that Man might be restored to Life in an Hour's time or less but if all the Parts excepting the bare Carcase were dissolved there would require as long a time in Restoring as in Producing The Minor's Opinion was That the Restoring-time was no longer than the time of Quickning The Major Part 's Opinion was That though the Exterior Form or Frame of a Child might be before the Quickning yet it was not a perfect Animal until it was Quick and although it might be a
the Body and to perswade the Irregular Parts As for Poysons they are like Forrein Warr that endeavours to destroy a Peaceable Government CHAP. XXIV Of the different Actions of the several Sensitive Parts of a Human Creature SOme Parts of a Human Creature will be Regular and some Irregular as some of the Sensitive Parts will be Regular and some Irregular that is some Parts will be Painful or Sick others well some Parts will make false Perceptions others true Perceptions some Parts be Temperate others Intemperate some Parts be Madd other Parts Sober some Parts be Wise others Foolish and the same is to be said of the Rational Motions But in a Regular Society every Part and Particle of the Body is Regularly agreeable and Sympathetical CHAP. XXV Of the Antipathy of some Human Creatures to some Forrein Objects AS I have often said There is often both Sympathy and Antipathy between the Parts of some particular Human and Forrein Objects in so much that some will occasion such a general Disturbance as will cause a general Alteration viz. cause a Man to swound or at least to be very faint or sick as for example Some will Swound at some sorts of Sounds some sorts of Scents some sorts of Tast some sorts of Touches and some sorts of Sights Again on the other side some Human Creatures will so sympathize with some sorts of Forrein Objects as some will Long for that another will Swound to have CHAP. XXVI Of the Effects of Forrein Objects on the Human Mind AS there is often Antipathy of the Parts of a Human Creature to Forrein Objects so there are often Sympathetical Effects produced from Forrein Objects with the Parts of a Human Creature As for example A timely kind and discreet Discourse from a Friend will compose or quiet his troubled Mind Likewise an untimely unkind hasty malicious false or sudden Discourse will often disorder a well-temper'd or Regular Mind the Mind imitating the smooth or harsh strains of the Object and the same Effects hath Musick on the Minds of many Human Creatures CHAP. XXVII Of CONTEMPLATION HUman Contemplation is a Conversation amongst some of the Rational Parts of the Human Mind which Parts not regarding present Objects move either in devout Notions or vain Fancies Remembrances Inventions Contrivancies Designs or the like But the question is Whether the Sensitive Parts of a Human Society do at any time Contemplate I answer That some of the Sensitive Parts are so sociable that they are for the most part agreeable to the Rational for in deep Contemplations some of the Sensitive Parts do not take notice of Forrein Objects but of the Rational Actions Also if the Contemplations be in devout Notions the Sensitive Parts express Devotion by their Actions as I have formerly mentioned Also when the Rational Parts move in Actions of Desire straight the Sensitive move in Sympathetical Appetites Wherefore if the Society be Regular the Sensitive and Rational Parts are agreeable and sociable CHAP. XXVIII Of Injecting of the Blood of one Animal into the Veins of another Animal TO put Blood of one Animal into another Animal as for example Some Ounces of Blood taken by some Art out of a Dogg's Veins and by some Art put into a Man's Veins may very easily be done by Injection and certainly may as readily convert it self to the Nature of Human Blood as Roots Herbs Fruit and the like Food and probably will more aptly be transformed into Human Flesh than Hogg's Blood mixt with many Ingredients and then put into Gutts and boyled an ordinary Food amongst Country People but Blood being a loose Humourish Part may encrease or diminish as the other Humors viz. Flegm Choler and Melancholy are apt to do But this is to be observed That by reason Blood is the most flowing Humor and of much more or greater quantity than all the rest of the Humours it is apt if Regular to cause not only more frequent but a more general Disturbance The Eleventh Part. CHAP. I. Of the different Knowledges in different Kinds and Sorts of Creatures IF there be not Infinite Kinds yet it is probable there are Infinite several Sorts at least Infinite particular Creatures in every particular Kind and Sort and the Corporeal Motions moving after a different manner is the cause there are different Knowledges in different Creatures yet none can be said to be least knowing or most knowing for there is in my opinion no such thing as least and most in Nature for several kinds and sorts of Knowledges make not Knowledg to be more or less but only they are different Knowledges proper to their kind as Animal-kind Vegetable-kind Mineral-kind Elemental-kind and are also different Knowledges in several sorts As for example Man may have a different Knowledg from Beasts Birds Fish Flies Worms or the like and yet be no wiser than those sorts of Animal-kinds The same happens between the several Knowledges of Vegetables Minerals and Elements but because one Creature doth not know what another Creature knows thence arises the Opinion of Insensibility and Irrationability that some Creatures have of others But there is to be noted That Nature is so Regular or wise in her Actions that the Species and Knowledg of every particular Kind is kept in an Even or Equal Balance For example The Death or Birth of Animals doth neither add or diminish from or to the Knowledg of the Kind or rather the Sort. Also an Animal can have no Knowledg but such as is proper to the species of his Figure but if there be a Creature of a mixt Species or Figure then their Knowledg is according to their mixt Form for the Corporeal Motions of every Creature move according to the Form Frame or Species of their Society but there is not only different Knowledges in different Kinds and Sorts of Creatures but there are different Knowledges in the different Parts of one and the same as the different Senses of Seeing Hearing Smelling Tasting and Touching have not only different Knowledges in different Sensitive Organs but in one Sense they have several Perceptive Knowledges and though the different Sensitive Organs of a Human Creature are ignorant of each other yet each Sense is as knowing as another The same no question is amongst all the Creatures in Nature CHAP. II. Of the Variety of Self-actions in particular Creatures THere are numerous Varieties of Figurative Motions in some Creatures and in others very few in comparison but the occasion of that is the manner of the Frame and Form of a Creature for some Creatures that are but small have much more variety of Figurative Motions than others that are very bigg and large Creatures so that it is not only the Quantity of Matter or Number of Parts but the several Changes of Motion by the Variety of their Active Parts that is the cause of it for Nature is not only an Infinite Body but being Self-moving causes Infinite Variety by the altered Actions of her
Parts every altered Action causing both an altered Self-knowledg and an altered Perceptive Knowledg CHAP. III. Of the Variety of Corporeal Motion of one and the same sort or kind of Motion THere is Infinite Variety of Motion of the same sorts and kinds of Motions as for example Of Dilatations or Extensions Expulsions Attractions Contractions Retentions Digestions Respirations There is also Varieties of Densities Rarities Gravities Levities Measures Sizes Agilness Slowness Strength Weakness Times Seasons Growths Decays Lives Deaths Conceptions Perceptions Passions Appetites Sympathies Antipathies and Millions the like kinds or sorts CHAP. IV. Of the Variety of particular Creatures NAture is so delighted with Variety that seldom two Creatures although of the same sort nay from the same Producers are just alike and yet Human Perception cannot perceive above four kinds of Creatures viz. Animals Vegetables Minerals and Elements but the several sorts seem to be very numerous and the Varieties of the several Particulars Infinite but Nature is necessitated to divide her Creatures into Kinds and Sorts to keep Order and Method for there may be numerous Varieties of sorts as for example Many several Worlds and infinite Varieties of Particulars in those Worlds for Worlds may differ from each other as much as several sorts of Animals Vegetables Minerals or Elements and yet be all of that sort we name Worlds but as for the Infinite Varieties of Nature we may say That every Part of Nature is Infinite in some sort because every Part of Nature is a perpetual Motion and makes Infinite Varieties by change or alteration of Action but there is so much Variety of the several Shapes Figures Forms and Sizes as Bigger and Less as also several sorts of Heats Colds Droughts Moistures Fires Airs Waters Earths Animals Vegetables and Minerals as are not to be expressed CHAP. V. Of Dividing and Rejoyning or Altering Exterior Figurative Motions THE Interior and Exterior Figurative Motions of some sorts of Creatures are so united by their Sympathetical Actions as they cannot be separated without a Total Dissolution and some cannot be altered without a Dissolution and other Figurative Motions may separate and unite again and others if separate cannot unite again as they were before As for example The Exterior Parts of a Human Creature if once divided cannot be rejoyned when as some sorts of Worms may be divided and if those divided Parts meet can rejoyn as before Also some Figurative Motions of different sorts and so different that they are opposite may unite in agreement in one Composition or Creature yet when the very same sorts of Figurative Motions are not so united they are as it were deadly Enemies CHAP. VI. Of Different Figurative Motions in particular Creatures THere are many Creatures that are composed of very opposite Figurative Motions as for example Some Parts of Fire and Water also all Cordials Vitriols and the like Waters also Iron and Stone and Infinite the like But that which is composed of the most different Figurative Motions is Quick-silver which is exteriorly Cold Soft Fluid Agil and Heavy also Divisible and Rejoynable and yet so Retentive of its Innate Nature that although it can be rarified yet not easily dissolved at least not that Human Creatures can perceive for it hath puzled the best Chymists CHAP. VII Of the Alterations of Exterior and Innate Figurative Motions of several sorts of Creatures THE Form of several Creatures is after several manners and ways which causes several Natures or Properties As for example The Exterior and Innate Corporeal Motions of some Creatures depend so much on each other That the least Alteration of the one causes a Dissolution of the whole Creature whereas the Exterior Corporeal Motions of other sorts of Creatures can change and rechange their actions without the least disturbance to the Innate Figurative Motions In other sorts the Innate Motions shall be quite altered but their Exterior Motions be in some manner consistent As for proof Fire is of that Nature that both the Exterior and Innate Motions are of one and the same sort so that the Alteration of the one causeth a Dissolution of the other that is Fire loses the Property of Fire and is altered from being Fire On the other side the Exterior Figurative Motions of Water can change and rechange without any disturbance to the Innate Nature but though the Alteration of the Innate Figurative Motions of all Creatures must of necessity alter the Life and Knowledg of that Creature yet there may be such consistent Motions amongst the Exterior Parts of some sorts of Creatures that they will keep their Exterior Form As for example A Tree that is cut down or into pieces when those pieces are withered and as we say dead yet they remain of the Figure of Wood. Also a dead Beast doth not alter the Figure of Flesh or Bones presently Also a dead Man doth not presently dissolve from the Figure of Man and some by the Art of embalming will occasion the remaining Figurative Motions of the dead Man to continue so that those sorts of Motions that are the Frame and Form are not quite altered but yet those Exterior Forms are so altered that they are not such as those by which we name a Living Man The same of Flyes or the like intomb'd in Amber but by this we may perceive That the Innate Figurative Motions may be quite altered and yet the Exterior Figurative consistent Motions do in some manner keep in the Figure Form or Frame of their Society The truth is in my opinion That all the Parts that remain undissolved have quite altered their Animal actions but only the Consistent actions of the Form of their Society remains so as to have a resemblance of their Frame or Form CHAP. VIII Of LOCAL MOTION ALL Corporeal Motion is Local but only they are different Local Motions and some sorts or kinds have advantage of others and some have power over others as in a manner to inforce them to alter their Figurative motions as for example When one Creature doth destroy another those that are the Destroyers occasion those that we name the Destroyed to dissolve their Unity and to alter their actions for they cannot annihilate their actions nor can they give or take away the Power of Self-motions but as I said some Corporeal motions can occasion other Corporeal motions to move so or so But this is to be noted That several sorts of Creatures have a mixture of several sorts of Figurative motions as for example There are Flying Fish and Swimming Beasts also there are some Creatures that are partly Beasts and partly Fish as Otters and many others also a Mule is partly a Horse and an Ass a Batt is partly a Mouse and a Bird an Owle is partly a Cat and a Bird and numerous other Creatures there are that are partly of one sort and partly of another CHAP. IX Of several manners or ways of Advantages or Disadvantages NOT only the Manner Form Frame