Disseminate Inanity neither important nor câ—mpetent ibid. 9 The Hypâ—theâ—is of a câ—rtâ—in Aethereal substance to replenish thâ— porâ—s â—f Boâ—ies in Raâ—ifaction demonstrated insufficient to solve the Difficulty or demolish the Epâ—cuâ—ean Thâ—sis of small Vacuities 254 10 The Facility of understanding the Reasons and Manner of 〈◊〉 and Condensation from the Concâ—ssion of sâ—all Vacuities illustrated by a 〈…〉 255 11 PARADOX Thaâ— the Matter of a Body when 〈…〉 no more of true Place 〈…〉 and the Coâ—câ—liaâ—ion thereof to the 〈◊〉 Definitions of a Rare and of a Denâ—e Boâ—y 2â—6 12 PROBLEM 〈…〉 be capable of Condensation to so hiâ—g 〈◊〉 as it is of Rariâ—faction and the 〈◊〉 â—olution therof ibid. SECT III. ART C. 1 THe opportunity of the present speculation concerning the Câ—uses of Perâ—picuity and Opacity â—â—8 2 The true Notions of a Perâ—picuum and Opacum ibid. 3 That every Concretion is so much the more 〈◊〉 by how much thâ— more and more ample Inane Spaces 〈◊〉 inâ—â—rcepted among its particles caeteus paâ—â—bus ibid. 4 Why Glass though much more Dense is yet much more Diaphanous than Paper 259 5 Why â—he Diaphanity of Glass is gradually diminished according to the various degrees of its Crassitude ibid. 6 An Apodictical Confutation of that popular Error that Glass is totally or in every particle Diaphanous 260 CHAP. X. Of Magnitude Figure And their Consequents Subtility Hebetude Smoothness Asperity 261 SECT I. ARTIC 1 THe Contexture of this Chapter with the praecedent ibid. 2 That the Magnitude of Concretions ariseth from the Magnitude of their Material Principles ibid. 3 The praesent intentiâ—n of the term Magnitude ibid. 4 That the â—uantity of a thing is meerly the Matter of it 2â—2 5 The Quantity of a thing neither Augmented by its Rarefaction nor diminished by its Condensation contrary to the Aristotelians who distinguish the Qâ—antity of a Body from its Substaâ—ce ibid. 6 The reason of Quantity explicable also meerly from the notion of Place 263 7 The Existence of a Body without real Extension and of Extension without a Body though impossible to Nature yet easie to God ibid. 8 COROLLARY That the primary Cause why Nature admits no Penetration of Dimensiâ—ns is rather the Solidity than the Extension of a Body 264 9 The reasons of Quantity Continued and Dâ—screte or Magnitude and Multitude ibid. 10 That no Body is perfectly Continued beside an Atom ibid. 11 Aristotles Dâ—finition of a Continuum in what respect true and what false 265 12 Figure Physicalâ—y considered nothing but the superficies or terminant Extremes of a Body ibid. SECT II. ARTIC 1 THe Continuity of this to the first Section 266 2 Subtility and Hebetude how the Consequents of Magnitude ibid. 3 A considerable Exception of the Chymests viz. that some Bodies are dissolved in liquors of grosser particles which yet conserve their Continuity in liquors of most subtile and corrosive particles prevented ibid. 4 Why Oyle dissociates the parts of some Bodies which remain inviolate in Spirit of Wine and why Lightning is more penetrative than Fire 267 5 Smoothness and Asperity in Concretions the Consequents of Figure in their Material Principles ibid. CHAP. XI Of the Motive Vertue Habit Gravity and Levity of Concretions â—69 SECT I. ARTIC 1 THe Motive Virtue of all Concretions derived from the essential Mobility of Atoms ibid. 2 Why the Motive Virtue of Concretions doth reside principally in their spiritual Parts 270 3 That the Deviation of Concretions from motion Direct and their Tardity in motion arise from the Deflections and â—epercussions of Atoms composing them ibid. 4 Why the motion of all Concretions necessarily praessâ—pâ—ssâ—th something that remains unmoved or that in respect of its slower motion is equivalâ—nt â—o a thing Vnmoved ibid. 5 What 〈◊〉 Aâ—tive Faculty of a thing is 271 6 That in Nature every Faculty is Active none Passive ibid. 7 A Peripatetick Contradiction assuming the Matter of alâ— Bodies to be devoid of all Activity and yet dâ—suming some Faculties à tota substantia 272 8 That the â—aculties of Animals the Ratiocination of man onely excepted are Identical with their spirits ibid. 9 The Reasons of the Coexistence of Various Faculties in one and the same Concretion ibid. 10 Habit defiâ—ed 273 11 That the Reason of all Habits in Animals consisteth principally in the conformity and flexibility of the Organs which the respective Faculty makes use of for the performance of its proper Actions ibid. 12 Habits acquirable by Bruits and common not onely to Vegetables but also to some Minerals 2â—4 SECT II. ARTIC 1 GRavity as to its Essence or Formal Reason very obscure 275 2 The opinion of Epicurus good as to the Cause of Comparative insufficient as to the â—ause of Absolute Gravity ibid. 3 Aristotles opinion of Gravity recited ibid. 4 Copernicus theory of Gravity insatisfactory and wherein 276 5 The Determination of Kepler Gassendus c. that Gravity is Caused meâ—rly by the Attraction of the Earth espoused by the Author 277 6 The External Principle of the perpendicular Descent of a stone projected up in the Aer must be either Depellent or Attrahent ibid. 7 That the Resistence of the Superior Aer is the onely Cause which gradually refracteth and in fine wholly overcometh the Imâ—rest Force whereby a stone projected is elevated upward ibid. 8 That the Aer distracted by a stone violently ascending hath as well a Depulsive as a Resistent Faculty arising immediately from its Elaterical or Restorative motion 279 9 That nevertheless when a stone projected on high in the Aer is at the highest point of its mountee no Cauâ—e can Begâ—â— its Downward Motion but the Attractive Virtue of the Earth 280 10 Argument that the Tâ—râ—aqueous Globe is endowed with a certain Attractive Faculty in order to the Dâ—tention and Retraction of aâ—l its Parts 2â—1 11 What are the Parts of the TerrestrialGlobe 282 12 A Second Argument that the Earth is Magnetical ibid. 13 A Parallelism betwixt the Attraction of Iron by a Loadstone and the Attraction of Terrene bodies by the Eaâ—th 283 14 That as the sphere of the Loadstones Allective Virtue is limited so is that of the Eartâ—s magnetism ibid. 15 An Objection of the Disproportion between the great Bulk of a large stone and the Exility of the supposed magnetique Rays of the Earth Solved by three weighty Reasons 284 16 The Reason of the Aequivelocity of Bodies oâ— different weights in their perpendicular Descent with sundry unquestionable Authorities to confirm the Hoti thereof â—85 17 That the whole Terrestrial Globe is devoid of Gravity and that in the universe is no Highest nor Lowest place 2â—6 18 That the Centre of the Vniverse is not the Lowest part thereof nor the Centre of the Earth the Centre of the World 287 19 A Fourth Argument that Gravity is onely Attraction 289 20 Why a greater Gravity or stronger Attractive force is imprest upon a piece of Iron by a Loadstone than by the Earth ibid. 21 A Fifth Argument
〈◊〉 Experiments some whereof are recited by the Lord St. Alban in â—â—lva sylvarum Cent. 1. But this one will serve the turne When an Oyster or Tortois shell is let fall from a sufficient altitude upon a stone 〈◊〉 is usually shattered into many peices and that for no other Reason but this that the lower side whether Convex or Concave being vehemently impinged against the stone the particles thereof immediately knockt by the stone as vehemently give back and in their quick Retrocession impell the particles situate immediately above them whereupon those impelled particles with the same violence impell others next in order above them until the percussion being propagated from part to part successively quite home to the upper superfice it comes to pass that each percussed part giving back the whole shell is shattered into small Fragments All which may seem but a genuine Paraphrase upon the Text of Mersennus Harmonicor lib 2. propos 43. Duritiei verò proprietas appellatur Rigiditas quae fit ab Atomis ita sibi invicem cohaerentibus ut Deflexionem impediant quod contingit in Corporibus quae constant Atomis Cubicis octuedris tetruedis ex quibus resultat perfecta superficiecularum inter se cohaesio hinc â—it ut Rigida Corpora Fructilia sint non autem Sectilia ictu impacto tota in frusta dissiliant Qui adum praedictae superficiunculae se invicem premunt quae sunt ex una parte dimoventur ab iis quae ex alia adeo ut unico impetu externo Corpori impresso Contusio sentiatur per totum partium eodem momento fit separatio There yet remains a Quality which is the Ofspring neither of Softness alone nor Hardness alone but ought to be referred partly to the one partly to the other and that is RUPTILITY For not only such Bodies as challenge the Attribute of Softness are subject to Ruption when they are distressed beyond the tenour of their Contexture either by too much Inflexion as a Bow over bent or too much Distention as Leather or Parchment over strained or too much Malleation as a plate of Lead Iron or other Metal over hammerd but such also as claim the title of Hardness and that in an eminent proportion as Marble for a Pillar of Marble if long and slender and laid transversly or horizontally so as to rest only upon its two extrems is easily broken asunder by its own Weight For as Soft bodies when rackt or deduced beyond the râ—te of mutual Cohaerence among their parts must yeeld to the External Force which distresâ—eth them and so suffer total discontinuity so Hard ones when the Internal Force or their owne Weight is too great to be resisted by their Compactness as in the example of a long Marble Pillar not supported in the middle then must they likewise yeeld to that superior force and break asunder And here the Archer and Musician put in for a Solution of that PROBLEM which so frequently troubles them viz. Cur Chordae faciliâ—â—s circa Exâ—rema quam circa Medium frangantur cum vi vel pondere sive horizontaliter sive verticaliter trahuntur Why Bowstrings Lutestrings and other Chords though of uniforme Contexture throughout and equally distended in all parts do yet usually break asunder not in the middle or neer it but at one End where they are fastned The Cause certainly must be this that the Weight or drawing force doth alwayes first act upon the parts of the string which are neerest to it and successively upon those which are farthest off i. e. in the Middle so that the string suffering the greatest stress neer the Extrems is more subject to break there than in any other part Wherefore whenever a Bowstring breaks in or neer the middle it may safely be concluded that the string was weakest in that place To which we may add this also that Experienced Archers to praevent the frequent breaking of their strings and the danger of breaking the Bow thereby injoyn their String-makers to add a Link of Flax or Twist more at the Ends of each string than in any other parts of it and that they call the Forcing because Experience hath taught them that the Force of the Bow is most violently discharged upon those parts of the string which are neerest to the Horns CHAP. XV. OCCULT QUALITIES made MANIFEST SECT I. HAving thus long entertained it self with the most probable Reasons of the several wayes and means whereby Compound Bodies exhibite their several Attributes and Proprieties to the judicature of the Sensitive Faculties in Animals and principally in Man the Rule Perfection and grand Exemplar of all the rest t is high time for our Curiosity to turn a new leaf and sedulously address it self to the speculation of Another Order or Classis of Qualities such as are vulgarly distinguished from all those which have hitherto been the subject of our Disquisitions by the unhappy and discouraging Epithite OCCULT Wherein we use the scarce perfect Dialect of the Schools who too boldly praesuming that all those Qualities of Concretions which belong to the jurisdiction of the senses are dependent upon Known Causes and deprehended by Known Faculties have therefore termed them Manifest and as incircumspectly concluding that all those Proprieties of Bodies which fall not under the Cognizance of either of the Senses are derived from obscure and undiscoverable Causes and perceived by Unknown Faculties have accordingly determined them to be Immanifest or Occult. Not that we dare be guilty of such unpardonable Vanity and Arrogance as not most willingly to confess that to Ourselves all the Operations of Nature are meer Secrets that in all her ample catalogue of Qualities we have not met with so much as one which is not really Immanifest and Abstruse when we convert our thoughts either upon its Genuine and Proxime Causes or upon the Reason and Manner of its perception by that Sense whose proper Object it is and consequently that as the Sensibility of a thing doth noe way praesuppose its Intelligibility but that many things which are most obvious and open to the Sense as to their Effects may yet be remote and in the dark to the Understanding as to their Causes so on the Contrary doth not the Insensibility of a thing necessitate nay nor aggravate the Unintelligibility thereof but that many things which are above the sphere of the Senses may yet be as much within the reach of our Reason as the most sensible whatever Which being praecogitated as when we look back upon our praecedent Discourses touching the Originals and Perception of Sensible Qualities we have just ground to fear that they have not attained the happy shoar of verity but remain upon the wide and fluctuating ocean of meer Verisimility So also when we look forward upon our immediately subsequent Disquisitions into the Causes of many Insensible Qualities are we not destitute of good reason to hope that though we herein attempt the consignation of
Instance in the Visible species of the Foot of a Handworm ibid. 14 By exemplifying in the numerous round Films of Wax successively derepted from a Wax tapor by the flame thereof in the space of an hour and 142 15 In the innumerable Films of Oyl likewise successively delibrated by the flame of an Ellychnium or Match perpendicularly floating in a vessel of equal capacity with Solomons Brazen Sea in the space of 48 hours ibid. 16 By the Analogy betwixt an Odorable and Visible Species ibid. 17 The Manner and Reason of the Production of visible Images according to the hypothesis of Epicurus 143 18 The Celerity of the Motion of visible Images reasoned and compared to that of the Light of the Sun 144 19 The Translation of a moveable from place to place in an indivisible point of time impossible and why ibid. 20 The Facility of the Abduction or Avolation of Images Visible from solid Concretions solved by the Spontaneous Exsilition of their superficial Atoms and the Sollicitation of Light incident upon them ibid. 21 That Objects do not emit their Visible Images but when Illustrated a Conceit though paradoxical yet not improbable 145 SECT II. ARTIC 1 VIsible Images Systatical described and distinguisht from Apostatical ones 146 2 Their Existence assured by the testimony of Diodorus Siculus and ibid. 3 Damascius together with the Autopsy of Kircher ibid. 4 Kirchers Description of that famous Apparition at Rhegium called Morgana Rheginorum and 147 5 Most ingenious Investigation of the Causes thereof ibid. 6 His admirable Artifice for the exhibition of the like aereal Representation in Imitation of Nature 148 CHAP. III. Concerning the Manner and Reason of VISION p. 149. SECT I. ARTIC 1 THe Reason of Vision according to the opinion of the Stoicks 149 2 Of Aristotle 150 3 Of the Pythagoreans ibid. 4 Of Empedocles ibid. 5 Of Plato ibid. 6 Of Epicurus ibid. 7 Of Mons. Des Chartes 151 8 The ingenuity of Des Chartes Conceit acknowledged but the solidity indubitated 152 9 The Opinion of Epicurus more satisfactory then any other because more Rational and less obnoxious to inexplicable Difficulties ibid. 10 The Two most considerable Difficulties opposed to Epicurus position of the Incursion of Substantial Images into the Eye 153 SECT II. ARTIC 1 THat the superfice of no body is perfectly smooth evicted by solid Reason and Autopsie ibid. 2 That the visible Image doth consist of so many Rays as there are points designable in the whole superfice of the object and that each Ray hath its line of Tendency direct respective to the face of that particle in the superfice from which it is emitted 154 3 That the Density and Union of the Rays composing the visible Image is greater or less according to their less or greater Elongation from the Object ibid. 4 That the Visible Image is neither total in the total medium nor total in every part thereof but so manifold as are the parts of the medium from which the object is discernable Contrary to the Aristoteleans 155 5 PARADOX That no man can see the same particle of an object with both Eys at once nay not with the same Eye if the level of its Visive Axe be changed ibid. 6 CONSECTARY That the Medium is not possessed with one simple Image but by an Aggregate of innumerable Images deradiate from the same object all which notwithstanding constitute but one entire Image 156 7 CONSECTARY 2. That Myriads of different Images emanant from different objects may be Coexistent in the Aer without reciprocal penetration of Dimensions or Confusion of particles contrary to the Peripateticks ibid 8 That the place of the visible Images ultimate Reception and complete Perception is the Concave of the Retina Tunica 157 9 That the Faculty forms a judgement of the Conditions of the Object according to the representation thereof by the Image at its impression on the principal part of Vision the Amphiblestroides ibid. 10 CONSECTARY That the Image is the Cause of the Objects apparence of this or that determinate Magnitude 158 11 CONSECTARY 2 That no Image can replenish the Concave of the Retina Tunica unless it be deradiated from an object of an almost Hemispherical ambite 159 12 Why when the Eye is open there is alwayes pourtrayed in the bottom thereof some one Total Image whose various Parts are the Special Images of the several things included in the visual Hemisphere ibid. 13 PARADOX That the prospect of a shilling or object of a small diametre is as great as the Prospect of the Firmament 160 14 Why an object appears both greater in Dimensions and more Distinct in parts neer at hand than far off ibid. 15 Why an object speculated through a Convex Lens appears both greater and more distinct but through a Concave less and more Confused than when speculated only with the Eye 161 16 DIGRESSION What Figur'd Perspicils are convenient for Old and what for Purblind persons 162 17 That to the Dijudication of one of two objects apparently Equal to be really the Greater is not required a greater Image but only an Opinion of its greater Distance 163 18 Des Cartes Opinion concerning the Reason of the Sights apprehending the Distance of an object 164 19 Vnsatisfactory and that for two considerations ibid. 20 And that more solidone of Gassendus viz. that the Cause of our apprehending the Distance of an object consisteth in the Comparation of the several things interjacent betwixt the object and the Eye by the Rational Faculty embraced and corroborated ibid. 21 PARADOX That the same Object speculated by the same man at the same distance and in the same degree of light doth alwayes appear greater to one Eye than the other 165 22 A second PARADOX That all men see distinctly but with one Eye at once contrary to that eminent Optical Axiom that the Visive Axes of both eyâ— concur and unite in the object 166 23 The three degrees of Vision viz. most perfect perfect and imperfect and the verity of the Paradox restrained onely to the two former Degrees 167 SECT III. ARTIC 1 A Research into the Reason of the different Effects of Convex and Concave Glasses as well Dioptrical as Catoptrical ibid. 2 A COROLLARIE Hinting the Causes why an Elliptical Concave reflects the incident rays in a more Acute angle than a Parabolical and a Parabolical than a Spherical 170 3 A CONSECTARY Why a Plane Perspicil exhibits an object in genuine Dimensions but a Convex in Amplified and a Concave in minorated 171 SECT IV. ARTIC 1 A Recapitulation of the principal Arguments precedent and summary of the subsequent 173 2 The Eye Anatomized and the proper use of each Part thereof either absolutely Necessary or onely Advantagious to Vision concisely demonstrated viz. 1 The Diaphanity of the Horny Membrane and the three Humors Aqueous Chrystalline and Vitreous 2 The Convexity of all its parts except the Amphiblestroides 3 The Uvea Tunica and Iris. 4 The Pupilla 5 The Blackness
of the inside of the Uvea Tunica 6 The Tunica Arachnoides 7 The Ciliary Filaments thereof 8 The Chrystalline 9 The Retina Tunica 10 The six Muscles viz. 1 The Direct as the Atollent Depriment Adducent Abducent 2 And Oblique as the 2 Circumactors or Lovers Muscles 173 to 177 3 Why the Situation of an object is perceived by the sight 177 4 The Reason of the eversion of the Image in the Amphiblestroides 178 5 The same illustrate by an Experiment ibid. 6 Why the Motion and Quiet of objects are discerned by the sight ibid. 7 Why Catoptrical Images imitate the motions of their Antitipes or Originals ibid. 8 Why the right side of a Catoptrical Image respects the Left of its Exemplar And why two Catoptrick Glasses confrontingly posited cause a Restitution of the parts of the Image to the natural Form 180 CHAP. IV. The Nature of Colours p. 182. SECT I. ARTIC 1 THe Argument duly acknowledged to be superlatively Difficult if not absolutely Acataleptical ibid. 2 The sentence of Aristotle concerning the Nature of Colours and the Commentary of Scaliger thereupon 183 3 The opinion of Plato ibid. 4 Of the Pythagorean and Stoick 184 5 Of the Spagyrical Philosophers ibid. 6 The reason of the Authors desertion of all these and election of Democritus and Epicurus judgement touching the Generation of Colours ibid. 7 The Text of Epicurus fully and faithfully expounded 185 SECT II. ARTIC 1 A PARADOX That there are no Colours in the Dark 186 2 A familiar Experiment attesting the Verity thereof ibid. 3 The Constancy of all Artificial Tinctures dependent on the constancy of Disposition in the superficial Particles of the Bodies that wear them 187 4 That so generally magnified Distinction of Colours into Inhaerent and meerly Apparent redargued of manifest Contradiction ibid. 5 The Emphatical or Evanid Colours created by Prisms no less Real and Inhaerent than the most Durable Tinctures 188 6 COROLLARY The Reasons of Emphatical Colours appinged on Bodies objected by a Prism 189 7 The true Difference of Emphatical and Durable Colours briefly stated ibid. 8 No Colour Formally inhaerent in objects but only Materially or Effectively contrary to the constant Tenent of the Schools ibid 9 The same farther vindicated from Difficulty by the tempestive Recognition of some praecedent Assumptions of the Atomists 190 SECT III. ARTIC 1 THe Nativity of White or the reason of its perception by the sight 191 2 Black a meer Privation of Light ibid. 3 The Genealogy of all Intermediate Colors ibid. 4 The Causes of the Sympathy and Antipathy of some Colours 192 5 The intermisâ—ion of small shadows among the lines of Light absolutely necessary to the Generation of any Intermediate Colour ibid. 6 Two eminent PROBLEMS concerning the Generation and Transposition of the Vermillion and Caerule appinged on Bodies by Prismes 193 7 The Solution of the Former with a rational Conjecture of the Cause of the Blew apparent in the Concave of the Heavens 194 8 The Solution of the Latter 195 9 The Reasons why the Author proceeds not to investigate the Causes of Compound Colours in Particular 196 10 He confesseth the Erection of this whole Discourse on simple Conjecture and enumerates the Difficulties to be subdued by him who hopes to attain an Apodictical Knowledge of the Essence and Causes of Colours ibid. 11 Des Cartes attempt to dissolve the chief of those Difficulties unsuccessful because grounded on an unstable Hypothesis 197 CHAP. V. The Nature of Light p. 198. SECT I. ARTIC 1 THe Clasp or Ligament of this to the praecedent Chapter ibid. 2 The Authors Notion of the Rays of Light ibid. 3 A Parallelism betwixt a stream of Water exsilient from the Cock of a Cistern and a Ray of Light emanent from its Lucid Fountain ibid PRAECONSIDERABLES 199 4 Light distinguisht into Primary Secondary c. 199 5 All Light Debilitated by Reflection and why ibid. 6 An Example sensibly demomonstrating the same 200 7 That light is in perpetual Motion according to Aristotle ibid. 8 Light why Corroborated in some cases and Debilitated in others by Refraction 201 COROLLARY Why the Figure of the Sun both rising and setting appears rather Elliptical than Sphaerical ibid. 9 PARADOX That the proportion of Solary Rays reflected by the superior Aer or Aether toward the Earth is so small as not to be sensible 202 10 That every Lucid Body as Lucid doth emit its Rays Sphaerically but as Visible Pyramidally ibid. 11 That Light is invisible in the pure medium 203 SECT II. ARTIC 1 THe necessity of the Authors confirmation of the First Praeconsiderable 204 2 The Corporiety of Light demonstrated by its just Attributes viz. 1 Locomotion 2 Resilition 3 Refraction 4 Coition 5 Disgregation 6 Igniety 224 225 3 Aristotles Definition of Light a meer Ambage and incomprehensible 205 4 TheCorporiety of Light imports not the Coexistence of two Bodies in one Place contrary to the Peripatetick 206 5 Nor the motion of a Body to be Instantaneous ibid. 6 The Invisibility of Light in the limpid medium no Argument of its Immateriality as the Peripatetick praesumes ibid. 7 The Corporiety of Light fully consistent with the Duration of the Sun contrary to the Peripatetick 207 8 The insensibility of Heat in many Lucent Bodies no valid Argument against the praesent Thesis that Light is Flame Attenuated ibid. CHAP. VI. The Nature of a Sound p 208. SECT I. ARTIC 1 AN Elogy of the sense of Hearing and the Relation of this and the praecedent Chapter ibid. 2 The great Affinity betwixt Visible and Audible species in their representation of the superficial Conditions of Objects 209 3 In the Causes and manner of their Destruction ibid. 4 In their Actinobolism or Diffusion both Sphaerical and Pyramidal 210 5 In their certifying the sense of the Magnitude Figure and other Qualities of their Originals ibid. 6 In the obscuration of Less by Greater 211 7 In their offence of the organs when excessive ibid. 8 In their production of Heat by Multiplication ibid. 9 In their Variability according to the various disposition of the Medium ibid. 10 In their chief Attributes of Locomotion Exsilition Impaction Resilition Disgregation Congregation ibid. SECT II. ARTIC 1 THe Product of the Praemises concerning the points of Consâ—nt and Dissent of Audible and Visible Species viz That Sounds are Corporeal 213 2 An obstruction of praejudice from the generally supposed repugnant Authorities of some of the Ancients expeded ibid. 3 An Argument of the Corporiety of Sounds 214 4 A Second Argument ibid. COROLLARY ibid. 5 The Causes of Concurrent Echoes where the Audient is equally almost distant from the Sonant and Repercutient ibid. COROLLARY 2. 215 6 Why Concaves yield the strongest and longest Sounds ibid. COROLLARY 3. ibid 7 The reason of Concurrent Echoes where the Audient is neer the 〈◊〉 and remote from the sonant ibid. COROLLARY 4. ibid. 8 Wâ—y 〈◊〉 Monophon rehearse so much the fâ—â—er syllables by how much neerer the audient is
336 8 The Reasons of the vast Ductility or Extensibility of Gold 337 9 Sectility and Fissility the Consequents of Softness ibid. 10 Tractility and Friability the Consequents of Hardness 338 11 Ruptility the Consequent partly of Softness partly of Hardness 339 12 PROBLEM VVhy Chords distended are more apt to break neer the Ends than in the middle and its SOLVT ibid. CHAP. XV. Occult Qualities made Manifest p. 341 SECT I. ARTIC 1 THat the Insensibility of Qualities doth not import their Unintelligibility contrary to the presumption of the Aristotelean ibid. 2 Vpon what grounds and by whom the Sanctuary of Occult Qualities was erected 342 3 Occult Qualities and profest ignorance all one ibid. 4 The Refuge of Sympathies and Antipathies equally obstructive to the advance of Natural Scienee with that of Ignote Proprieties 343 5 That all Attraction referred to Secret Sympathy and all Repulsion adscribed to secret Antipathy betwixt the Agent and Patient is effected by Corporeal Instruments and such as resemble those whereby one body Attracteth or repelleth another in sensible and mechanique operations ibid. 6 The Means of Attractions sympathetical explicated by a convenient Simile 345 7 The Means of Abaction and Repulsions Antipathetical explicated likewise by sundry similitudes 346 8 The First and General Causes of all Love and Hatred betwixt Animals 347 9 Why things Alike in their natures love and delight in the Society each of other and why Unlike natures abhor and avoid each other ibid SECT II. ARTIC 1 THe Scheme of Qualities reputed occult 348 2 Natures Avoidance of Vacuity imputed to the tyzugia or Conspiration of all parts of the Vniverse no Occult Quality ibid. 3 The power and influence of Caelestial Bodies upon men supposed by Judicial Astrologers inconsistent with Providence Divine and the Liberty of mans will 349 4 The Afflux and Reflux of the Sea inderivative from any immaterial Influx of the Moon ibid. 5 The Causes of the diurnal Expansion conversion of the Heliotrope and other Flowers ibid. 6 Why Garden Claver hideth its stalk in the heat of the day 350 7 Why the House Cock usually Crows soon after midnight and at break of day ibid. 8 Why Shell-fish grow fat in the Full of the moon and lean again at the New 352 9 Why the Selenites resembles the Moon in all her several Adspects ibid. 10 Why the Consideration of the Attraction of Iron by a Loadstone is here omitted 353 11 The secret Amities of Gold and Quicksilver of Brass and Silver unridled ibid. 12 A COROLLARY Why the Granules of Gold and Silver though much more ponderous then those of the Aqua Regis and Aqua â—ortis wherein they are dissolved are yet held up and kept floating by them 354 13 The Cause of the Attraction of a Less Flame by a Greater ibid. 14 The Cause of the Involation of flame to Naphtha at distance ibid. 15 Of the Ascention of Water into the pores of a Spunge 355 16 The same illustrated by the example of a Syphon ibid. 17 The reason of the Percolation of Liquors by a cloth whose one end lieth in the liquor and other hangs over the brim of the vessel that contains it 356 18 The reason of the Consent of two Lute-strings that are Aequison ibid. 19 The reason of the Dissent betwixt Lutestrings of sheeps Guts and those of Woolfs â—57 20 The tradition of the Consuming of all Feathers of Foul by those of the Eagle exploded 358 21 Why some certain Plants befriend and advance the growth and fruitfulness of others that are their neighbours ibid. 22 Why some Plants thrive not in the society of some others 359 23 The Reason of the great friendship betwixt the Male and Female Palm-trees 360 24 Why all wines grow sick and turbid during the season wherein the Vines Flower and Bud. 361 25 That the distilled waters of Orange flowers and Roses do not take any thing of their fragrancy during the season of the Blooming and pride of those Flowers as it vulgarly believed ibid. SECT III. ARTIC 1 WHy this Section considers onely some few select Occult Proprieties among those many imputed to Animals 362 2 The supposed Antipathy of a Sheep to a Woolf solved ibid. 3 Why Bees usually invade Froward and Cholerick Persons and why bold and confident men haue sometimes daunted and put to flight Lyons and other ravenous Wild-Beasts 363 4 Why divers Animals Hate such men as are used to destroy those of their own species and why Vermin avoid such Gins and Traps wherein others of their kinde have been caught and destroyed ibid. 5 The Cause of the fresh Cruentation of the Carcass of a murthered man at the presence and touch of the Homicide 364 6 How the Basilisk doth empoyson and destroy at distance 365 7 That the sight of a Woolf doth not cause Hoarsness and obmutescence in the spectator as is vulgarly reported and believed 366 8 The Antipathies of a Lyon and Cock of an Elephant and Swine meerly Fabulous â—67 9 Why a man intoxicated by the venome of a Tarantula falleth into violent fits of Dancing and cannot be cured by any other means but Musick ibid. 10 Why Divers Tarantiacal Persons are affected and cured with Divers Tunes and the musick of divers Instruments 369 11 That the venome of the Tarantula doth produce the same effect in the body of a man as it doth in that of the Tarantula it self and why ibid. 12 That the Venom of the Tarantula is lodged in a viscous Humor and such as is capable of Sounds 371 13 That it causeth an uncessant Itching and Titillation in the Nervous and Musculous parts of mans body when infused into it and fermenting in it ibid. 14 The cause of the Annual Recidivation of the Tarantism till it be perfectly cured 372 15 A Conjecture what kind of Tunes Strains and Notes seem most accommodate to the cure of Tarantiacal Persons in the General ibid 16 The Reason of the Incantation of Serpents by a rod of the Cornus 373 17 DIGRESSION That the Words Spells Characters c. used by Magicians are of no vertue or Efficacy at all as to the Effect intended unless in a remote interest or as they exalt the Imagination of Him upon whom they praetend to work the miracle ibid. 18 The Reason of the Fascination of Infants by old women 374 19 The Reason of the stupefaction of a mans hand by a Torpedo 375 20 That ships are not Arrested in their course by the Fish called a Remora but by the Contrary impulse of some Special Current in the Sea ibid. 21 That the Echineis or Remora is not Ominous 3â—7 22 Why this place admits not of more than a General Inquest into the Faculties of Poysons and Counterpoisons ibid. 23 Poysons defined ibid. 24 Wherein the Deleterious Faculty of poyson doth consist ibid. 25 Counterpoisons defined 378 26 Wherein their Salutiferous Virtue doth consist ibid. 27 How Triacle cureth the venome of Vipers ibid 28 How the body of a
the Constitution of all sorts of things 434 CHAP. II. Of Motion p. 435. SECT I. ARTIC 1 WHy the Nature of Motion which deserved to have been the subject of the first speculation was reserved to be the Argument of the Last in this Physiology ibid. 2 An Epicurean Principle of fundamental concern to motion 436 3 Aristotles Position that the first Principle of motion is the very Forme of the thing moved absolutely incomprehensible unless the Form of a thing be conceived to be a certain tenuious Contexture of most subtile and most active Atoms ibid. 4 A second Epicurean Fundamental concerning motion and the state of the Difference betwixt Epicurus Aristotle and Plato touching the same 4â—7 5 Epicurus's Definition of motion to be the Remove of a body from place to place much more intelligible and proper than Aristotles that it is the Act of an Entity in power as it is such 438 6 Empericus his Objections against that Definition of Epicurus and the full Solution of each 439 7 That there is motion contrary to the Sophisms of Parmenides Melissus Zeno Diodorus and the Scepticks 441 SECT II. ARTIC 1 ARistotles Definitions of Natural and Violent motion incompetent and more adaequate ones substituted in the room of them 444 2 The same deduced from the First Epicurean Principle of motion praemised and three considerable Conclusions extracted from thence 445 3 A short survey of Aristotles whole theory concerning the Natural motion of Inanimates and the Errors thereof 446 4 Uniformity or Aequability the proper Character of a Natural motion and the want of uniformity of a Violent 447 5 The Downward motion of Inanimates derived from an External Principle contrary to Aristotle 449 6 That that External Principle is the Magnetique Attraction of the Earth 450 7 That the Vpward motion of Light things is not Accelerated in every degree of their Ascent as Aristotle praecariously affirmed but the Downward motion of Heavy things is Accelerated in every degree of their Descent ibid 8 The Cause of that Encrease of Velocity in Bodies descending not the Augmentation of their Specifical Perfection as they approach neerer and neerer to their proper place as Simplicius makes Aristotle to have thought 452 9 Nor the Diminution of the quantity of Aer underneath them as some Others conjectured ibid. 10 Nor the Gradual Diminution of the Force imprest upon them in their projection upward as Hipparchus alleadged 453 11 But the Magnetique Attraction of the Earth ibid. 12 That the Proportion or Ration of Celerity to Celerity encreasing in the descent of Heavy things is not the same as the Proportion or Ration of Space to Space which they pervade contrary to Michael Varro the Mathematician 455 13 But that the moments or Equal degrees of Celerity carry the same proportion as the moments or equal degrees of Time during the motion according to the Illustrious Galilaeo 456 14 Galilaeo's Grounds Experience and Reason 457 15 The same Demonstrated 458 16 The Physical Reason of that Proportion 460 17 The Reason of the Equal Velocity of Bodies of very different weights falling from the same altitude inferred from the same Theory ibid. 18 Gravity Distinguish't into Simple and Adjectitious 461 19 The Rate of that superlative velocity with which a Bullet would be carried in case it should fall from the Moon Sun or region of the Fixed stars to the Earth and from each of those vast heights to the Centre of the Earth 462 SECT III. ARTIC 1 WHat and whence is that Force or Virtue Motive whereby Bodies Projected are carried on after their Dismission from the Projicient 463 2 The Mâ—nner of the Impression of that Force 465 3 That all Mâ—tion in a free or Empty space must be Vniform and Perpetual and that the chief Cause of the Inequality and Brevity of the motion of things projected through the Atmosphere is the maâ—netique Attraction of the Earth 466 4 That in the Atmosphere no body can be projected in a Direct line unless perpendicularly Vpward or Downward and why 468 5 That the Motion of a stone projâ—cted upwards obliquely is Composed of an Horizontal and Perpendicular together ibid. 6 Demonstration of that Composition 469 7 That of the two different Forces impressed upon a ball thrown upward from the hand of a man standing in a ship that is under sayl the one doth not destroy the other but each attains its proper scope ibid. 8 That the space of time in which the Ball is Ascending from the Foot to the Top of the Mast is equal to that in which it is again Descending from the top to the foot 470 9 That though the Perpendicular motion of a stone thrown obliquely upward be unequal both in its ascent and descent yet is the Horizontal of Equal Velocity in all parts of space ibid. 10 The Reason and Manner of the Reflexion or Rebounding motion of Bodies diverted from the line of their direction by others encountring them 471 11 That the Emersion of a weight appensed to a string from the perpendicular to which it had reduced it self in Vibration is a Reflexion Median betwixt No Reflexion at all and the Least Reflexion assignable and the Rule of all other Reflexion whatever 472 12 The Reason of the Equality of the Angles of Incidence and Reflexion ibid. 13 Two Inferences from the praemises viz· 1 That the oblique Projection of a Globe against a plane is composed of a double Parallel and 2 That Nature suffers no diminution of her right to the shortest way by Reflexion 474 14 Wherein the Aptitude or Ineptitude of bodies to Reflexion doth consist ibid. BOOK the FIRST CHAP. I. All Modern Philosophers reduced to four general Orders and the principal causes of their Dissention SECT I. IF we look back into the Monuments or Remains of Antiquitie we shall observe as many several SECTS of Philosophers as were the Olympiads in which Greece wore the Imperial Diadem of Letters nay perhaps as many as she contained Academies and publike Professors of Arts and Sciences Each Master affecting to be reputed the principal Secretary of Nature and his Disciples their minds being deeply imbued with his principles admiring him as the Grand Oracle of Divinitie and the infallible Dictator of Scientifical Maxims The chiefest most diffused and most memorable of these Sects were the Pythagorean the Stoick the Platonist the Academick the Peripatetick the Epicurean and what derided all the rest the Pyrrhonian or Sceptick which feircely contended for the Laurel by subtle disputations on the side of absolute Ignorance and aspired to the Monarchy of Wisdom by detecting the vanitie and incertitude of all Natural Science As for the Megarick Eretrick Cyreniack Annicerian Theodorian Cynick Eliack Dialectick and others less famous Diogenes Laertius de vita Philosophor hath preserved not only a faithful Catalogue of them but hath also recorded their originals declinations periods opinions If we enquire into the Modern state of Learning down even to our present
contemptible Evidence that water doth contain various insensible Loculaments Chambers or Receptaries of different Figures and that this variety of those Figures doth accommodate it to extract the Tinctures of several Bodies inâ—ected and infused therein So as it is exceedingly difficult to evince by Experiment that any Liquor is so sated with precedent Tinctures as noâ— to be capable of others also especially while we cannot arrive at the exact knowledge of the Figure of the Atomical Particles of the body to be infused nor of the Figures of those minute spaces in the liquor which remain unpossessed by the former dissolutions Upon which reason we are bold to suspect the truth of the Lord S. Albans assertion Centur. 1 Nat. Hist. that by repeating the infusion of Rhubarb several times letting each dose thereof remain in maceration but a small time in regard to the Fineness and volatility of its Spirits or Emanations a medicament may be made as strongly Catharctical or Purgative as a simple infusion of Sâ—amony in the like weight For 1 when the empty spaces in the Menstruum or Liquor which respond in Figure to the Figure of the Atomical particles of the Rhubarb are replenished with its Tincture they can admit no greater fraught but the Imbibition of Virtue ceaseth and that two or three infusions at most suffice to the repletion of those respective spaces may be collected from hence that the Rhubarb of the fourth infusion loseth nothing of its Purgative Faculty thereby but being taken out and singly infused in a proportionate quantity of the like liquor it worketh as effectually as if it had never been infused before 2 Experience testiâ—ieth the Contrary viz. that a Drachm of Scamony singly infused in an ounce and half of White wine doth operate caeteris paribus by 15 parts of 20 more smartly then 5 drachms of Rhubarb successively infused in the like quantity of the same or any other convenient Liquor Here also is the most probable Cause why two Drachms of Antimony crude or Crocus Metallorum give as powerful a Vomitory impraegnation to a Pint of Saâ—â— or White wine as two ounces viz. because the menstruum hath no more Vacuities of the same Figure with the Atomical Efâ—luviums of the Antimony then what suffice to the imbibition or admission of the two Drachms For the Certitude of this we appeal to the experience of a Lady in Cheshire who seduced by an irregular Charity and an opinion of her own skill doth praetend to the cure of the sick and to that purpose praepares her Catholique Vomitory consisting of four Drachms and an half of crude stibium infused all night in 3 or 4 ounces of White wine and usually gives it without respect to the individual temperament of the Assument for one dose to the sick and yet as our selves have more then once observed the infusion doth work with no greater violence in some persons then as much of our common Emetique Infusion praescribed in the reformed Dispensatory of our Venerable College Nay more then this our selves have often reduced the Dose of the same Emetique Infusion down only to 4 Scruples and yet found its operation come not much short of the usual Dose of an ounce Hence also may be desumed a satisfactory reason for the impraegnation of one and the same Menstruum with various Tinctures for Example Why an Infusion of Rhubarb sated with its tincture doth afterward extract the tinctures of Agarick Senna the Cordial Flowers Cremor Tartari c. injected according to the praescript of the judicious Physician in order to his confection of a Compound Medicament requisite to the satisfaction of a Complex Scope or Intention SECT IV. A Third Argument for the comprobation of a Vacuum Disseminatum may be adferred from the Cause of the Difference of Bodies in the degrees of Gravity respective to their Density or Rarity i. e. according to the greater or less Inane Spaces interspersed among their insensible Particles And a Fourth likewise from the reason of the Calefaction of Bodies by the subingress or penetration of the Atoms of Fire into the empty Intervals variously disseminate among their minute particles But in respect that we conceive our Thesis sufficiently evinced by the Praecedent Reasons and that the consideration of the Causes of Gravity and Calefaction doth according to the propriety of Method belong to our succeeding Theory of Qualities we may not in this place insist upon them And as for those many Experiments of Water-hour-glasses Syringes Glass Fountains Cuppinglasses c. by the inconvincible Assertors of the Peripatetick Physiology commonly objected to a Vacuity we may expede them altogether in a word We confess those experiments do indeed demonstrate that Nature doth abhort a Vacuum Coacervatum as an heap of Sand abhors to admit an Empty Cavity great as a mans hand extracted from it but not that it doth abhor that Vacuum Disseminatum of which we have discoursed nay they rather demonstrate that Nature cannot well consist without these small empty Spaces interspersed among the insensible Particles of Bodies as an heap of Sand cannot consist without those small Interstices betwixt its Granules whose Figures prohibit their mutual contact in all points So that our Assertion ought not to be condemned as a Kaenodox inconsistent to the laws of Nature while it imports no more then this that as the Granules of a heap of Sand mutually flow together to replenish that great Cavity which the hand of a man by intrusion had made and by extraction left by reason of the Confluxibility of their Nature so also do the Granules or Atomical Particles of Aer Water and other Bodies of that Rare condition flow together by reason of the Fluidity or Confluxibility of their Nature to praevent the creation and remanence of any considerable or Coacervate Vacuum betwixt them To instance in one of the Experiments objected Water doth not distil from the upper into the lower part of a Clepsydra or Water-hour-glass so long as the Orifice above remains stopped because all places both above and below are ful nor can it descend until upon unstopping the hole the aer below can give place as being then admitted to succeed into the room of the lateral aer which also succeeds into the room of that which enâ—ered above at the orifice as that succeeds into the room of the Water descending by drops and so the motion is made by succession and continued by a kind of Circulation The same also may be accommodated to those Vessels which Gardners use for the irrigation of their Plants by opening the hole in the upper part thereof making the water issue forth below in artificial rain It only remains therefore that we endeavour to solve that Giant Difficulty proposed in defiance of our Vacuum Disseminatum by the mighty Mersennus in Phaenomen Pneumatic propos 31. thus Quomodo Vacuola solitò majora in rarefactione desinant aut minora facta in condensatione
they suddainly engage in a general cumbustion and dissolving all impediments 〈◊〉 their liberty Hence also proceed all those Heats which are observed in Fermentation Putrifaction and all other intestine Commotions and Mutations of Bodies Hither likewise would we refer that so generally believed Phaenomenon the Warmness of Fountains Cellars Mines and all subterraneous Fosses in Winter but that we conceive it not only superfluous but also of evil consequence in Physiology to consign a Cause where we have good reason to doubt the verity of the Effect For if we strictly examine the ground of that common Assertion we shall find it to consist only in a misinformation of our sense i. e. though Springs Wells Caves and all subterraneous places are really as Cold in Winter as Summer yet do we apprehend them to be warm because we suppose that we bring the organs of the sense of Touching alike disposed in Winter and Summer not considering that the same thing doth appear Cold to a hot and warm to a Cold hand nor observing that oyle will be conglaciated in Winter in subterraneous Cells which yet appear warm to those who enter them but not in Summer when yet they appear Cold. Secondly by Motion External when a Sawe grows Hot by continuall affriction against wood or stone or when fire is kindled by the long and hard affriction of 2 dry sticks c. This is manifest even from hence that unless the bodies agitated or rubbed against each other are such as contain igneous Atoms in them no motion however lasting and violent can excite the least degree of Heat in them For Water agitated most continently and violently never conceives the lest warmth because it is wholly destitute of Calorifick Atoms Lastly as for the Heat excited in a body upon the Motion of its Whole whether it be moved by it self or some External movent of this sort is that Heat of which motion is commonly affirmed to be the sole Cause as when an Animal grows hot with running c. and a Bullet acquires heat in flying c. And thus much concerning the manner of Emancipation of our Calorifick Atoms The next thing considerable is their peculiar Seminarie or Conservatory concerning which it may be observed that the Atoms of Fire cannot in regard of their extreme Exility sphaerical Figure and velocity of motion be in any but an Unctuous and viscous matter such whose other Atoms are more hamous and reciprocally cohaerent than to be dissociated easily by the intestine motions of the Calorifick Atoms so that some greater force is required to the dissolution of that unctuousness and tenacity whereby they mutually cohaere And hereupon we may safely conclude that an Unctuous substance is as it were the chief nay the sole Matrix or Seminary of Fire or Heat and that such Bodies only as are capable of incalescence and inflammation must contain somewhat of Fatness and unctuoâ—ity in them Sometimes we confess it is observed that Concretions which have no such Unctuosity at all in them as Water are Hot but yet we cannot allow them to be properly said to wax Hot but to be made Hot because the principle of that their Heat is not Internal to them but External or Ascititious For instance when Fire is put under a vessel of Water the small bodies or particles of Fire by degrees insinuate themselves thorowe the pores of the vessel into the substance of the Water and diffuse themselves throughout the same though not so totally at first as not to leave the major part of the particles of the Water untoucht to which other igneous Atoms successively admix themselves as the water grows hotter and 〈◊〉 And evident it is how small a time the Water doth keeâ—â—ts acquired heat when once removed from the fire because thâ—â—toms of Heat being meerly Adventitious to it they spontaneousl◠〈◊〉 it one after another and leave it as they found it Cold only 〈◊〉 Alteration they cause therein that they diminish the Quantity the 〈◊〉 insomuch as successively asâ—ending into the aer they carry along 〈◊〉 them the more tenuious and moveable particles of the Water in 〈◊〉 â—pparence of vapours which are nothing but Water Diffused 〈…〉 Bu◠〈…〉 we affirm that only Unctuous Bodies are Inflammable be gâ—â—â—rally true whence comes it that amongst Unctuous and 〈…〉 some more easily take fire than others The 〈…〉 is this that the Atoms of Fire incarcerated in â—ome 〈◊〉 are not so deeply immerst in nor so opprest and 〈…〉 other Heterogenous particles of matter as in others 〈…〉 the lâ—berty of Eruption much more easily Thus 〈…〉 kindled than Green because in the green the Aâ—ueous 〈…〉 surrounding and oppressing the Atoms of Fire therein containe◠〈◊〉 first tâ— be discussed and attenuated into vapours but in the 〈◊〉 time bâ— the mediation of the warmth in the ambient aeâ— hath 〈…〉 that luxuriant moysture so that none but the 〈…〉 oâ— unâ—tuous part wherein the Atoms of Fire have their 〈…〉 remains to be discussed which done the Atoms of 〈…〉 issue forth in swarms and discover themselves in 〈…〉 spirit of Wine is so much the sooner inflammable by how much 〈◊〉 more pure and defaecated it is because the igneous Atoms 〈…〉 concluded are delivered from the greater part of that 〈…〉 humidity wherewith they were formerly â—urrounded 〈…〉 On the contrary a stone is not made Combustibâ—e 〈◊〉 great â—â—fficulty because the substance of it is so compact as 〈…〉 Unctuous humidity is long in discussion We â—ay a Stone 〈…〉 or Arenaceous one because such is destitute of all 〈◊〉 and so of all igneous particles but a Lime-stone 〈…〉 capable of reduction to a Calx or a Flint out of which by 〈◊〉 against steel are excussed many small fragments plentifully 〈◊〉 Atoms of Fire The 〈◊〉 and Origine of Heat being thus fully explicated according 〈…〉 most verâ—imilous Principles of Democritus Epicurus and their 〈…〉 that we progress to those Porifmata or 〈◊〉 which from thence result to our observation and the 〈…〉 some most considerable Problems retaining to the same 〈◊〉 sucâ— especially as have hitherto eluded the folutive 〈…〉 any other Hypothesis but what we have here 〈◊〉 〈…〉 as the Atoms of Heat which are always 〈…〉 â—nctuous Matter doe upon the acquisition of 〈…〉 â—orth with violence and insinuating themselves into Bodies which they meet withal and totally pervading them dissociate their particles and dissolve their Compage or Contexture Hence is it manifest that Rarefaâ—tion or Dilatation is upon good reason accounted the proper Effect of Heat since those parts of a body which are Conjoyned cannot be Disjoyned but they must instantly possess a greater part of space understand us in that strict sense which we kept our selves to in our Discourse of Rarefaction and Condensation than before Hence comeâ— it that Water in boyling seems so to be encreased that what when cold filled scarce half the Caldron in ebullition cannot be contained in the whole but swells over
resteth but also Versus latera toward the sides or circumambient And that after a various manner according to the various Contextures of soft bodies in the superfice For if the superfice i. e. the outward part of a soft body be of a more Compact and tenacious Contexture than the interior mass or substance as is the skin of an Animal compared to the subjacent flesh and a bladder in respect of the oyle therein contained in that case the compression of the particles is indeed propagated by succession to some distance as well toward the bottom as the sides to which the superior particles being pressed directly downward and there resisted deflect yet not to that distance as where the superfice is of the same Contexture with the interior mass as in Wax and Clay in both which the Compression and so the yeilding may be propagated quite thorow or from the superior to the inferior superfice where it immediately resteth upon the hard body all the intermediate particles starting toward the sides as being pressed above and resisted belowe And hereupon doubtless was it that Aristotle properly called those soft bodies whose superfice is either of a weaker or of the same contexture with their internal substance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Formatilia insomuch as when a Seal or other Solid body doth press them they suffer such a Diffraction or Solution of Continuity in their superficial parts as that the dissociated particles are not able to restore themselves to their former situation and mutual cohaesion but retain the figure of the body which pressed them and on the contrary such as have the contexture of their superfice more firm and tenacious than that of their internal mass 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pressilia insomuch as upon pressure they suffer not so great a Diffraction or Solution of Continuity in their superficial parts but that they still have some mutual cohaerence and so are able to restore themselves to their former situation upon the remove of the body that pressed them For the illustration of this it is observable 1 That to the yielding of every soft body when pressed it is necessary that it have freedom of space on its sides because if the lateral particles when pressed by the intermediaâ—â— ones have not room whether to recede they cannot yield at all and so the Compression must be very small This may most sensibly be Exemplified in a tube filled with Water for if you attempt to compress the Water therein contained with a Râ—mmer so exactly adapted to the bore of the tube as that no spaces be left betwixt it and the sides thereof whereat the water may rise upward you shall make buâ— a very small and almost insensible progress therein 2 That no superfice of what contexture soever can be depressed versus profundum or be any way dilated but it must suffer some Diffraction or Solution of Continuity more or less For insomuch as each particle of the superfice doth possess a peculiar part of space proportionate to its dimensions and though upon the Dilatation of the superfice i. e. the remove of its particles to a more lax order greater spaces are intercepted among them yet are not the particles multiplied in number nor magnified in dimensions and so cannot possess more or greater spaces than before therefore is it necessary that the superfice be variously crackt and the continuity thereof infringed in many places The Necessity hereof doth farther evidence it self in the Flexion of a Twig Cane or other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Flexile body for when a Twigg is bended as the Concave superfice becomes Contracted and Corrugated the particles thereof being not able to penetrate each other nor crowd themselves into fewer places So at the same time is the Convex Dilated and suffers many small breaches or cracks the particles thereof being uncapable either to multiply themselves or possess more spaces than before The same likewise is easily intelligible in a Tractile body such as Aristotle names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Nerve or Lutestring for allbeit the interruption of Continuity be not so manifest to the sense in a Tractile as in a Flexile body yet may we observe that when a Tractile body is extended or drawn out in length it is extenuated or diminished in thickness And what think you becomes of those interior particles which compose its Crassitude or thickness Certainly they must come sorth into the superfice that so they may interpose themselves â—mong the Dissociated particles thereof possess the void spaces left betwixt them and with their small clawes or hooks on each hand cohaering to them make the superfice apparently continued Would you observe the Interruption of Continuity among the superficial particles of a Tractile body and the issuing forth and intermistion of interior particles among them be pleased to paint over a Lutestring with some oyled Colour and afterward vernish it over with oyle of Turpentine then strain it hard upon the Lute and you shall plainly perceive the superfice of it to crack and become full of small clefts or chinks and new particles not tincted with the colour to issue forth from the entralls of the string and interpose themselves among those small breaches Lastly the same is also discoverable by the sight in a Ductile body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as every Metal for no metal when pressed or hammerd is dilated or expanded on all sides for any other reason but this that it is as much attenuated in thickness and the particles in the superfice are so dissociated as that the interior particles rise up possess the deserted spaces and cohaere to the discontinued exterior particles as may be more plainly discerned if the superfice of the Metal be tincted with some colour SECT II. FRom the Praemises whereupon we therefore insisted somewhat the longer â—t is manifest that FLEXILITY TRACTILITY DUCTILITY and other Qualities of the same Classis are all the Consequents of Softness as the Contrary to them all RIGIDITY is the Consequent of Hardness insomuch as whoever would frame to himself an exact notion of a Rigid body meerly as a Rigid must compose it of the Attributes inflexile intractile inductile Nor doth any thing remain to our clear understanding of the nature of FLEXILITY but the Solution of that great Difficulty Cur flexilia postquam inflexa fuerint in pristinum statum resiliant Why a flexile body such as a Bowe of wood Steel Whalebone c. doth after flexion spring back again into its natural figure and situation The Reason of this Faculty of Restitution we conceive with the immortal Gassendus to be this that the Recurse or Resilition of a flexile body is a certain Reflex motion which is continued with a Direct motion as we shall have opportunity professedly to demonstrate in our subsequent Enquiry into the nature of Motion In the mean while it may suffice to stay the stomach of Curiosity that we evidence the cause of
probable that the particles or Atoms issuing in continued streams from the Loadstone and invading Iron situate within the Orb of their activity should easily and deeply insinuate themselves into the pores of the Iron and there meeting with streams of other Atoms so exactly consimilar to themselves engage them to reciprocal Cohaerence and being partly repercussed or rebounded from thence toward their Source abduce those Atoms along with them to which they cohaere and by the impulse of other cohaerent particles abduce also the whole and entire mass especially since it is part of the supposition that the Atoms transmitted from the Iron to the Loadstone do reciprocally move engage and compel the particles thereof after the same manner it being almost necessary that the Atoms on both sides in good part rebounding or resilient toward their sources and mutually implicated should flow together into the medium and so doing that the whole bodies or masses of the iron and Loadstone should be brought to a Conjunction in the Medium because of the Cohaesion of both sorts of the flowing Atoms with those of which the whole masses are contexed For notwithstanding it be vulgarly apprehended and affirmed that the Iron doth come to the Loadstone rather then the Loadstone to the Iron that the streams of Atoms emanant from the Loadstone are both more numerous and much more potent and found by Experiment that pieces of Iron do not only meet Loadstones half way but come quite home to them where the Loadstones are either much greater and weightier or so held fast in a mans hand or otherwise as that they cannot exercise their reciprocal tendency yet as Gilbert speaks de Magnet lib. 2. cap. 4. Mutuis viribus fit Concursus ad unitionem the Coition is not from one single Attraction but from a Double 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Conactus And as for the reason why other things do not apply themselves to the Loadstone as well as Iron it may be said that the streams of Atoms flowing from the Loadstone and encountring those that are emitted from other bodies do either pass uninterruptedly along by them or are not in respect of their Dissimilitude in Figures so implicated or Complected with them as in their resilition to flow together and concurr in the medium And then He attempts the subversion thereof by the opposition of some Arguments and especially of these Three Quaeries 1 How such minute and insensible bodies as those of which the Magnetick Aporrhaeas are supposed to consist can be able to Attract 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so great a weight as that of a mass of Iron Whereto it may be Answered in behalf of Epicurus that the Magnetick Effluxes are not supposed to be so potent as to draw any mass of Iron of what weight soever but only such a one whose bulk or weight carrieth some proportion to the force of the Attrahent or Loadstone Again He might have considered that the motions of the Grossest and Heaviest Animals are performed by their spirits that are bodies as exile and imperceptible as the Magnetick Effluviaes that Winds which also consist of insensible particles do usually overturn trees and vast aedifices by the impetuosity of their impulses and that subterraneous Vapours are frequently the Causes of Earthquakes And as for the reason How the Magnetick Aporrhaea's can Deduce Apprehend and Detain a mass of Iron He might have remembred that the Atoms of the Magnet are conceived to have certain small Hooks or Clawes by which they may lay hold upon the Ansulae or Fastnings in the Iron to have a violent Motion which is the Cause both of their Impaction against and Resilition from the Iron and to have a perpetual Supply of the like Atoms continually streaming from the same fountain by which they are assisted in their Retraction whereupon the Attraction may ensue and that so much the more forcible by how much nearer the Iron is praesented in regard of the more copious Efflux or Density of the Magnetical rayes 2 How comes it That a piece or ring of Iron being it self Attracted by a Loadstone and on one part adhaerent unto it should at the same time attract and suspend another ring on the contrary part that second ring likewise attract and suspend a third that third a fourth that fourth a fifth c. To this we may apply that Response of Epicurus which Galen himself commemorates An dicemus effluentium ex lapide particularum nonnullas quidem ubi serro occuâ—saverint resilire has ipsas esse per quas ferrum suspendi contingat nonnullas verò illud subeuntes per inanes meatulos transire quâ—m oâ—yssimè consequentèr impactas in aliud ferrum proximum cum illud nequeant subiâ—gredi tametsi prius penetraverint hinc resilientes versus priuâ— complexus alios prioribus similes efficere For herein is nothing so incongruous as Galen conceives it being not improbable that some of the Magnetical Atoms falling upon a piece of Iron should be impinged against the solid pâ—â—ticles thereof and others of them at the same time penetrate the smâ—â—â— manities or pores betwixt those solid particles after the same manne◠〈◊〉 we have formerly asserted the particles of Light to be partly Râ—flâ—câ—â—d from the solid parts and partly Trajected through the Pores of 〈◊〉 â—nd other Diaphanous bodies nor that some of those Magnetick Rayâ—â— which pass through the pores of the first Iron should invade a second 〈◊〉 posited beyond it and be impinged likewise against the soliâ— particlâ—◠〈◊〉 that and so reflected toward their original while some others pervading the Inâ—nities of the second should attract a third piece of Iron and so â—onsâ—quently a fourth a fifth and sometimes more And certainly 〈◊〉 this case it is of no small advantage to Epicurus that the Force of the Magnetick Attraction is so Debilitated by degrees as that in the secoâ—â—â—â—on it becomes weaker than in the first in the third than in the second in the fourth than the third c. until at length it be totally eviraâ—â— and decayed because upon the second there cannot fall as many rayâ—â— as did upon the first nor upon the third as upon the second c. as 〈◊〉 have at large explicated in our discourse of the Causes of the Debilitatâ—â—â— of Light It may be further added also in defence of Epicurus that the Atoms of the Loadstone penetrating the substance of Iron do so exâ—â—mulate the Atoms thereof that the Iron instantly suffering an Alteraâ—â—â—n of the position of all its component particles doth in a sort compoâ—e 〈◊〉 self according to their mode and put on the nature of the Loadstone it self and therefore it can be no such wonder that one iron Magnetiâ—â—â—d should operate upon another iron as the Magnet did upon it But all this 〈◊〉 confess though it conferr somewhat of strength and plainness to the opinion of Epicurus cannot yet be extended so farr as to equal the length of our
a vast diversity of words which cannot be enumerated by fewer then 39 câ—phers viz. 295232799039604140847618609643520000000. Tantum Elementa quâ—unt permutato ordine solo What Arithmetician can compute the several special ways of composition whereof that incomprehensible variety of Figures which as we have frequently assumed Atoms may bear is easily capable 2 That as the Image of Mercury cannot be carved out of every stone or every piece of wood nor words fit for reading or pronunciation arise from every commistion of Letters so in Natural Concretions is it impossible that all things should be made of all sorts of Atoms or that all Atoms should be equally accommodate to the constitution of every species of Concretions For though Atoms of the same figure and magnitude may by their various transposition adjection ablation compose things of various forms or natures yet are they not all indifferently disposed to the composition of all things nor can they be connected after one and the same manner in divers things Because to the composition of every thing in specie is required such a special disposition in the Atoms which compose it as that they must appose to themselves such other Atoms as are congruous and suitable to them and as it were refuse the society and combination of others that are not And hence is it that in the Dissolution of every Concretion the consimular or like Atoms always consociate together and expede themselves from the Dissimilar and incongruous CHAP. II. OF MOTION SECT I. CErtainly the Great Galilaeo did most judiciously and like himself to lay the foundation of his incomparable Enquiry into the most recondite mysteries of Nature in the Consideratin of the Nature of MOTION and severe Examination that we may not say subversion of Aristotles Doctrine concerning it Becâ—use Motion being the Heart or rather the Vital Faculty of Nature without which the Universe were yet but a meer Chaos must also be the noblest part of Physiology and consequently the speculation thereof must be the most advantageous Introduction to the Anatomy of all other parts in the vast and symmetrical Body of this All or Adspectable World Again if Motion and Quiet be the principal modes of Bodies Existing as Des Cartes in princip philosoph part 2. sect 27. seems strongly to assert if Generation Corruption Augmentation Dâ—minution Alteration be only certain species or more properly the Effects of Motion as our immeâ—â—â—tely praecedent Châ—pter cleerly imports and that we can have no other Cognizance of the conditions or qualities of sensible objects but what results from our perception of the Impulses made upon the organs of our senses by their species thither transmitted assuredly the Physiologist is highly concerned to make the contemplation of Motion its Causes Kinds and Universal Laws the First link in the chain of all his Natural Theorems And truly this we our selves had not endeavoured had not our firm resolution to avoid that ungrateful prolixity which must arise from the frequent Repetitions of the same Notions in the solution of various natural Apparences and our design of insensibly praeparing the minde of our 〈…〉 the graâ—ual insinuâ—tiâ—n of all both Câ—uses and Effects o◠〈…〉 as they stood in relation to this or thâ—t particulâ—r sensible 〈◊〉 â—nd principally to Visibles and the Gravâ—tation of Bodies not only incâ—â—ed but by a necessity of Method almost constrained us to make that the Heâ— or Fringe which otherwise ought to have been the First Thread in this rawe and loosely contexed Web of our Philosophy Nor indeed can we yet praevent all Repetitions for our praesent Thâ—orem being Physicomathematical and such as must borrow some light by way of Reflection from â—â—ndry observables occasionally diffused upon several of our Discourses praecedent we need not despair of a Dispensation for our Recognition oâ— a few remarkable passages directly relating thereunto and especially of these Three Epicuâ—ean Postulates or Principles The FIRST that 〈◊〉 Adam or Radical and Primary Cause of all motion competent to Concretions iâ— the inhaerent Gravity of their Materials Aâ—oms whether the 〈◊〉 be moved spontaneously or violently i. e. by it self or another The Reason of its spontaneous or self-motion may be thus conceived Whilâ— Atomâ—â—re by their own inamissible propensity to motion variously agitated and â—umultuous in any Concretion if those which are more moveaâ—â—â— and agile then the rest so conspire together in the course of their tendency as to discharge their united forces upon one and the same quarter o◠〈◊〉 body containing them and so attempt to disengage themselves towarâ—â—â—â—t region then do they propel the whole body toward the same region transferring the rest of their leâ—s active associates along with them It being hâ—â—hly consentaneous that motion may be expressed first in the singular Atomâ— themselves then in the smallest masses or â—nsensible Combinations of Atoms and successively in greater and greater till the sensible parts of 〈◊〉 and at length the whole bodies â—hemselves participate the motion anâ— undergo manifest agitation as Lucretius in lib. â—â— hath with lively Arguments asserted And this certainly hath far a stronger claim to our assent than that fundamental Position of Aâ—istotle that the First Princâ—ple of motion in any thing is the very Formâ— of the thing moved For unless He shall give us leave by the word 〈◊〉 to understand a certain tenuious Contexture â—f most subtile and most active Atoms which being diffused through the body oâ— mass consisting of other less subtile and in respect of their greater compaction together or 〈◊〉 close reciprocal revinction less active Atoms doth by tâ—e impression 〈◊〉 its force or Virtue motive upon the whole or any sensible part thereof become the Principle of motion to the whole body we say unless he 〈◊〉 be pleased to allow us this interpretation we shall tâ—ke the liberty to 〈◊〉 â—hat it is absolutely incomprehensible For that the Forme of a thing accepted according to His notion of a Forme should be the proto-Proto-cause or 〈◊〉 of its motion is unconceivable since according to the tenour 〈◊〉 Aristotles doctrine the Forme must be educed out of the Matter or power of the Matter that constituteth or amasseth that thing and consequently 〈◊〉 the Forme must owe as well its very Entity or Beâ—ng as 〈…〉 onely to the matter it self which yet He describeâ— to be something 〈◊〉 nothing meerly Passive and devoiâ— of 〈…〉 How therefore can it appear other than a 〈…〉 Contradiction to any man whose intellect is not eclipsed by reaso◠〈…〉 of it s proper Organ that that Matter which in 〈…〉 of Moving should nevertheless be able 〈…〉 and potent Activity upon the Form supposed to be absolutely distinct from matter Doubtless the Forme doth not derive that Motive Virtue from the Qualities inhaerent in the matter forasmuch as those Qualities as even the Aristoteleans themselves furiously contend are but the meer Results of the Power of the matter Nor from the Efficient because â—hey account
impulâ—◠〈…〉 from below upon the upper part of the stone◠〈…〉 projection of the stone upward during its Ascent the motion thereoâ—â—ould in every degree of its remove from the proâ—â—cient be Accelerated 〈…〉 same proportion as it s Downward motion is Accelerated in everâ—â—â—gree of its descent but Experience testifies â—hat â—ts upward motion 〈…〉 and more Retarded in every degree of its remoâ—â— from the projiciâ—â—â— and therefore it cannot be that the Downward motion thereof should be â—â—used nay not so much as advanced by the Aer Which thing â—asâ—endus 〈◊〉 Epist. de proport qua Gravia decidentia aâ—celerantu◠〈…〉 â—â—monstrated and we our selves out of him 〈◊〉 the 9 Article of our 2 〈◊〉 concerning Gravity and Levity in the 3. Book praecedent Wha◠〈◊〉 can remain but that it must be by ATTRACTION 〈◊〉 because no other Attractive Force which might begin and continu◠〈◊〉 Downward motion of a stone can be imagined unless it be that Magâ—â—â—â—que Virtue of the Earth whereby it Draws all Terrene Bodies to an 〈…〉 it self in order to their and its own better Conservation 〈…〉 Conclude that the Cause of the Downwarâ— motion oâ— all 〈…〉 is the Magnetique Attraction of the Earth Nor need we adferr other â—â—guments in this place to confirm this Positionâ— in respect we have 〈◊〉 made it the chief subject of the 2 Sect. of our Chap. of Gravity 〈…〉 whether we therefore remit our unsatisfied Reader From the Cause of 〈◊〉 Downward motion of Heavy bodies let us advance to the Acceleration 〈◊〉 them in every degree of space through which 〈…〉 reason why we should at all enquire 〈…〉 upward moâ—ion of Light bodies in every degree 〈…〉 as we know of no man but Aristotle that 〈…〉 motion of Fire and Aer is slower in the beginning and gradually 〈◊〉 and swifter in the progress And so short was 〈…〉 proving that his sâ—â—gular conception by Experiment as he ought 〈…〉 assumed â—t upon 〈◊〉 credit of only one poor Argument which is 〈◊〉 〈…〉 and other things of the like light and aspiring 〈…〉 Caelo cap. 8. were Extruded and Impelled 〈…〉 descending and crouding toward the 〈…〉 force as some have contended and weâ—e 〈…〉 spontaneous tendency of their own inhaerent 〈…〉 moved more swiftly in the beginning and moâ—e slowly 〈…〉 their motion but Fire and Aer are more 〈…〉 beginning 〈…〉 more and more swift in the progress of their Assent therefore are they not moved upward by the Extrusion and Impulsion but spontaneously or by their own Levity And to Confirm his Minor proposition that Fire and Aer are Accelerated in every degree of their Assent without the suffrage of any Experiment He subjoyns only that as a Greater quantity of Earth is moved downward more swiftly than a less so is a Greater quantity of Fire moved upward more swiftly than a less which could not be if either of them were Impelled or moved by an External Force But this is as the Former meerly Petitionary for why should not a Greater quantity of Earth or Fire be moved more swiftly than a less both being moved as we suppose by External force in â—â—se the External force be proportionate to the quantity of each Doubtless the force of the ambient Aer extruding and impelling flame upward is alwayâ— so much the greater or more sensible by how much more Copious the â—â—re is as may be evinced even from the greater Impetus and waving motion of the flame of a great fire though it cannot yet be discerned whether that Undulous or waving motion in a Great flame be as He praesumeâ—â— more swift and rapid than that more calm and equal one observed in the flame of a Candle Thaâ— you l say is enough to detect the incircumspection of Aristotle in assuming upon so weak grounds that the motion of Light things Ascending is accelerated in the progress and that in the same proportion as that of Heavy things Descending is accelerated but not enough to refute the Position it self and therefore we think it expedient to superad a Demonstrative Reason or two toward the plenary Refutation thereof Seeing it is evident from Experience that a Bladder blown up is so much the more hardly depressed in deep water by how much neerer it comâ—s to the bottom and a natural Consequent thereupon that the bladder in respect of the Aer included therein beginning its upward motion at the bottom of the Water is moved toward the region of Aer so much the more slowâ—y by how much the higher it riseth toward the surface of the Water or lower part of the region of Aer incumbent thereupon and that the Cause thereof is thâ—s that so much the fewer parts of Water are incumbent upon the bladder and aer contained therein and consequently so much the less must that force of Extrusion be whereby the parts of Water bearing downward impel them upward we may well infer hereupon that if we imagine that any Flame should ascend through the region of Aer till it arrived at the region of Fire feigned to be immediately above the region of Aer that Flame would always be moved so much the slower by how much the higher it should ascend or by how much the neerer it should arive at the region of Fire Because Fire and Aer are conceived to be of the same aspiring nature and because the same Reason holds good in proportion for the decrease of Velocity in the ascension of Flame through the Aer as for that of the decrease of velocity in the ascension of Aer included in a bladder through Water And as for Aristotles other relatâ—ve Assertion that a Greater quantity of Earth is moved more swiftly Downward than a Less manifest 〈…〉 without nay 〈…〉 Eâ—perience doth 〈…〉 inhaerent in bodies accountâ—â— Heavy and that every body must therefore â—all down so much the morâ— swiftly and violently by how much the more of Gravity 〈◊〉 possesseth Hâ—ving thus totally subverted Aristotleâ— erroneous Tenent that the 〈◊〉 of Lâ—ght bodies Ascending is Acceleâ—aâ—â—d in every degree of their Aâ—â—â—ntion it follows that we apply our selves to the consideration of the 〈◊〉 of tâ—e motion of Heavy bodies 〈◊〉 in every degree 〈…〉 Descention Wheâ—ein the First obsâ—â—vâ—ablâ— oâ—â—urring iâ— the 〈…〉 or that it is so which is easily proved from hence that in all ages 〈…〉 been observed that the motion of 〈◊〉 things Descendent 〈…〉 the beginning and grows swifter and swiâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 toward thâ— end 〈…〉 that in fine 〈◊〉 becomes highly rapid 〈…〉 that the 〈…〉 or impression made upon the Earth 〈…〉 down from 〈◊〉 high is always so much the greater or strongâ—â— by hâ—w much the 〈◊〉 â—he place is from which it â—ell The Second 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 or Cause of that velocity Encreasing in 〈…〉 which though enquired into by many of the Ancients seem◠〈…〉 been 〈◊〉 by none of them For 1 albeit Aristotle 〈◊〉 was so wary as 〈…〉 explicate his thoughts concerning it yâ—t â—oâ—h hiâ— great 〈◊〉 Simpliâ—â—â—â— tell
positions of its particles evidenced in the Example of a putrid Apple Art 11. The assenting suffrage of Epicurus Art 1. The Visible Images of objects substantial and either corporeal Emanations from the superficial parts of Concretions or Light it self disposed into contextures consimilar to the figure of the object Art 2. The position of their being 〈◊〉 derived from 〈◊〉 and pâ—â—ferred to the 〈…〉 Species Visible Art 3. Epicurus Text concerning the same Art 4. The faithful Exposition thereof Art 5. The Contents thereof reduced to 4 Heads Art 6. The Eâ—istenâ—e of Images visâ—ble certified by autoptical Demonstration Art 7. Epicurus opinion of the substâ—ntialâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Images Visiâ—le 〈…〉 Art 8. The 〈…〉 and Art 9. 〈…〉 Art 10. The grand 〈◊〉 of Alexander that a continual Efflux of substance must minorate the 〈◊〉 of the most solid 〈◊〉 Art 11. 〈…〉 Art 12. The 〈◊〉 oâ— Images 〈◊〉 reduced to some 〈…〉 Art 13. 〈…〉 Art 14. By Exempâ—â—fying in the numerous round Films of Wax successively derepâ—ed from a Wax 〈◊〉 by the flame thereof in the space of an hour and Art 15. In the innumerable Films of Oyl likewise successively delibrated by the flame of an Ellychnium or Match perpendicularly floating in a vessel of equal capacity with Solomons Braâ—en Sea in â—he space of 48 hours Art 16. By the Analogy betwixt an â—dorable Visible Species Art 7. The Manner and Reason of the Production of visible Images according to the hypothesis of Epicurus Art 18. The Celerity of the Motiâ—n of visible Images reasoned and compared to that of the Light of the Sun Art 19. The Translation of a moveable from place to place in an indivisible pâ—int of time impossible and why Art 20. The Facility of the Abduâ—tion or Aâ—olation of Images Visible from solid Concretions solved by the Spontaneous Eâ—silition of their superficial Atoms and the Sollicitation of Light incident upon them Art 21. That Objects do not emit tâ—â—ir Visible Images but when Illustrated a Conceit though paradoxicâ—l yet not improbable Art 1. Visible Images Systatical described and distinguisht from Apostatical ones Art 2. Their Existence assured by the testimony of Diodorus Siculus and Art 3. Damascius together with the Autopsy of Kircher Art 4. Kirchers Description of that famous Apparition at Rhegium called Morgana Rheginorum Art 5. Most ingenious Investigation of the Causes thereof Art 6. His admirable Artifice for the exhibition of the like aâ—real Representation in Imitation of Nature Art 1. The Reason of Vision according to the opinion of the Stoicks Art 2. Of Aristotle Art 3. O the Phythagoreans Art 4. Of Empedocles Art 5. Of Plato Art 6. O Epicurus Art 7. Of Mons. Des Cartes Art 8. The iâ—genuity of 〈◊〉 Conceit acknowledged but the solidity â—â—dubitated Art 9. The Opinion of Epicurus more satisfactory then any other because more Rational and less obnoxious to inexplicable Difficulties Art 10. The Two most considerable Difficulties opposed to Epicurus position of the Incursion of Substantial Images into the Eye Art 1. That the superfice of nobody is perfectly smooth evicted by solid Reasâ—n and Autâ—psie Art 2. That the visible Image doth consist of so many Rayes as there are Points designable in the whole superfice of the object and that each Ray hath its line of Tendency direct respective to the face of that particle in the superfice from which it is emitted Art 3. That the Density and Vnion of the Rayes composing the visible Image is greater or less according to their less or greater Elongation from the Object Art 4. That the Visible Image is neither total in the total medium nor total in every part thereof but so manifold as are the parts of the medium from which the objâ—ct is discernable Contrary to the Aristoteleans Art 5. PARADOX That no man can see the same particle of an object with both Eyes at once nay not with the same Eye if the level of its Visive Axe be changed Art 6. CONSECTARY That the Medium is not possessed with one simple Image but by an Aggregate of innumerable Images deradiate from the same object all which notwithstanding constitute but one entire Image Art 7. CONSECTARY 2. That Myriads of different Images emanant from different objects may be Coexistent in the Aer without reciprocal penetration of Dimensions or Confusiâ—n of particles contrary to the Peâ—ipateticks Art 8. That the place of the visible Images ultimate Reception and complete Perception is the Concave of the Retina Tunica Art 9. That the Faculty forms a judgmâ—nt of the Conditions of the Object according to the representation thereof by the Image at its impression on the principal part of Vision the Amphiblestrâ—ides Art 10. CONSECTARY That the Image is the Cause of Objects apparence of this or that determinate Magnitude Art 11. CONSECTARY 2. That no Image can repâ—enish the Câ—ncave of the Retina Tunica unless it be deradiated from an object of an almost Hemispherical ambite Art 12. Why when the Eye is open there is aâ—wayes pourtrayed in the bottom thereof some one Tâ—tal Image whose varioâ—â— Parts are the Specialâ—mages â—mages of the several things included in the visual Hemisphere Art 13. PARADOX That the prospect of a shilling or object of a small diametre is as great as the Prospect of the Firmament Art 14. Why an object appears both greater in Dimensions and more Distinct in parts near at hand than far off Art 15. Why an oâ—ject speculated through a Conveâ— Leâ—s appears both greater and more distinct but through a Concave â—eâ—s and more Confused than when speculated only with the Eye Art 16. DIGRESSION What Figur'd Perspicils are convenient for Old and what for Purblind persons Art 17. That to the Diâ—udication of one of two obâ—ects apparently Equal to be really the Greater is not required a greater Image but only an Opinion of its greater Distance Art 18. Des Cartes Opinion concerning the Reason of the Sights apprehending the Distance of an object Art 19. Unsatisfactory and that for two Considerations Art 20. And that more solid one of Gassendus viz. that the Cause of our apprehending the Distance â—f an object consisteth in the Câ—mparation â—f the 〈◊〉 things 〈◊〉 â—â—wixt the oâ—ject and the 〈◊〉 by the Ratiâ—nal Facuâ—â—â— embraced and corroboâ—â—ted Art 21. PARADOX That the same Object speculated by the same man at the same distance and in the same degree of light doth alwayes appear greater to one Eye than the other Art 22. A â—econd PARADOX That all men see distinctly but with â—ne Eye at once contrary to that eminent Optical Axiom that the Vâ—sive Axes of both eyes concurr and unite in thâ— oâ—jâ—ct Art 23. The three Degrees of Vision viz. most perfect perfect and imperfect and the verity of the Paradox restrained only to the two former Degrees Art 1. A research into the Reason of the different Effects of Convex and Concave Glasses as well Dioptrical as Catoptrical Art 2. A COROLLARIE Hinting the Causes why an Elliptical Concave
reflects the incident rayes in a more Acute angle than a Parabolical and a Parabolical than a Spherical Art 3. A CONSECTARY Why a Plane Perspicil exhibits an objâ—ct in genuine Dimenâ—ioâ—s but a Convex in Amplified and a Concave in minorated Art 1. A Recapitulation of the principal Arguments precedent and summary of the subsequent 10 The â—â—x Muscles viz. 1 The Dâ—â—ect as the Deprâ—ment 〈◊〉 Abducent 2 And Oblique as the 2 Circumactors or Lovers Muscles Art 3. Why the Situation of an object is perceived by the sight Art 5. The same illustrate by an Experiment Art 6. Why the Motiâ—n and Quiet of obâ—ects â—re dâ—scerned by the sight Art 7. Why 〈◊〉 Images imitaâ—e the motions of tâ—eâ—r Artiâ—pes oâ— Oâ—iginals Art 8. Wâ—y the rightâ—ide â—ide of a Câ—toptrical Image respects the Lâ—ft of its Exemplar And why two Catoptrick Glasses confrontingly posited cause a Râ—stitution of the parts of the Image to the natural Form Art 1. The Argument duely acknowledged to â—e superlatively Difficult iâ— not absolutely Aâ—ataleptâ—cal Art 2. The sentence of Aristâ—tle concerning the Nature of Colours and the Commentâ—â—y of Scalâ—geâ— thereupâ—n Art 3. The opinion of Plato Art 4. Of the Pythagorean and Stoiâ—k Art 5. Of the Spagyrical Philosophers Art 6. The reason of the 〈…〉 and election of Democritus and Epicurus judgâ—â—ent touching the Generaâ—iâ—n of Colâ—uâ—s Art 7. The Text of Epicurus fully and faithfully expounded Art 1. A PARADOX That there are no Colours in the Dark Art 2. A familiar Experiment attesting the Verity thereof Art 3. The Constancy of all Artificial Tinctures dependent on the constancy of Disposition in the superficial Particles of the Bodies that wear them Art 4. That sâ— generally magnifâ—ed Distinction of Colors into Inhâ—rent and meerly Apparent redargued of manifeâ—t Câ—ntradâ—ction Art 5. The Emphatâ—â—al or Evanâ—d Coloâ—rs created by 〈◊〉 nâ— less Râ—al 〈◊〉 than the â—ost 〈◊〉 Tiâ—ctures Art 6. COROLLARY The Reasons of Emphatical Colours appinged on Bodies objected by a Prism Art 7. The true Difference of Emphatical and Durable Colour◠〈◊〉 Art 8. No Colour Formally inâ—â—erent in objects but onl◠〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 câ—â—â—rary to the constant 〈…〉 Art 9. 〈…〉 â—arther â—indiâ—ated from Difficulty by the 〈…〉 praâ—cedeâ—◠〈…〉 oâ— the Aâ—â—mists Art 1. The Nativity of White or the reason of its percepâ—ion by the sight Art 2. Black a meet Privation of Light Art 3. The Genealogâ— of all Intermediate Color Art 4. The Causes of the Sympathy Antipathy of some Colours Art 5. The intermistion of small shadows among the lines of Light absolutely necessary to the Generation of any Intermediate Colour Art 6. Two eminent PROBLEMS concerning the Generation and Transposition of the Vermillion and Caeâ—ule appinged on Bodies by Prismes Art 7. The Solution of the Former with a rational Conjecture of the Cause of the Blew apparent in the Concave of the Heavens Art 8. The Solution of the Later Art 9. The Reasons why the Author proceeds not to investigate the Causes of Compound Colours in Particular Art 10. He confesseth the Erection of this whole Discourse on simple Conjecture and enumerates the Difficulties to be subdued by him who hopes to attain an Apodictical Knowledge of the Essence Causes of Colours Art 11. Des Cartes attempt to dissolve the chief of those Difficulties unsucsessful because grounded on an unstable Hypothesis Art 1. The Clasp or Ligament of this to the praecedent Chapter Art 2. The Authors Notion of the Rays of Light Art 3. A Parallelism betwixt a stream of Watâ—r exsilient from the Cock of a Cistern and a Ray of Light emanant from its Lucid Fountain PRAECONSIDERABLES Art 4. Light distinguisht into Primary Secondary c. Art 5. All Light Debilitated by Reflection and why Art 6. An Example sensibly demonstrating the same Art 7. That light is in perpetual Motion according to Arist. Art 8. Light why Corroborated in some cases and Debilitated in others by Refraction COROLLARY Why the Figure of the Sun both rising setting apâ—ears rather Elliptical than Sphaerical Art 9. PARADOX That the proportion of Solary Rayes reflected by the superiour Aer or Aether toward the Earth is so smaâ—l as not to be sensible Art 10. That every Lucid Body as Lucid doth emit its Rayes Sphâ—erically but as Visible Pyramidally Art 11. That Light is invisible in the pure medium Art 1. The Necessity of the Authors confirmation of the Fâ—â—st Praeconsiderable Art 2. The CORPORIETY of Light demonstrated by its jâ—st Attributes viz. 1 Locomotion 2 Resilition 3 Refraction 4 Coition 5 Disgrâ—gation 6 Igniety Art 3. Aristotles Definition of Lighâ— a meer Ambage and incomprehensible Art 4. The 〈◊〉 of Light impâ—rts not the Coexistence of two Bâ—dies in one Place contrary to the Peripatetick Art 5. Nor the motion of a Bâ—dy to be Instantaneâ—us Art 6. The Invisibilitâ— of â—ight in the limpid medium no Argument of its Immateriality as the Peripatetick praesumes Art 7. Tâ—e Corporiety of Light fully consistent with the Duration of the Sun contrary to the Peripatetick Art 8. The inâ—â—nsibility of Heat in many Lucent Bâ—dieâ— no valid Argument against the praesent Thesis that Light is Flame Attenuated Art 1. An Elogy of the sense of Hearing and the Relation of this and the praecedent Chapter Art 2. The great Affinity betwixt Viâ—ibleâ—nd â—nd Audible species in their representation of the superficial Conditions of Objects Art 3. In the Causes and manner of their Destruction Art 4. In their Actinâ—bolism or Diffusion both Sphaerical and Pyramidal Art 5. In their certifying the sense of the Magnitude Figure and otherâ— Qualities of their Originals Art 6. In the obscuration of Less by Greater Art 7. In their offâ—nce of the organs when excessive Art 8. In thâ—ir production of Heat by Multiplication Art 9. In their Variability according to the various disposition of the Medium Art 10. In their chief Attributes of Lâ—comotion Exsilitiâ—â— â—mpaction Resilition Dâ—â—gregation Congâ—egation Art 1. The Product of the Praemises concerning the points of Consent Dissent of Audible and Visible Species viz. That Sounds are Corporeal Art 2. An obstruction oâ— praejudice from the generally supposed repugnant Authâ—rities of some of the Ancients expeded Art 3. An Argument of the Corporiety of Sounds Art 4. A Second Argumenâ— Câ—ROLLARâ— Art 5. The 〈…〉 where 〈…〉 dâ—sâ—ant fâ—â—m â—he Sonant aâ—d Repâ—â—cuâ—iâ—â—â— COROLLARY 2. Art 6. Why Concaves yeild the strongest and longest Sounds COROLLARY 3. Art 7. The reason of Conâ—urrent Echoes where the Audient is near the Reflectent and remote from the sonant COROLLARY 4. Art 8. Why Echoes Monâ—phâ—n rehearâ—e so much the fewer syllables by how much nearer the audient is to the Reflectenâ— COROLLARY 5. Art 9. The reaâ—on of Pâ—lyphâ—n Echoes Art 10. A Third Argument of the Materiality of Sâ—unds Art 11. The necessity of a certain Configuration in a Sound inferred from the Distinction of one sound from another by the Sense Art 12. The same confirmed by the Aâ—ctority
turbid during the seaâ—on wherein thâ— Vines Flâ—wer and Bud. Art 25. That the â—â—stilled waters of Orange flowers and Roses doe not take any thing of their fragrancy during â—he 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 of those 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 vulgarly believed Art 1. Why this 〈…〉 only some 〈…〉 Art 2. 〈…〉 Art 〈…〉 Art 4. 〈…〉 Art 5. The Cause of the â—â—est 〈…〉 Carcaâ—â— of a muâ—theâ—ed man 〈◊〉 the praesence and 〈◊〉 of the Hâ—miâ—iaâ— Art 6. How the Basilisk doth empoyson and destroy at distance Art 8. 〈…〉 Art 9. 〈…〉 Art 10. Wâ—y â—â—â—ers Tarantiaâ—al Persons are affected and cured with Divers Tâ—nâ—s and the musick of divers Instruments Art 11. Thâ—t â—â—e venome of the Tarantula doth produce the same effect in the body of a man is it doth in that of the Tarantula it self and why Art 12. That the Venâ—m of the Tarantula is 〈◊〉 in a 〈◊〉 Hâ—mor and such as 〈◊〉 capable of Sâ—â—nds Art 13. That it causeth an â—ncessent itching and 〈◊〉 â—itillation 〈◊〉 the Nervous and Musculous parâ—s of mans body when infused into it and â—ermenting â—n â—t Art 14. The cause of the Annual Recidivation of the Tarantism till it be perfectly cured Art 15. A Conjecture what kind of Tunâ—â— Strainâ— and Notes seem most accommodate to the Cure of Tarantiacal Personâ— iâ— the General Art 16. The Reason of the Incantation of Serpents by a rod of the Cornus Art 17. DIâ—RESSION That the 〈…〉 Art 19. 〈…〉 Art 20. That ships are 〈…〉 Art 21. That the Echineis or Remora is not Ominous Art 22. Why this place admits not of more than a Generalâ—â—quest â—â—quest into the Faculties of Poâ—â—ons and Counterpoisons Art 23. Poisons defined Art 24. Wherein the Deleterious Fâ—culty of Poison doth consist Art 25. Counterpoisons Defined Art 26. Wherein their Salutiferâ—us Virtue doth consist Art 27. How Triacle cureth the venome of Vipers Art 28. How the body of a Scorpion bruised and laid warm upon the parâ— which it hath lately wounded and envenomed doth cure the same Art 29. That some Poisons are Antidotes against others by way of direct Contrariety Art 30. Why sundry particular men and some whole Nations have â—ed upon Poisonous Animals and Plants without harm Art 31. The A maâ—â— Vrgâ—â—â—â— and 〈◊〉 Pâ—wder imâ—ugned Art 32. The Auâ—â—ors Retraction of his quondam Deâ—ence of the Magnetick Câ—re of W unds 〈◊〉 in his Pâ—oâ—egomena to Heâ—mâ—nts Book of that subject and title Art 1. The Nature and Obscurity of the Subject hinted by certain Metaphorical Cognomina agreeable thereunto though in divers relations Art 2. Why the Author insisteth not upon the 1 several Appellations 2 Inveâ—â—o of the Loadstone 3 â—nvention of the Pixis Nautica Art 3. The Virtues of the Loadstone in General Two the Attractive and Directive Art 4 〈…〉 Art 5. His 〈…〉 Art 6. Galens three Grand Objections against the same briefly Answered Art 7. 〈…〉 Art 8. A Parâ—llâ—lâ—â—â—â—â—â—wixt â—â—â—wixt the Mâ—gnetique Facâ—lâ—y of the Lâ—adstone 〈◊〉 and thaâ— of 〈◊〉 iâ— Animals Art 9. 〈…〉 Art 10. That every Lâ—adstone in respect of the Circumradiation of its Magnetical 〈…〉 acâ—rewing Art 11. The Reason oâ— that admirable 〈◊〉 or 〈…〉 of Magneâ—ickâ— and why the â—oleâ— of a Loadstone are incapable but those of a Neeâ—le easily capable of Tranâ—plantation from one Extreme to the contraâ—â— Art 12. An Objection of the 〈◊〉 or Repulsion of the North â—ole of one Loaâ—dstâ—ne or Needle by the Nâ—rth Pole of Another praevenâ—eâ— Art 13. Three prinâ—â—pal Magnetiâ—â—e Axioms deâ—uced from the same Fountain Art 14. 〈…〉 Art 15. That the Magnetique Vigour or Perfection both of Loadstones and Iron doth consist in either their Native Purity and Uniformity of Substance or their Artificial Politeness Art 16 That the Aâ—ming of a Magnet with polished Steel doth highly Corroborate but aâ— much diminish the sphere of its Attractive Virtue Art 17. Why a smaller or weaker Loadstone doth snatch away a Needle from a Greater or more Potent one while the small or weak one is held within the sphere of the great or stronger ones Activity and not otherwisâ— Art 18. COROLLARY Of the Abduction of Iron from the Earâ—h by a Loadstone Art 1. The Method and Câ—ntents of the Section Art 2. Affinity of the Loadstone and Iron Art 3. The Loadstâ—ne confâ—rms it sâ—lf in all respects to the Terrestâ—ial Globe as a Neâ—â—le conforms it self to the Loaâ—stone Art 4. Iron obtains a Verticity not only from tâ—e Loadstone by Affriction or Aspiration but also from the Earth it self and that according to the laws of Pâ—sitiâ—n Art 5. One and the same Nature in common to the Earth Loadstone and Iron Art 6. The Earth impraegnating Iron with a Polary Affection doth cause therein a Locall Immutation of its insensible particles Art 7. The Loadstone doth the same Art 8. The Magnetique Virtue a Corporeal Efflux Art 9. Contrarâ— â—bjâ—ctions their Solutions Art 10. A Paâ—alleliâ—me of the Magnetique Virtue and the Vegetative Faculâ—â— oâ— Plants Art 11. 〈…〉 of the 〈◊〉 reâ—â—pect name are Enemies and thâ—se of a Contrary respect name Friends Art 12. 〈…〉 is diâ—â—ected into two pieces why the â—oreal part of the one half decline â—â—njunction with the Boreall part of the other and the 〈◊〉 of one with thâ— Austâ—â—ll of the other Art 13. The Fibres of the Earth extend from Pole to Pole and that may be the Cause of the firme Cohaesion of all its Parts conspiring to conserve its Sphericall Figure Art 14. Reason of Magneticall Variatiâ—n in divers climates and places Art 15. The Deâ—rement of Magneticall Variation in one and the same place in divers years Art 16. The Cause thereof not yet known Art 17. No Mâ—gnet hath more â—han Two Legitâ—mate Poles and the reaâ—ons of Illegitimate ones Art 18. The Conclusion Apologeticall and 〈◊〉 Advertâ—â—â—â—ment that â—he Attractiâ—â— and Directiâ—â— Actâ—â—ons o◠〈…〉 Art 1. The Introduction Art 2. The proper Notions of Generation Corruption Art 3. Various opinions of the Ancient Philosophers touching the reason of Generation and the principall Authors of pacti Art 4. The two great opinions of the same Philosophers concerning the manner of the Commistion of the Common Principles in Generation faithfully briefly stated Art 5. That of Aristotle and the stoicks refuâ—ed and Chrysippus subâ—erfuge convicted of 3 Absurdities Art 6. Arâ—stâ—tles twofâ—ld â—â—vation of the 〈…〉 Art 〈…〉 Art 8. That the 〈◊〉 of a thing 〈…〉 certain 〈…〉 Art 9. 〈…〉 Art 10 An illuâ—â—râ—â—â—on thereâ—f by a praegnant and oâ—porâ—unâ—â— Insâ—â—nce viz. â—he Generation â—f â—he 〈…〉 Art 1. That in Corruption no substance perisheth but only that determinate Modification of substance or Matter which specified the thing Art 2. Enâ—â—rceâ—ent oâ— thâ—â—ame Thâ—sis by an illustrius Example Art 3. An Experâ—ment demonstrating that the Salâ— of Ashes was praeexistent in Wood and noâ— produâ—ed but only educed by Fire Art 4. The 〈◊〉 sense of three Gâ—neral Axâ—â—ms deduced from the precedent doctâ—ine of the Atomists Art 5. The General
I have no more reason to doubt that so transcendent a Charity as is diffused through and surrounds your perfect Soul can be large enough to dispense with the Rudeness of the Ceremonies and Poverty of the Offering where you are satisfied of the sincere Respects and unalterable Fidelity of his Heart who tenders it than I have to fear that the World should not most readily confirm my judgement that your Deserts have rightfully entitled you to all the Demonstrations of Honour and Reveâ—ence that can possibly be given to you The Chief part therefore yea the whole of my present Duty is only humbly to Beg your benigne Acceptance of this Dedication as the Best Expression I was able to make of those profound sentiments which as well your Goodness in General to others as your Particular Favours to my self have impressed upon my Soul And this I now do upon the Knees of my Heart and solemnly vow that as I esteem a perfect Friend the greatest Treasure of my life so I do and ever shall account you the most perfect of Friends That I shall confess my self to have lost not only all Piety but all Humanity also when ever I shall willingly lose any the least opportunity of serving you and that your own Good Angell I speak familiarly but at the same time believe you to be under the Tuition of a Legion of Good ones cannot more fervently desire your complete Happiness than Incomparable Madam Your Eternal Servant W. CHARLETON London the 20 of Iuly An. Dom. 1654. THE CONTENTS SERIES AND ORDER OF THE WHOLE BOOK BOOK THE FIRST CHAP. I. All Modern Philosophers reduced to four general Orders and the principal causes of their Dissention pag. 1. SECT I. ARTIC 1 THe principal Sects of the ancient Grecian Philosophers only enumerated pag. 1 2 The same revived among the Moderns with encrease 2 3 Who are reduced either to the Pedantique or Female Sect. 2 4 Or to the Assertors of Philosophical Liberty 3 5 Or to the Renovators 3 6 Or to the Electors 4 SECT II. ARTIC 1 THe principal causes of the Diversity of Philosophical Sects and the chiefest among them the Obscurity of Nature 5 2 The Imperfection of our Understanding 5 3 The Irregularity of our Curiosity A paradox 6 CHAP. II. That this World is the Vniverse pag. 9. SECT I. ARTIC 1 THe Ambition of Alexander in affecting the Conquest less vain then that of many ancient Philosophers in affecting the Knowledge of a Multitude of Worlds 9 2 A reduction of those Philosophers to four distinct Sects respective to their distinct perswasions and the Heads of each Sect nominated 9 3 The two main pillars on which the opinion of a Plurality of Worlds was anciently erected 10 SECT II. The Redargution ARTIC 1 THe Question stated to be concerning the real Existence not the possibility of an Infinity of Worlds 11 2 Because the supposed Infinity of the Extramundan Spaces is no impossibility ibid. 3 Because an Infinity of Bodies is also possible as to the Omnipotence of God ibid. 4 The Error of concluding the Esse from the Posse of an Infinity of Worlds 12 5 The first main Pillar of a Plurality of worldâ— subverted ibid. 6 The second Pillar found sophisticate and demolished 13 7 A Plurality of Worlds manifestly repugnant to Authority Divine 14 8 And Human. ibid. 9 The result of all the Demonstration of the Authors Thesis That this World is the Universe ibid. 10 Extramundane Curiosity a high degree of Madness 15 CHAP. III. Corporiety and â—nanity p. 16 SECT I. ARTIC 1 BOdy and Inanity the two general Parts of the Vniverse 2 Three the most memorable Definitions of Corporiety extant among Physiologists recounted and examined ibid. 3 Four Descriptions of the nature of Inanity by Epicurus Cleomedes Empericus Aristotle 17 4 Their importance extracted and what is the formal or proper notion of a Vacuum 18 5 The Existence of Bodies in the World manifest by Sense whose Evidence is perfect Demonstration ibid. CHAP. IV. A Vacuum in Nature p 21. SECT I. ART 1 The Distinction of a 〈◊〉 into â— Natural and 2 Praeternatural and the one called Disseminate the other Coâ—cervate 21 2 The nature of a Dissemiâ—â—te Vaâ—uity explained by the Analogy of a heap of Corn. ibid. 3 The first Argument of a Disseminate Vacuity desumed from the evidence of Motion in General and Aristotles error concerning the Essence or Place concisely detected and corrected 22 4 Motion demonstrated by Sense and Zeno's aenigmatical Argument for an Vniversal Quiet dissolved 23 5 The Consequution of the Argument if no Vacuum no Motion illustrated 24 6 An Objection that the â—ococession of some Bodies depends on their â—arity or Porosity not on a Disseminate Vacuiâ—â— praevented ibid. 7 No beginning of Motion without Inanity interâ—â—ersed 25 SECT II. ARTâ—C 1 A Second Argument of a Vacuity Disseminate collected from the reason of Rarefaction and Condensation ibid. 2 The eminent Phaenomenon â—f an Aerosclopet or Wind Gun solved by a Vacuity Disseminate among the incontiguous quoad totas superficies parts of aer 26 3 Experiment of an Aeolipile or Hermetical Bellows attesting a Vacuity Disseminate ibid. 4 Experiment of a Sulphurate Tapor included in a Glass Vial partly 〈◊〉 with Water of the same importance 27 5 No Combustible in Aer and so the opinion of the Aristoteleans that the Extinction of Fâ—ame imprisoned is to be charged on the Deâ—ect of Aer for its sustentation grosly errâ—neous 28 6 A fourth singular and memorable Experiment of the Authors of Yâ—e at the nose of a large Reverberatory Furnace charged with Ignis rotae evidencing a Vacuity interspersed in the Aer 29 7 An inference from that Experiment that Aer as to its General Destination is the Common Receptary of Exhalations ibid. 8 A second Illation that the Aer doth receive Exhalations at a certain rate or definite proportion which cannot be transcended without prodigious violence 30 9 The Existence of Inane Incontiguities in the Aer confirmed by two considerable Arguments ibid SECT III. ARTIC 1 THat Water also contains Vacuola empty Spaces demonstrated 31 2 From the Experiment of the Dissolution of Alum Halinitre Sal Ammoniac and Sugar in Water formerly sated with the Tincture of Common Salt ibid. 3 The verity of the Lord Bacons Assertion that a repeated infusion of Rhubarb acquires as strong a virtue Catharâ—â—ical as a simple infusion of Scamony in equal quantity and why 32 4 Why two Drachms of Antimony impraegnate a pint of Wine with so strong a vomitory Faculty as two ounces ibid. 5 Why one and the same Menstruum may be enriched with various Tinctures ibid. SECT IV. ARTIC 1 TWo other Arguments of a Vacuity Disseminate inferrible from 1 the difference of Bodies in the degrees of Gravity 2 the Calefaction of Bodies by the penetration of igneous Atoms into them 33 2 The Experiments vulgarly adduced to prove no vacuity in nature so far from denying that they confess a Disseminate one
ibid. 3 The grand Difficulty of the Cause of the Aers restitution of it self to its natural contexture after rarefaction and condensation satisfyed in brief ibid. CHAP. V. A Vacuum praeternatural p. 35. SECT I. ARTIC 1 WHat is conceived by a Coacervate Vacuity and who was the Inventer of the famous Experiment of Quick-silver in a Glass Tube upon which many modern Physiologists have erected their perswasion of the possibility of introducing it 35 2 A faithful description of the Experiment and all its rare Phaenomena 36 3 The Authors reason for his selection of onely six of the most considerable Phaenomena to explore the Causes of them 37 SECT II. ARTIC 1 THe First Cardinal Difficulty 37 2 The Desert space in the Tube argued to be an absolute Vacuum coacervate from the impossibility of its replâ—tion with Aer ibid. 3 The Experiment praesented in Iconism 38 4 The Vacuity in the Desert Space not praevented by the insinuation of Aether 40 5 A Paradox that Nature doth not abhor all vacuity per se but onely ex Accidenti or in respect to Fluxility ibid. 6 A second Argument against the repletion of the Desert space by Aether 41 7 The Vacuity of the Desert space not praevented by an Halitus or Spiritual Eâ—â—lux from the Mercury for three convincing reasons 42 8 The Authors Apostacy from the opinion of an absolute Coacervate Vacuity in the desert space in regard of ibid. 9 The possibility of the subingression of light ibid. 10 Of the Atoms or insensible bodies of Heat and Cold which are much more exile and penetrative then common Aer 43 11 Of the Magnetical Eâ—â—lux of the Earth to which opinion the Author resigns his Assent 44 12 No absolute plenitude nor absolute Vacuity in the Desert Space but onely a Disseminate Vacuity ibid. SECT III. ARTIC 1 THe second Difficulty stated 45 2 Two things necessary to the creation of an excessive or praeternatural Vacuity ibid. 3 The occasion of Galilaeos invention of a Brass Cylindre charged with a wooden Embol or Sucker and of Torricellius invention of the praesent Experiment ibid. 4 The marrow of the Difficulty viz. How the Aer can be impelled upward by the Restagnant Quick silver when there externally wants a fit space for it to ciâ—culate into 46 5 The solution of the same by the Laxity of the Contexture of the Aer ibid. 6 The same illustrated by the adaequate simile of Corn infused into a Bushel ibid. 7 A subordinate scruple why most bodies are moved through the Aer with so little resistence as is imperceptible by sense 47 8 The same Expeded ibid. 9 A second dependent scruple concerning the Cause of the sensible resistence of the Aer in this case of the Experiment together with the satisfaction thereof by the Gravity of Aer ibid. SECT IV. ARTIC 1 THe State of the Third Difficulty 48 2 The Solution thereof in a Word ibid. 3 Three praecedent positions briefly recognized in order to the worthy profounding of the mystery of the Aers resisting Compression beyond a certain rate or determinate proportion ibid. 4 The Aequiponderancy of the External Aer pendent upon the surface of the Restagnant Mercury in the vessel to the Cylindre of Mercury residuous in the Tube at the altitude of 27 digits the cause of the Mercuries constant subsistence at that point 49 5 A convenient simile illustrating and enforcing the same 50 6 The Remainder of the Difficulty viz. Why the Aequilibrium of these two opposite weights the Mercury and the Aer is constant to the praecise altitude of 27 digits removed ibid. 7 Humane Perspicacity terminated in the exterior parts of Nature or simple Apparitions which eluding our Cognition frequently fall under no other comprehension but that of rational Conjecture ibid. 8 The constant subsistence of the Mercury at 27 digits adscriptive rather to the Resistence of the Aer then to any occult Quality in the Mercury 51 9 The Analogy betwixt the Absolute and Respective Aequality of weights of Quick-silver and Water in the different altitudes of 27 digits and 32 feet 52 10 The definite weights of the Mercury at 27 digits and Water at 32 feet in a Tube of the third part of a digit in diametre found to be neer upon two pound Paris weight ibid. 11 Quaere Why the Aequilibrium is constant to the same point of altitude in a Tube of a large concave as well as in one of a small when the force of the Depriment must be greater in the one then the other 53 12 The solution thereof by the appropriation of the same Cause which makes the descent of two bodies of different weights aequivelox ibid. SECT V. ARTIC 1 THe Fourth Capital Difficulty proposed 54 2 The full solution thereof by demonstration ibid. 3 The same confirmed by the theory of the Cause of the Mercuries frequent Reciprocations before it acquiesce at the point of Aequipondium ibid. SECT VI. ARTIC 1 THe Fifth Principal Difficulty 55 2 Solved by the Motion of Restauration natural to each insâ—nsible particle of Aer ibid. 3 The incumbent Aer in this case equally distressed by two contrary Forces 56 4 The motion of Restauration in the Aerâ—extended to the satisfaction of another consimilar Doubt concerning the subintrusion of Water into the Tube if superaffused upon the restagnant Mercury ibid. 5 A Third most important Doubt concerning the nonapparence of any Tensity or Rigidity in the region of Aer incumbent upon the Restagnant Liquors ibid. 6 The solution thereof by the necessary reliction of a space in the vicâ—â—â— region of Lax aer equal to that which the Hand commoved possesseth in the region of the Comprest 57 7 A confirmation of the same Reason by the adaequate Example of the Flame of a Tapour ibid. 8 2 By the Experiment of Urination ibid. 9 3 By the Beams of thâ— Sun entring a room through some slender crany in the appearance of a White shining Wand and constantly maintaining that Figure notwithstanding the agitation of the aer by wind c. 58 10 4 By the constancy of the Rainbow to its Figure notwithstanding the change of position and place of the cloud and contiguous aer ibid. 11 Helmonts Dâ—lirium that the Rainbow is a supernatural Meteor observed ibid. SECT VII ARTIC 1 THe sixth and last considerable Difficulty ibid. 2 The cleer solution thereâ—â— by the great disproportion of weight betwiâ—t Quick-silver and Water 59 3 A Corollary the Altitude of the Atmosphere conjectured ibid. 4 A second Corollary the desperate Difficulty of conciliating Physiology to the Mathematicks instanced in the much discrepant opinions of Galilaeo and Mersennus concerning the proportion of Gravity that Aer and Water hold each to other ibid. 5 The Conclusion of the Digression and the reasons why the Authorâ—â—â—cribes â—â—â—cribes a Cylindrical Figure to the portion of Aer impendent on the Restagnant Liquors in the Experiment 60 CHAP. VI. Of PLACE p. 62. SECT I. ARTIC 1 THe Identity Essential
almost Apodictical that Gravity is the Effect of the Earths Attraction ibid. SECT III. ARTIC 1 LEvity nothing but less Gravity 290 2 Aristotles Sphere of Fire extinguisht 291 3 That Fire doth not Asâ—ned spontaneously but Violently i. e. is impell'd upward by the Aer ibid. CHAP. XII Of Heat and Cold. p. 293. SECT I. ARTIC 1 THe Connection of this to the immediately precedent Chapter ibid. 2 Why the Author deduceth the 4 First Qualities not from the 4 vulgar Elements but from the 3 Proprieties of Atoms ibid 3 The Nature of Heat is to be conceived from its General Effect viz. the Penetration Discussion and Dissolution of the Bodies concrete ibid. 4 Heat defined as no Immaterial but a Substantial Quality 294 5 Why such Atoms as are comparated to produce Heat are to be Named the Atoms of Heat and such Concretions as harbor them are to be called Hot either Actually or Potentially ibid. 6 The 3 necessary Proprieties of the Atoms of Heat ibid. 7 That the Atoms of Heat are capable of Expedition or deliverance from Concretions Two ways viz. by Evocation and Motion 296 8 An Unctuous matter the chief Seminary of the Atoms of Heat and why 297 9 Among Vnctuous Concretions Why some are more easily inflammable than others 298 10 A CONSECTARâ— That Rarefactiâ—n is the proper Effect of Heat ibid 11 PROBLEM 1. Why the bottom of a Caldron wherein Water iâ— boyling may be touched by the hand of a man without burning it Sol. 299 12 PROBLEM 2. Why Lime becomes ardent upon the affusion of 〈◊〉 Sol. 300 13 PROBLEM 3 Why the Heat of Lime burning is more vehement than the Heat of any Flame whatever Sol. ibid. 14 PROBLEM 4. Why boyling Oyl scalds more vehemently then boyling Water Sol. 301 15 PROBLEM 5. Why Metals melted or made red hod burn more violent than the Fire that melteth or heateth them Sol. ibid. 16 CONSECTARY That as the degrees of Heat so those of 〈◊〉 are innumerably various ibid. 17 That to the Calefaction Combustion or Inflammation of a body by fire is required a certain space of time and that the space is greater or less according to the paucity or abundance of the igneous Atoms invading the body objected and more or less of aptitude in the contexture thereof to admit them 30â— 18 Flame more or less Durable for various respects 303 19 CONSECTARY 3. That the immediate and genuine Effect of Heat is the Disgregation of all bodies as well Homogeneous as Heterogeneous and that the Congregation of Homogeneous Natures is onely an Accidental Effect of Heat contrary to Aristotle 305 SECT II. ARTIC 1 THe Link connecting this Section to the former 306 2 That Cold is no Privation of Heat but a Real and Positive Quality demonstrated ibid. 3 That the adaequate Notion of Cold ought to be desumeâ— from its General Effect viz. the Congregâ—tion and Compaction of bodies 307 4 Cold no Immaterial but a Substantial Quality ibid. 5 Gassendus conjectural Assignation of a Tetrahedical Figure to the Atoms of cold asserted by sundry weighty considerations ibid 6 Cold not Essential to Earth Water nor Aer 309 7 But to some Special Concretions for the most part consisting of Frigorifick Atoms 312 8 Water the chief Antagonist to Fire not in respect of its Accidental Frigidity but Essential Humidity and that the Aer hath a juster title to the Principality of Cold than either Water or Earth 313 9 PROBLEM Why the breath of a man doth Warm when expired with the mouth wide open and Cool when efflated with the mouth contracted ibid. 10 Three CONSECTARIES from the premises 314 CHAP. XIII Fluidity Stability Humidity Siccity p. 316. SECT I. ARTIC 1 WHy Fluidity and Firmness are here considered before Humidity and Siccity ibid. 2 The Latin Terms Humidum and Siccum too narrow to comprehend the full sense of Aristotle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibid. 2 The Latin Terms Humidum and Siccum too narrow to comprehend the full sense of Aristotle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibid. 3 Aristotles Definition of a Humid substance not praecise enough but in common also to a Fluid and his Definition of a Dry accommodable to a Firme 317 4 Fluidity defined 318 5 Wherein the Formal Reason thereof doth consist ibid. 6 The same farther illustrated by the twofold Fluidity of Metals and the peculiar reason of each 319 7 Firmness defined 320 8 And derived from either of 3 Causes ibid. SECT II. ARTIC 1 HUmidity defined 321 2 Siccity defined 322 3 Siccity rather Comparative than Absolute ibid 4 All moisture either Aqueous or Oleaginous ibid. 5 PROBLEM â— Why pure water cannot wash out oyl from a Cloth which yet water wherein Ashes have been decocted or soap dissolved easily doth Solut. 323 6 PROBLEM 2. Why stains of Ink are not to be taken out of cloaths but with some Acid Liquor Solut. ibid. CHAP. XIV Softness Hardness Flexility Tractility Ductility c. p. 325. SECT I. ARTIC 1 THe Illation of the Chapter ibid. 2 Hard and Soft defined ibid. 3 The Difference betwixt a Soft and Fluid 326 4 Solidity of Atoms the Fundament of Hardness and Inanity intercepted among them the fundament of Softness in all Concretions ibid. 5 Hardness and Softness no Absolute but meerly Comparative Qualities as adscriptive to Concretions contrary to Aristotle 327 6 Softness in Firme things deduced from the same cause as Fluidity in Fluid ones ibid. 7 The General Reason of the Mollification of Hard and Induration of Soft bodies ibid. 8 The special manners of the Mâ—llification of Hard and Induration of Soft bodies 328 9 PROBLEM Why Iron is Hardned by being immersed red-hot into Cold Water and its SOLVTION ibid. 10 The Formal Reasons of Softness and Hardness 329 11 The ground of Aristotles Distinction betwixt Formatilia and Pressilia ibid. 12 Two Axioms concerning and illustrating the nature of Softness 330 SECT II. ARTIC 1 FLexility Tractility Ductility c. derived from Softness and Rigidity from Hardness 3â—1 2 PROBLEM What is the Cause of the motion of Restoration in Flexiles and the Solut. ibid. 3 Two Obstructions expeded 332 4 Why Flexile bodies grow weak by overmuch and over frequent Bending 333 5 The Reason of the frequent Vibrations or Diadroms of Lutestrings and othâ—r Tractile Bodies declared to be the same with that of the Restorative Motion of Flexiles and demonstrated ibid. 6 PROBLEM Why the Vibrations or Diodroms of a Chord distended and percussed are Aequitemperaneous though not Aequispatial and the SOLVT 335 7 PROBLEM VVy doth a Chord of a duple length perform its diadroms in a proportion of time duple to a Chord of a single length both being distended by equal force and yet if the Chord of the duple length be distended by a duple force or weight it doth not perform its Diadroms in a proportion of time duple to that of the other but onely if the Force or weight distending it be quadruple to the First supposed and its SOLVT
Scorpion bruised and laid warm upon the part which it hath lately wounded and envenomed doth cure the same 379 29 That some Poisons are Antidotes against others by way of direct Contrariety ibid. 30 Why sundry particular men and some whole Nations have fed upon Poisonous Animals and Plants without harm· 380 31 The Armary Unguent and Sympathetick Powder impugned ibid. 32 The Authors Retraction of his quondam Defence of the Magnetick Cure of Wounds made in his Prolegomena to Helmonts Book of that subject and title 381 CHAP. XVI The Phaenomena oâ— the Loadstone Explicated p. 383. SECT I. ARTIC 1 THe Nature and Obscurity of the Subject hinted by certain Metaphorical Cognomina agreeable thereunto though in divers relations ibid. 2 Why the Author insisteth not upon the 1 several Appellations 2 Inventor of the Loadstone 3 invention of the Pixis Nautica 384 3 The Virtues of the Loadstone in General Two the Attractive and Directive ibid. 4 Epicurus his first Theory of the Cause and Manner of the Attraction of Iron by a Loadstone according to the Exposition of Lucreâ—ius ibid 5 His other solution of the same according to the Commentary of Galen 386 6 Galens three Grand Objections against the same briefly Answered 387 7 The insatisfaction of the Ancients Theory necessitates the Author to recur to the Speculations and Observations of the Moderns concerning the Attraction of Iron by a Magnet and the Reduction of them all to a few Capital observables viz. 388 8 A Parallelism betwixt the Magnetique Faculty of the Loadstone and Iron and that of Sense in Animals 389 9 That the Loadstone and Iron interchangeably operate each upon other by the mediation of certain Corporeal Species transmitted in â—ays and the Analogy of the Magnetick and Luminous Rayes 390 10 That every Loadstone in respect of the Circumradiation of its Magnetical Aporrhae's ought to be allowed the supposition of a Centre Axis and Diametre of an Aequator and the Advantages thence accrewing 391 11 The Reason of that admirable Bi-form or Janus-like Faculty of Magneticks and why the Poles of a Loadstone are incapable but those of a Needle easily capable of transplantation from one Extreme to the contrary 392 12 An Objection of the Aversion or Repulsion of the North Pole of one Loadstone or Needle by the North Pole of Another praevented 393 13 Three principal Magnetick Axioms deduced from the same Fountain ibid. 14 A DIGRESSION to the Iron Tomb of Mahomet 394 15 That the Magnetique Vigour or Perfection both of Loadstones and Iron doth consist in either their Native Purity and Vniformity of Substance or their Artificial Politeness 396 16 That the Arming of a Magnet with polished Steel doth highly Corroborate but as much diminish the sphere of its Attractive Virtue ibid. 17 Why a smaller or weaker Loadstone doth snatch away a Needle from a Greater or more Potent one while the small or weak one is held within the sphere of the great or stronger ones Activity and not otherwise 397 18 COROLLARY Of the Abduction of Iron from the Earth by a Loadstone 398 SECT II. ARTIC 1 THe Method and Contents of the Sect. ibid. 2 Affinity of the Loadstone and Iron ibid. 3 The Loadstone conforms it self in all respects to the Terrestrial Globe as a Needle conforms it self to the Loadstone 399 4 Iron obtains a Verticity not onely from the Loadstone by affriction or Aspiration but also from the Earth it self and that according to the laws of Position 400 5 One and the same Nature in common to the Earth Loadstone and Iron 401 6 The Earth impragnating Iron with a Polary Affection doth cause therein a Local Immutation of its insensible particles 402 7 The Loadstone doth the same 403 8 The Magnetique Virtue a Corporeal Efflux ib. 9 Contrary Objections and their Solutionâ— 404 10 A Parallelism of the Magnetique Virtue and the Vegetative Faculty of Plants 405 11 Why Poles of the same respect and name are Enemies and those of a Contrary respect and name Friends 406 12 When a Magnet is dissected into two pieces why the Boreal part of the one half declinâ—s Conjunction with the Bâ—reaâ— part of the other and the Austral of one with the Austral of the other ibid. 13 The Fibres of the Earth extend from Pole to Pole and that may be the Cause of the firm Cohaesion of all its Parts conspiring to conserve its Spherical Figure 407 14 Reason of Magnetical Variation in divers climates and places ibid. 15 The Decrement of Magnetical Variation in one and the same place in divers years 410 16 The Cause thereof not yet known ibid. 17 No Magnet hath more than Two Legitimate Poles and the reasons of Illegitimate ones 411 18 The Conclusion Apologetical and an Advertisement that the Attractive and Directive Actions of Magnetiques arise from one and the same Faculty and that they were distinguished onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for convenience of Doctrine 412 The Fourth Book CHAP. I. Of Generation and Corruption p. 415 SECT I. ARTIC 1 THe Introduction ibid 2 The proper Notions of Generation and Corruption 4â—6 3 Various opinions of the Ancient Philosophers touching the reason of Generation and the principal Authors of pacti 417 4 The two great opinions of the same Philosophers concerning the manner of the Commistion of the Common Principles in Generation faithfully and briefly stated 418 5 That of Aristotle and the Stoicks refuted and Chrysippus subâ—ersuge convicted of 3 Absurdities 419 6 Aristotles twofold Evasion of the Incongruities attending the position of the Remaneâ—ce of things commixed notwithstanding their supposed reciprocal Transubstantiation found likâ—wise meerly Sâ—phistical 420 7 That the Fâ—rms of things arising in Generation are no New substances nor distinct from thâ—ir matter contrary to the Aristoteleans 422 8 That the Form of a thing is onely a certain Quality or determinate Modification of its Matter 424 9 An abstract of the theory of the Atomists touching the same 4â—5 10 An illusâ—ration thereof by a praegnant and â—pportuâ—â— Iâ—stance viz. the Genâ—ration of Fire Flame Fume Soot Ashes and Salt from Wood dissolved by Fire 4â—6 SECT II. ARTIC 1 THat in Corruption no substance perisheth but only that determinate Modification of substance or Matter which specified â—he thing 428 2 Enforcement of the same Thesis by an illustrious Example 429 3 An Experiment demonstrating that the Salt of Ashes was praeexistent in Wood and not produced but onely educed by Fire ibid. 4 The true sense of three General Axioms deduced from the precedent doctrine of the Atomists 4â—0 5 The General Intestine Causes of Corruption chiefly Two 1 the interception of Inanity among the solid particles of Bodies 2 The essential Gravity and inseperable Mobility of Atoms 431 6 The General Manners or ways of Generation and Corruption 432 7 Inadvertency of Aristotle in making Five General Modes of Generation 433 8 The special Manners of Generation innumerable and why ibid. 9 All sorts of Atoms not indifferently competent to
altogether destitute of thesupport and warrantry of Reason For the Human Soul the only Creature that understands the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or transcendent Dignity of its Original by reflecting upon the superlative Idea which it holds of its Creator from the moment of its immersion into the cloud or opacity of flesh labours with an insatiable Appetence of Knowledge as the only means that seems to conduce to the satisfaction of its congenial Ambition of still aspiring to Greater and Better things and therefore hath no Affection either so Essential or Violent as the Desire of Science and consequently lyeth not so open to the deception of any Objects as of those which seem to promise a satisfaction to that desire And obvious it is from the words of the Text that the Argument which turned the sâ—ales i. e. determined the Intellect and successively the Will of our Grandmother Eve from its indifferencie or aequilibration to an Appetition and so to the actual Degustation of the Forbidden Fruit was this Desiderabilis est arboris fructuâ— ad habendam scientiam Besides though we shall not exclude the Beauty of the fruit transmitted by the sight to the judicatory Faculty and so allecting the Sensual Appetite from having a finger in the Delusion yet can we allow it to have had no more then a finger and are perswaded that in the syndrome or conspiracy of Causes the most ponderous and praevalent was the Hope of an accession or augmentation of Knowledge Since â—t cannot but highly disparage the primitive or innocent state of man to admit that his Intellect was so imperfect as not to discern a very great Evil through the thin Apparence of Good when the utmost that Apparence could promise was no more than the momentany pleasure of his Palate or Gust Or that the express and poenal Interdiction of God yet sounding in his ears could be over-balanced by the light species of an object which must be lost in the Fruition Nor is this Curiositie to be accused only of the First Defection from Truth but being an inseparable Annex to our Nature and so derived by traduction to all Adams posteritie hath proved the procatarctick Cause of many some contemplative Clerks would have adventured to say of All the Errors of our judgments And though we have long cast about yet can we not particular any one Vicious inclination or action whose Scope or End may not either directly or obliquely proximly or remotely seem to promise an encrease of Knowledge in some kind or other To instance in one which appears to be determined in the Body to have no interest beyond the Sense and so to exclude all probabilitie of extending to the Mind as to the augmentation of its Science Whoever loves a beutiful Woman whom the right of Marriage hath appropriated to another ardently desires to enjoy her bed why not only for the satisfaction of his sensual Appâ—tite because that might be acquired by the act of carnaliâ—y with some other less beutiful and Beuty is properly the object of the Mind but because that Image of Beuty which his eye hath transmitted to his mind being praesented in the species or apparition of Good and Amiabâ—e seems to contain some Excellence or comparitively more Good then what He hath formerly understood If it be objected that if so one enjoyment must satisfie that Desire and consequently no man could love what He hath once enjoyed since Fruition determineth Desire We Answer that there is no such necessitie justly inferrible when Experience assures that many times Love is so far from languishing that it grows more strong and violent by the possession of its Object The Reason is because the passionate Lover apprehending no fruition total or possession entire supposeth some more Good still in the object then what his former enjoyment made him acquainted withall And if it be replyed that the Lover doth in the perseverance of his Affection propose to himself meerly the Continuation of that Good which He hath formerly enjoyed we are provided of a sufficient Rejoynder viz. that whoso wisheth the Continuation of a Good considers it not as a thing praesent but to come and consequently as a thing which yet He doth not know for no man can know what is not Other Instances the Reader may be pleased to select from among the Passions tracing them up to their first Exciting Cause in order to his more ample satisfaction it being digressive and only collateral to our Scope Good thus being the only proper Object of our Affections for Evil exhibited naked i. e. as Evil never Attracts but ever Averts our Will or Rational Appetite as we have clearly proved in our Discourse of the Liberty Elective of mans Will if we mistake a real evil praesented under the disguise of a Good this mistake is to be charged upon the account of our Rational or judicatory Faculty which not sufficiently examining the Reality of the species judgeth it to be good according to the external Apparence only and so misguideth the Will in its Election Now aâ—ong the Causes of the Intellects erroneous judicature we have formerly touched upon its own Native Imperfection or Coecity and Praejudice the chiefest and most general is the Impatience Praecipitancy or Inconsiderateness of the Mind when not enduring the serious profound and strict examen of the species nor pondering all the moments of Reason whiâ—h are on the Averting part of the Object with that impartialiâ—y requisite to a right judgment but suffering it self at the first occursion or praesentation thereof to be determined by the moments of Reason apparent on the Attracting part to an Approbation thereof it misinformeth the Will and ingageth it in an Election and prosecution of a Falsity or Evil couched under the specious semblance of a positive Truth or Good Now to accommodate all this to the interest of our Paradox if Good real or apparent be the proper and adaequate object of the Intellect and the chief reason of Good doth consist in that of Science as the principal end of all our Affections then most certainly must our praecedent assertion stand firm viz. that our understanding lyeth most open to the delusion of such objects which by their Apparence promise the most of satisfaction to our Desire of Science and upon consequence by how much the more we are spurred on by our Curiosity or Appeâ—ence of Knowledge by so much the more is our mind impatient of their strict examen and aequitable perpension All which we dayly observe experimented in our selves For when our thoughts are violent and eager in the pursuit of some reason for such or such an operation in Nature if either the discourse or writings of some Person in great esteem for Learning or Sagacity or our own meditations furnish us with one plausible and verisimilous such as seems to solve our Doubt how greedily do we embrace it and without further perpension of its solidity and verity immediately judge it to
or material Principle of the World as we shall clearly enunciate in a singular Chapter subsequent we may adventure to affirm that God created exactly such a proportion of Atoms as might be sufficient to the making up of so vast a Bulk as this of the World and that there remained no one superfluous 'T is unworthy a Philosopher to acknowledge any superfluity in Nature and consequently a dangerous soloecism to say the God of Nature knowing not how to proportion the quantity of his materials to the model or platform of his structure created more Atoms then were necessary and left an infinite Residue to be perpetually hurried too and fro in the ultramundane space If they shall urge upon us that no man was privy to the Councel of God at the Creation and consequently no can know whether He created either more Atoms then were requisite to the amassment of this World or more Worlds then this one we may justly retort the Argument upon them and conclude that since no man was privy to the Councel of God they have no reason to pretend to know that God created either more matter or more Worlds and so the whole substance of the Dispute must be reduced only to this That they have no more Reason for the support of their opinion of a Plurality of Worlds then we have foâ— ours of the Unity of the World Nay the greatest weight of Reason hangs on our end of the scale for we ground our Opinion upon that stable Criterion our sense and asserting the singularity of the world discourse of what our sight apprehends but They found theirs upon the fragil reed of wild Imagination and affirming a Plurality discourse of what neither the information of their sense nor solid reason nor judicious Authority hath learned them enough to warrant even Conjecture And as to their second Argument viz. That there is in Nature no one Thing special to which under the same kind there are not many singulars alike we Answer that All those singulars which we observe to be multiplied under one and the same kind are such which perish in the Individual and therefore cannot but be lost if not conserved by the multitude of Successors and not such as are not obnoxious to destruction by Corruptibility for they constantly existing in the â—ndividual need not Multiplicity to their conservation For which cause one Sun and one Moon are sufficient and in al probability of this sort is the World for though it be conceived obnoxious to corruption and shall once confess a Period yet is this no valid reason to justifie the necessity of a multitude of worlds since the Dissolution of the World shal be synchronical to the Dissolution of Nature when Sun Moon and all other kinds of Creatures as well single as numerous shall be blended together in one common ruine and then the same Infinite Cause which hath destroyed them can with as much facility as he first Created them repair their ruines educe them out of their second Chaos and redintegrate them into what Form His Wisdom shall design Nor is this opinion of a Plurality of Worlds only destitute of but even è diametro repugnant to the principal Inducements of Belief For if we consider Authority Divine in Moses inaestimable Diary or Narrative of the Creation can be found no mention at all of a Multitude of Worlds but on the contrary a positive assertion of one world and the express declarement of the manner how the Fiat of Omnipotence educed the several Parts thereof successively out of the Chaos disposed them into subordinate Piles and endowed them with exquisite configurations respective to their distinct destinations motions and uses and in all the other Books of Sacred Writ whatever concerns the Providence of God the Condition of man the mysteries of his Redemption means of salvation c. doth more then intimate the singularity of the World nor is there any one word if rightly interpreted which can be produced as an excuse for the opposite Error If Humane Authority we may soon perceive that those Ancient Philosophers who have declared on our side for the Unity of the World do very much exceed those Pluralists nominated in our praecedent Catalogue both in Number and Dignity For Thales Milesius Pythagoras Empedocles Ecphantus Parmenides Melissus Heraclitus Anaxagoras Plato Aristotle Zeno the Stoâ—ck attended on by all their sober Disciples have unanimously rejected and derided the Conceit of many Worlds not only as vain and weak but as extremly Hypochondriack and worthy a whole acre of Hellebor Nor indeed are we persuaded that so great Wits as those of Democritus and Epicurus did apprehend it as real but only Imaginary proposing it as a necessary Hypothesis whereon to erect their main Physical Pillar 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vniversum esse ortus interitusque expers That the Universe is nonprincipiate and indissoluble For having mediated thus Whatever is Finite is circumscribed by an External Space from which a cause may come and invading destroy it and into which the matter thereof aâ—ter the dissolution of its Form may be received now this World being Finite must be environed by a circumambient space from which a Cause may invade and destroy it and into which the matter thereof after the dissolution of its Form may be received must of necessity therefore be dissoluble They inferred that unless they would concede the Universe to be dissoluble which could never consist with their Principles they must affirm it to be Infinite i. e. without which no space can be from whence any Cause might invade it and into which the matter thereof after the destruction of its Form might be received and thereupon concluded to suppose an Infinity of Worlds Coexistent Which seems to be the Reason also that induced Epicurus and Metrodorus to opinion that the Vniverse was not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Immutable but also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Immoveable as may be collected from these words of Plutarch quoted by Eusebius 1. praepa Evang. 5. concerning Metrodorus Is inter caetera non moveri universum dixit quoniam non est quò migrare possit nam si posset quidem vel in plenum vel in vacuum atqui universum continet quicquid hujusmodi est quia si non contineret minime foret Vniversum Having thus amply refuted the Dream of a Plurality of Worlds both by detecting the exceeding invalidity of those two Cardinal Reasons on which the Authors and Abettors of it had rashly fixed their Assent and by convicting it of manifest Repugnancy to Authority Divine and Human we may safely praesume the understanding of our Reader is sufficiently praepared to determine his judgment to an Approbation of our Thesis the Argument and Title of this Chapter viz. That this Adspectable world is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Omne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vniversum the All in Rerum Natura the large Magazine wherein all the wealth and treasure
which this eminent Experiment exhibits to observation the least whereof seems to require a second Oedipus more perspicacious then the first for the accommodation thereof though but to plausible and verisimilous Causes and might had Aristotle known it have been reputed the ground of his despair with more credit then that petty Problem of the frequent and irregular Reciprocation of Euripus we have selected only six as the most considerable and such whose solution may serve as a bright tapor to illuminate the reason of the Curious who desire to look into the dark and abstruce Dihoties of the rest SECT II. The First Capital Difficulty WHether that Space in the Tube betwixt the upper extreme thereof and the Quicksilver delapsed to the altitude only of 27 digits be really an entire and absolute Vacuity Concerning this some there are who confidently affirm the space between the superfice of the Quicksilver defluxed and the superior extreme of the Tube to be an absolute COACERVATE VACUITIE such as may be conceived if we imagine some certain space in the world to be by Divine or miraculous means so exhausted of all matter or body as to prohibit any corporeal transflux through the same And the Reasons upon which they erect their opinion are these subsequent This space if possessed by any Tenent must be replenished either with common Aer or with a more pure and subtle substance called Aether which some have imagined to be the Universal Caement or common Elater by which a general Continuity is maintained through all parts of the Universe and by which any Vacuity is praevented or by some exhalation from the mass of Quicksilver included in the Tube First that it is not possessed by Aer is manifest from several strong and convincing reasons 1 Because the inferior end of the Tube D is so immersed into the subjacent mass of Quicksilver below the line EF that no particle of aer can enter thereat 2 Because if there were aer in the Tube filling the deserted space CK then would not the circumambient or extrinsecal aer when the Tube is educed out of the restagnant Quicksilver and Water rush in with that violence as to elevate the remainder of the Quicksilver in the Tube from K to D up to the top C and break it open as is observed in regard that could not happen without a penetration of bodies So that if we suppose any portion of aer to have slipped into the Tube below at the subduction of the finger that closed the orifice then would not the Mercury reascending upon the inclination of the Tube down to the horizontal line KM rise up quite to the top C but subsist at OP But the contrary is found upon the experiment 4 If any portion of Aer chance to intrude into the cavity of the Tube which may come to pass either if when the superior orifice of the Tube is inverted it be not exactly obturated by the finger of the Experimentator or if at the extraction of his finger the lower eâ—treme be not immersed deep enough in the subjacent Mercury to prevent the subingress of some aer or if the orifice of the Tube educed out of the region of the subjacent Mercury and Water be not wholly deobturated at once but so as there is only some slender inlet of Aer We say if in any of these Cases it happen that some small portion of aer be admitted into the cavity of the Tube we have the evidence of our sense and the most infallible one too that the aer so admitted doth not ascend to the top C but remaine visible in certain small Bubbles such as usually mount up to the surface of seething water immediately upon the superfice of the Mercury at the altitude of 27 digits K. As if indeed the aer were attracted and in a manner chained down by the Magnetical Effluviums of the earth together with the pendent Quicksilver which having more Ansulae or Fastnings whereon the small Hooks of the Magnetical Chains exhaling from the Globe of the Earth may be accommodately fixed is therefore attracted downward more forcibly and in that respect is reputed to have the greater proportion of Gravity Again If upon the inclination of the Tube and the succeeding repletion of the same by the regurgitating Mercury that portion of aer formerly entered be propelled up to the top of the Tube C and then the Tube again reduced to its perpendicular so as the Quicksilver again deflux to K in this case the aer doth not remain at C but sinks down as formerly to K also and there remains incumbent upon the face of the Quicksilver Which Descent of the aer cannot be more probably referred to any Cause then the Attraction of the Magnetick streams of the Earth 5 Having admitted some few Bubbles of aer to slide up by the margine of the Mercury into the desert Space KC and then reclined the Tube to the altitude of the horizontal line KM you may perceive the delapsed Quicksilver not to be repelled up again quite to the top as before the irreption of aer but to make a stand when it arrives at the confines of the included aer at OP leaving so much space as is requisite for the reception of it Nor can it do otherwise without a penetration of Dimensions by the location of two Bodies in one and the same place 6 Moreover after the acquiescence of the Quicksilver at K if you stop the inferior extreme D with your finger while it remains immersed in the restagnant Quicksilver EF so as to praeclude the irreption of any more aer and then invert the Tube again the Scene of the Desert Capacity CK will be changed to the contrary extreme stopt by your finger and yet without the least sign of aer pervading the mass of Quicksilver in a kind of small stream of Bubbles contrary to what evene's when aer is admitted into the Tube in a small quantity for in that case upon the inversion of the Tube you may plainly behold an intersection between the descending Quicksilver and the ascending aer which mounts up through it in a small stream or thread of Bubbles 7 To those who conceive that a certain portion of the Circumstant Aer being forced by the compression of the restagnant Mercury in the Vessel rising higher upon the deflux of the Mercury contained in the Tube doth penetrate the sides of the Tube and so replenish the desert Capacity therein we answer that though we deny not but aer may penetrate the pores or Incontiguities of Glass since that is demonstrable in Weather Glasses and in the experiment of Sr. Kenelm Digby of making a sensible transudation of Mercury mixt with Aqua Fortis in a Bolt-head through the sides thereof if gently confricated with a Hares-foot on the outside yet cannot it be made out that therefore the Desert Capacity in the Tube is possessed with Aer for two inoppugnable reasons 1
Because though the Tube be made of Brass Steel or any other Metal whose conteâ—ture is so close as to exclude the subtlest aer yet shall the Experiment hold the same in all Apparences and particularly in this of the deflux of the Quicksilver to the altitude of 27 digits 2 Because if the desert Cavity were replete with aer the incumbent aer could not rush in to the Tube at the eduction of its lower end D out of the restagnant Mercury and Water with such violence since no other cause can be assigned for its impetuous rushing into the Tube but the regression of the compressed parts of the ambient aer to their natural laxity and to the repletion of the violent or forced Vacuity Since if the whole Space in the Tube were possessed i. e. if there were as many particles of Body as Space therein doubtless no part of place could remain for the reception of the irruent aer Secondly As for that most subtile and generally penetatrive substance AETHER or pure Elementary Fire which some have imagined universally diffused through the vast Body of Nature principally for the maintenance of a Continuity betwixt the parts thereof and so the avoidance of any Vacuity though ne're so exile and minute we do not find our selves any way obliged to admit that the Desert Space in the Tube is repleted with the same untill the Propugnators of that opinion shall have abandoned their Fallacy Petitio principii a praecarious assumption of what remains dubious and worthy a serious dispute viz. That Nature dâ—th irreconcileably abhor all vacuity per se. For until they have evinced beyond controversie that Nature doth not endure any Emptiness or solution of Continuity quatenus an Emptiness and not meerly ex Accidenti upon some other sinister and remote respect their Position that she provided that subtile substance Aether chiefly to prevent any Emptiness is rashly and boldly anticipated and depends on the favour of Credulity for a toleration Nor is it so soon demonstrated as affirmed that all Vacuity is repugnant to the fundamental constitution of Nature Naturam abhorrere Vacuum is indeed a maxim and a true one but not to be understood in any other then a metaphorical sense For as every Animal by the instinct of self-conservation abhors the solution of Continuity in his skin caused by any puncture wound or laceration though it be no offence to him to have his skin pinkt or perforated all over with insensible pores so also by the indulgence of a Metaphor may Nature be said to abhor any great or sensible vacuity or solution of Continuity such as is imagined in the Desert Space of the Tube though it be familiar nay useful and grateful to her to admit those insensible inanities or minute porosities which constitute a Vacuum Disseminatum We say by the indulgence of a Metaphor because we import a kind of sense in Nature analogous to that of Animals And tollerating this Metaphorical Speech that Nature hath a kind of sense like that of Animals yet if we allow for the vastity of her Body can it be conceived no greater trouble or offence to her to admit such a solution of Continuity or Emptiness as this supposed in the Desert space of the Tube then to an Animal to have any one pore in his skin more then ordinarily relaxed and expanded for the transudation of a drop of sweat This perpended it can seem no Antiaxiomatisme to affirm that nature doth not abhor Vacuity per se but onely ex Accidenti i. e. upon this respect that in Nature is somewhat for whose sake she doth not without some reluctany admit a Coacervate or sensible Vacuity Now that somewhat existent in Nature per se in relation to which she seems to oppose and decline any sensible Vacuity can be no other then the Fluxility of her Atomical Particles especially those of Fire Air and Water And for ought we poor Haggard Mortals do or can by the Light of Nature know to the contrary all those vast spaces from the margent of the Atmosphere whose altitude exceeds not 40 miles according to Mersennus and Cassendus perpendicular up to the Region of the fixed Stars are not only Fluid but Inane abating only those points which are pervaded by the rayes of the Sun and other Celestial Bodies But why should we lead the thoughts of our Reader up to remote objects whose sublimity proclaims their incertitude when from hence only that the Aer is a Fluid substance it is a manifest direct and unstrained consequence that the immediate cause of its avoidance of any sensible or coacervate Vacuity is the Confluxibility of its Atomical particles which being in their natural contexture contiguous in some though not all points of their superficies must of necessity press or bear each upon other and so mutually compel each other that no one particle can be removed out of its place but instantly another succeeds and possesses it and so there can be no place left empty as hath been frequently explained by the simile of a heap of Sand Now if the Confluxibility of the insensible particles of the aer be the immediate and per se Cause of its avoidance of any aggregate sensible solution of Continuity we need no farther justification of our position that Nature doth oppose vacuity sensible not per se but only in order to the affection of Confluxibility i. e. ex Accidenti Again should we swallow this praecarious supposition of the Aether with no less pertinacity then ingenuity asserted by many Moderns but professedly by Natalis in both his Treatises Physica Vetus Nova Plenum experimentis novis confirmatum and admit that Nature provided that most tenuious and fluid substance chiefly to praevent Vacuity yet cannot the Appetite of our Curiosity be satisfied that the Desert space in the tube is replenished with the same prenetrating through the glass untill they have solved that Apparence of the violent irruption of the ambient Aer into the orifice of the tube so soon as it is educed out of the subjacent liquors the Quicksilver and Water by the same Hypothesis Which whether they have done so as to demonstrate that the sole cause of the Aers impetuous rushing into the canale of the Tube and prodigiously elevating the ponderous bodies of Quicksilver and Water residuous therein is not the Reflux of the incumbent aer by the ascention of the restagnant Quicksilver in the vessel compressed to too deep and diffused a subingression of its insensible Particles to recover its natural laxity by regaining those spaces from which it was expelled and secluded and to supply the defect of this reason by substituting some other syntaxical to their hypothesis of the Aether which shall be more verisimilous and plausible this we ought to refer to the judgment of those who have attentively and aequitably perused their Writings Lastly as for the third thing supposed to replenish the Desert space
praetium foret aliquam muscam admodum vegetam robustam v. c. Crabronem aut Vespam in tubo includere priusquam Mercurio impleretur ut post depletionem ad altitudinem 27 digit proximè videretur nâ—m in eo Vacuo aut si mavis aethere viveret ambularet volaret num Bombus à volante produceretur 3 Deducting the possibility of both these there yet remains a Third substance which may well be conceived to praevent a Coacervate Vacuity in the forsaken space of the Tube and that 's the MAGNETICAL EFFLUX of the Earth For 1 that the Terraqueous Globe is one great Magnet from all points of whose superfice are uncessantly deradiated continued Threads or beams of subtle insensible Aporrhaea's by the intercession whereof all Bodies whose Descent is commonly adscribed to Gravity are attracted towards its Centre in like manner as there are continually expired from the body of the Loadstone invisible Chains by the intercession whereof Iron is nimbly allected unto it is so generally conceded a position among the Moderns and with so solid reasons evicted by Gilbert Kircher Cartesius Gassendus and others who have professedly made disquisitions and discourses on that subject that we need not here retard our course by insisting on the probation thereof 2 That as the Magnetical expirations of the Loadstone are so subtle and penetrative as in an instant to transfix and shoot through the most solid and compact bodies as Marble Iron c. without impediment as is demonstrable to sense the interposition of what solid body soever situate within the orb of energy in no wise impeding the vertical or polory impregnation of a steel Needle by a Magnet loricated or armed so also the Magnetical Effluvias of the Globe of Earth do pervade and pass through the mass of Quicksilver contained both in the Tube and the Vessel beneath it and fixing their Uncinulae or hamous points on the Ansulae or Fastnings of the Quicksilver therein attract it downward perpendicularly toward the Centre is deduceable from hence that if any Bubbles of aer chance to be admitted into the Tube together with the Quicksilver that aer doth not ascend to the top of the Tube but remains incumbent immediately upon the summity of the Quicksilver as being in respect of its cognation to the Earth attracted and as it were chained down by the Magnetical Emanations of the Earth transmitted through al interjacent bodies and hooked upon it For we shall not incur the attribute of arrogance if we dare any man to assign the incumbence of the aer upon the Mercury to any more probable Cause It being therefore most Verisimilous that the Earth doth perpetually exhale insensible bodies from all points of its surface which tending upward in direct lines penetrate all bodies situate within the region of vapors or Atmosphere without resistence and particularly the masses of Quicksilver in the Tube and subjacent vessel we can discover no shelf that can disswade us from casting anchor in this serene Haven That the magnetical Exhalations of the Earth do possess the Desert space in the Tube so as to exclude a sensible Vacuity We said so as to exclude a sensible Vacuity thereby intimating that it is no part of our conception that either the Rayes of Light or the Atoms of Heat and Cold or the Magnetical Effluviaâ—s of the Earth or all combined together do so enter and possess the Desert â—pace as to cause an absolute Plenitude therein For doubtless were all those subtle Effluxions coadunated into one dense and solid mass it would not arise to a magnitude equal so much as to the 10th nay the 40th part of the capacity abandoned by the delapsed Mercury But fill it to that proportion as to leave only a Vacuity Disseminate such as is introduced into an Aeolipile when by the Atoms of fire entered into and variously discurrent through its Concavity the insensible Particles of Aer and Water therein contained are reduced to a more lax and open order and so the inane Incontiguities betwixt them ampliated And this we judge sufficient concerning the solution of the First Difficulty SECT III. The Second Capital Difficulty WHat is the immediate Remora or Impediment whereby the Aer which in respect of the natural Confluxibility of its insensible particles so strongly and expeditely praeventeth any excessive vacuity in all other cases is forced to suffer it in this of the Experiment The Solution Insomuch as the Fluidity or Confluxibility of the Atomical or insensible particles of the Aer is the proxime and sole Cause of Natures abhorrence of all sensible Vacuity as hath been proved in the praecedent Section Manifest it is that whosoever will admit a Vacuity excessive or against the rite of Nature must in order to the introduction or Creation thereof admit also two distinct Bodies 1 One which being moved out of its place must propel the contiguous aer forward 2 Another which interposed must hinder the parts of the circumstant aer propulsed by the parts of the aer impelled by the first movent from obeying the Confluxibility of their Figure and succeeding into the place deserted by the body first moved Which is the very scope that the profound Galilaeo proposed to himself when He invented a wooden Cylindre as an Embolus or Sucker to be intruded into another concave Cylindre of Brass imperviously stopped below that by the force of weights appended to the outward extreme or handle thereof the sucker might be gradually retracted from the bottom of the Concave and so leave all that space which it forsaketh an entire and coacervate Vacuum Upon which design Torricellius long after meditating and casting about for other means more conveniently satisfactory to the same intention He most happily lighted upon the praesent Experiment wherein the Quicksilver became an accommodate substitute to Galilaeo's wooden sucker and the Glass Tube to the Brass concave Cylindre The remaining part of the Difficulty therefore is only this relative Scruple How the Aer can be propelled by the wooden sucker downward or by the restagnant Quicksilver in the Vessel upward when externally there is provided no void space for its reception For indeed in the ordinary Translation of bodies through the aer it is no wonder that the adjacent aer is propelled by them since they leave as much room behind them as the aer propelled before them formerly possessed whereinto it may and doth recur but in this case of the Experiment the condition is far otherwise there being we confess a place left behind but such as the aer propelled before cannot retreat into it in regard of the interposition of another dense solid impervious body Upon which consideration we formerly and pertinently reflected when reciting some of those Experiments vulgarly objected to a Vacuum Disseminatum we insisted particularly upon that of a Garden Irrigatory shewing that the Reason of the Waters subsistence or pendency therein so
altitude it can be no illegal process for us to infer that all parts thereof are naturally endowed with more or less Gravity proportionate to their particular bulk whether that Gravity be understood to be as common Physiology will have it a Quality congenial and inhaerent or as Verisimility their conformity to the magnetick Attraction of the Earth And insomuch as this Gravity is the cause of the mutual Depression among the particles of aer in their tendency from the upper region of the Atmosphere down to the surface of the Earth we may well conceive that the Depression of the inferior parts of the aer by the superior incumbent upon them is the origine immediate from whence that Reluctancy or Resistence observed in the Experiment upon the induction of a praeternatural Inanity between the Parts thereof But a farther prosecution and illustration of this particular depends on the solution of the next Problem SECT IV. The Third Capital Difficulty WHat is the Cause of the Quicksilvers not descending below that determinate Altitude or Standard of 27 digits Solution The Resistence of the parts of the aer which endures no compression or subingress of its insensible particles beyond that certain proportion or determinate rate To profound this mystery of Nature to the bottom we are to request our Reader to endure the short recognition of some passages in our praecedent discourses 1 That upon the ordinary translation of bodies through the Aer the resistence of its insensible parts is so small as not to be discoverable by the sense because the subingression of its contiguous parts into the loculaments of the next vicine aer is only perexile or superficial and that we may safely imagine this superficial subingression not to be extended beyond the thickness of a single hair nay in some cases perhaps not to the hundreth part thereof So stupendiously subtle are the fingers of Nature in many of her operations But that the resistence observed in the present Experiment for the enforcing of a praeternatural Vacuum is therefore deprehensible by the sense because in respect of a defect of place behind the body propellent into which the parts of the aer compelled forward may circulate the subingression must be more profound and so the resistence being propagated farther and farther by degrees must grow multiplied and consequently sensible 2 That the Force of the body propellent is greater then the force of the next contiguous aer protruding the next and the force of the third protruded wave of the aer for a kind of Undulation may be ascribed to aer greater on the Fourth then that of the Fourth upon the Fifth and so progressionally to the extrem of its diffusion or extension so that the Force becomes so much the weaker and more oppugnable by how much the farther it is extended and dwindles or languishes by degrees into a total cessation 3 That as upon the succussion or shock of a Bushel apparently full of Corn is left a certain sensible space above unpossessed by any part or Grain thereof which coacervate empty space responds in proportion to those many Disseminate Vacuola or Loculaments intercepted among the incontingent sides of the Grains before their reduction to a more close order by the succussion of the Bushel so likewise upon the impulse of the aer by a convenient body is left behind a sensible space absolutely empty as to any part of aer which Coacervate empty space must respond in proportion to those many Disseminate spaces intercepted among the incontiguous parts or Granules of the aer before their reduction to a more close order or mutual subingression and coaptation of sides and points by the body compressing These Notions recogitated our speculations may progress with more advantage to explore the proxime and proper Cause of the Mercuries constant subsistence at the altitude of 27 digits in the Tube perpendicularly erected For upon the credit of their importance we may justly assume that upon the compression of the circumambient Aer by a small quantity of Quicksilver suppose only of two or three inches impendent in the concave of the tube can be caused indeed some small subingression of the particles thereof but such as is only superficial and insensible in respect the weight of so small a proportion of Quicksilver is not of force sufficient to propel the parts of the aer to so great a crassitude that the space detracted from the Aggregate of Disseminate Vacuities should amount to that largness as to become visible above the Quicksilver in the Tube since the quantity of the Quicksilver being supposed little the force of Reluctancy or Resistence in the parts of the aer arising from their inhaerent Fluidity must be greater then the force of compression arising from Gravity and therefore there succeeds no sensible Deflux of the Quicksilver But being that a greater and greater mass of Quicksilver may be successively infused into the Tube and so the compressive force of its Gravity be respectively augmented and thereupon the aer become less and less able successively to make resistence 't is difficult not to observe that the proportion of Compression from Gravity in the Quicksilver may be so equalized to the Resistence from Gravity in the Aer as that both may remain in statu quo without any sensible yeilding on either side Hence comes it that at the aequipondium of these two Antagonists the space in the Tube detracted from the Aggregate of minute Inanities disseminate in the aer is so small as not to be commensurated by sense and at the cessation of the Aequilibrium or succeding superiority of the encreased weight of the Quicksilver the parts of the Aer being compelled thereby to a farther retrocession and subingression the space detracted from the Aggregate of disseminate Vacuities in the aer becomes larger and consequently sensible above the Quicksilver in the upper region of the Tube This may be most adaequately illustrated by the simile of a strong man standing on a plane pedestal in a very high wind For as He by a small afflation or gust of wind is in some degree urged or prest upon though not so much as to cause him to give back because the force of his resistence is yet superior to that of the Wind assaulting and impelling him nor when the force of the Wind grows upon him even to an Aequilibrium is He driven from his station because his resistence is yet equal to the impulse of the wind but when the force of the Wind advances to that height as to transcend the Aequilibrium then must the man be compelled above the rate of his resistence and so be abduced from the place of his station so likewise while there is only a small quantity of Quicksilver contained in the Tube though by the intervention or mediation of the Quicksilver restagnant in the subjacent vessel it press upon the parts of the incumbent aer in some
the larger and consequently the Coacervate Vacuum apparent in the superior region of the Tube becomes so much the greater And because the Resistence made against the subingression dilating or distending it self is in the instant overcome by reason of a greater impulse caused by the Cylindre of Mercury descending from a greater altitude and that resistence remains which could not be overcome by the remnant of the Mercury in the Tube at the height of 27 digits therefore is this Remaining Degree of resistence the manifest Cause why the Mercury is Aequilibrated here at the point of 27 digits aswell when it falls from a high as a low perpendicular This may receive a degree of perspicuity more from the transitory observation of those frequent Reciprocations of the Quicksilver at the first deflux of it into the restagnant before it acquiesce and fix at the point of Aequiponderancy no otherwise then a Ball bounds and rebounds many times upon a pavement and is by successive subsultations uncessantly agitated up and down untill they gradually diminish and determine in a cessation or quiet The Cause of which can be no other then this that the extreme or remotest subingression of the insensible particles of the Aer is we confess propagated somewhat farther then the necessity of the Aequipondiâ—m requireth by reason of a new access of Gravity in the Quicksilver but instantly the insensible particles of the Aer being so violently and beyond the rate of subingressibility prest upon and made as it were more powerful by their necessary Reflexion then the reâ—idue of Quicksilver remaining in the Tube result back to their former station of liberty with that vehemency as they not only praevent any further subingression and reduce the even-now-superior and conquering force of the Quicksilver to an equality but also repell the Quicksilver delapsed up again into the Tube above the point of the Aequipondium and again when the Quicksilver defluxeth but not from so great an altitude as at first then is the Aer again compelled to double her files in a countermarch and recede from the restagnant Quicksilver though not so far as at first charge And thus the force of each being by reciprocal conquests gradually decreased they come to that Equality as that the Quicksilver subsists in that point of altitude wherein the Aâ—quilibrium is SECT VI. The Fifth Capital Difficulty WHat Force that is whereby the Aer admitted into the lower orifice of the Tube at the total eduction thereof out of the restagnant Quicksilver and Water is impelled so violently as sufficeth not only to the elevation of the remaining Liquors in the Tube but even to the discharge of them through the sealed extreme to a considerable height in the Aer Solution The immediate Cause of this impetuous motion appears to be only the Reflux or Resilition of the so much compressed Basis of the Cylindre of Aer impendent on the surface of the Restagnant Liquors Quicksilver and Water to the natural Laxity of its insensible particles upon the cessation of the force Compressive the Principle and manner of which Restorative or Reâ—lexive Motion may be perspicuously deprehended upon a serious recognition of the Contents of the last Article in the praecedent Chapter of a Disseminate Vacuum and most accommodately Exemplified in the discharge or explosion of a bullet from a Wind-Gun For as the insensible particles of the Aer included in the Tube of a Wind-Gun being by the Embolus or Rammer from a more lax and rare contexture or order reduced to a more dense and close which is effected when they are made more contiguous in the points of their superfice and so compelled to diminish the inane spaces interjacent betwixt them by subingression are in a manner so many Springs or Elaters each whereof so soon as the external Force that compressed them ceaseth which is at the remove of the Diaphragme or Partition plate in the chamber of the Tube reflecteth or is at least reflected by the impulse of another contiguous particle therefore is it that while they are all at one and the same instant executing that Restorative Motion they impel the Bullet gaged in the canale of the Tube before them with so much violence as enables it to transfix a plank of two or three digits thickness So also do the insensible Particles of the Base of the Cylindre of Aer incumbent on the surface of the Restagnant Liquors remain exceedingly compressed by them as so many Springs bent by external Force and so soon as that Force ceaseth the Quicksilver in the Tube after its eduction no longer pressing the Restagnant Mass of Quicksilver underneath and so that by his tumefaction no longer pressing the impendent Aer they with united forces reflect themselves into their natural rare and liberal contexture and in that Restorative motion drive up the remainder of Quicksilver in the canale of the Tube to the upper extreme thereof with such violence as sufficeth to explode all impediments and shiver the glass For in this case we are to conceive the Aer to be aequally distressed betwixt two opposite Forces on one side by the Gravity of the long Cylindre of Aer from the summity of the Atmosphere down to the Base impendent on the superfice of the Restagnant Liquors on the other by the ascendent Liquors in the subjacent vessel which are impelled by the Cylindre of Quicksilver in the tube descending by reason of its Gravity and consequently that so soon as the obex Barricade or impediment of the Restagnant Quicksilver is removed the distressed Aer instantly converteth that resistent force which is inferior to the Gravity of the incumbent aereal Cylindre upon the remainder of the Quicksilver in the Tube as the now more superable Opponent of the two and so countervailing its Gravity by the motion of Reflexion or Restoration hoyseth it up with so rapid a violence as the easily frangible body of the Glass cannot sustain Which Reason doth also satisfie another Collateral Scruple viz. Why Water superaffused upon the Restagnant Quicksilver doth intrude it self as it were creeping up the side of the Tube and replenish the Desert Space therein so soon as the inferior orifice of the Tube is educed out of the Restagnant Quicksilver into the region of Water For it is impelled by the Base of the Aereal Cylindre exceedingly compressed and relaxing it self the resistence of it which was not potent enough to praevail upon the greater Gravity of the Quicksilver in the Tube so as to impel it above the point of Aequiponderancy being yet potent enough to elevate the Water as that whose Gravity is by 13 parts of 14 less then that of the Quicksilver Here the Inquisitive may bid us stand and observe a second subordinate Doubt so considerable as the omission of it together with a rational solution must have rendred this whole Discourse not only imperfect but a more absolute Vacuum i. e.
we safely conclude that albeit the Arguments alledged in defence of Infinite Divisibility of every Physical Continuum were as not a few nor obscure Clerks have reputed them absolutely indissoluble yet notwithstanding since we have the plain Certificate of not only our Reason but undeluded sense also to evidence the Contrary ought we to more then suspect them of secret Fallacy and Collusion it being a rule worthy the reputation of a First Notion that in the examination of those Physical Theorems whose Verity or Falsity is determinable by the sincere judicature of the sense we ought to appeal to no other Criterion but to acquiesce in the Certification thereof especially where is no Refragation or Dissent of Reason Notwithstanding the manifest necessity of this apodictical Truth yet have there been many Sophisms framed upon design to evade it among which we find only Two whose plausibility and popular approbation seem to praescribe them to our praesent notice The First is that famous one of Aristotle de insecabil lineis Non creari propterea infinitum actu ex hujusmodi partibus infinitis quoniam tales partes non actu sed potestate duntaxat infinitae sunt adeo proinde ut creent solùm infinitum potestate quod idem sit actu finitum that the division of a finite body into infinite parts doth not make it actually infinite because the parts are not actually but only potentially infinite so as they render it infinitely divisible only potentially while it still remains actually Finite The Collusion of this Distinction is not deeply concealed For every Continuum hath either no parts in actu or infinite parts in actu Since if by parts in actu we understand those that are actually divided then hath not any Continuum so much as two or three parts the supposed Continuity excluding all Division And if we intend that a Continuum hath therefore two parts actually because it is capable of division into two parts actually then is it necessary that we allow a Continuum to have parts actually infinite because we presume it capable of division into infinite parts actually which is contradictory to Aristotle Nor can any of his Defendants excuse the consequence by saying that the Division is never finishable or terminable and that his sense is only this that no Continuum can ever be divided into so many parts as that it may not be again divided into more and those by redivision into more and so forward without end Since as in a Continuum two parts are not denyed to exist though it be never divided into those two parts so likewise are not infinite parts denied to exist therein though it be never really divisible into infinite parts Otherwise we demand since by those requisite divisions and subdivisions usque ad infinitum still more and more actuall parts are discovered can you conceive those parts which may be discovered to be of any Determinate Number or not If you take the Affirm then will not there be parts enough to maintain the division to infinity if the Negat then must the parts be actually infinite For how can a Continuum be superior to final exhaustion unless in this respect that it contains infinite parts i. e. such whose Infinity makes it Inexhaustible Because as those parts which are deduced from a Continuum must be praeexistent therein before deduction else whence are they deduceable so also must those which yet remain deduceable be actually existent therein otherwise they are not deducible from it For Parts are then Infinite when more and more inexhaustibly or without end are conceded Deducible The other with unpardonable confidence insisted on by the Stoicks is this Continuum non evadere infinitum quoniam illud propriè resultat non ex Proportionalibus sed ex Aliquotis partibus quas constat esse Definitas cùm inter extrema Corporis versentur that by admitting an infinity of parts in a Finite Continuum a Continuum doth not become infinite because that results properly not from Proportional but Aliquotal parts which are therefore confess'd to be Definite because they relate only to the Extremes of a Body First this subterfuge is a mere Lusus Verborum sounding nought at all in the ears of Reason For since every thing doth consist of those parts into which it may be at last resolved because every Continuum is at last resolved into therefore must it conâ—ist of Proportional Parts Again since every one of Aliquotal parts is Continuate each of them may be divided into as many Aliquotal parts as the whole Continuum was first divided into and so upwards infinitely so as at length the Division must revert into Proportional Parts and the Difficulty remain the same SECT II. THe impossibility of Dividing a Physical Continuum into parts interminably subdivisible being thus amply Demonstrated and the Sophistry of the most specious Recesses invented to assist the Contrary opinion clearly detected the residue of this Chapter belongs to our Vindication of the same Thesis from the guilt of those Absurdities and Inâ—ongruities which the Dissenting Faction hath charged upon it Empiricus with great Virulency of language inveighing against the Patrons of Atoms accuseth them of subverting all Local Motion by supposing that not only Place and Time but also Natural Quantity indivisible beyond Insectile Parts To make this the more credible He Objects 1 That if we assume a Line consisting of nine Insectils and imagine two insectile Bodies to be moved with equal velocity from the opposite extremes thereof toward the middle it must be to their mutual occurse and convention in the middle necessary that both possess the median part of the median or Fifth Insectile place there being no cause why one should possess it more then the other when yet both the Places and Bodies therein moved are praesumed Insectile i. e. without parts 2 That all Bodies must be moved with equal celerity for the pace of the Sun and that of a Snail must be aequivelox if both move through an insectile space in an insectile Time 3 That if many Concentrical Circles be described by the circumduction of one Rule defixed upon one of its extremes as upon a Centre since they are all delineated at one and the same time and some are greater then others it must follow that unequal portions of Circles are described in the same individual point of Time and consequently that an Insectile of an Interior Circle must be aequated to a sectile of an Exterior To these our Modern Anti-Epicureans have superadded many other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Inconcistencies as dependent on the position of Insectility viz. 1 That a Line of unaequal Insectiles suppose of 3.5.9 or 11. cannot be divided into two equal halfs when yet that any Line whatever may be exactly bipartited is demonstrable to sense 2 That a less line cannot be divided into so many parts as a Greater though the Contrary be concordant to the
to their Exhalation Thus is Water much sooner evaporated then Oyl and Lead then Silver 3 Anti-Atomist If Atoms be unequal in their superfice and have angular and hamous processes then are they capable of having their rugosities planed by detrition and their hooks and points taken off by amputation contrary to their principle propriety Indivisibility Atomist the hooks angles asperities and processes of Atoms are as insecable and infrangible as the residue of their bodies in respect an equal solidity belongs to them by reason of their defect of Inanity interspersed the intermixture of Inanity being the Cause of all Divisibility Haec quae sunt rerum primordia nulla potest vis Stringere nam solido vincunt ea corpore demum 4 Anti-Atomist That Bodies of small circumscription such as grains of sand may be amassed from a syndrome and coagmentation of Atoms seems indeed to stand in some proportion to probability but to conceive a possibility that so vast a Bulk as the adspectable World bears may arise out of things but one degree above nothing such insensible materials convened and conglobated is a symptome of such madness as Melancholy adust cannot excuse and for which Physitians are yet to study a cure Atomist To doubt the possibility nay dispute the probability of it is certainly the greater madness For since a small stone may be made up of a Coagmentation of grains of Sand a multitude of small stones by coacervation make up a Rock many Rocks by aggregation make a Mountain many Mountains by coaptation make up the Globe of Earth since the Sun the Heavens nay the World may arise from the conjunction of parts of dimensions equal to the Terrestrial Globe what impossibility doth he incurr who conceives the Universe to be amassed out of Atoms Doubtless no Bulk can be imagined of such immense Dimensions as that the greatest parts thereof may not be divided into less and those again be subdivided into less so that by a successive degradation down the scale of Magnitude we may not at last arrive at the foot thereof which cannot be conceived other then Atoms Should it appear unconceivable to any that a Pismire may perform a perambulation round the terrestrial Globe we advise him to institute this Climax of Dimensions and consider first that the ambite of the Earth is defined by miles that miles are commensurated by paces paces consist of feet feet of digits digits of grains c. and then He may soon be convinced that the step of a Pismire holds no great disproportion to a grain and that a grain holds a manifest proportion to a digit a digit to a foot a foot to a pace a pace to a perch a perch to a furlong a furlong to a mile and so to the circumference of the whole Earth yea by multiplication to the convexity of the whole World If any expect a further illustration of this point it can cost him no more but the pains of reading the 45. page of our Treatise against Atheism and of Archimeds book de Arenarum Numero 5 Anti-Atomist If all peices of Nature derived their origine from Individual Particles then would there be no need of Seminalities to specifie each production but every thing would arise indiscriminately from Atoms accidentally concurring and cohaering so that Vegetables might spring up without the praeactivity of seeds without the assistance of moysture without the fructifying influence of the Sun without the nutrication of the Earth and all Animals be generated spontaneously or without the prolification of distinct sexes Atomist This inference is ingenuine because unnecessary since all Atoms are not Consimilar or of one sort nor have they an equal aptitude to the Conformation of all Bodies Hence comes it that of them are first composed certain Moleculae small masses of various figures which are the seminaries of various productions and then from those determinate seminaries do all specifical Generations receive their contexture and Constitution so praecisely that they cannot owe their Configuration to any others And therefore since the Earth impraegnated with Fertility by the sacred Magick of the Creators Benediction contains the seeds of all Vegetables they cannot arise but from the Earth nor subsist or augment without roots by the mediation of which other small consimilar Masses of Atoms are continually allected for their nutrition nor without moysture by the benefit of which those minute masses are diluted and so adapted for transportation and final assimilation nor without the influence of the Sun by vertue whereof their vegetative Faculty is conserved cherished and promoted in its operations Which Reason is aequivalent also to the Generation Nutrition and Increment of Animals 6 Anti-Atomist If your Proto-Element Atoms be the Principle of our 4 common Elements according to the various Configurations of it into Moleculae or small masses and that those are the Seminaries of all things then may it be thence inferred that the Seeds of Fire are invisibly contained in Flints nay more in a Sphaerical Glass of Water exposed to the directly incident rayes of the Sun our sense convincing that Fire is usually kindled either way Atomist Allowing the legality of your Illation we affirm that in a Flint are concealed not only the Atoms but Moleculae or Seeds of Fire which wanting only retection or liberty of Exsilition to their apparence in the forme of fire acquire it by excussion and pursuing their own rapid motion undiquaque discover themselves both by affecting the sight and accension of any easily combustible matter on which they shall pitch and into whose pores they shall with exceeding Celerity penetrate Nor can any man solve this eminent Phaenomenon so well as by conceiving that the body of a Flint being composed of many igneous i. e. most exile sphaerical and agile Atoms wedged in among others of different dimensions and figures which contexture is the Cause of its Hardness Rigidity and Friability upon percussion by some other body conveniently hard the insensible Particles thereof suffering extraordinary stress and violence in regard it hath but little and few Vacuola or empty spaces intermixt and so wanting room to recede and disperse are conglomorated and agitated among themselves with such impetuositie as determinately causeth the constitution of Fire It being manifest that violent motion generateth Heat and confessed even by Aristotle 1. Meteor 3. that Fire is nothing but the Hyperbole or last degree of Heat Secondly That the seeds of Fire are not contained either in the sphaerical Glass or the the Water included therein but in the Beams of the Sun whose Composition is altogether of Igneous Atoms which being deradiated in dispersed lines want only Concurse and Coition to their investment in the visible form of Fire and that the Figure of the Glass naturally induceth it being the nature of either a Convex or Concave Glass to transmit many Beams variously incident towards one and the same point which the virtue of Union advanceth to the force of
we therefore since the Diametre of a granule of Dust when speculated through a good Engyscope is almost Centuple to the diametre of the same when lookt on meerly by the eye on a sheet of Venice Paper we may safely affirm with Archimed in arenario that it is conflated of ten hundred thousand millions of insensible Particles which is enough to verifie our praesent Assumption SECT III. Concerning the Figures of Atoms IN all the sufficiently prolix Discourses of the Ancient Assertors of Atoms concerning their FIGURE and the no sparing Commentaries of the Moderns thereupon whatever seems either worthy our serious animadversions or in anywise pertinent to our Designation may be without perversion or amission of importance well comprized under one of these 3 Canons 1 That Atoms are in their simple essence variously figurate 2 That the distinct species of their Figures are Indefinite or Incomprehensible though not simply or absolutely Infinite 3 That the Number of Atoms retaining unto or comprehended under each peculiar species of Figure is not only indefinite but simply Infinite Concerning the FIRST we advertise that no man is to conceive them to have supposed the Figure of Atoms deprehensible by the Sight or Touch no more then their Magnitude the termination whereof doth essence their figure according to that definition of Euclid lately alledged but such as being inferrible from manifold reasons is obvious to the perception of the Mind Which Plutarch 1. placit 2. personating Epicurus expresly declares in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Atomos proprias habere sed ratione seu mente contemplabiles Figuras To avouch the verity hereof we need no other argument but this insomuch as every Atome hath some determinate Quantity or Extension and that all Quantity must be terminated in some certain Figure therefore is it necessary that however exile the dimensions of an Atome are yet must the superfice thereof be or plane or sphaerical or angular or Cubical c. i. e. of some figure either regular or irregular To guard this Assertion of the variety of Figures in Atoms with other Arguments of its Verisimility let us Consider that all Individuals as well Animate as Inanimate are distinguishable each from other of the same species by some peculiar signature of disparity visible in the superficial parts of their Bodies and Reason will thereupon whisper us in the ear that they are also different in their Configurations and that the Cause of that sensible Dissimilitude must be a peculiar or idiosyncritical Contexture of their insensible Component particles For Animals we may instance in the noblest species Among the Myriads of swarms of men who can find any two Persons so absolute Twinns in the aer of their faces the lines of their hands the stature of their bodies proportion of their members c. as that Nature hath left no impression whereby not only their familiar friends but even strangers comparing them together may distinguish one from the other For Inanimates doth it not deserve our admiration that in a whole Bushel of Corn no two Grains can be found so exquisitely respondent in similitude as that a curious eye shall not discover some disparity betwixt them and yet we appeal to strict observation for the verity thereof If our leasure and patience will bear it let us conferr many Leaves collected at one time from the same Tree and try whether among them all we can meet with any two perfectly consimilar in magnitude colour superfice divarications of filaments equality of stemms and other external proportions If not we must assent to a variety of Configurations in their parts and consequently admit no less but indeed a farr greater variety of Figures in the particles of those parts their Atoms To these it concerns us to annex one singular Experiment easie delightful and satisfactory Exposing a vessel of Salt water to the Sun or other convenient heat so as the aqueous parts thereof may be gently evaporated we may observe all the Salt therein contained to reside in the bottome conformed into Cubical Masses And if we do the like with Alum Water the Alum will concrete in Octohedrical figures Nay the Cubes generated of Salt will be so much the larger by how much the more and deeper the Water wherein it was dissolved and è contra so much the smaller by how much shallower the Water so that from a large vessel will arise saline Cubes in dimensions equal to those of a Gamesters Die but from a small we shall receive Cubes by five parts of six lesser and if we drop a small quantity of brine upon a plane piece of Glass the Cubical Concretions thereon fixing will be so minute as to require the help of an Engyscope to their discernment Now as to that part of this Experiment which more directly points at our praesent scope we may perceive the greater Cubes to be a meer Congeries or assembly of small ones and those small ones to be coagmentated of others yet smaller or certainly composed of exiguous Masses bearing the figure of Isoscele Triangles from four of which convened and mutually accommodated every Cube doth result Hence is it obvious to Conjecture that those small Cubes discernable only by an Engyscope are contexed of other smaller and those again of smaller until by a successive degradation they arrive at the exility of Atoms at least of those Moleculae which are the Seminaries of Salt and according to evident probability of either exactly Quadrate or Isoscele Triangular figures Now insomuch as the same allowing the difference of Figure is conjectural also concerning Alum Sugar Nitre Vitriol c. Saline Concretions why may we not extend it also to all other Compositions especially such as have their Configurations certain and determinate according to their specifical Nature Again whoso substracts a diversity of Figures from Atoms doth implicitely destroy the variety of sensibles For what doth cause the Odoratory Nerves of man to discriminate a Rose from Wormwood but the different Configurations of those Moleculae Flores Elementorum or Seminaries of Qualities which being conflated of exceeding fine and small congregations of Atoms do constitute the odorable species and so make different impressions upon them What makes a Dog by the meer sagacity of his nose find out his Master in the dark in a whole host of men but this that those subtle Effluvia or Expirations emitted insensibly from the body of his Master are of a different Contexture from those of all others and so make a different impression upon the mamillary processes or smelling Nerves of the Dog The like may also with equal reason be demanded concerning those wayes of Discrimination whereby all Animals agnize their own from others young and Beasts of prey in their difficult venations single out the embossed and chased though blended together with numerous Herds of the same species Nor doth the Verisimility hereof hold only in objects of the sight and smelling but
assisted but interpreted by another of Plato Magnetem non per Attractionem sed Impulsionem agere in Timaeo of the same import hath given the hint to Des Cartes Regius Sir K. Digby and some other of our late Enquirers of supposing the Attractive rather Impulsive Virtue of the Loadstone and all other bodies Electrical to consist in the Recess or Return of those continued Effluvia or invisible filaments of streated Atoms which are uncessantly exhaled from their pores Nor doth He much strain these words of Gilbert Effluvia illa tenuiora concipiunt amplectuntur corpora quibus Uniuntur Electris tanquam extensis brachiis ad fontem prope invalescentibus effluviis deducuntur who hath charged them with the like signification As to the SECOND viz. the Perpetuity of these Motions adscribed to Atoms we think it not a little material to give you to understand at least to recognize that the conceptions of Epicurus concerning this particular are cozen Germans to Chimaera s and but one degree removed from the monstrous absurdities of Lunacy For He dreamt and then believed that all Atoms were from all Eternity endowed by the charter of their uncreate and independent Essence with that ingenite Vigour or internal Energy called Gravity whereby they are variously agitated in the infinite space without respect to any Centre or General term of Consistence so as they could never discontinue that natural motion unless they met and encountred other Atoms and were by their shock or impulse deflected into another course That the Dissilient or deflected Atoms whether rebounding upwards directly or ad latus obliquely or in any line intercedent betwixt those two different regions would also indeâ—inently pursue that begun motion unless they were impeded and diverted again by the occurse and arietation of some others floating in the same part of space And that because the Revibrations or Resilitions of Atoms regarding several points of the immense space like Bees variously interweaving in a swarm must be perpetual therefore also must they never quiesce but be as variously and constantly exagitated eveâ— in the most solid or adamantine of Concretions though the sense cannot deprehend the least inquietude or intestine tumultuation therein and the rather in respect of those Grotesques or minute Inanities densely intermixed among their insensible particles To explicate this Riddle we must praesent some certain adumbration of this intestine aestuation or commotion of Atoms in Concretions and this may most conveniently be done in melted Mettals as particularly in Lead yet floating in the Fusory vessel To apparence nothing more quiet and calm yet really no quicksand more internally tumultuated For the insensible particles of Fire having penetrated the body of the crucible or melting pan and so permeating the pores of the Lead therein contained because they cannot return back upon the subjacent fire in regard they are uncessantly impelled by other ingeneous particles continually succeeding on their heels therefore are they still protruded on untill they disunite all the particles of the Lead and by the pernicity and continuation of this their ebullition hinder them from mutual revinction and coalescence and thereby make the Lead a fluid of a compact substance and so keep it as long as the succussion of igneous particles is maintained from the fire underneath During this act of Fusion think we with what violence or pernicity the Atoms of Fire are agitated up and down from one side to another in the small inanities interspersed among the particles of the Lead otherwise they could not dissolve the compact tenour thereof and change their positions so as to introduce manifest Fluidity and since every particle of the Lead suffers as many various concussions repercussions and repeated vibrations as every particle of Fire how great must be the Commotion on both sides notwithstanding the seeming quiet in the surface of the Lead But because our sense as well as our Reason may have some satisfaction touching the perpetual Commotion of Atoms even in Compositions we offer to Exemplifie the same either in the Spirit of Halinitre or that which Chymists usually extract from Crude Mercury Tin and Sublimate codissolved in a convenient menstruum For either of these Liquors being close kept in a luted glass you may plainly perceive the minute moleculae or seminarie conventions of Atoms of which it doth consist to be uncessantly moved every way upward downward transverse oblique c. in a kind of fierce aestuation as if goaded on by their inhaerent Motor or internal impulsive Faculty they attempted speedy emergency at all points most like a multitude of Flyes imprisoned in a glass Vial. Now the Argument that seems to have induced Epicurus to concede this perpetual Inquietude of Atoms was the inevitable mutation of all Concrete Substances caused by the continual Access and Recess of their insensible particles For indeed no Concretion is so compact and solid as not to contain within it self the possible Causes of its utter Dissolution yea though it were so immured in Adamant as to be thought secure from the hostile invasion of any Extrinsecal Agent whatever And the ruine of solid bodies i. e. such whose parts are of the most compact Contexture allowable to Concretions cannot be so reasonably adscribed to any Cause as this that they are compacted of such Principles as are indeâ—inently motive and in perpetual endeavour of Emergency or Exsilition so that never desisting from internal evolutions circumgyrations and other changes of position they at length infringe that manner of reciprocal Coaptation Cohaesion and Revinction which determined their solidity and thereby dissolving the Compositum they wholly emancipate themselves obey their restless tendency at randome and disappear This faeculent Doctrine of Epicurus we had occasion to examine and refine all the dross either of Absurdity or Atheism in our Chapter concerning the Creation of the World ex nihilo in our Book against Atheism However we may not dismiss our Reader without this short Animadversion The Positions to be exploded are 1 That Atoms were Eternally existent in the infinite space 2 that their Motive Faculty was eternally inhaerent in them and not derived by impression from any External Principle 3 that their congenial Gravity affects no Centre 4 that their Declinatory motion from a perpendicular is connatural to them with that of perpendicular descent from Gravity Those which we may with good advantage substitute in their stead are 1 That Atoms were produced ex nihilo or created by God as the sufficient Materials of the World in that part of Eternity which seemed opportune to his infinite Wisdom 2 that at their Creation God invigorated or impraegnated them with an Internal Energy or Faculty Motive which may be conceived the First Cause of all Natural Actions or Motions for they are indistinguishable performed in the World 3 that their gravity cannot subsist without a Centre 4 that their internal Motive Virtue necessitates their perpetual
whose Base is the Hemisphere and point somewhat retused the superfice of the Pupil This perfectly accords to Keplers Canon Visionem fieri cum totius Hemispherij mundani quod est ante oculum amplius paulo idolum statuitur ad album subrufum Retinae cavae superficiei parietem in Paralipomen ad Vitellion cap. 5. de modo Vision num 1. Not that either He or we by the Optical Hemisphere intend only the Arch of the Firmament but any Ambite whatever including a variety of things obverted to the open eye partly directly partly obliquely or laterally and Circumquaque in all points about And this being conceded we need not long hunt for a reason why when the eye is open there alwayes is pourtraied in the bottom of the eye some one Total Image whose various parts may be called the Special Images of the diverse things at once objected For as the whole Hemisphere Visive includes the reason of the whole Visible so do the parts thereof include the reason of the special Visibles though situate at unequal distance And since the Hemisphere may be in respect either of its whole or parts more Remote and more Vicine hence comes it that no more Rayes arrive at the Eye from the Remote than the Vicine because in the Vicine indeed are less or fewer bodies than in the Remote but yet the Particles or Faces of the particles of bodies that are directly obverted to the Pupil are more Which certainly is the Cause why of two bodies the one Great the other Small the Dimensions seem equal provided the Great be so remote as to take up no greater a part of the Visive Hemisphere than the small because in that case the rayes emanant from it and in direct lines incident into the pupill of the Eye are no more then those deradiate from the small and consequently cannot represent more parts thereof or exhibit it in larger Dimensions Whereupon we may conclude that the Visive Faculty doth judge of the Magnitude of Objects by the proportion that the Image of each holds to the amplitude of the Concave of the Retina Tunica or that by how much every special Image shall make a greater part of the General Image that fills the whole Hemisphere Visive and so possess a greater part of the Concave of the Retina Tunica by so much the greater doth the Faculty judge the quantity thereof to be and â— Contra. And because a thing when near doth possess a greater part of the Visive Hemisphere than when remote therefore doth the special Image thereof also possess a greater part of the Concave in the Retina Tunica and so exhibit in greater Dimensions and it decreaseth or becometh so much the less by how much the farther it is abduced from the eye For it then makes room for another Image of another thing that is detected by the abduction of the former and enters the space of the Hemisphere obverted And hereupon may we ground a PARADOX That the Eye sees no more at one prospect then at another or that the Eye beholds as much when it looks on a shilling or any other object of as small diameter as when it speculates a Mountain nay the whole Heaven Which though obscure and despicable at first planting will yet require no more time to grow up to a firm and spreading truth than while we investigate the Reasons of Two Cozen-German optical Phaenomena's 1 Why an Object appears not only greater in dimensions but more distinct in parts when lookt upon near at hand than afarr off 2 Why an Object speculated through a Convex Glass appears both larger and more distinct than when beheld only with eye but through a Concave both Smaller and more confused To the solution of the First we are to reflect on some of the praecedent Assumptions For since every Visible diffuseth rayes from all points of it superfice into all regions of the medium according to the second Assumption and since the superfice of the most seemingly smooth and polite body is variously interspersed with Asperities from the various faces whereof innumerable rayes are emitted tending according their lines of Direction into all points of medium circularly according to the first Assumption and since those swarms of Emanations must be â—o much the more Dense and Congregate by how much the less they are elongated from their fountain or body exhalant and è Contra so much the more Rare and Disgregate by how much farther they are deduced according to the third Assumption Therefore by how much nearer the eye shall be to the object by so much a greater number of Rayes shall it receive from the various parts thereof and the particles of those parts and è Contra and Consequently by how much a greater number of rayes are received into the pupill of the eye by so much greater do the dimensions of the object and so much the more distinct do the parts of it superfice appear For it is axiomatical among the Masters of the Opticlâ—s and most perfectly demonstrated by Scheinerus in lib. 2. Fundament Optic part 1. cap. 13. that the Visive Axe consisteth not of one single raye but of many concurring in the point of the pyramid terminated in the concave of the Retina Tunica and as demonstrable that those rayes only concurr in that conglomerated stream which enters the Pupil that are emitted from the parts of the object directly obverted unto it all others â—ending into other quarters of the medium And hence is it that the image of a remote object consisting of rayes which though streaming from distant parts of the superfice thereof do yet by reason of their concurse in the retused point of the visive Pyramid represent those parts as Conjoyned thin and less united comparatively those parts must appear as Contiguouâ— in the visifical Representation or Image which are really Incontiguous or seperate in the object and upon consequence the object must be apprehended as Contracted or Less as consisting of fewer parts and also Confused as consisting of parts not well distinguisht This may be truly though somewhat grosly Exemplified in our prospect of two or three Hills situate at large distance from our eye and all included in the same Visive Hemisphere for their Elongation from the Eye makes them appear Contiguous nay one and the same Hill though perhaps they are by more then single miles distant each from other or when from a place of eminence we behold a spacious Campania beneath and apprehend it to be an intire Plane the Non-apparence of those innumerable interjacent Fosses Pits Rivers c. deprest places imposing upon the sense and exhibiting it in a smooth continued plane And to the solution of the second Problem a concise enquiry into the Causes of the different Effects of Concave and Convex Perspicils in the representation of Images Visible is only necessary A Concave Lens whether Plano-concave or Concave on both sides whether it
mighty hand or most potent Energy in the production of Colours For supposing three kinds of Salt in all natural Concretions the first a Fixt and Terrestrial the second a Sal Nitre allied to Sulphur the Third a Volatile or Armoniac referrible to Mercury and that all bodies receive degrees of Perspicuity or Opacity respondent to the degrees of Volatility or Terrestriety in the Salts that amass them they thereupon deduce their various Colours or visible Glosses from the various Commistion of Volatile or Tralucent Salts with Fixt or obscure Now notwithstanding all these Sects are as remote each from other as the Zenith from the Nadir in their opinions touching the Nature and Causes of Colours as to all other respects yet do they generally Concur in this one particular 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Colores esse Cohâ—rentes corporibus that Colours are CONGENITE or COHAERENT to bodies Which being manifestly repugnant to reason as may be clearly evinced as well from the Arguments alledged by Plutarch 1. advers Colot to that purpose as from the result of our whole subsequent discourse concerning this theorem we need no other justification of our Desertion of them and Adhaerence to that more verisimilous Doctrine of Democritus and Epicurus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Colorem Lege esse or more plainly in the words of Epicurus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Colores in corporibus gigni juxta quosdam respectu visus ordines positusque The Probability of which opiâ—â—â—n that we may with due strictness and aequâ—nâ—mity examine and 〈◊〉 whâ—t we formerly delivered in our Oâ—igine of Qualities touching thâ— possible Causes of an inassignable Variety of Colours We are briefly to advertise First That by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bodies we are not to understand Atoms or simple bodies for those are generally praesumed to be devoyd of all Colour but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Concretions or Compounds Secondly that Epicurus in this text according to the litteral importance thereof and the Exposition of Gassendus his most judicious and copious Interpreter had this and no other meaning That in the Extrems or superficies of all Concretions there are such certain Coordinations and Dispositions of their component particles which according to our First Assumption in the immediately praecedent Chapter borrowed from the incomparable Bullialdus are never contexed without more or less of Inaequality as that upon the incidence of Light they do and must exhibit some certain Colour or other respective to their determinate Reflection and Refraction or Modification of the rayes thereof and the position of the Eye that receives them That from these superficial Extancies and and Cavities of bodies are emitted those substantial Effluviaes constituting the visible Image which striking upon the primary Organ of Vision in a certain Order and Position of particles causeth therein a sensation or Perception of that particular Colour But that these Colours are not really Cohaerent to those superficial particles so as not to be actually separated from them upon the abscedence of Light and consequently that Colours have no Existence in the Dark Moreover that the substance of Light or the minute particles of which its beams consist are necessarily to be superadded to the superficial particles of bodies as the Complement nay the Principal part of Colour as may be inferred from these words of Epicurus registred by Plutarch 1. advers Colot Quinetiam hâc parte luce viz. seclusa noâ— video qui dicere liceat corpora quae in tenebris in conspicua sunt colorem habere Of which persuasion was also that admirable Mathematician Samius Aristarchus who positively affirmed apud Stobaeum in Ecl. Phys. 19. Incidentem in subjectas res Lucem Colorem esse ideoque constituta in tenebris corpora colore prorsùs destitui To which doubtless Virgil ingeniously alluded in his Ubi Coelum condidit Umbra Iupiter rebus nox abstulit atra Colorem And Lucretius in his Qualis enim coecis poterit Color esse tenebris Lumine qui mutatur in ipso propterea quod Recta aut obliqua percussus luce refulget c. And lastly that Light doth create and vary Colours according to the various condition of the minute Faces or sides of the Particles in the superfice which receive and reflect the incident rayes thereof in various Angles toward the Eye SECT II. HAving thus recited explicated and espoused the Conceptions of Epicurus of the Creation of Colours it behoves us to advance to the Examination of its Consistency with right reason not only in its General capacity but deduction and accommodation to Particulars But First to praevent the excess of your wonder at that so Paradoxical assertion of his That there are no Colours in the dark or that all colours vanish upon the Amotion or defection of Light we are to observe that it is one thing to be Actually Colorate and another to be only Potentially or to have a Disposition to exhibit this or that particular Colour upon the access of the Producent Light For as the several Pipes in an Organ though in themselves all aequally Insonorous or destitute of sound have yet an equal Disposition in respect of their Figuration to yield a sound upon the inflation of Wind from the Bellows and as the seeds of Tulips in Winter are all equally Exflorous or destitute of Flowers but yet contain in their seminal Virtues a Capacity or Disposition to emit various coloured flowers upon the access of fructifying heat and moysture in the Spring so likewise may all Bodies though we allow them to be actually Excolor in the Dark yet retain a Capacity whereby each one upon the access and sollicitation of Light may appear clad in this or that particular Colour respective to the determinate Ordination and Position of its superficial particles To inculcate this yet farther we desire you to take a yard of Scarlet Cloth and having extended it in an uniform light observe most exactly the Colour which in all parts it bears Then extend one half thereof in a primary light i. e. the immediately incident or direct rayes of the Sun and the other in a secondary or once reflected light and then though perhaps through the praeoccupation of your judgment you may apprehend it to be all of one colour yet if you engage a skilful Painter to pourtray it to the life as it is then posited He must represent the Directly illuminate half with one Colour viz. a bright and lightsome Red and the Reflexly illuminate half with another i. e. with a Duskish or more obscure Red or shamefully betray his ignorance of Albert Durers excellent Rules of shadowing and fall much short of your Expectation This done gently move the extended Cloth through various degrees of Light and shadow and you shall confess the Colour thereof to be varied upon each remove respondent to the degree of Light striking thereupon Afterward fold the Cloth as Boyes do paper for Lanterns or lay it
causeth it not to be absolutely Invisible And hence is it that we have several Degrees or gradual Differences of Black comparative to the several degrees of shadow progressing till we arrive at perfect Darkness and that we can behold nothing so black which may not admit of deeper and deeper blackness according to its greater and greater recess from light and nearer and nearer access to absolute Opacity To reason therefore is it consonant that all Bodies whose natural Hew is Black are composed of such insensible particles whose surfaces are scabrous rough or craggy and their Contexture so Rare or loose as that they rather imbibe or swallow up the incident rayes of light than reflect them outwardly toward the eye of the Spectator Of this sort the most memorable yet discovered is the Obsidian stone so much admired and celebrated among the Romans whose substance being conflated of scabrous and loosely contexed Atoms causeth it to appear a perfect Negro though held in the Meridian Sun-shine because the rayes invading it are for the most part as it were absorpt and stifled in the small and numerous Caverns and Meanders variously interspersed among its component particles Which common and illiterate eyes beholding delude their curiosity with this refuge that it hath an Antipathy to Light and doth therefore reflect it converted into shadows The Generation of the Two Extreme and Ground Colours White and Black being attained by this kind of inquest into the Rolls of reason the Former deriving it self from Light either immediately and in direct lines profluent from its fountain or by reflection from bodies whose superficial particles are sphaerical and polite the Later from the Negation of Light there can be no great difficulty remaining concerning the Genealogy of all other INTERMEDIATE ones since they are but the off-spring of the Extreme arising from the intermission of Light and shadow in various proportions or more plainly that the sense of them is caused in the Retina Tunica according to the variety of Reflections and Refractions that the incident Light suffers from the superficial particles of objects in manner exactly analogous to that of the Evanid Colours observed in sphaerical Glasses replete with Water in Prismes interposed betwixt the object and eye in angular Diamonds Opalls c. For even our sense demonstrates that they are nothing but certain Perturbations or Modifications of Light interspersed with Umbrellaes or small shadows The Verisimility of this may be evinced from the Sympathy and Antipathy of these intermediate Colours among themselves For the Reason why Yellow holds a sympathy or symbolical relation with Vermillion and Green and Green with Sky-colour and Yellow as the experience of Painters testifieth who educe a yellow Pigment out of Vermillion and Green in due proportions commixt upon their Palatts and reciprocally Green out of Yellow and Sky-colour in unaequal but determinate quantities contempered is no other but the Affinity of their respective Causes or only gradually different manners of Light reflected and refracted and intermixt with minute and singly imperceptible shadows And on the contrary the Reason of the Antipathy or Asymbolical relation betwixt a saffron Yellow and a Caerule betwixt a Green and a Rose colour into which a saffron yellow degenerates and betwixt a Yellow and Purple into which a Caerule degenerates can be nothing else but the Dissimilitude or Remoteness of their respective Causes since things so remotely Discrepant are incapable of Conciliation into a Third or Neutral or rather Amphidectical Nature but by the mediation of something that is participant of both This the Philosopher glanced at in his Colores misceri videntur quemadmâ—dum soni ita enim qui eximium quoddam proportionis genus servant hi Consonantiarum more omnium suavissimi sunt ceu purpâ—reus puniceus c. de sens sensil cap. 3. We say that all these Intermediate Colours emerge from the various intermistion of Light and small shadows because to the production of each of them from reflected or refracted Light or both the interposition of minute and separately invisible shadows is indispensably Necessary Which may be evidenced even from hence that Colors are not by Prismes appinged on bodies but in their Margines or Extremes there where is not only the general Commissure of Light and Shadows but also an Inaequality of superfice which by how much the more scabrous or rough by so much the more are the Colours apparent thereon ampliated in Latitude For since there is no superfice however smooth and equal to the sense devoid of many Extancies and Cavities as we have more then once profestly declared it is of necessity that betwixt the confronting sides of the Extancies reflecting the rays of light hither and thither there should be intercedent small shadows in the interjacent Cavities from which no light is reflected And hence is it that in an object speculated through a Prism the Caerule colour appears so much the more Dense and lively by how much the nearer to the limbus or Extreme of the Object it is appinged because in that place is the greater proportion of small shadows and è contra so much more Dilute and Pale by how much farther it recedeth from the Margin insomuch that it degenerates or dwindles at last into weak Sea-Green or Willow in its inmost part because in that place is the greater proportion of Light Conformable to that rule of Athanas. Kircher Art Magn. Lucis Umbrae lib. 1. part 2. cap. 1. Differunt autem Umbra Fulgores majore minore vel candore nigrore prout vel Fonti lucis aut tenebrarum propriores fuerint vel à fonte longius recesserint in quo luce obscuritate summa sunt utraque Unde patet quantò Fulgores a luce magis recesserint tanto plus Nigredinis quantò a tenebris magis recesserint Umbrae diminuto nigrore tanto plus albedinis acquirere quae omnia Visus judicare potest The same proportionately we conceive to hold good also in all Bodies whose Colours are Genuine or apparent to the naked Eye chiefly because we may lawfully conceive that every particle of every hair in a Scarlet or Violet coloured Cloth is consimilar in disposition to the particles in the extremes of an Object speculated through a Prism and hold it purely Consequential thereupon that light may arrive at the Eye from them with the like Reflections and Intermistion with shadows as from the extremes of the Reflectent Body through the Glass which advanceth its commixture with small shadows And what we affirm of Scarlet and Violet may also with no less Congruity be accommodated to Yellow and Sea-Green allowing the same proportion and modification of Light and Shadows in them as in that part of the superfice of any other body on which the Prism doth appinge them and in like manner to all other Colorate objects whose Tinctures bear any Affinity to either of these four specified or arise from
Vocem seu Sonum fluxum esse emâ—ssum ex rebus aut loquentibus aut sonantibus aut quomodocunque strepitum edentibus But yet we conceive this repugnancy of Authority insufficient to infirm our Thesis of the CORPORIETY of Sounds as well because simple Authority though never so reverend is no demonstration and scarce a good argument in points Physiological where the appeal lies only to Reason as for this weighty consideration that These accepted a sound in Concreto i. e. for the substance of the Aer or its most tenuious particles together with their proper Configuration but Those in Abstracto or only for the Figure imprest upon the superfice of the Aer which they therefore inferred to be Incorporeal that is devoyd of Profundity For otherwise Plato apud Agellium lib. 5. cap. 15. defines a sound Acris validaque aeris percussio a smart and strong percussion of the aer and Aristotle 2. de Anim. cap. 8. calls it downright a Motion of the Aer as the Stoicks Ictus aeris a stroke of the aer So that the Difference seems occasioned only by their diverse Acceptation of the word Sound This obstruction removed we progress to the discharge of our province viz. the Eviction of the Corporiety of a Sound The First Argument of the Corporiety of a Sound is Quod vim habet agendi sive efficiendi aliquid that it is Active or Effective For the voice of a man violently emitted or highly elevated by a kind of grating offends the vocal organs and changes their sweetness or evenness into a hoarsness and being long continued leaves them misaffected with lassitude as the experience of Hunters and Orators demonstrates Hither are we to referr Lucretius his Praeter radit enim vox fauces saepe facitque Asperiora foras gradiens arteria clamor c. The Second is desumed from its Capacity of Repercussion or Resilition from solid bodies which is the evident cause of our hearing one sound twice or more often according to the multiplicity of its Reflections as in all Echoes monophone or polyphone Which Aristotle fitly compares not only to a Ball frequently rebounding but also to Light which Himself confesseth capable of reflections even to infinity thereon concluding a sound subject to the same laws of Reflection with either To which Virgil seems to allude in his Saxa sonant vocisque offensa resultat Imago Intimating that an Echo holds a perfect analogy with an Image reflected from a Mirrour For as beside that Image which tends in a direct line from the Glass to the eye innumerable others are so transferred from it into all pointâ— of the Medium that divers other eyes variously posited therein shall behold the same general Image each one receiving a particular Image so likewise beside that sound or voice which arrives at your ear innumerable others are so dispersed through all parts of the medium or sphere of diffusion that if there were as many ears therein as the space could contain each one would hear the same general sound or voice and if it chance that any one particular voice be impinged against solid and laevigated or smooth bodies for solids that are very Spungy or porous suffer sounds to pass through them and too scabrous or rough destroy them by dissipation it may be repulsed in a direct line toward your ear and you shall hear it again at second hand or Echoed Touching the Reflection of Sounds we shall here by way of Corollary brieâ—â—â— observe That in case you stand somewhat near to the smooth solid 〈◊〉 reflecteth the sound and the Creation of the sound be not very 〈◊〉 then though an Ecâ—o thereof be made yet shall not you hear it because the Direct sound and the Reflex enter the ear so continently 〈◊〉 the space of time betwixt their ingress is so imperceptible that 〈◊〉 seem but one intire sound But in this case the sound becomâ—â— both stronger and longer in respect of their Union And this comes to pass chiefly when the Reflection is made from divers bodies at once as in all Arches and Concamerated or vaulted rooms in which for the most part the sound or voyce loseth its Distinctness and degenerates into a kind of long confused Bombe And hence viz. the many Repercussions of a Sound from divers places together or with so short intervals of time as the sense cannot distinguish them is it that the sound of Concaves percussed lasteth much longer than the sounds of bodies of any other figure whatever especially when the Concave hangs at liberty in the aer so that its Tremulation be not hindred as are all Bells in Churches and clocks For not only the External or ambient aer but the Internal is agitated by those frequent Tremblings in the body of the Concave and continuedly repercussed from side to side and therefore till the trembling ceaseth the Bombination is continued Again if you stand far from the sonant bodie and near to the Reflectent in this case also will the sound appear single and coming only from the Reflectent because both the Direct and Reflex sound invade the ear without any sensible difference in time and yet the Reflex sound as it is really the posterior so doth it very much intend or increase the Direct and consequently makes the impression observable only from it self It is observable moreover that by how much nearer the Ear is to the Anacamptick or Reflectent yet at such distance as is required to the discernment of the Direct voyce from the Reflex by so much the fewer syllables of a word pronounced are Echoed and è contra by how much farther from the Reflectent provided the distance exceed not the sphere of diffusion so many more syllables are repeated The Reason being this that the interval of time betwixt the Cessation of the Speaker and the audition of the Reflex voice is much less in the first case and much greater in the later and consequently the less interval of time sufficeth to the Distinction of a fewer syllables and the greater for more This considered we can no longer admite the distinct rehearsal of a whole Hexameter by some strong Echoes provided the voice pronouncing the verse be sufficiently strong to drive it to the Reflectent and thence back again to the Ear at large distance such as is necessary to the allowance of time enough for the successive repercussion of each syllable for otherwise the voice faileth by the way What hath been hitherto said concerns only Echoes Monophone that repeat the same syllable but once but there are Echoes Polyphone such as repeat one and the same note or syllable divers times over and of them the Reason is far otherwise For the frequent rehearsal of the same syllable by an Echo ariseth from the multitude of Reflectent Bodies situate beyond each other in such order that the nearer bodies referr it first and the remoter successively and sometimes from Bodies mutually
Vibrations in the same moments hence is it that if you encrease the weight retaining the same Longitude of the Chord by degrees until you advance the sound thereof to an Eighth it â—s maniâ—est that the Reciprocations of it are still doubly more swift and frequent than those caused by the former weight Moreover what we affirm concerning the Half of the sonorous Chord in respect of an Octave holds true in proportion also of the 2 thirdparts of â—he Chord in respect of a Fifth of the Dodrantal or 3 quarters in râ—spect of a Fourth and so of the rest of the musical Notes For in a very long Chord if you stop upon the third part of the half thereof and pâ—â—cuss the Bessal oâ— two thirds of the half remaining at liberty the proportion of its Reciprocations will not be Duple but sesquiâ—steral in respect to those of the whole length i. e. 2 Vibrations of the Chord will not respond in time to one pulse of the Artery nor 4. to 2. but 3. to 2. And if you stop on the fourth part then will the Reciprocations of the â—â—mainder be in proportion sesquitertial i. e. 4 Vibrations shall be isochroâ—â—cal to 3 pulses According to the same method if you stop on the 5th part of the Chord the proportion of its Vibrations to that of the former will be sesquiquartal if the 6th part sesquiquintal and so consequentâ—â— of all other Notes So that it seems easily determinable by this scale What is the proportion of the strokes inflicted on the Eare in every Acute sound compâ—â—â—â—ively to those inflicted by every Grave and this not onely in the sounds oâ—â— string but all others of the like Original To instance when a Boy sings with a Man and emits a note more Acute by an Eighthâ— it is to be conceived that the Aer efflated from the Vocal Artery of the Boy is doubly swifter in its motion or doubly more frequent in its râ—â—â—â—berations from the sides of the Wind-pipe in respect of the double narrowness thereof than that expired from the Vocal Artery of the man And hence we may occasionally advertise that by how much the more 〈◊〉 any man would sing by so much more streightly or narrowly musâ—â—e Compress his Wind-pipe that so the Aer may issue forth more distrest and streightned having suffered the more Frequent reverberations from the sides and rings of the same And this 〈…〉 noble Fountain from which many of our mâ—dern Theorical Musicâ—â—â— have drawn the Reason of the Suavity of theâ—r CONSONANâ—â—S and Acerbity or ingratefulness of their DISSONANCâ—â— â—nd that not without mature consideration For when two Sounds â—â—â—chronical in their creation arrive at the eare in the same instant and 〈◊〉 it with pleasure or a kinde of sweetness the Cause of that sweetnâ—â—â—an be no other but this that the percussions of the Aer generating 〈◊〉 two Sounds become so united as to leave no sensible 〈…〉 might grate or exasperate the tender sensory and on the other siâ—â— the reason of the Discord or Insuavity of two sounds at once emitted is onely this that they are not united so that the eare deprehenâ—â— and dislikes their Discrepancy Again the several Degrees of thiâ— Suavity and Insuavity among musical sounds cannot be deduced with equal probability from any other original as from the variety of 〈◊〉 and Discrepancy of the Percussions creating the Sounds To â—â—emplifie in the Sounds resulting from strings take two 〈…〉 in their materials length and thickness and 〈…〉 â—qual weightâ— or force and when you percuss them with one 〈◊〉 they will emit equal sounds or that Consonance which is called an Uâ—â—son which will be therefore grateful because as the Vibrations of 〈…〉 so will the strokes inflicted on the sensory have the same 〈◊〉 each to other as one hath to one the proportion of Equality◠〈◊〉 consequently will be equal in number and time so as to affect the sensory most equally and Unitedly But if you abbreviate one of the strings exactly to half because according to the praemises the sounds resulting from them at once percust must make an Eighth or that Consonance which the Greeks name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and we a Diapason therefore must that Eighth be eminently grateful also insomuch as though after the Coalition of two strokes one resulting from the shorter string be insociate yet doth the immediately consequent stroke thereof perfectly unite with that of the longer string and so the Unition is made Alternately or at every other stroke and therefore doth this Consonance invade the sense of all others an Unison only excepted most unitedly and equally and consequently is the most pleasant and charming of all Consonances after an Unison And when you make the proportion of the short string exactly Sequialteral to that of the long because the sounds resulting from them both at once percussed make a Fifth or Diapente therefore will that Consonance also have a considerable degree of sweetness though short of that of an Eight insomuch as though two strokes pass insociated yet doth the Union follow in every Third and so the Unition is sufficiently frequent to please the sense which is best delighted with that object in which is the least difference of parts according to that fourth Praecogn of Des Cartes in compend Musicae pag. 6. Illud objectum facilius sensu percipitur in quo est minor differentia partium Again if you make the proportion of the short string Sesquitertial to that of the long because a Fourth or Diatessaron doth result from the percussion of them together therefore will that Consonance be likewise competently grateful in respect that after three insociated strokes the Coition falls in every fourth To Contract the same holds in proportion exactly true also in Sesquiquartal and Sesquiquintal proportions from which arise Thirds major and minor and of superbiparting Thirds and supertriparting Fifths from which arise Sixths major and minor and finally in all Compound Consonances such as Disdiapason c. For alwayes the Consonance is by so much more grateful by how much more frequently the strokes unite in the Sensory and è contra Whence is generated the Dissonancy or ingratefulness of Sounds when ever the strokes either too rarely or never unite because in those cases the sense is held in a kind of lasting distraction and unless a restitution of the distracted parts of the Sensory be made by some Coalitions and those sufficiently frequent which are a kind of Balsam to cure the gratings and dissolutions the sensory must be mis-affected with a kind of Laceration and undergo that dolour unwittingly This the skilful Musician foreknowing endeavours to praevent by making a Diapason or perfect Consonance tread upon the heels of a Dissonance for varieties sake usually inserted into Tunes thereby with advantage consolidating the ulceration of the sensory caused by the praecedent Discord and making the Harmony the more grateful as Health is most grateful immediately after sickness and a
conspurcatus attrectaret nisi incredibili voluptatis aestro percita essent Genetalia And let us but abate the temptation of this sense and libidinous invitement of it praeambulous to the act of Congression and we shall soon confess that so magnified delight of sensuality to be no other than what the noblest of Stoicks Marcus Antoninus defined it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the attrition of a base entrail and the excretion of a little snivel with a kind of convulsion as Hippocrates describes it This is that Fidus Achates or constant friend that conserves us in our first life which we spend in the dark prison of the womb ushers us into this which our improvidence trifles away for the most part on the blandishments of sensual Appetite and never forsakes us till Death hath translated us into an Eternal one For when all our other unconstant senses perish this faithful one doth not abandon us but at that moment which determines our mortality Whence Aristotle drew that prognostick de Anim. lib. 3. cap. 13. that if any Animal be once deprived of the sense of Touching death must immediately ensue for neither is it possible saith He that any living Creature should want this sense nor to the being of it is it necessary that it have any other sense beside this In a word this is that persuasive sense and whose testimony the wary Apostle chose to part with his infidelity and to conclude the presence of his revived Lord. That painful sense on the victory of whose torments the patient souls of Martyrs have ascended above their faith That Virtual and Medical sense by which the Great Physician of diseased nature was pleased to restore sight to the blind agility to the lame hearing to the deaf to extinguish the Feaver in Peters Mother-in-Law stop the inveterate issue in his Haemorhoidal Client unlock the adamantine gates of death and restore the widows son from the total privation to the perfect habit of life 2 That some Qualities are sensible to the Touch which yet are common to the perception of other senses also for no scholler can be ignorant of that Division of sensibles into Common and Proper and that among the Common are reckoned Motion Quiet Number Figure and Magnitude according to the list of Aristotle 2 de Anim. cap. 6. 3 and principally That the Qualities of Concretions either Commonly or Properly appertaining to the sense of Touching are to be considered in their several Relations to the Principles on which they depend First some result from the Universal matter Atomes in this respect that they intercept Inanity or space betwixt them and of this original are Rarity and Density with their Consequents Perspicuity and Opacity Secondly Some depend on the Common Materials in this respect that they are endowed with their three essential Proprieties Magnitude Figure Motion and that either Singly or Conjunctly 1 Singly and either from their Magnitude alone of which order is the Magnitude oâ— Quantity of any Concretion and the Consequents thereof Subtility and Hebetude or from their Figure alone of which sort is the Figure of every thing and the Consequents thereof Smoothness and Asperity c. or only from their Motivâ— Virtue of which kind is the Motive Force inhaerent in all things in thâ— General and that which assisteth and perfecteth the same in most things the Habit of Motion and particularly Gravity and Levity 2 Conjuncâ—ly from them all of which production are those commonly called the â—our First Qualities Heat Cold Dryness Moysture as also those which â—râ— deduced from them as Hardness Softness Flexility Ductility and all others of which Aristotle so copiously but scarce pertinently treateth in his fourth book of Meteors and lastly those by vulgar Physiologist named Occult Qualities which are also derivative from Atoms in resâ—â—ct of their three essential Proprieties and among these the most eminent and generally celebrated is the Attractive Virtue of the Loadstone Now on each of these we intend to bestowe particular speculation allowing it the â—â—me order which it holds in this scheme which seems to be only a faithful Transsumpt of the method of Nature and we shall begin at Rarity and Density 1 Because nothing can be generated but of Atoms commixt and that Commixture cannot be without more or less of the Inane space inâ—â—rcepted among their small masses so that if much of the Inane space 〈◊〉 intercepted among them the Concretion must be Rare if little Dense of meer necessity 2 Because the Four First reputed Qualities Heat Cold Dryness Moysture are posterior to Rarity and Density as appears by that of Aristotle physic 8. cap. 16. where according to the interpretation of Pacius He intimates that Heat and Cold Hardness and Sofâ—ness are certain kindes of Rarity and Density and therefore we are â—o set forth from them as the more Common in Nature and consequently the more necessary to be known a Generalioribus enim tanquam notioribus ad minus Generalia procedendum is the advice of Arist. physic 1. cap. 2. SECT II. COncerning the immediate Causes of Rarity and Density in Bodies divers Conceptions are delivered by Philosophers 1 Some observing that Rare bodies generally are less and Dense more Ponderous and that the Division of a body into small parts doth usually make it less swift in its descent through aer or water than while it was intire have thereupon determined the Reason of Rarity to consist in the actual division of a body into many small parts and on the contrary that of Density to consist in the Coadunation or Compaction of many small parts into one great continued mass But These considered not that Chrystal is not more rare though less weighty proportionately than a Diamond nor that the Velocity of bodies descending doth not encrease in proportion to the difference of their several Densities as their inadvertency made them praesume there being sundry other Causes besides the Density of a body assignable to its greater Velocity of motion in descent as the Heroical pen of Galileo hath clearly demonstrated in 1. Dialog de motu and our selves shall professedly evince in convenient place 2 Others indecently leaping from Physical to Metaphysical speculations and imagining the substance of a body to be a thing really distâ—nct from the Quantity thereof have derived Rarity and Density from the â—â—veral proportions which Quantity hath to its substance as if in Rarefaction a Body did receive no mutation of Figure but an Augmentation and in Condensation a Diminution of its Quantity But the excessive subtility or rather absolute incomprehensibility of this Distinction doth evidently confess it to be meerly Chimerical as we have formerly intimated in our discourse concerning the proper and genuine notions of Corporiety and Inanity 3 A Third sort there are who having detected the incompetency of the first opinion and absolute unintelligibility of the Second judiciously desume the more or less of Rarity in any body
from the more or less of Vacuity intercepted among the parts thereof and on the contrary the more or less of Density from the greater or less exclusion of Inanity by the reduction of the parts of a body to mutual Contingency And this is that opinion which only hath subjugated our judgement and which seems worthy our best patronage in regard not only of its sufficiency to explicate all the various Apparences among bodies resulting from their several Differences in Rarity and Density but also of its exuperance of reason above the Fâ—rst and of intelligibility above the second it being the duety of a Philosopher always to prefer Perspicuity to Obscurity plain and genuine notions to such as are abstracted not farther from matter than all possibility of Comprehension According to this Hypothesis therefore of Vacuities interspersed of which â—pecurus seems to have been the Author we understand and dare define a Rare Body to be such as obtaining little of Matter possesseth much of Place and on the contrary a Dense one to be that which obtaining much of Matter possesseth little of Place intending by Place all that space circumscribed by the superfice of the Ambient such as is the space included betwixt the sides or in the concave of a vessel For supposing any determinate space to be one while possessed by Aer alone another while by Water alone the Aer therein contained cannot be said to be Rare but only because though it hath much less of matter or substance yet it takes up as much of space or room as the Water nor the Water to be Dense but only because though it hath much more of matter yet doth it take up no more of space than the Aer Whence it is purely Consequent that if we conceive that Water to be rarified into Aer and that Aer to be condensed into Water the Aer made of the Water reâ—ified must replenish a vessel of capacity not only ten-fold as Aristotle inconsiderately conjectured but a hundred-fold greater as Mersennus by stalick experiments hath demonstrated and transpositively the Water made by the Aer condensed must be received in a Vessel of capacity an hundred-fold less when yet in that greater mass of Aer there can be no more of Matter or Quantity than was in that smaller mass of Water before its Rareâ—action nor in that smaller mass of Water less of Matter or Quantity than was in that greater mass of Aer before its Condensation Evident it is therefore that by those contrary motions of Rarifaction and Condensation a Body doth suffer no more than the meer Mutation of its Figure or the Diffusion and Contraction of its parts its Quantity admitting no Augmentâ—tion in the one nor Diminution of the other This being Apodictical the sole Difficulty that requires our Enodation is only this Whether a Rare Body possessing a greater space than a Dense proportionâ—tely to its Quantity doth so possess all that space circumscribed by its superfice as to replenish all and every the least particle thereof not leaving any space or spaces however exile unreplenisht with some adaequate particle of its matter Or whether there are not some small parts of space inâ—â—rmixt among its diffused or mutually incontingent particles in which no particles of its matter are included and so there remain small Vacuola or Empty spaces such as we have formerly more than twiâ—e described in our Chapter of a Disseminate Vacuity in Nature And this descends into another Doubt whose clear solution is of so much importance as richly to compensate our most anxious Enquirie viz. Whether Rarity be caused from the interception of much Inanity when the parts of a Body formerly Adunate are separated each from other at least in some points of their superfices and so the Body become so much more Rare by how much the more or more ample empty spaces are intercepted among its incontingent particles or Whethâ—r Density and Rarity depend on any other possible Causes besides thâ—s i. e. without the intermistion of inane spaces among â—he 〈◊〉 of Bodies And this we conceive to be the whole and true state of that Controversie which hath so perplexed the minds of many the most eminent Philosophers in the world That the Rarity and Density of Bodies can arise from no other Cause immediately but the more or less of Inanity intercepted among their particles may be thus Demonstrated If in a Rare body there be admitted no Vacuola or small empty spaces but it be assumed that the particles of Matter are adaequate both in Number and Dimensions to the particles of space wherein it is contained then must it necessarily follow that in Condensation many particles of Matter must be reduced into one particle space which before Condensation was adaequate onely to one particle of Matter and on the contrary in Rarefaction one and the same particle of matter must possess many of space each whereof before Rarefaction was in dimensions fully respondent thereto For Example in Aer condensed into Water an hundred particles of Aer must be reduced into one particle of space and in Water rarified into Aer one particle of the matter of Water must possess an hundred particles of space Again according to the Assumption of no Vacuity since in a Vessel replete with Aer the parts of Aer must be equal in number and dimensions to the parts of space thereby circumscribed none the least particle of space being admitted to be Inane if you fill the same Vessel with Water or Lead or Gold it must follow that the parts of the matter of Aer and the parts of the matter of Water Lead or Gold shall be equal in number because Quae sunt uni tertio aequalia aequalia sunt etiam inter se and if so needs must Aer be aequally Dense with Water Lead or Gold which all men allow to be the most dense and compact body in Nature in regard it transcends all others in weight and difficulty of Solution or Division 2 All bodies in the Universe must be equally Dense or equally Rare 3 And so nothing can be capable of Condensation or Rarefaction The least of which unconcealable Absurdities not to enumerate any others of those many that depend on the same Concession of an absolute Plenitude or no Vacuity is great enough to render those Heads which have laboured to destroy the Vacuola of Epicurus strongly suspected of Incogitancy if not of stupidity T were good manners in us to praesume that no man can be so Facile as to conceive that Aristotle hath prevented these Exceptions by that Distinction of his de Actu Potentia but because Praejudice may do much we judge it expedient a while to insist upon the Examination of the importance and congruity thereof He ratiocinates 4 physic cap. 9. that the matter of Contraries E. G. of Heat and Cold Rarity and Density is one and the same so that as the same matter is one while
the more Opace by how much more Dense and that the Reason of Perspicuity can hardly be understood but by assuming certain small Vacuities in the Body interposed betwixt the object and the eye such as may give free passage to the visible Species nor that of Opacity but by conceding a certain Corpulency to the space or thing therein interposed such as may terminate the sight therefore cannot this place be judged incompetent to the Consideration of their severall originals By a Perspicuum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we suppose that every man understands that Body or Space which though interposed betwixt the Eye and a Lucid or Colorate Object doth nevertheless not hinder the Transition of the Visible species from it to the Eye and by an Opacum that which obstructing the passage of the Visible Species terminates the sight in it self We suppose also that according to our praecedent Theory the Species Visible consist of certain Corporeal Rayes emitted from the Object in direct lines toward the Eye and that where the Medium or interjacent space is free those Rayes are delated through it without impediment but where the space is praepossessed by any solid or Impervious substance they are repercussed from it toward their Original the Object And hence we inferr that because the total Freedom of their Transmission depends only upon the total Inanity of the Space intermediate and so the more or less of freedome trajective depends upon the more or less of Inanity in the Space intermediate therefore must every Concretion be so much more Perspicuous by how much the more and more ample Inane Spaces it hath intercepted among its Component particles which permit the Rayes freely to continue on their progress home to the Eye This we affirm not Universally but under the due limitation of a Caeteris Paribus as we have formerly hinted Because notwithstanding a piece of Lawn is more or less Perspicuous according as the Contexture of its Threads is more or less Rare and the Aer in like manner is more or less pellucid according as it is perfused with more or fewer Vapours yet do we not want Bodies as Paper Sponges c. Which though more then meanly Rare are nevertheless Indiaphanous and on the contrary we see many Bodies sufficiently Dense as Horn Muscovy-glass common glass c. which are yet considerably Diaphanous Now that you may clearly comprehend the Cause of this Difference be pleased to hold your right hand before your eye with your fingers somewhat distant each from other and then looking at some object you may behold it through the chinks or intervals of your fingers this done put your left hand also over your right so as the fingers of it may be in the same position with the former and then may you perceive the object at least as many parts of it as before But if you dispose the fingers of your left hand so as to fill up the spaces or intervals betwixt those of your right the object shall be wholly eclipsed Thus also if you look at an object through a Lawn or Hair Sieve and then put another Sieve over that so as the holes or pores of the second be parallel to those of the first you may as plainly discern it through both as one but if the twists of the second sieve be objected to the pores of the first then shall you perceive no part of the object at least so much the fewer parts by how much greater a number of pores in the first are confronted by threads in the second And hence you cannot but acknowledge that the Liberty of inspection doth depend immediately and necessarily upon the Inanity of the pores the Impediment of it upon the Bodies that hinder the trajection of the Rayes emitted from the Object and yet that to Diaphanity is required a certain orderly and alternate Position of the Pores and Bodies or Particles This considered it is manifest that the Reason why Glass though much more Dense is yet much more perspicuous than Paper is only this that the Contexture of the small filaments composing the substance of Paper is so confused as that the Pores that are open on one side or superfice thereof are not continued through to the other but variously intercepted with cross-running filaments as is more sensible in the Coâ—texture of a Spunge whose holes are not continued quite thorow but determined at half way some more some less so that frequently the bottome of one hole is the cover of another as the Cells in a Hony-comb but Glass in regard of the uniform and regular Contexture of its particles which are ranged as it were in distinct ranks and files with pores or intervals orderly and directly remaining betwixt them hath its pores not so soon determined by particles oppositely disposed but continued to a greater depth in its substance Though this make the whole matter sufficiently intelligible yet may it receive a degree more of illustration if we admit the same Conditions to be in the substance of Glass that are in a Mist or Cloud through which we may behold and object so long as the small passages or intervals betwixt the particles of the Vapours through which the rayes of the visible species may be trajected remain unobstructed but yet perceive the same so much the more obscurely by how much the more remote it is because in that case more impervious particles are variously opposed to those small thorow-fares that obstruct them and so impede the progress of most of the rayes For thus also Glass if thin doth hinder the sight of an object very little or nothing at all but if very thick it wholly terminates the progress of the species and by how much the thicker it is by so much the more it obscures the object And this only because Glass consisting of small solid Particles or Granules and insensible Pores alternately situate hath many of its pores running on in direct lines through its substance to some certain distance but sometimes these sometimes those are obturated by small solid particles succedent when at such a determinate Crassitude it becomes wholly opace And this gives us an opportunity to refute that vulgar Error That the substance of Glass is totally Diaphanous or that all and every Ray of the the Visive Species is trajected through it without impediment To demonstrate the contrary therefore we advise you to hold a piece of the finest and thinnest Venice Glass against the Sun with two sheets of white paper one betwixt the Sun and the Glass the other betwixt the Glass and your Eye for then shall all the Trajected Rayes be received on the paper on this side of the glass and the Reflected ones be received on that beyond it Now insomuch as that paper which is betwixt your eye and the glass doth receive the Trajected rayes with a certain apparence of many small shadows intercepted among them and that paper beyond
the glass doth receive the Reflected rayes with an apparence of many small lights therefore we demand 1 from whence can that species of small shadows arise if not from the Defect of those rayes that are not transmitted through the Glass but averted from it 2 Whence comes it that in neither paper the Brightness or Splendour is so great as when no Glass is interposed betwixt them if not from hence that the reflected rayes are wanting to the nearest the trajected ones to the farthest 3 Whence comes it that some rayes are reflected others trajected if not from hence that as a Lawn sieve transmits those rayes which fall into its pores and repercusseth others that fall upon its threads so doth Glass permit those rayes to pass through that fall into its pores and reverberate those that strike upon its solid particles And what we here say of Glass holds true also in proportion of Aer Water Horn Vernish Muscovy-glass and all other Diaphanous Bodies CHAP. X. OF MAGNITUDE FIGURE And their Consequents SUBTILITY HEBETUDE SMOOTHNESSE ASPERITY SECT I. THe MAGNITUDE and FIGURE of Concretions in regard our Reason doth best derive them from the Two First Proprieties or Essential Attributes of the Universal Matter Atoms are the Qualities which justly challenge our next Meditation Concerning their Origination therefore we advertise First that although it be not necessary that a Body made up of greater Atoms should therefore be greater nor contrariwise that a Body composed of lesser Atoms should therefore be lesser nor that a Body consisting of Atoms of this or that determinate Figure should constantly retain that Figure without capacity of determination to any other yet doth it seem universally true that every Concretion therefore hath Magnitude because its Material Principles or Component Particles have their certain Magnitudes or are essentially endowed with real Dimensions and as true that every Concretion is therefore determined to this or that particular Figure because the Component Particles thereof are not immense or devoyd of circumscription but terminated by some Figure or other Secondly that the term Magnitude here used is not to be accepted in a Comparative intention or as it stands in opposition to Parvity in which sense vulgar ears alwayes admit it but a Positive or as it is identical and importing the same thing with Quantity or Extension For as every Atom or that ultimate and indivisible portion of Matter so called is no Mathematical point but possesseth its own simple Magnitude or Quantity without respect or comparison to Greater or Less So must every Concretion be considered as it stands possessed of its own compound Magnitude or Quantity without respect to any other Body in comparison whereof it may be said to be Greater or Less Because without the relative conception of any other Body the Mind doth most clearly and dictinctly apprehend the Magnitude of a Concretion by a Positive â—otion insomuch it conceives it to have various parts whereof none are included within other but all situate in order and each in its proper place so that from thence must follow the Diffusion of them and consequently the Extension of the whole consisting of them And well known it is that the Magnitude or Quantity of a Body is nothing but that kind of Extension which amounts from the aggregate of the singular Extensions of its component particles of which if any be conceived to be Detracted or Apposed so much is instantly understood to be Detracted from or Apposed to the Extension of the whole Body To this alludes that Distich of Lucretius Propterea quia quae decedunt Corpora quoique â—nde abeunt minuunt quo venere augmine donant This duâ—ly perpended no man need hereafter fear the drilling of his ears by those clamorous and confused litigations in the Schools about the Formal reason of Quantity for nothing can be more evident than this that 〈◊〉 Extension or Quantity of a thing is meerly Moduâ— Materiae or â—ather the Matter it self composing that thing insomuch as it consâ—â—â—eth not in a Point but hath parts posited without parts in respect â—hereof it is Diffuse and purely consequent from thence that every Body hath so much of Extension as it hath of Matter extension â—eing the proper and inseparable Affection of Matter or Substance Hence also may we detect and refute the extreme absurdity of those high-flying Wits who imagine that a Body when Rarified though it hath no more of Matter hath yet more of Quantity or Extension than when Condensed because from the praemises it is an apodictical verity that the Extension attributed to a Body Rarified 〈◊〉 not an Extension of the Matter of it alone but of the Matter and small â—nane Spaces intercepted among its dissociated particles together so that if you suppose the Extension of those small Vacuities to be excluded from the Aggregate you cannot but confess that the Matter hath no more of Extension in its parts Dissociated than it had in the same parts Coaâ—unated Moreover this sufficiently instructs us to give a decisive Response to that so long debated Quaestion An per Rarifactionem acquiratur per Condensationem deperdatur Quantitas Whether the Quantity of a Body is Augmented in Rarifaction and Diminished in Condensation or no For as nothing of Matter is conceived to be added to a body while it is Rarified nothing of Matter detracted from it while Condensed so is it undeniable at least unrefutable that nothing of Quantity is acquired by Rarifaction or amitted by Condensation but only that those empty spaces are admitted or excluded which being in a Rarified body conjoined to the small spaces that the particles of its matter possess make it appear to be Greater or to replenish a greater place than before and in a Condensed body detracted from the small spaces that the particles of its matter do possess make it appear Less or to fill a less place than before If so it may be cause of wonder even to the wisest and most charitable Consideration that the Defendants of Aristotles doctrine of Quantity have with so much labour and anxiety of mind betrayed themselves into sundry not only inextricable Difficulties but open Repugnances while on the one side they affirm that as well Quantity as Matter is Ingenerable and Incorruptible and on the other admit that the same Matter may be one while Extended to the occupation of all and every part of a greater space and another while again so contracted as to be wholly comprehended in the hundreth part of the former space as in the Condensation of Aer into Water than which no Contradiction can be or more open or more irreconcileable And yet we see those who have easily swallowed it and upon digestion become so transcendently exalted to sublimities as to imagine the Quantity of a thing to be absolutely distinct from the matter or substance of it and thereupon to conclude that Rarity and Density doe consist only in the
how much nearer they approach the Earth unless it can be demonstrated that this encrease of Velocity in each degree of descent ariseth only from the Encrease of Appetency of Union with the whole which neither Copernicus himself nor any other for Him hath yet dared to assent as in consideration of many other Defects and some Absurdities which that wonder of the Mathematicks Ricciolus hath demonstratively convicted it of in Almegisti novi parte posteriori lib. 9. sect 4. cap. 16. de Systemate terrae motae Who had He but as solidly determined all the Difficulties concerning the immediate Cause of this Affection in Bodies called Gravity as He hath refuted the Copernican Thesis of an Innate Appetency in the parts of the Earth to reunite themselves to the Whole doubtless He had much encreased the obligations and gratitude of his Readers But making it his principal design to propugn the Physiology and Astronomy of the Ancients especially such Tenents as are admitted by the Schools and allowed of by the Doctors of Rome as most concordant to the litteral sense of Sacred Writ He waved that Province seeming to adhaere to the common Doctrine of the Stagirite formerly recited and only occasionally to defend it Lastly there are Others among whom Kepler and Gassendus deserve the richest Minervals who neither admitting with Aristotle that Gravity is any Quality essentially inhaerent in Concretions nor with Copernicus that it is an Appetency of Union implanted originally in the parts of the Earth by vertue whereof they carry themselves towards the Middle of the Terrestrial Globe define it to be an Imprest Motion Caused immediately by a certain Magnetick Attraction of the Earth And this opinion seems to carry the greatest weight of Reason as may soon be manifest to any competent and equitable judgment that shall exactly perpend the solid Arguments alledged by its Assertors which for greater decorum we shall now twist together into one continued thread that so our Reader may wind them into one bottome and then put them together into the ballance Insomuch as frequent and most accurate observation demonstrates that the Motion of a Body downward doth encrease in the same proportion of Velocity that the motion of the same Body violently projected upward doth decrease therefore is it reasonable nay necessary for us to conceive that there are Two distinct External Principles which mutually contend about the same subject and execute their contrary forces upon the same Moveable Now of these two Antagonistical Forces the one is Evident the other obscure and the argument of our instant Disquisition Manifest it is when a stone is thrown upward from the surface of the Earth into the Aer that the External Principle of its motion Upward is the Hand of Him who projected it But somewhat obscure what is the External Principle of its motion Downward when it again returns to the Earth Nevertheless this obscurity doth not imply a Nullity i. e. it is high temerity to conclude that there is no External Cause of the stones Descent because that External Cause is not equally manifest with that of its Ascent unless any dare to affirm that because He can perceive when Iron is attracted to a Loadstone no Externall Cause of that Attraction therefore there can be none at all Many indeed are the wayes by which an External Cause may move a Body and yet they all fall under the comprehension of only two Cardinal wayes and those are Impulsion and Attraction This praeconsidered it followes that we cast about to finde some Cause or Impellent or Attrahent or rather two Causes one Impellent the other Attrahent operating together to which we may impute the perpendicular motion of Bodies Descending The Impellent Cause if any such there be of the perpendicular motion of a stone Descending can be no other but the Aer from above incumbent upon and pressing it downward because of any other External Cause of that effect no argument can be given For should you suppose a sphere of Fire or some other or some other Aethereal Substance to be immediately above the convex Extâ—eme of the sphere of Aer which closely and with some kind of pressure invironing the Aer might compel all its parts to flow together toward the Terraqueous Globe yet could that super-aereal sphere bounded and urged by the circumvolutions of the Coelestial Orbs do no more than cause the Aer being it self prest downward to bear down upon the stone and so depress it and so the Aer must still be at least the Proxime Cause impelling the stone downward Moreover that the Aer alone may be the Impellent Cause of the stones perpendicular Decidence from on high even Aristotle Himself seems to concede insomuch as He is positive in his judgment that when a Heavy body projected upward is abandoned by its Motor it is afterward moved only by the Aer whiâ—h being moved by the Projicient moves the next contermâ—â—ous Aer by which again the next neighbouring Aer is likeâ—â—se moved anâ— so successively forward untill the force of the Imprest motion gradually decaying the whole communicated motion ceaseth and a quiet succeeds But betause Aristo le could not tell what Cause that is which in every degree of the stones ascent opposing at length whoâ—â—â— overcomes the imprest force unâ—ess it should be the occurrent superiour Aer which continually resisteth the inferior aer whereby the projected stone is promoted in its ascent may not we safely enough conclude that the Aer from above incumbent upon the projected stone may by the same force depress it Downward wherewith it first resisted the motion of it Upward Doubtless what forceâ— soever the Hand of a man who projects a stone upward into the Aer doth impress upon it and the contiguous Aer yet still is 〈◊〉 the superiour Aer that both continually resisteth the tendency 〈◊〉 the stone upward and at its several degrees of ascent reâ—racteth 〈◊〉 force thereupon imprest by the hand of the Projicient untâ—â—â— having totally overmastered the same it so encreaseth its conquâ—â—â—g Depellent force as that in the last degree of the stones Deâ—endent motion the Depressive force of the Aer is become as great as was the Elevating force of the Hand in the beginning of 〈◊〉 Ascendent motion Suppose we that a Diver should from the bottome of the Sea throw a stone directly upward with the same â—â—â—ce as from the surface of the Earth up into the Aer and then â—â—mand Why the stone doth not ascend to the same height in the Water as in the Aer Is it not think you because the 〈◊〉 doth more resist and refract the Imprest force and so sooâ—â—â— overcome it and then begins to impress its own con-contrary Depressing Force thereupon never discontinuing that impression 〈◊〉 it hath reduced the stone to the bottom of the Sea from wheâ—â—â— it was projected The Difference therefore betwixt the Resistence of the Imprest force by the
Water and that of the Aer â—â—â—sisteth only in Degrees or more and less And though the 〈◊〉 of the Aer may be thought very inconsiderable in comparison o◠〈◊〉 great Violence imprest upon a Cannon Bullet shot upwâ—rd 〈…〉 the Aer yet be pleased to consider that it holds some 〈◊〉 proportion with the Renitency oâ— the Water Which 〈…〉 that we may understand compare we not only the very 〈◊〉 Ascent of a stone thrown upward from the bottome of the Sea to the large ascent of the same stone with equal force from the Earth thrown up into the Aer but also the almost insensible progress of a Bullet shot from a Cannon transversly through Water with that vast progress it is commonly observed to make through the Aer and we shall soon be convinced that as the Great Resistence of the Water is the Cause why the Stone or Bullet makes so small a progress therein so is the small Resistence of the Aer the Cause why they both pervade so great a space therein And thus is it Demonstrable that the Resistence of the superior Aer is the External Agent which constantly resisteth by degrees refracteth and at length wholly overcomes the imprest Force whereby Heavy Bodies are violently elevated up into the Aer The Difficulty remaining therefore doth only concern the Impellent Cause of their Fall Down again or whether the Aer besides the force of Resistence hath also any Depulsive Faculty which being imprest upon a stone bullet or other ponderous body at the top or highest point of its mountee serveth to turn the same Downward and afterward to continue its perpendicular descent till it arrive at and quiesce on the Earth Which indeed seems well worthy our Doubt because it is observable that Walls Pavements and the like solid and immote Bodies though they strongly resist the motion of bodies impinged against them doe not yet impress any Contrary motion thereupon the Rebound of a Ball or Bullet from a Wall being the effect meerly of the same force imprest upon it by the Racket or Gun-powder fired which first moved it as is evident even from hence that the Resilition of them to greater or less distance is according to the more or less of the Force imprest upon them Which those Gunners well understand who experiment the strength of their Powder by the greatness of the bullets rebound from a Wall And to solve this Difficulty we must distinguish betwixt Bodies that are devoid of Motion and which being distracted have no faculty of Restitution whereby to recollect their dissociated particles and so repair themselves of which sort are Walls Pavements c and such bodies that are actually in motion and which by reason of a natural Elater or Spring of Restitution easily and speedily redintegrate themselves and restore their severed parts to the same contexture and tenour which they held before their violent distraction to which classis the Aer doth principally belong Now concerning the First sort what we object of the non-impression of any Contrary motion upon Bodies impinged against them is most certainly true but not concerning the Latter For the Arm of a Tree being inflected doth not only resist the inflecting force but with such a spring return to its natural site as serveth to impel any body of competent weight that shall oppose its recurse to great distance as in the discharge of an Arrow from a Bow Thus also the Aer though otherwise unmoved may be so distracted by a Body violently pervading it as that the parts thereof urged by their own native Confluxibility the Cause of all Elaterical or Restorative Motion must soon return to their natural tenour and site and not without a certain violence and so replenish the place formâ—rly possest but now deserted by the body that distracted them Thâ—â— there is so powerful a Restorasive faculty in the Aer as we here â—ssume innumerable are the Experiments those especially by Philosophers usually alledged against a Vacuum Coacervate which attest However that you may the less doubt of its having some and a considâ—rable force of propelling bodies notwithstanding it be Fluid in so high a degree be pleased only to reflect your thoughts upon the great â—orce of Winds which tear up the deepest and firmest rooted Cedars â—â—om the ground demolish mighty Castles overset the proudest Câ—â—racts and rowle the whole Ocean up and down from shoar to shoâ—â— Consider the incredible violence wherewith a Bullet is discharged from a Wind-Gun through a firm plank of two or three inches thickness Consider that no effect is more admirable than that a very small quantity of Flame should with such prodigious impetuosity drive a Bullet so dense and ponderous from a Cannon through thâ— Gates of a City and at very great distance and yet the Flame 〈◊〉 the Gunpowder is not less but more Fluid than Aer Who without the certificate of Experience could believe that meerly by the force of so little Flame a substance the most Fluid of 〈◊〉 that we know not onely so weighty a Bullet should be driven with such pernicity forward through the aer to the distance of many furlongs but also that so vast a weight as a Cannon and its Carriage bear should at the same time be thereby driven backwards or made to recoyle What therefore will you say if this could not come to pass without the concurrence of the Aer For it seems to be effected when the Flame at the instant of its Creation seeking to possess a more ample room or space doth convâ—â— its impetus or violence as well upon the breech or hinder part 〈◊〉 the Canon as upon the bullet lying before it in the bore or 〈◊〉 which discharged through the concave is closely prest upon 〈◊〉 the pursuing flame so that the flame immediately perishing 〈◊〉 leaving a void space the Aer from the front or adverse part instaâ—â— rusheth into the bore and that with such impetuous pernicity 〈◊〉 it forceth the Cannon to give back and yeilds a Fragor or Report as loud as Thunder nay by the Commotion of the vicine Aer 〈◊〉 â—â—akes even the largest structures and shatters Glass-windows 〈◊〉 in the sphere of its violence And all meerly from the 〈◊〉 Motion of the Aer restoring its distracted parts to their nâ—â—ural tenour or Laxity so that you may be satisfied of its Capacity not only to resist the Ascent of a stone thrown upward but also of Depelling it downward by an imprest Motion Notwithstanding our conquest of the main body of this Difficulty abouâ— the Restorative Motion of the Aer we are yet to encounter 〈◊〉 formidable Reserve which consists of these Scruples When a 〈◊〉 is thrown upward doth not the Aer in each degree of 〈◊〉 ascent suffer a Distraction of its parts and so is compelled 〈◊〉 a Periosis or circular motion to succeed into the place left below by the stone Doth it not therefore impress rather an 〈◊〉 than a Depulsive
the Planets which â—â—â—â—iâ—hstanding the deluded sight are demonstâ—â—ted not to be in onâ— bu◠〈◊〉 sphereâ— somâ— farther â—rom some neâ—râ—â— to the Earth disperâ—e◠〈…〉 immense space For from heâ—ce that thâ— Distance betwixt 〈…〉 uâ— iâ— so vast thâ—t our sight not discerning the large spaces intercepted 〈…〉 them in theâ—â— several orbeâ— they all appeâ—â—e at the same distanc◠〈…〉 same â—ircumâ—â—rence woâ—â— Câ—ntre must be there wherâ— thâ— Eye 〈…〉 selâ— about doth behold them so that in whatsoever part of the 〈◊〉 â—pace oâ— thâ— World whether in the Moon Sun or any otheâ— Orb 〈◊〉 â—hall imaginâ— your selâ— to be placed still you must according to 〈…〉 oâ— your sight judge the World to be spherical anâ— that you 〈◊〉 in the verâ— centre of that Circumference in which you conceive all th◠〈◊〉 stars tâ— be constitute Trul◠〈◊〉 worthy thâ— admiration of a wise man to obserâ—e that the very Planeâ—◠〈◊〉 admitted by the Aristoteleans to have certâ—â—n motions 〈…〉 be moved in such Gyres as have not their Centres in the 〈…〉 immensly distant from it and yet that the same Persons 〈…〉 Contradict thâ—mselveâ— as to account that the Centre oâ— the 〈…〉 common Centre of the world about which all the Coelestâ—al 〈…〉 Difâ—â—culties perpended wâ— cannot infallâ—bl◠〈…〉 Earthy Bâ—â—ieâ— when descending in direct lineâ— to 〈…〉 toward the Centre of the Worâ—d and thougâ— the◠〈…〉 toward the Centre of the World yet doth that seem 〈…〉 is also by Accident that they are carried towaâ—â— the 〈…〉 Earth in which as being a meer imaginâ—ry Point the◠〈…〉 attain quiet For per se they are carried towarâ— the 〈…〉 who le or Principâ—e and having once attained thereâ—◠〈…〉 as they no more seek to pass on from thenc◠〈…〉 â—entre thaâ— an Infant received into his Nurses armes or lap 〈…〉 into heâ— Entrals and meerly per Accidens is it that they 〈…〉 the Centre of the Earth because tending in the neeres◠〈…〉 line to the place oâ— their quiet they must be directed 〈…〉 since if we suppose that direct line to be continued it must 〈…〉 the Centre of the Earth And thus have we left no stone 〈…〉 all Aristotles Theory of Gravity which is that Weight is a Quality esâ—â—ntially inhaerent in all terrene Concritions whereby they spontanâ—ousâ—y 〈◊〉 â—oward the Centre of the Terrestrial Globe aâ— to the Common Cenâ—â—e 〈…〉 place in the Vniverse The whole Remainder of our praesâ—â—◠〈◊〉 theâ—eâ—oâ—e concerns our farther Confirmâ—tion of that 〈…〉 of Gravity which we have espoused which is 〈…〉 meer Effect of the Magnetique Attraction of the Earth Let us therefore once more resume our Argument à Simili considering the Analogy betwixt the Attraction of Iron by a Loadstone and that of Terrene Concretions by the Earth not only as to the Manner of their respective Attractions but cheifly as to the parity of Reasons in our judgements upon their sensible Effects When a man holds a plate of Iron of 6 or 7 ounces weight in his hand with a vigorous Loadstone placed at convenient distance underneath his hand and finds the weight of the Iron to be encreased from ounces to pounds If Aristotle on one side should tell him that that great weight is a Quality essentially inhaerent in the Iron and Kepler or Gilbert on the other affirm to him that that weight is a quality meerly Adventitious or imprest upon it by the Attractive influence of the Loadstone subjacent 't is easie to determine to which of those so contrary judgements he would incline his assent If so well may we conceive the Gravity of a stone or other terrene body to belong not so much to the Body it self as to the Attraction of that Grand Magnet the Terraqueous Globe lying underneath it For supposing that a Loadstone were unknown to you placed underneath your hand when you lifted up a piece of Iron from the earth though it might be pardonable for you to conclude that the great weight which you would observe therein was a Quality essentially inhaerent in the Iron when yet in truth it was only External and Attractitious because you were ignorant of the Loadstone subjacent yet if after you were informed that the Loadstone was placed underneath your hand you should persever in the same opinion the greatest Candor imaginable could not but condemn you of inexcusable pertinacity in an Error Thus also your ignorance of the Earths being one Great Loadstone may excuse your adhaerence to the erroneous position of Aristotle concerning the formal Reason of Gravity but when you shall be convinced that the Terrestial Globe is naturally endowed with a certain Attractive or Magnetique Virtue in order to the retention of all its parts in cohaerence to it self and retraction of them when by violence distructed from it and that gravity is nothing but the effect of that virtue you can have no Plea left for the palliation of your obstinacy in case you recant not your former persuasion Nor ought it to impede your Conviction that a far greater Gravity or stronger Attractive Force is imprest upon a piece of Iron by a Loadstone than by the earth insomuch as a Loadstone suspended at convenient distance in the aer doth easily elevate a proportionate mass of Iron from the earth because this gradual Disparity proceeds only from hence that the Attractive Vertue is much more Collected or United in the Loadstone and so is so much more intense and vigorous according to its Dimensions than in the Earth in which it is more diffused nor doth it discover how great iâ— is in the â—ingle or divided parts but in the Whole of the Earth Thus if you lay but one Grain of salt upon your tongue it shall affect the same with more saltness than a Gallon of Sea-water not that there is less of salt in that great quantity of Sea Water but that the salt is therein more diffused But to lay aside the Loadstone and its Correlative Iron and come to our taste and Incomparative Argument since the Velocity of the motion of a stone falling downward is gradually augmented and by the accession of new degrees of Gravity grows greater and greater in each degree of its Descen◠〈◊〉 that Augmentation or Accession of Gravity and so of Velocâ—â—â— seems noâ— so reasonably adscriptive to any other cause as to this that it is the Attraction of the Earth encreasing in each degree of the stones Appropinquation to the Earth by reason of the greater Density or Union of its Magnetique Rayes What can be more 〈◊〉 than that the First degree of Gravity belonging to a stone no◠〈◊〉 moved should arise to it from the same Attraction of the 〈◊〉 When doubtless it is one and the same Gravity that causeth both those Effects the same in Specie though not in Gradâ—◠〈◊〉 no Quality can be better intended or augmented than by an Accession of more Degrees of force from the same Quality SECT III. LAstly as concerning LEVITY
the brim thereof Hence is it also that all bodiâ—â— attenuated into Fume are diffused into space an hundred nay sometimes a thousand degrees larger than what they possessed before From this Consectary we arrive at some Problems which stand directly in our way to another and the First is that Vulgar one Why the bottom of a Caldron wherein Water or any other Liquor is boyling is but moderately warm at most not so hot as to burn a mans hand applyed thereto The Cause of this culinary Wonder 〈◊〉 our Housewifes account it seems to be this when the Atoms of Heâ—t passing through the pores in the bottom of the Caldron into the water do ascend through it they elevate and carry along with them some particles thereof and at the same time other particles of Water next adjacent to them sink down and instantly flowe into the places deserted by the former which ascended and insinuate themselves into the now laxarated pores in the bottom of the caldron And though these are soon repelled upwards by other Atoms of Fire ascending thorowe the pores of the Vesselâ— and carried upwards as the former yet are there other particles of Water which sinking down insinuate also into the open pores of the vessel and by their conflâ—x or downward motion much refract the violence of the subingredient Atoms of Fire and so by this â—â—ciffitude of Heat and Moysture it comes to pass that the Heat cannot be diffused throughout the bottom of the Caldron the Humidity which falls into the pores of it in the same proportion as the Heat passeth thorow them hindering the possession of all â—ts empty spaces by the invading Atoms of Fire Nor doth it availe to the contrary that the Water which insinuates into the pores of the vessel is made Hot and so must calefie the same in some proportion as well as the Fire underneath it because boyling Water poured â—nto 〈◊〉 Caldron doth more than warm it For those particles of Water which successively enter into the void spaces of the vesselâ— are such as have not yet been penetrated per â—iâ—imas by the Aâ—â—ms of Fire For all the cold formerly entered into the water â—s not at once â—iscussed though the Water be in boyling the 〈◊〉 arising â—nly â—rom the cohaerence of the calefied with the 〈◊〉 particles of the Water And from the same Cause â—s â—t that a sheet of the thinneâ—t Venice Paper if so 〈…〉 hold Oyle infused into 〈…〉 doth endure the 〈…〉 Which some Cooks observing use to fry Bacon upon a sheet of Paper only Secondly Why doth Lime acquire an Heat and great Ebullition upon the affusion of Water since if our praecedent Assertion be true the Heat included in the Lime ought to be supprest so much the more by how much the more Aqueous Humidity is admixt unto it This Difficulty is discussed by Answering that the Aqueous Humidity of the Lime-stone is indeed wholly evaporated by fire in its calcination but yet the Pingous or Unctuous for the most part remains so that its Atoms of Fire lye still blended and incarcerated therein and when those expede themselves and by degrees expire into the ambient aer if they be impeded and repelled by water affused they recoyle upon the grumous masses of the Lime and by the Circumobsistence of the Humidity become more congregated and so upon the uniting of their forces make way for the Exsilition of the other Atoms of Fire which otherwise could not have attained their liberty but slowly and by succession one after another So that all the Atoms of Fire contained in the Lime issuing forth together they break through the water calefie it and make it bubble or boyle up the calefied parts thereof being yet cohaerent to the uncalefied The Third Problem is Why the Heat of Lime kindled by Water is more intense than that of any Flame whatever Answer that forasmuch as Flame is nothing but Fire Rarefied or as it were an Explication or Diffusion of those Atoms of Fire which were lately ambuscadoed in some Unctuous matter and that all Fire is so much more intense or vehement by how much more Dense it is i. e. by how much the more congregated the Atoms which constitute it are therefore is the Heat of Lime unslaking more vehement than that of any Flame in regard the smallest grains of Lime contain in them many Atoms of Fire which are not so diffused or disgregated in a moment as those in Flame So that a mans hand being waved to and fro in Flame is invaded by incomrably fewer particles of Fire than when it is dipt into or waved through water at the unslaking of Lime thereby the small granes of Lime adhaering unto and insinuating into the pores of the hand the many Atoms of fire invelloped in them incontinently explicate themselves violently penetrate and dilacerate the skin and other sentient parts and so produce that Pungent and Acute pain which is felt in all Ambustions From the same Reason also is it that a glowing Coale burns more vehemently than Flame and the Coals of more solid wood as Juniper Cedar Guaiacum Ebony Oke c. more vehemently than those of Looser wood such as Willow Elder Pine tree c. The like Disproportion is observable also in the Flames of divers Fewels for in the flame of Juniper are contained far more Igneous Atoms than in that of Willow and consequently they burn so much more vehemently True it is that spirit of Wine enflamed is so much more Ardent by how much more refined and cohobated yet this proceedeth from another Cause viz. that the Atoms of Fire issuing from spirit of Wine of the first Extraction have much of the Phletegme or Aqueous moysture of the Wine intermixt among them and so cannot be alleaged as an Example that impugne's our Reason of the Different Heats of several Flames The Fourth is that Vulgar Quaere Why boyling Oyle doth scald more dangerously than boyling Water To which it is easily Answered that Oyle being of an Unctuous and Tenacious consistence and so having its particles more firmly cohaerent than Water doth not permit the Atoms of Fire entered into it so easily to transpire so that being more agminous or swarming in oyl they must invade and dilacerate the hand of a man immersed into it both more thickly and deeply than those more Dispersed ones contained in boyling Water Which is also the Reason why Oyle made fervent is much longer in cooling than Water and may be extended to the Solution of the Fifth Problem viz. Wherefore do Metals especially Gold when melted or made glowing hot burn more violently than the Fire that melteth or heateth them especially since no Atoms of Fire can justly be affirmed to be lodged in them as in their proper seminary and so not to be educed from them upon their Liquation or Ignition For the Heat wherewith they procure Ambustion being not domestick but only Adventitious to them from the Fire
Conclude therefore 〈…〉 discover no Reason against us of bulk sufficient to obstruct the 〈◊〉 oâ— our Conception that the Fluidity of Fire Flame Aer and all â—â—quid substances whatever cannot well be deduced from any other 〈◊〉 but what we have here assigned to Water and Metals dissolved 〈◊〉 when we consider that is equally consentaneous to conceive thâ—â—â—â—ery other Fluid or Liquid body is composed also of certain specially â—â—â—â—igurate Granules or imperceptible particles which being only 〈◊〉 in some points of their superficies not reciprocally Cohaerent 〈…〉 intercept various inane spaces betwixt them and be therefore easily 〈◊〉 dissociable externally terminâ—ble and capable of making the body appâ—â—â—ntly Continuate as Water it selâ— And as 〈…〉 other General Quality FIRMNESS or STABILITY since 〈◊〉 mâ—st have Contrary Causes and that the solidity of Atoms is the 〈◊〉 of all solidity and firmness in Concretions well may we understand 〈◊〉 be radicated in this that the insensible particles of which a â—irme 〈◊〉 is composed whether they be of one or diverse sorts i. e. 〈◊〉 or dissimilar in magnitude and figure do so reciprocally compâ—â—â— and adhaere unto each other as that being uncapable of rowling 〈◊〉 each others superfice both in respect of the ineptitude of 〈◊〉 figures thereunto and the want of competent inane spaces among them they generally become uncapable 〈◊〉 without extream 〈◊〉 of Emotion Dissociation Diffusion and so of Terminatio◠〈◊〉 any other superfice but what themselves constitute If it 〈…〉 Enquired Whence this reciprocal Compâ—ession Indissociability 〈◊〉 Immobility of insensible particles in a Firme Concretion doth 〈◊〉 proceed we can derive it from Three sufficient Causes 1. The 〈◊〉 small Hamulâ— Uncinulive Hooks or Clawes by which Atoms of 〈…〉 superficies are adapted to implicate each other by mutual 〈◊〉 and that so closely as that all Inanity is excluded from betwixt 〈◊〉 â—â—mmissures or joynings and this is the principal and most frequent 〈◊〉 of stability 2. The Introduction and pressure of Extranâ—ou◠〈◊〉 which invading a Concretion and wedging in both themselves 〈…〉 intestine ones together and that cheifly by obverting the◠〈…〉 or superficies thereunto cause a general Compression and 〈…〉 of all the particles of the mass And by this way doth 〈…〉 Water and all Humid Substances for since the Atoms of 〈…〉 and those of Water octahedrical as is most 〈…〉 those of Cold insinuating themselves into the 〈…〉 by obversion of their plane sides to them they 〈…〉 particleâ— thereof and so not permitting them to be 〈…〉 fluidity and make the whole mass Rigid and 〈…〉 Hither also may we most congruously referr the Coagulation of milk upon the injection of Rennet Vinegre juice of Limons and the like Acid things For the Hamous and inviscating Atoms whereof the Acid is mostly composed meeting with the Ramous and Grosser particles of the milk which constitute the Caseous and Butyrous parts thereof instantly fasten upon them with their hooks connect them and so impeding their fluiditie change their lax and moveable contexture into a close and immoveable or Firme while the more exile and smooth particles of the milk whereof the serum or whey is composed escape those Entanglings and conserve their native Fluidity This may be confirmed from hence that whenever the Cheese or Butter made of the Coagulation is held to the fire they recover their former Fluidity because the tenacious particles of the Acid are disentangled and interrupted by the sphaerical and superlatively agile Atoms of fire 3. The Exclusion of introduced Atoms such as by their exility roundness and motion did during their admistion interturbe the mutual Cohaesion and Quiet of domestique ones which compose a Concretion Thus in the decalescence of melted metals and Glass when the Atoms of fire which had dissociated the particles thereof and made them Fluid do abandon the metal and so cease to agitate and dissociate the particles thereof then do the domestique Atoms returne to a closer order mutually implicate each other and so make the whole mass Compact and Firme as before Thus also when the Atoms of Water Wine or any other dissolvent which had insinuated into the body of Salt Alume Nitre or other Concretion retaining to the same tribe and dissolving the continuity of its particles metamorphosed it from a solid into a fluid body so that the sight apprehends it to be one simple and uniforme substance with the Liquor we say when these dissociating Atoms are evaporated by heat the particles of the Salt instantly fall together again become readunated and so make up the mass compact and solid as before such as no man but an eye-witness of the Experiment could persuade himself to have been so lately diffused concorporated and lost in the fluid body of Water SECT II. BY the light of the Praemises it appears a most perspicuous truth that HUMIDITY is only a certain Species of Fluidity For whoever would frame to himself a proper and adaequate Notion of an Humâ—r or Humid substance must conceive it to be such a Fluid or Fluxile body which being induced upon or applied unto any thing that is Compact doth adhare to the same per minimas particulas and madify or Humectate so much thereof as it toucheth Such therefore is Water such is Wine such â—s Oyle such are all those Liquors which no sooner touch any body not Fluid but either they leave many of their particles adhaerent only to the superfice thereof and this because the most seemingly polite superfice is full of Eminences and Cavities as we have frequently asserted and so moisten it or penetrating through the whole contexture thereof totally Humectate or wett the same But such is not Aer such is not any Metal fused such is not Quick-silver nor any of those Fluors which â—hough they be applied unto and subingress into the pores of a Compact body doe yet leave none of their particles adhaerent to either the superficia◠〈◊〉 internal parts thereof but without diminutâ—â—n of their own quantity 〈◊〉 off clearly and so leave the touched oâ— pervaded body unmaâ—ified 〈◊〉 â—â—humectaâ—e as they found it On the other side it is likewise manifest that SICCITY oâ— ARIDITY is only a certain species of Firmness or stâ—bility because a Dry or 〈◊〉 â—ubstance is conceived to be Firm or Compact only insomuch as it is 〈◊〉 of all moisture Of this sort according to vulgar conception may 〈◊〉 account all Stones Sand Ashes all Metals and whatever is of so firme a constitution as containâ— nothing of Humidity either in it superfice 〈…〉 which can be extracted from it or iâ— extracted is not capable 〈◊〉 moistning any other body but not Plants nor Animals nor Minerals 〈◊〉 any other Concretionâ— which though apparently dry to the sense doth 〈◊〉 contâ—in some moisture within it and such as being educed is capable of 〈◊〉 another body We say â—ccording to Vulgar Conception because not Absolutely for though 〈◊〉 be opposed to Humidity not as an
Habit to which any Act can 〈…〉 attributed but as a meer Privation for to be Dry is nothing else 〈…〉 want moisture yet because a Moistned body may contain more 〈…〉 Humidity therefore may it be said to be more or less Dry 〈◊〉 and a body that is imbued with less moisture be said to be dry 〈…〉 one imbued with more Thus Green Wood or such as hath 〈◊〉 extraneous moisture is commonly said to grow more and more 〈…〉 degrees as it is more and more Dehumectâ—ted and then at lengâ—◠〈◊〉 be perfectly dry when all the Aqueous moisture as well natura◠〈◊〉 â—mbibed is consumed though then also it contain a certain 〈◊〉 moâ—sture which Philosophers call the Humidum Primigentum 〈◊〉 this only Comparatively or in respect to its forme◠〈…〉 was imbueâ— with a greater proportion of Humidity For the 〈◊〉 of this we are to observe that there are Two sorts 〈…〉 compact bodies are usually humectated the one 〈…〉 â—he other Oleag nous and Fat The First is easily 〈…〉 by heat but not inflammable the other though it 〈…〉 and is as easily inflammable in regard of the many 〈…〉 is not easily exsoluble nor attenuable into 〈…〉 cohaerence of its particles To the First 〈…〉 that mâ—â—sture in Concretions which Chymists extracting 〈…〉 Vegetables because though it moâ—stens as Wate◠〈…〉 incapable of inflâ—mmation yet is it much more volatile 〈…〉 And to eâ—ther or both sorts though in a diverse respect belong 〈…〉 they call Aqua Vitae or the spirits of a Vegetable such 〈…〉 because though it doth moisten as Water yet is 〈…〉 evaporable by heat and as inflammable as 〈…〉 learn in the School of Sense that such bodie◠〈…〉 Aqueous and Lean moisture are easily 〈…〉 are humectate with the Unctuous 〈…〉 hardly Why because the Atoms of which the Aqueous doth consist are more laevigated or smooth in their superfice and so having no hooks or clawes whereby to cohaere among themselves or adhaere to the concretion are soon disgregated but those which compose the Oleaginous being entangled as well among themselves as with the particles of the body to which they are admixt by their Hamous angles are not to be expeded and disengaged without great and long agitation and after many unsuccessfull attempts of evolution Thus Wood is sooner reduced to Ashes than a stone because that is compacted by much of Aqueous Humidity this by much of Unctuous For the same reason is it likewise that a clodd of Earth or peice of Cloth which hath imbibed Water is far more easily resiccated than that Earth or Cloth which hath been dippt in oyle or melted fat And this gives us somewhat more than a meer Hint toward the clear Solution of Two PROBLEMS frequently occurring but rarely examined The one is Why pure or simple Water cannot wash out spots of Oyle or Fat from a Cloth or silk Garment which yet Water wherein Ashes have been boyled or soap dissolved easily doth For the Cause hereof most probably is this that though Water of it self cannot penetrate the unctuous body of oyle nor dissociate its tenaciously cohaerent particles and consequently not incorporate the oyle to it self so as to carry it off in its fluid arms when it is expressed or wrung out from the cloth yet when it is impraegnated with Salt such as is abundantly contained in Ashes and from them extracted in decoction the salt with the sharp angles and points of its insensible particles penetrating pervading cutting and dividing the oyle in minimas particulas the Water following the particles of salt at the heels incorporates the oyle into it self and so being wrung out from the cloth again brings the same wholly off together with it self Which dâ—ubtless was in some part understood by the Inventor of soap which being compounded 〈◊〉 Water Salt and Oyle most perfectly commixt is the most general Abstersive for the cleansing of Cloathes polluted with oyle grease turpentine sweat and the like unctuous natures for the particleâ— of oyle ambuscadoed in the soap encountring those oyly or pâ—nguous particleâ— which adhaere to the hairs and filaments of Cloth and stâ—â—n it become easily united to them and bring them off together with themselves when they are dissolved and set afloat in the Water by the incisive and diâ—â—â—ciating particles of the Salt which also is brought off at the same time by the Water which serveth only as a common vehicle to aâ—l the rest The other Why stains of Ink are not Delible with Water though decocted to a Lixirium or Lee with Ashes or commixt with soap but wiâ—◠〈◊〉 Acid juice such as of Limons Oranges Crabbs Vinegre c. 〈◊〉 Reason hereof seems to be only this that the Viâ—â—ioâ— or 〈◊〉 which â—trâ—kes the black in the Decoction of Galls Sumach or other 〈◊〉 Ingredients being Acid and so consisting of particles congenerâ—â—s â—n figure and other proprieties to those which constitute the 〈…〉 whenever the spot of Ink is throughly moystned with an acid 〈◊〉 the vitrioâ—â—s soon united thereto and so educed together with â—t upâ—n expression the union arising propter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the Similitude of their two natures For there always is the most easy and perfect union where is a Similitude of Essences or formal proprieties as is notably experimented in the eduction of Cold from a mans hands or other benummed parts by rubbing them with snow in the evocation of fire by fire in the extraction of some Venoms from the central to the outward parts of the body by the application of other Venoms to the skin which is the principal cause why some Poysons are the Antidotes to others the alliciency and â—â—â—â—uation of Choler by Rhubarb c. Lastly in 〈◊〉 place we might pertinently insist upon the Causes and Manner of Coâ—â—osion and Dissolution of Metals and other Compact and Firmâ— bodies 〈◊〉 Aqua Fortis Aqua Regis and other Chymical Waters the 〈◊〉 of Salt Alume Nitre Vitriol Sugar and other Salin concreted 〈◊〉 by Water the Exhalability or Evaporability of Humid and 〈◊〉 substances and other useful speculations of the like obscure naturâ— but 〈◊〉 of these deserves a more exact and prolix Disquisition than the 〈…〉 signed to our praesent province will afford and what we have already 〈◊〉 sufficiently dischargeâ—h our debt to the Title of this Chapter CHAP. XIV Softness Hardness Flexility Tractility Ductility c. SECT I. THe two First of this Rank of Secunâ—darie Qualities HARDNESS and SOFTNESS beâ—ng so neer of Extraction and Semblance that mâ—ny have confounded them with Firmness and Fluidâ—ty in a General and looser acceptâ—tion forâ— so Virgil gives the Epitheâ—e of Soft to Water Lucretius to Aer Vaporâ— Clouds c. because a Firme bodie or such whose parts are reciprocâ—lly cohaerent and superfice more 〈…〉 apparently continued as 〈◊〉 may be Soft and on the other side a Fluid body or such whose 〈…〉 not reciprocally cohaerent nor 〈◊〉 really continued as 〈…〉 be Hard
therefore ought we 〈…〉 examination â—f the nature of Hardness and Softness 〈…〉 Consequents Flexility Tractility 〈◊〉 c. where that of â—â—â—mness and 〈◊〉 ends that so we may by explicating their Cognation when menâ—â—oneâ— in a general sense manifest theâ—r Differences when considered in a Special and praecise and so prevent the otherwise imminent danger of aequivocatâ—on To come therefore without farther circumambage to the discuisition of the proper nature of each of these Qualities according to the method of their production conforming our conceptions to those of Aristotle who â—4 Meteor 4. defines Durum to be Quod ex superficie in seipsum non â—edit and Molle to be Quod ex superficie in seipsum cedit and referring both to the cognizance of the sense of Touching we understand a HARD body to be such whoâ—e parâ—icles are so firmely coadunated among themselves and superfiâ—e is so conâ—inued â—s that being prest by the finger it doth not yeeld thereto nor haâ—◠〈◊〉 â—uperfice at all indented or depressed thereby such â—s a stone and on the conâ—rary a SOFT one to be such as doth yield to the pressure of the finger in the superfice and that by retrocession or giving back of the superficial particles immediately prest by the finger versus profundum towards it profound or internal such as Wax the Flesh of Animals Clay c. For the chief Difference betwixt a Fluid and a Soft body accepted in a Philosophical or praecise not a Poetical or random sense consisteth only in this that the Fluid when prest upon doth yield to the body pressing not by indentment or incavation of it superfice i. e. the retrocession of it superficial particles which are immediately urged by the depriment toward its middle or profound ones which are farther from it but by rising upwards in round and equally on all sides as much as it is deprest in the superfice and a Soft doth yield to the body pressing only by retrocession of it superficial inwards toward it central particles so that they remain during and sometimes long after the depression more or less lower than any other part of the superfice Which being considered Aristotles judgement that Softness is incompetent to Water must be indisputable because t is evident to sense that Water being deprest in the superfice doth not recede towards its interior or profound parts as is the property of all soft things to doe but riseth up in round equally on all sides of the body pressing and so keeps it superfice equally and level as before As for the Fundamental Cause of Hardness observed in Concretions it must be the chief essential propriety of Atoms Solidity and upon consequence the Original of its Contrary Softness must be Inanity For among Concretions every one is more and more Hard or less and less soft according as it more and more approacheth to the solidity of an Atom which knowes nothing of softness and on the other side every thing is more and more soft or less and less hard according as it more and more approacheth the nature of Inanity which knowes nothing of Hardness Not that the Inane space is therefore capable of the Attribute of Soft as if it had a superfice and such as could recede inwards upon pression but that every Concretion is alwayes so much the more soft i. e. the less hard by how the more it yields in the superfice upon pressure and this only in respect of the more of Inanity or the Inane space intercepted among the solid particles whereof it is composed It need not be accounted Repetition that we here resume what we have formerly entrusted to the memomory of our Reader viz. that touching the deduction of these two Qualities Hardness and Softness the provident Atomist hath wonn the Garland from all other Sects of Philosophers for supposing the Catholike materials of Nature to be Atoms i. e. Solid or inflexible and exsoluble Bodies he is â—urnished with a most sufficient nay a necessary Reason not only for the Hardness or Inflexibility but also for the Softness or Flexibility of all Concretions insomuch as it is of the essence oâ— his Hypothesis that every compound nature derives its Hardness only from the â—olidity of its materials and softness only from the Inane space intercepted amonâ— its component particles in respect whereof each of those particles is moveable and so the whole Aggregate or mass of them becomes flexible or devoid of rigidity in all its parts and consequently yeelding in that part which is pressed But no other Hypothesis excogitable is fruitful enough to afford a satisfactory nay not so much as a meerly plausible solution of this eminent and fundamental Difficulty for those who assume the universal matter to be voyd of Hardness and so infinitely exsoluble i. e. not to be Atoms though they may indeed assign a sufficient reason why some Concretions are soft yet shall they ever want one to answer him who demands why other Concretions are Hard because themselves have exempted Atoms from whose solidity all Hardness ariseth to Concretions And this most easily detecteth the gross and unpardonable incogitancy of Aristotle when He determined the Hardness and Softness of Concretions to be Absolute Qualities for since Atoms alone are absolutely void of all Softness and the Inane space alone absolutely void of all Hardness and all Concretions are made up of Atoms nothing is more manifest than that Hardness and Softness as attributary to Concretions are Qualities meerly Comparative or more praecisely that Softness is a Degree of Hardness and consequently that there are various Degrees of Hardness according to which Concretions may be said to be more or less Hard and such as are hard in respect of one may be yet soft in respect of another that is more hard or less soft As for the praecise Manner how the several Degrees of Hardness and Softness result from Atoms and Inanity commixt we need not much insist thereupon since the production of each degree may be easily and fully comprehended from our praecedent explanation of the Causes of Fluidity and Firmness For though Softness be observable in bodies endowed with Firmness or Influxibility yet because the degrees of Firmness are also various and proceed from the more or less Arresting or Impeding of Fluidity and so that the thing consist of Atoms more or less Coarctated moveable among themselves and dissociable each from other from whence alone doth the yeeldingness of it in the superfice arise therefore is it necessary that in Firme things the same is the cause of Softness which in Fluid things is the cause of Fluidity Nor is the Difference betwixt their productions other than this that to Softness specially and strictly accepted are required Atoms somewhat Hooked and so Retentive each of other as not to be wholly dissociated or to permit a manifest abruption or breach of continuity upon pressure but to strict Fluidity it is not requisite that
the Atoms be at all Hamous or reciprocally retentive Insomuch therefore as there is some certain Compactness more or less even in all Soft Concretions from thence it may be easily inferred that the General reason of the Mollification of Hard bodies doth consist in this that their insensible particles be in some degree dissociated i. e. so separated each from other in many points as that more and larger inane spaces be intercepted among them than while they were closely coadunated and on the contrary that the General reason of the Induration of Soft bodies doth consist only in this that their insensible particles before in some degree dissociated be reduced to a closer order or higher degree of Compactness and so most of the inane spaces intercepted be excluded from among them To this the doubting Mersennus fully subscribes in lib. 2. Harmonicor proposit ultima where deducing the causes of Hardness Rigidity and the like qualities from the Atoms of Democritus and Epicurus he plainly saith Duritiem fieri ab Atomis ramosis quae suis hamatis implicationibus perexigua spatia relinquunt inania per quae nequeant ingredi corpuscula caloris c. Nay such is the urgencie of this truth that Aristotle Himself seems to confess it in these words quae humoris absentia concrescunt duruntur ea liquefacere humor potest nisi adeo sese particulae nimirum collegerint coierintque ut minora partibus aquae foramina sint relicta id quod fictili accidit c. 4. Meteorum cap. 8. And we need seek no farther than a ball of wool for the Exemplification of both for that being so relaxed as that the hairs touch each other more rarely or in fewer points and thereupon more of the ambient Aer be intercepted among them instantly becomes soft and then being so compressed that the hairs touch each other more frequently or in more points and the aer be thereupon again excluded from among them it as soon becomes hard But if we wind up our curiosity one note higher and enquire the Special Manner of Mollifying Hard bodies we shall find it to rest upon either Heat or Moisture Upon Heat when the Atoms of fire subingressing into the pores of a Hard Concretion doe so commove and exagitate the insensible particles thereof that they become incontiguous in more points than before and so the whole mass being made more lax and rare upon the interception of many new inane spaces among its particles puts on a capacity of yeelding to any thing that presseth it and of receding from it superfice toward its interiors according to the property of softness Thus Iron made red hot is mollefied and hard Wax liquefied by heat Upon Moisture when the particles of an Humor so insinuate themselves among the closely cohaerent particles of a Hard body that dissociating them in some measure they intermix among them and so themselves being sufficiently yeelding upon pressure cause the bodie to become yeelding and recessive from it superfice inwards Thus Leather is softned by lying in Water or Oyle and Clay assumes so much the more of softness by how much the more of water it hath imbibed On the other side if we pursue the Induration of Soft bodies up to its Special Manner we shall secure it either in Cold or Siccity In Cold whether we understand it to be a simple expulsion of Calorifick Atoms lately contained in the bodie as in the growing hard of Metals after fusion or the introduction of Frigorifick Atoms into the bodie naturally void of them as in the induration of Water into Ice In Siccity whether we conceive it to be a meer expulsion of the particles of moisture from a Concretion as when Earth is baked into Bricks or a superinduction of drie particles upon a moist concretion as in the composition of Pills which for the most part consist of Drie Powders and Syrupe or some other viscid moisture But here we feel a strong Remora or Doubt How it comes about that Iron made glowing hot and immediately plunged into cold Water acquires a greater degree of hardness than it had before And to remove it we Answer that the particles of the Water subingress into the amplified pores of the Iron and are not again excluded from thence though the particles thereof returne to their former close order and reciprocally implicate each other as before in candescence but remaining imprisoned in the small incontiguities or inane spaces which otherwise would have been empty make the body of the iron somewhat more solid or hard than otherwise it would have been That this is a sufficient Cause of that Effect may be warrantably inferred from hence that if the samâ— seasoned iron be afterwards brought to the fire again and therein made red hot so that the contexture of its particles be relaxed and the particles of Water which possess the inane spaces betwixt them be evaporated there doth it resume its former Softness and this our Smiths call Nealing of Iron To steer on therefore the same course of Disquisition we have begun forasmuch as Softness is defined by the Facility and Hardness by the Difficulty of bodies yielding in the superfice the only Considerable remaining to our full explanation of the formal Reason of each of these two Qualities is How the yielding of a Soft body in the Superfice is effected for that being once explicated the rule of Contraries will easily teach us Wherein the Resistence of a Hard doth immediately consist And thâ—s requires no taedious indagation for from the Praemises it may easily be collected that a soft body doth then yeild when its particles immediately pressed in the superfice do sink down and subingress into the pores immediately beneath them and then press down the next subjacent particles into pores immediately beneath them and those likewise press down the next inferior rank of particles into void spaces below them an those again press down others successively until the number of pores or void spaces successively in each subingression decreasing there be no more room to receive the last pressed particles and then the subingression ceaseth If this seem not sufficient to make the yeildingness of Soft bodies clearly intelligible we must remit our Reader to our praecedent Discourse concerning the incapacity of Aer to be Condensed or Compressed in a Wind-gun beyond a certain proportion or determinate rate Farther because a soft body cannot be squeezed unless it rest upon or against something that is hard at least less soft than it selfe so that though the lower superfice thereof relying upon the support is so bounded that it hath no liberty of space whether to recede Versùs profundum yet hath it full liberty of space Versus latera therefore comes it to pass that the subingression of particles into pores and the Compression of others is made not only Versus profundum in that part of the soft body which directly confronteth the hard whereupon it
Consentaneous and Probable Causes to sundry of those Effects which Schollars commonly content themselves only to Admire and without farther exercise of their Intellectuals to leave wrapt up in the Chaos of Sympathies and Antipathies yet will not the Ingenious misunderstand us or conceive that we esteem or propose those Reasons as Oraculous or Apodicticall or create an expectation of the Discovery of such Originals whereupon those Rarer Operations and Magnalia of Nature do proximely and genuinely depend However some may think it expedient for us to profess that as in our former Enquiries so in this our Designe is only to explain sundry admired Effects by such Reasons as may appear not altogether Remote and Incongruous but Consentaneous and Affine to Truth that so no mans judgement may be impeached by embracing them for most Probable untill the in that respect too slow wheel of Time shall have brought up some more worthy Explorator who shall wholly withdrawe that thick Curtain of obscurity which yet hangs betwixt Natures Laboratory and Us and enrich the Commonweal of Letters by the discovery of the Real Verity And this we must enterprize by continuing our progress in the allmost obliterated Tract that Epicurus and Democritus so long since chalk'd forth not by treading in the beaten road of Aristotle and his Seâ—tators who for ought we have learned were They who first founded that ill contrived Sanctuary of Ignorance called OCCULT QUALITIES For generally setting up their rest in the Commistion of Elements and their supposed Immateriall Qualities and being not able ever to explicate any Insensible Propriety from those narrow and barren Principles they thought it a sufficient Salvo for their Ignorance simply to affirme all such Proprieties to be Occult and without due reflection upon the Invalidity of their Fundamentals they blushed not to charge Nature Herself with too much Closeness and Obscurity in that point as if she intended that all Qualities that are Insensible should also be Inexplicable The ingenious Sanchez among many Sceptical Arguments of the Uncertainty of Sciences seasonably urgeth this one as very considerable against Physiologists that when any Natural Problem such as that of the Attraction of Iron by a Loadstone of straws by Amber c. is objected to them instead of setting their Curiosity on work to to investigate the Causes thereof they lay it in a deep sleep with that infatuating opium of Ignote Qualities and yet expect that men should believe them to know all that is to be known and to have spoken like Oracles cencerning that Theorem though at the same instant they do as much as confess that indeed they know nothing at all of its Nature and Causes For what difference is there whether we say that such a thing is Occult or that we know nothing of it Nor is it a Course either less dishonorable to the Professors or dangerous to the Students of Philosophy to refer such Effects upon which men commonly look with the eye only of Wonder to Secret Sympathies and Antipathies forasmuch as those Windy Terms are no less a Refuge for the Idle and Ignorant than that of Occult Proprieties it being the very same in importance whether we have recourse to the One or to the other For no sooner doe we betake ourselves to Either but we openly confess that all our Learning is at a stand and our Reason wholly vanquisht and beaten out of the field by the Difficulty proposed We deny not that most if not All of those Admired Effects of Nature which even the Gravest Heads have too long thought sufficient Excuses of their Despair of Cognition do arise from some Sympathy or Antipathy betwixt the Agent and Patient but yet for all that have we no reason to concede that Nature doth institute or Cause that sympathy or Antipathy or the Effect resulting from either by any other Lawes or Means but what she hath ordained and constantly useth to the production of all other Common and familiar Effects We acknowlddge also that Sympathy is a certain Consent and Antipathy a certain Dissent betwixt Two Natures from one or both of which there usually ariseth some such Effect as may seem to deserve our limited Admiration but is it therefore reasonable for us to infer that those Natures are not subject unto nor regulated by the General and Ordinary Rules of Action and Passion whereto Nature hath fitmely obliged Herself in the rest of Her Operations To lance and cleanse this Cacoethical Ulcer to the bottom Consider we that the General Laws of Nature whereby she produceth All Effects by the Action of one and Passion of another thing as may be collected from sundry of our praecedent Discertations are these 1. That every Effect must have its Cause 2 That no Cause can act but by Motion 3 That Nothing can act upon a Distant subject or upon such whereunto it is not actually Praesent either by it self or by some instrument and that either Conjunct or Transmitted and consequently that no body can move another but by contact Mediate or Immediate i. e. by the mediation of some continued Organ and that a Corporeal one too or by it self alone Which considered it will be very hard not to allowe it necessary that when two things are said either to Attract and Embrace one the other by mutual Sympathy or to Repell and Avoid one the other by mutual Antipathy this is performed by the same wayes and means whereby we observe one Body to Attract and hold fast another or one Body to Repell and Avoid conjunction with another in all Sensible and Mechanique Operations This small Difference only allowed that in Gross and Mechanique operations the Attraction or Repulsion is performed by Sensible Instruments but in those finer performances of Nature called Sympathies and Antipathies the Attraction or Repulsion is made by Subtle and Insensible The means used in every common and Sensible Attraction and Complection of one Bodie by another every man observes to be Hooks Lines or some such intermediate Instrument continued from the Attrahent to the Attracted and in every Repulsion or Disjunction of one Bodie from another there is used some Pole Lever or other Organ intercedent or somewhat exploded or discharged from the Impellent to the Impulsed Why therefore should we not conceive that in every Curious and Insensible Attraction of one bodie by another Nature makes use of certain slender Hooks Lines Chains or the like intercedent Instruments continued from the Attrahent to the Attracted and likewise that in every Secret Repulsion or Sejunction she useth certain small Goads Poles Levers or the like protruding Instruments continued from the Repellent to the Repulsed bodie Because albeit those Her Instruments be invisible and imperceptible yet are we not therefore to conclude that there are none such at all We every day behold Spiders letting themselves down from high roofs and as nimbly winding themselves up again at pleasure by such slender threads of
to some higher Oeconomy thâ—n that according to which she regulates her Common Active and Passive Principles To the SECOND viz. the Influx of Caelestial upon Sublunary Bodies innumerable are the Effects which the Fraud of some the Admiration of many and the Credulity of most have confidently imputed and therefore it cannot be expected we should in this place so much as Enumerate the one Half much less insist upon them All. Sufficient it is to the Acquitance of our praesent Debt that we select the most considerable among them and such as seem Capital and Comprehensive of all the rest As for the Power and Influence of the Stars of which Astrologers talk such wonders and with such pride and ostentâ—tâ—on truly we have Reason to assure us that our Cognation and Subjection to those raâ—iant Bodies is not so great as that not only All the Actions Fortunes and Accidents of Particular men but even the Warres Peace Mutations Subversions of whole Empires Nations States and Provinces should depend upon their Smiles or Frowns as if All Occurrents on the theatre of our Lower Orb were but the orderly and necessary Effects of the Praescriptions and Consignations of the Superior Orbs or as if there were no Providence Divine no Liberty of Mans Will 2 As for the Reciprocation or Afflux and Reflux of the Sea so generally fathered upon the Influx and Motion of the Moon which doth herself suffer the like Ebbs and Floods of her borrowed Light t is well known how Seleucus of old and Galilaeus of late have more fully and roundly deduced it from the motion ascribed to the Earth And though we should allow this great Phaenomenon to depend upon the several Adspects or Phases of the Moon yet is there no necessity to drive us to the subterfuge of any Occult and Immaterial Influence from her waxing and waning Light since the System of Des Cartes in Princip Philoseph part 4. page 22. â— doth much more satisfactorily make it out from the Elliptical Figure of the Sphere wherein the Moon moves as will soon appear to the Examiner 3 As for the Diurnall Expansion and Conversion of the Heliotrope toward the Sun though great notice hath been taken thereof by the Ancients and most of our Modern Advancers of the Vanities of Natural Magick who will have every Plant to retain to some one of the Planets by some secret Cognation and peculiar sympathie have laboured to heighten it to the degree of a Wonder yet can we not conceive the Effect to be so singular nor that any such Solemne Reason need be assigned thereunto For every mans observation may certifie him that all Marygolds Tulippa's Pimpernell Wartwoort Mallow Flowers and indeed most other Flowers so long as they are in their Vigour and Pride use to Open and Dilate toward noon and somewhat Close and recontract themselves after Sun set And the Cause surely is only the Warmth of the Suns Rayes which discussing the Cold and Moisture of the praecedent Night whereby the Leaves were loaden towards the bottom or in the bowle of the Flower and so made to rise more upright and conjoyn their tops and somewhat Exsiccating the Flower make the pedestalls of its leaves more flaccid so that they seem to expand and unfold themselves and incline more outwards meerly by reason of their want of strength to sustain themselves in an erect and concentrical posture for alwayes the hotter the Day the greater is the Expansion Likewise as for the Flowers Conversion to or Confronting the Sun in all its progress above the horizon wherein our Darksom Authors of Magick Natural principally place the Magnale the Cause thereof is so far from being more obscure than that it is the very same with that of its Expansion For as the Sun running his race from East to West doth every moment vary the points of his Rayes vertical incidence upon the stalk which supports the Flower and upon the leaves thereof so must the whole Flower incline its head and wheel about accordingly those parts of the stalk upon which the rayes are more perpendicular and so the heat more intense becoming more dry and flaccid and so less able to support the burthen of the â—â—ower than those which suffer only from the obliâ—nâ— reflected and weaker beams Notwithstanding this Solution if any Champion of secret Magnetism shall yet defend this Circulation to be a 〈◊〉 of the Heliotropâ— to which no other Flower can praetend and that this Solar Plant discovers it Amours to the Sun by not only disclosing its rejoycing head and bâ—som at the praesence and wrapping them up again in the mantle of its owne disconsolate and languishing leaves during the absence of its Lover but also by facing him all day long lest He should insult upon an apprehension that our theory is at a loss we shall tell him in a word that that Propriety which he supposeth must consist only in such a peculiar Contexture and Disposition of the particles which compose its Leaves as makes them more sit to receive and be moved and their spiritual and most subtle parts to be in a manner Circulated by the Rayes of the Sun than the Leaves of any other Flower whatever As in the Organ of Smelling there is a certain Peculiar Contexture of its insensible Component Particles which renders it alone capable of being moved and affected by Odours that have no influence nor activity at all upon the Eye Eare or other Organ of Sense 4 Great things have been spoken also of the Garden Claver which bareth its bosom and hideth the upper part of its stalk whenever the Sun shines hot and bright upon it but this doubtless hath the same Cause as the Former the Hiding of the stalk being nothing but an over-expansion of the Leaves which by reason of the violent ardour of the Sun grow more faint and flaccid and so less able to support themselves 5 A Fifth Secret found in the Catalogue of Caelestial Influxes is the Crowing of the House-Cock at certain and periodical times of night and day and more especially soon after midnight and about day break for most esteem it an Occult Propriety and all our Crollians and such as promote the dreams of Signatures and Sydereal Analogies reckon the Cock a cheif Solar Animal for this reason alone as if his Phansy received some magnetique touches and impressions from the Sun which made him proclame his Aâ—vent into our Hemisphere and like a faithful Watch or Clock measure out the severall stages in its race Great enquiry also hath been made after the Cause hereof in all ages and various Conceptions entertained concerning it Some with lofty and Rhetorical Discourses endevouring to persuade that Nature intended this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Pluâ—arch 〈◊〉 it or Gallicinium as an Alarme to rouse up sluggish man from the dull armes of sleep and summon him to the early Contemplation of her Works as Pliny Natural Histor. lib. 10.
and Diffusive than those we conceive emitted from Vines to Wines of many Aromaticks are usually diffused in serene weather especially in respect of such Persons and Bruit Animals as are exquisite in their sense of smelling Hath it not been observed that the Flowers of Oranges have transmitted their odours perfect and strong from great Gardens to the nostrils of Mariners many leagues off at Sea nay so far that some Sailers have discovered land by the smell of them when their longest Perspectives could not reach it Doe not we frequently observe that Ravens will scent a Carcass at mâ—ny miles distance and fly directly to it by the Chart of a favourable wind Nay are not there good Historians that assure us that Eagles in Italy have sometime received an invitation by the nose to come and feast on the dead bodies of men in Africa Here since we are occasionally fallen upon the large Diffusion of some Odours especially to sage and unpraepossessed Noses we shall take the advantage of that Hint to advertise you of a Vulgar Error viz. that Waters distilled of Orange Flowers and Roses become wholly Inodorous and Phlegmatick at the time of the Blooming and Pride of those Flowers upon their trees For really those distilled Waters are not in themselves during the season of the Flowers from which they were extracted less fragrant than at other times but because in the season of those Flowers they diffuse their odours so plentifully through the Aer and praepossess the nostrils as that the odours of the Waters being somewhat less quick and strong are less perceived than at other times when the Aer is not imbued with the stronger and fresher odours nor the olfactory Nerves praeoccupied And this may be inferred from hence that when the season of those â—lowers is past and the smelling organ unoccupied the Waters smell as fragrant as ever For as to the Assuefaction of the sense of smelling to particular odours good or bad we need not say much of that since Experience doth daily confirme that the sense is scarce moved and affected by the same odour though closely praesented after Custom hath once strongly imbued it with the same SECT III. IN the THIRD and last Division of Special Occult Qualities or such as are vulgarly imputed to Sensible Creatures the Pens of Schollars have been so proâ—use that should we but recount and with all possible succinctness enquire into the Verity and Causes of but the one Half of them our Discourses would take up more sheets of Paper than are allowed to the Longest Chancery Bill wherefore as in the former so in this we shall select and examine only a Few of them but such as are most in vogue and whose Reasons is â—udiciously accommodated suffice to the Solution of the Rest. 1 The Antipathy of a Sheep to a Woolf is the common argument of wonder and nothing is more frequent than to hear men ascribe it to a provident instinct or haereditary and invincible Hatred that a Lamb which never saw a Woolâ— before and so could not retain the impression of 〈◊〉 harme done or attempted by him should be invaded with horror and trembling at first interview and run from him nay some 〈…〉 the secret so far as to affirme the Antipathy to be Equall on both 〈◊〉 Concerning this therefore we observe that the Enmity is not Reciprocal For He that can be persuaded that the Woolf hates the Sheep only because he worries and preys upon him and not rather that the Woolf loves the sheep because it is a weak and helpless Animal and its sâ—eth is both pleasant and convenient food for him we shall 〈…〉 persuade Him that Himself also hates a sheep because he 〈…〉 pallate and stomach delighted and relieved with Mutton Nor as the 〈◊〉 on the sheeps side Invincible for ourselves have see◠〈…〉 by Custom to so great familiarity with a Woolf that 〈…〉 with him and bleat as after the Dam when the 〈…〉 of the room and the like Kindness have we 〈…〉 betwixt a Lamb and Lyon of the Lord Generall 〈…〉 Sion house and afterward publikely shewed in Londâ—n 〈…〉 Fear which surpriseth the Lamb at first sight of a 〈…〉 to arise from any Hereditary Impression derived from the 〈…〉 Bothâ— as well because all Inbredd or traduced 〈…〉 as that none of the Progenitors of the Lamb 〈…〉 saw or received any impression of injury from a 〈…〉 in England Besides in case they had and though 〈…〉 that some Beasts are afraid of men and other Beasts 〈…〉 memory of some Harme received from some man 〈…〉 the Idea of him that did the Harme 〈…〉 upon the table of the Memory and being freshly 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 whenever the sense brings in the 〈…〉 not likely that the same Idea should be propaâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 after so many hundred removes 〈…〉 Individual to the whole species throughout the 〈◊〉 The Cause 〈…〉 why All Sheep generally are startled and oâ—â—ended 〈◊〉 sight 〈…〉 seems to be only this that when the Woolf converts his eyes 〈…〉 pleasing and inviting object and that whereupon 〈…〉 his Imagination he instantly darts forth 〈…〉 of subtle Effluvia's which being part of 〈…〉 his newly formed Idea of dilaniating and devouring 〈…〉 â—omposed serve as Forerunners or Messengers of destruction to the 〈…〉 bâ—ing transmitted to his Common Sensory through his optiâ—k nerveâ— most highly misaffect the same and so cause the sheep to fear anâ—â—nâ—â—avour the praeservation of his life by flight This receives sufficient Confirmation from hence that not only such Aversions as arise from the Contrariety of Constitutions in several Animals 〈…〉 commonly observed to produce those Effects of Fear Trembling and flight from the objects from which offensive impressions are derived by the mediation of disagreeing Spirits or Emaâ—ations but even the seeing them in a passion of Anger or Fury doth suddainly cause the like For violent Passions ever alter the Spirits and Characterize them with the idea at that time most praevalent in the Imagination of the Passionate so that those spirits issuing from the body of the Animal in the height oâ— Passion and insinuating themselves into the brain of the other Animal contrariâ—y 〈◊〉 must of necessity highly disgust and offend it Which is the most likely Reason that hath hitherto been given Why Bees seldom sting men of a mild and peaceful disposition but will by no means endure not be reconciled to others of a froward cholerick and waspish nature The same so may serve to answer that common Quaere Why some 〈…〉 persons having tuned their spirits to the highest key of 〈…〉 have daunted not only fierce Mastiffs but 〈…〉 other Wild and ravenous Beasts meerly by 〈…〉 put them to flight by the Artillery of their 〈…〉 Eyes And the Key wherewith we have unlockt the secret 〈…〉 and Woolf will also open those like Antipathies supposed to be betwixt the Dove and Falcon the Chicken and Kite and all other weak Animals and such as use to make
them their prâ—y 2 It is worthy a serious Remark that sundry Animalls bear a kind of 〈…〉 to the Persons of such men as are delighted or conversant in the Destruction of those of the same species with them as we daily see that 〈◊〉 are highly offended and angry at Butchers that Dogs bark 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Glovers that deal most in Dog skins and 〈…〉 killing of Dogs in time of the plague to praevâ—nt 〈◊〉 diffusion 〈…〉 and encrease of Putrefaction by their 〈◊〉 that Vermin 〈◊〉 the trapps and gins of Warrenners whereâ—◠〈…〉 their owne kind hath been taken and destroyed c. As 〈…〉 or strong Aversions t is manifest that they arise 〈…〉 or Character of Providence 〈…〉 Natures or Essential Forms but only 〈…〉 upon the sense For the 〈…〉 any Animal of the same species excite a kind of Horror in the like Animal that smells them and so cause it to abhor and avoid all such persons and places for fear of the like harm and internecion as their fellowes have suffered from them Now that which makes these odours insinuate themselves with such â—ase and familiarity into the Sensories of animals of the same species is the similitude and Uniformity of their Specifical Constitutions which yet the rough hand of Corruption seems not totally to have obliterated in the long since extravenated blood and spirits but to have left some Vestigia or Râ—mains of the Canine nature in the Doggs blood of the Porcine in the Swâ—â—â—s c. And that which makes them so horridly Odious is the great Aâ—â—â—â—â—ion of the blood from its genuine temper and conditius For the smell of the Carcass or blood of any Animal having once suffered the Depâ—avation of Corruption is always most hateful and dangerous to others of the same Species and it hath been observed that the most pernicious inâ—ections and Plagues have been such as took their Original from the Corruption of Humane Bodies which indeed is the best reason that hath â—een yet given why the Plague so often attends long and bloody Sieges and is commonly the second to the Sword We conceive the same to 〈…〉 the ground of that Axiom of the Lord St. Alban Nat. Hist. cent 10 â— â—enerally that which is Dead or Corrupted or Excerned hath Antipaâ—â—â—â—â—th the same thing when it is Alive and when it is sound and with those 〈◊〉 which do excern as a Carcass of Man is most infectious and odious â—â—man a Carrion of an Horse to an Horse c. Purulent matter of 〈◊〉 and Ulcers Carbuncles Pocks Scabbs Leprousy to Sound flesh And the Excrements of every species to that Creature that excerneth them But the Excâ—ements are less Pernicious than the Corruptions 3 The 〈◊〉 and according to some reports the opening of the Eyesâ— of the Carcass of a murthered man at the praesence and touch of the Homicide 〈…〉 in truth the noblest of Antipathies and scarce any Writer of the Secrets or Miracles of Nature hath omitted the Consideration thereof This Life in Death Revenge of the Grave or loud language of silent Corruption many Venerable and Christian Philosophers have accounteâ—â— holly Miraculous or Supernatural as ordained and effected by the just 〈◊〉 of God for the detection and punishment of the inhumane 〈◊〉 And least we should seem too forward to expunge from 〈◊〉 mind of any man the beleif of that opinion which to some may 〈…〉 more powerful Argument than the express Command of God to 〈◊〉 them from committing so horrid and execrable a Crime as Muâ—â—er we shall so far concurr with them as to conceive this Effect 〈…〉 Divine only in the Iâ—stitution but meerly Natural in the Production or Immediate Causes Because the Apparence seems not to 〈◊〉 the Capacity of Natural Means and the whole Syndrome and 〈◊〉 of it Causes may be thus explained It is an Opinion highly Câ—â—â—entaneous that in every vehement Passion there is formeâ—â— certain 〈…〉 well of the Object whereupon the Imagination is 〈…〉 the Good or Evil connected unto and expected from that Objecâ— and that this Idea is as it were impressed by a kind of inexplicable 〈◊〉 upon the Spirits at the same instant the Mind 〈◊〉 to Will the praesent Prosecution or Avoidance or the object 〈…〉 by the mediation of the Spirits those Angels of the Mind the same Idea is transmitted to the Blood and through the Arteries diffused into all parts of the body as well as into the Nerves and Muscles which are inservient to such Voluntary Motions as are requisite to the execution of the Decrees and Mandats of the Will concerning the Prosecution or Avoidance of the Object This being so we may conceive that the Phansy of the Person assaulted by an Assassine having formed an Idea of Hatred Opposition and Revenge and the same being Characterized upon the Spirirs and by them diffused through the blood though the blood become much less Fluid in the veins after death by reason the vital influence and Pulsifick Faculty of the Heart which Animated and Circulated it is extinct yet because at the praesence of the Murderer there issue from the pores of his body such subtile Emanations as are Consimilar to those which were emitted from him at the time He strove with overcame and killed the Patient and those Emanations entering the Dead Body doe cause a fresh Commotion in the blood remaining yet somewhat Fluid in its veins and as it were renew the former Colluctation or Duell betwixt the yet wholly uncondensed Spirits of the slain and those of the Homicide therefore is it that the Blood suffering an Estuation flows up and down in the veins to seek some vent or salley-port and finding none so open as in that part wherein the wound was made it issues forth from thence And where the Murthered Person is destroyed by strangulation suffocation or the like unbloody Death so that there is no manifest Solution of Continuity in the skin or other Exterior parts of the body in that case it hath been observed that the Carcass bleeds at the Mouth or Nose or both and this only because in all vehement strivings and especially in Colluctation for life the Spirits and Blood flow most plentifully into the Arteries and Veins of the Herd as is visible by the great Redness of the Eyes and face of every man that Fights and where the blood fixeth in most plenty there will be the greatest tumult aestuation and commotion when it is fermented agitated and again set afloat by the Discordant Effluvia's emitted from the body of the neer approâ—ching or touching Murtherer and consequently there must the vessels suffer the greatest stress distension and disruption or apertion of their orifices 4 And this magnale of the as it were Reanimation of the vindictive blood in the veins of a Dead body by the Magick of those Hostile and Fermenting Aporrhaea's transmitted from the body of Him who violently extinguished its former life ushers in Another no less prodigious nor less
celebrated by Naturalists and that is the suddain Disanimation of the Blood in Living Bodies by the meer prâ—sence of the Basilisk Catablepa and Diginus Serpents of a Nature so transcendently Venemous that according to pogular Tradition and the several relations of Dioscorides Galen Pliny Solinus Aelian Avicen and most other Authors who have treated of the Proprieties of Animals and Venoms they are Dectructive beyond themselves i. e. they either kill by intuition or Hiss out the flames of life by their Deieterious Expirations If Natural Historians have herein escaped that itch of Fiction to which they are so generally subject when they come to handle Rarities and that Nature hath produced any such Speâ—â—es whose optical Emissions or Pectoral Expirations are fatal and pernicious whether he sees the Woolf first or the Woolf him suddain silence being ever the Associate â—or rather Consequent of great and suddain Fear The Aphonia therefore or Defect of voice which hath sometimes though very rarely been observed to invade men upon the Conspection of Woolves is not the genuine Effect of any secret and radicated Antipathy or Fascinating Virtue in the subtle Aporrhaea's emitted from the eyes lungs or bodie of the Woolf but only of their own Fear and Terror arising from a strong apprehension of Danger the suddain and impetuous Concentration of the Spirits toward the Heart by reason of the violent Terror at that time causing a Defection of spirits and consequently a kind of Relaxation in the Muscles of the Tongue and Nerves inservient to the vocal instruments So that the inspired Aer cannot be Efflated with that force and celerity as is necessary to the loudness and distinct articulation of the voice 6 Nor is it the Eye alone that the Folly of men hath made obnoxious to Antipathies but the Ear also hath it share of wonderful Effects for there go solemn stories of inveterate and specifical Enmities betwixt the Lyon and Cock Elephant and Swine and He hath read little who hath not more than once met with sundry relations that the Crowing of the Cock is more terrible than death to the fiercest Lyon and the Grunting of a Swine so odious to an Elephant that it puts him into an Agony of Horror Trembling and Cold sweat Which notwithstanding may well be called to the barre of Experiment and many worthy Authors have more then questioned among whom Camerarius in Symbol expresly assures us that in his time one of the Duke of Bavaria's Lyons breaking into a yard adjacent to his Den and there finding a flock of Poultry was so far from being afraid of the Cock or his Crowing that he devoured him and his troop of Hens together And as for the other Antipathy ourselves have seen an Elephant feed and sleep quietly in the same stable with a Sow and her whole litter of Piggs However lest some should plead the power of Custom in both these cases and object that that Lyon and Elephant had been by Assuefaction brought to endure the naturally hateful Noises of the Cocks Crowing and the Swines Grunting to eradicate the belief of the supposed Occult Antipathies we say that such may be the Discrepancy or Disproportion betwixt the Figures and Contextures of those subtile particles that compose those Harsh Sounds and the Contexture of the organs of Hearing in the Lyon and Elephant as that they exasperate them and so highly offend those Animals For thus we suffer a kind of short Horror and our Teeth are set on edge by those harsh and vehement sounds made by scraping of trenchers filing the teeth of saws squeaking of doors and the like only because those sounds grate and exasperate the Auditory Nerves which communicate the harsh impression to the Nerves of the Teeth and cause a stridor therein 7 But if we pass from these Imaginary to Real Antipathies and desire not to misimploy our Understanding in the quest of Dihotâ—es for such things of whose Hoti the more sober and judicious part of Schollars justly doubt let us come to the wonderful Venome of the TARANTULA a certain Phalangium or smal Spider frequent in Italy but most in and about Tarentum in Apulia which hath this strange Propriety that being communicated to the bodie of man by biting it makes him Dance most violently at the same time every year till He be perfectly cured thereby being invincible by any other Antidote but Musick An Effect so truly admirable and singular that the Discovery of its abstruse Causes and the manner of their operation cannot but be most opportune and grateful to the Curious who we presume would gladly knowe Why suâ—h as are empoysoned by the biting of a Tarantula fall intâ— violent Fits of Dancing and cannot be Cured by any other Remedies but the Harmonious Straines of Musick aloâ—â— SOLUTION How great the power of Musick is as to the excitement exaltation and compescence or mitigation of the Passions of the Mind of Man and wherein the Câ—use of that Harmonical Magick doth consist would be a Digression and perhaps somewhat superfluous for us here to enquire And therefore cutting off all Collateral Curiosities we shall confine our present 〈◊〉 to the limits of our owne Profession endeavouring only to explain the Reasons why Musick hath so strong and generous an Energy as certainly to cure the Bodie of a man intoxicated with the Venome of the Taruntula which eludes and despises the opposition of all other Alexipharmacal Medicaments Forasmuch therefore as the â—tâ—ings of a Lute Vial or other Musical Instrument do alwayes movâ— and impell the Aer after the same manner as themselves are moved anâ— impelled and by this proportionate misture of Sounds create an Harmony delightful not only to the Eare but to that Harmonious Essencâ— the soul which Animates the Eare hence comes it that by the musical Harmony that is made by the Musicians playâ—â—g to the person infected with the Tarantâ—sme the Aer by reason of the various and yet proportionate motions of the strings is harmonically moved and agitated and carying thâ—se various motions of the harmony impressed upon it self into the Eare and so affecting the Phantastical Faculty with those pleasant motions 〈…〉 like manner affect and move the spirits in the brain and the spirits having received those impressions and diffused into the Nerves Muscles and 〈◊〉 of the whole body and there meeting with a certain thin acrimonâ—ous and pricking Humor which is the chief fewel and vehicle of the Venoâ—e derived from the Tarantula they attenuate and agitate the same by a 〈◊〉 very like that of Fermentation and disperse it with a quick motion 〈…〉 all the parts And this Humor being thus set afloat and estuated toâ—â—â—her with the venome or seeds of the Poyson which are contained 〈◊〉 must needs affect all the Musculousand Nervous parts 〈…〉 with a kind of Itch or gentle and therefore pleasan◠〈◊〉 or rather Titillation So that the Patient feeling this universa◠〈…〉 Tickling can be no longer at ease and
Detersive and Adstrictive Faculty of the Salt in the Urine wherewith the wound is daily to be washed according to the praescript of our Sympathetical Chirons Nor is this more than what Dogs commonly do when by licking their wounds clean and moistning them with the saltish Humidity of their tongues they easily and speedily prove their own Chirurgeons 3 The Basis or Foundation of Hoplochrism is meerly Imaginary and Ridiculous for the Assertors thereof generally dream of a certain Anima Mundi or Common Soul in the World which being diffused through all parts of the Universe doth constantly transferr the Vulnerary Virtue of the Unguent Vitriol from the Extravenated blood adhaering to the weapon or cloth to the wound at any distance whatever and imbuing it therewith strongly assist Nature in the Consolidation of the Disunion But insomuch as this Anima Mundi according to their own wild supposition ought to be praesent to all other wounds in the world no less than to that from which the blood whereunto the Unguent or Vitriol is applied was derived therefore would it cure all other wounds as well as that particular one since it interveneth betwixt that wound and the Unguent or Vitriol by no more special reason than betwixt them and all other wounds unless it can be proved that some other special thing is transmitted to that particular wound from the Unguent and that by local motion through all points of the intermediate spaces successively which they will by no arguments be induced to concede This Verdict I praesume was little expected from Me who have not many years past publickly declared my self to be of a Contrary judgment written profestly in Defence of the cure of wounds at distance by the Magnetick or Sympathetick Magick of the Weapon-Salve and Powder of Calcined Vitriol and excogitated such Reasons of my own to support and explicate the so generally conceded and admired Efficacy of Both as seemed to afford greater satisfaction to the Curious in that point than the Romantique Anima Mundi of the Fraternity of the Rosy-Cross the Analogical Magnetism of Helmont or indeed than any other whatever formerly invented and alledged And therefore to take off my Reader from all admiration thereat it is necessary for me here to profess that the frequent Experiments I have since that time made of the downright Inefficacy and Unsuccessfulness as well of the Armary Unguent as Sympathetick Powder even in small shallow and in dangerous Wounds my discovery of the lightness and invalidity of my own and other mens Reasons adferred to justifie their imputed Virtues and abstruse wayes of operation and the greater Probability of their opinion who charge the Sanation of wounds in such cases upon the sole benignity and Consolidative Energy of Nature it self these Arguments I say have now fully convinced me of and wholly Converted me from that my former Error And glad I am of this fair opportunity to let the world know of my Recantation having ever thought my self strictly obliged to praefer the interest of Truth infinitely above that of Opinion how plausible and splendid soever and by whomsoever conceived and asserted to believe that Constancy to any unjustifiable Conception after clear Conviction is the most shameful Pertinacity a sin against the very Light of Nature and never to be pardoned in a profest Votary of Candor and Ingenuity and to endeavour the Eradication of any Unsound and Spurious Tenent with so much more of readiness and sedulity by how much more the unhappy influence of my Pen or Tongue hath at any time contributed to the Growth and Authority thereof CHAP. XVI THE PHAENOMENA OF THE LOADSTONE EXPLICATED SECT I. WHose Wit had the best edge and came nearest the slitting of the hair His who said that the LOADSTONE is the real Ianus because of its Two opposite Faces or Poles one whereof confronteth the North the other the South or His who called it the Egg and Epitome of the Terrestrial Globe because as the Egg contains the Idaea of the whole and every part of its Protoplast or Generant so doth the Loadstone comprehend the Idaea of the whole and every part of the Earth and inherit all its Proprieties being Generated thereby at least therein or His Who named it The Nest of Wonders because as a Nest of Boxes it includes many admirable Secrets one within another insomuch that no man can well understand the mystical platform of its Nature till he hath opened and speculated them all one after another or His who affirmed it to be the Antitype of the Poets Hydra because no sooner hath the Sword of Reason cut off one Head or Capital Difficulty but Two new ones spring up in the place of it nor ought any man to hope the total and absolute Conquest thereof but by Cauterizing the veins of every Difficulty i. e. leaving not so much as the seeds of a Scruple but solving all its various Phaenomenaes to the full or His who thought it sufficient with Aristotle to call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The stone that singularity importing its transcendent Dignity we freely leave to the judgment of our Reader And as for sundry other Enquiries that do not in any direct or oblique interest concern the Investigation of the Causes of All or Any of those admirable Proprieties observed in the Loadstone such as that of the various Appellations given it by several Philosophers of old by several Nations at this day together with the proper Original Etymology and Reason of each Whether it was first Discovered by the Shepherd Magnes on Mount Ida as Pliny lib. 6. cap. 26. reports out of the records of Nicander Whether its Attractive Virtue was known not only to Hippocrates and other Senior Philosophers of Greece but also to the Primitive Hebrews and Aegyptians as Gilbert conjectureth de Magnet lib. 1. cap. 2. Whether the Knowledge of its Veâ—â—icity or Polary Virtue cannot be derived higher than the top of the four last Centuries and ought to be ascribed to a French man together with the honour of the Invention of the Pixis Nautica or Navigators Compass about the year of Christ M. CC. as â—assendus would persuade out of one Guyotus Proviâ—eus an old French Poet who not long after writ a Panegyrick in Verse upon the Excellency and sundry uses of the same or to Iohn Goia alias Gira of Salerna who lived not till almost an hundred years after the said Guyotus had divulged his Poem as Blancanus in Chronolog Mathemat Sec l. 2. contends Whether the Nations inhabiting the Sinnae had the use of the Mariners Compass before the Europeans or whether they learned it of the European ships that first advanced beyond the Cape of Good-hope and coasted the Mare Rubrum and begun Commerce with them All these things as being not only not easie to determine but also scarce pertinent to our praesent scope we refer to our Readers own enquiry in Gilbert Cabeus Kircher and other
Authors who promise him all possible satisfaction therein To come therefore directly to the prosecution of our main design we observe that the VIRTUES of the Loadstone are in General Two one whereby it attracteth Iron to it self the other whereby it directeth both it self and Iron which it hath impregnated by contact or influence to the Poles of the Earth the First is called Alliciency the Other its Verticity or Polarity Concerning the Cause of its Alliciency or the reason of the Attraction of Iron by the Loadstone or if you would have us speak in the sense and dialect of Dr. Gilbert the Coition of Iron and a Loadstone various opinions have been conceived and asserted as well by Modern as Ancient Philosophers Among those of the Ancients that which best deserves our commemoration and consideration is the opinion of Epicurus who lest He might seem scarcely sufficiently conscious of the great difficulty of the subject excogitated a Two-fold Theory for its Explication and Solution the Fâ—â—mer of which we may easily collect from the Commentary of Lucretius thereupon the Latter from the Dispute of Galen lib. 1. De Natur Facult against it For Lucretius professing to explain the Reason and Manner of the Attraction of Iron by the Loadstone according to the Principles and judgment of Epicurus founds his Discourse upon these Four Pillars or Praeconsiderables 1 That all Concretions do continually emit subtile Effluvia's or Aporrhaea's 2 That the contexture of no Concretion is so compact as not to have many small Vacuities or insensible Pores variously intercepted among its solid and component particles 3 That the Effluvia's streaming from Concretions are not equally Congruous or Accommodate to all Bodies they meet with in the sphere of their Diffusion 4 That the small Pores or insensible Inanities intercepted among the particles of Concretions are not all of one and the same Circumscription or Figure and so not indifferently accommodable or proportionate to all sorts of Effluvia s issuing from other bodies but only to such as are symmetrical or Correspondent to them in Figure and Magnitude And then He proceeds to erect this superstructure thereupon The Attractive Virtue of the Loadstone being determinate only to Iron and Steel which is Purified Iron seems to consist in this that both from the Loadstone and Iron there perpetually issue forth continued streams of insensible particles or bodies which more or less according to their number and force of diffusion commove and impel the ambient Aer and because the streams which flow from the Loadstone are both more numerous and more potent than those which are emitted from the Iron therefore is the ambient Aer alwayes more strongly discussed and impelled about the Loadstone than about the Iron and so there are many more Inane Spaces therein created about the Loadstone than about the Iron That forasmuch as when the Iron is placed within the sphere of the Aer Discussed by the Effluxions of the Loadstone there cannot but be much of Inanity intercepted understand insensible Inanity betwixt it and the Loadstone thence it comes that the Aporrhaeaes of the Iron tend more freely or uninterruptedly toward that part which faceth the Loadstone and so are carried quite home unto it and because they cannot tend thither in such swarms and with such freedome but they must impell the Particles of the Iron that are yet cohaerent together therefore must they also move and impel the whole mass of Iron consisting of those reciprocally Cohaerent Particles and so carry it quite home to the Loadstone That when a Loadstone Attracteth Iron not only through the Aer but also through divers compact and firm bodies and particularly through Marble we are to conceive that there are more and more capacious Inanities made in that part of such interposed bodies which respecteth the Loadstone than in that part of them which confronteth the Iron That the reason why other things as Straw Wood Gold c. being situate within the sphere of the Aer Discussed by the Effluxes of the Loadstone do not in like manner emit their subtile particles in such numerous and potent streams as carrying along their Cohaerent Particles with them should move and impel their whole masses to a Conjunction with it is only this that the Particles emitted from the Iron are alone Commensurable to the Inane Spaces in the Loadstone That because Iron tendeth to the Loadstone indiscriminately i. e. either upward or downward transversly or obliquely according to the region of its Application this indifferency could not be but in respect of the introduced Vacuities into which the particles otherwise prolabent only downward are carried without Distinction of region And lastly that the motion of the Iron towards the Loadstone is assisted and promoted by the Aer by reason of its continual Motion and Agitation and first by the Exterior Aer which being alwayes most urgent on that part where it is most Copious cannot but impel the Iron toward that part where it is less Copious or more full of Inanities i. e. toward the Loadstone and afterward by the Interior Aer which being likewise alwayes commoved and agitated cannot but cause the stronger motion toward that part where the Space is rendred more Inane And this we conceive to be the summary of Lucretius Exposition of Epicurus Opinion touching the Reason of the Loadstones Iron-attractive Faculty And Galen in loco citato impugning the Magnetick Theory of Epicurus first makes a contracted but plain recital thereof in these words A lapide quidem Herculeo ferrum à succino verò paleus attrahi c. quippe effluentes Atomos ex lapide illo ita figuris congruere cum illis quae ex ferro effluunt ut in amplexus facile veniant quamobrem impactas utrinque nempe in ipsa tum lapidis quam ferri corpora concreta resilientes deinde in medium circumplicari invicem ferrum simul pertrahi c. Wherein besides his usuall fidelity in the Recitation even of such opinions of other men as he thought good to endeavour to refute we have good reason to believe that Galen came as near as possible to the true and genuine sense of Epicurus forasmuch as those Four Praeconsiderables alledged by Lucretius for the support of his exposition of the Cause and Manner of the Coition of the Loadstone and Iron may be with equal Congruity accommodated also to this latter Epicurean Solution of the same problem according to this praesent interpretation and abridgement of Galen For according to the tenour thereof both the Loadstone and Iron are praesumed to consist of particles exactly alike in configuration and to have the like Inane Spaces or insensible pores intercepted among those particles and this upon no slender ground seeing that the Loadstone and Iron are perfect Twinns being both generated not onely in the same Matrix but of the same Materials one the same Mineral Vein of the Earth And therefore it is the more
Curiosity concerning the Reason of the Coâ—tion of the Loaâ—â—â—one and Iron and therefore it imports us to superadd thereunto so mâ—â—â— of the Speculations and Observations of our Modern Magnetâ—â—â—an Auâ—â—ors Gilbert Cabeus Kircher Grandamicus c. who have with more profound scrutiny searched into and happier industry discovered 〈…〉 the mystery as may serve to the enlargement at least iâ— not the full 〈◊〉 of our satisfaction And in order hereunto to the enâ— Peripicuity 〈◊〉 Succâ—â—ctness may walk hand in hand together through our whole 〈◊〉 Discourse we are to compose it of sundry OBSERVâ—BLES 〈◊〉 as may not only conduct our Disquisitions through all the 〈◊〉 and serpâ—â—â—â—ne wayes of Magnetism and acquaint us with the seveâ—â—â— Laws oâ—â—â—gnetick Energy but also like the links of a Chain sustain eacâ— othe◠〈◊〉 a continued series of mutual Dependency and Connexion The FIRST OBSERVABLE is that as well the Loadstone as its beloved Mistress Iron seems to be endowed with a Faculty that holds some Analogy to the sense of Animals and that principally in respect of Attraction For 1 as an Animal having its sensory invaded and affected by the species of a grateful object doth instantly desire and is accordingly carried by the instruments of Voluntary motion to the same so likewise so soon as a lesser or weaker Loadstone or piece of Iron is invaded and percelled with the species of a greater or more potent one it is not only invited but rapt on toward the same by a kind of nimble Appetite or impetuous tendency 2 As sensible objects do not diffuse their species of Colour Odour Sound c. to an Animal at any distance whatever but have the spheres of their Diffusion or transmission limitted so neither doth the Loadstone nor Iron transmit their Species or Emanations each to other at any distance whatever but only through a determinate interval of space beyond which they remain wholly insensible each of others virtue 3 As a sensible object that is convenient and grateful doth by its species immitted into the sensory of an Animal convert dispose and attract the Soul of the Animal and its soul being thus converted disposed and attracted toward that object doth by its Virtue or Power carry the body though gross and ponderous along to the same exactly so doth the Loadstone seem by its species transfused to convert dispose and attract towards it the as it were soul or spiritual substance of Iron which doth instantly by its power or vertue move and carry the whole mass or grosser parts of it along to an union with the same Certainly it would not easily be believed that a thing so exile and tenuious as is the Sentient Soul of an Animal which is only Flos substantiae the purer and subtler part of its matter should be sufficiently potent to move and from place to place transfer so ponderous and unweildy a mass as that of the Body unless our sense did demonstrate it unto us and therefore why should we not believe that in Iron there is somewhat which though it be not perfectly a Soul is yet in some respects Analogous to a Soul that doth though most exile and tenuious in substance move and transferr the rest of the mass of Iron though ponderous gross and of it self very unfit for motion All the Difficulty therefore which remains being only about the Manner How the Sentient Soul of an Animal is affected by and attracted toward a Grateful Object let us conceive that the sensible species being it self Corporeal and a certain Contexture of small particles effluxed from the object such as do gently and pleasantly commove and affect the Organ of Sense being once immitted into the Sensory doth instantly move the part of the Soul which is also Corporeal and a certain Contexture of small particles inhaerent or resident in that Organ and evolving the particles of the Soul converted perchance another way and turning them about toward that part from whence themselves are derived i. e. toward the object it doth impress a kind of impulse upon them and so determine and attract the soul and consequently the whole Animal toward the object For admitting this Conception we may complete the Parallelism intended thus as the particles of a sensible species transmitted from a grateful object and subingressing through the organ into the contexture of the Soul or Sentient part thereof do so sollicite it as that it becomes converted toward and is carried unto that particular object not without a certain impulse of appetite so do the particles of the Magnetical species subingressing into the Soul of the Iron so evolve its insensible particles and turn them toward the Loadstone as being thus sollicited it conceives a certain appetite or impetus toward the same and which is more forthwith resalutes it by diffusing the like species toward it For as if the Iron were before asleep and unactive it is awakened and excited by this exstimulation of the Magnetical Species and being as it were admonished what is the propriety of its nature it sets it self nimbly to work and owns the Cognation But by what other way soever it shall be explicated How an Animal is affected by and rapt toward a sensible object by the same way may it still be conceived how Iron is affected by and rapt toward a Loadstone For albeit as to divers other things there be no Analogy betwixt the Nature and Conditions of an Animal and those of Iron yet cannot that Disparity destroy the Analogy betwixt them in point of Alliciency or Attraction here supposed Which well considered Scaliger had no reason to charge Thales Milesius with ridiculous Madness for conceding the Loadstone and Iron to have Souls as Dr. Gilbert lib. 2. de Magnet cap. 4. hath observed before us The SECOND that forasmuch as betwixt the Loadstone and its Paramour Iron there is observed not only an Attraction or mutual Accession or Coâ—â—ion but also a firm Cohaesion of each to other like two Friends closely entwined in each others arms and that this Cohaesion supposeth reciprocal Revinction which cannot consist without some certain corporeal Instruments that hold some resemblance to Lines and Hooks hence 〈◊〉 it warrantable for us to conceive that the species diffused from the Loadstone to the Iron and from the Iron to the Loadstone are transmitted by way of Radiation and that every Ray is Tense and Direct in its progress through the intermediate space like a small thread or wire extended and this because it consisteth of Myriads of small particles or Atoms flowing in a continued stream so that the praecedent particles are still urged and protruded forward in a direct line by the consequent after the same manner as the rayes of Light flowing from a Lucid body the Cause of whose Direction must be their Continued Fluor as we have formerly Demonstrated at large We may further conceive that as the rayes of Light do pass through a Perspicuous body so do the
is not every way of Apposition that will be convenient but only that when it is disposed in a direct line respondent to the same Ductus or situation of its Fibres according to which it was continued to the Earth beâ—ore its separation Nor is this meer Conjecture but a truth as firme as the Earth it self and as plain as sense can make it it being constâ—ntly observed that what situation a Loadstone had in its Matrix or minerall bed the very same it shall strongly affect and strictly observe evâ—r after at least while it is a Loadstone i. e. untill time or Fire have destroyed its Verticity And as for the Use thereof it is so â—ruitfull as to yield us the most probable Reason in Generall for sundry the most obscure among all Magneticall Apparences 1 Forasmuch as the Loadstone ever affects its native situation and that its Northern part did while it remained in its matrix adhaere to the Southern parts of the same magnetique vein that lay more North and its Southern part did adhaere to the Northern part of the magnetick vein that lay more South therefore is it that the North pole of a Loadstone doth never affect an union with the North pole of the earth nor its South pole direct to the South pole of the Earth but quite contrary its North pole converts to the South and its South to the North. So that whenever you observe a Loadstone freely swimming in a boate of Cork to convert or decline one of its poles to the North of the Earth you may assure your self that that is the South pole of the Loadstone and è contra 2 From the same and no other Cause is it also that when a Magnet is dissected or broken into two pieces and so two new poles created in each piece the Boreall pole of the one half shall never admit Coition with the Boreall pole of the other nor the Australl extreme of the one fragment affect conjunction wâ—th the Australl extreme of the the other but contrariwise the Australl end shall septentrionate and the septentrionaâ—â— Australize The same also happens whenever â—ny two Loâ—â—stones 〈◊〉 applied each to other the Cause being Generall viz. the Native 〈◊〉 or Grain of the Magnetique Fibres which is inverted wheneâ—â—â— the Boreall part of a Loadstone is applied to the Boreall paâ—t of the Earth or of another Loadstone or the Meridionall part of a Loaâ—stâ—ne be converted to the meridionall part of the Earth of another Loadstone as the Ductus of the Fibres in a shoot of a Plâ—nt is inverteâ— when the upper extreme thereof is inserted into the upper part of a sâ—oâ—k This considered when we observe the Animated Needle 〈…〉 Mariners Compass freely converting it self round upon the pin â—hereon it is aequilibrated that end which directeth to the Norâ—â— pole of the Earth must be the South point of the Needle and viceversally that must be the North cuspis of the Needle which conâ—rontetâ— the South of the Earth And when praesent a Loadstone to a magnetified Versory that part of the Loadstone must be the North pole to which the South cuspis of the Needle comes and that to which the North point of the Needle approaches must be the South of the Loadstone The same also may be concluded of the extremes of Irons when a Loadstone is applied unto them for that part of an Iron barr which laied meridionally hath respected the North must have been spirited by the Southern influence of the Earth and è contra and among our Fire Irons the upper end must have imbibed the Northern influence of the Earth and the Lower the Southern contrary to the assertion of some of our Magneticall Philosophers The NINTH the Analogy of the Earth to the Loadstone and other magnetically inspired bodies being so great and the Cause thereof so little obscure it may seem a justifiable inference That the Terriestriall Globe doth inwardly consist of certain continued Fibres running along from North to South or from South to North in one uninterrupted ductus and consequently that since the middle Fibre is as it were the Axis whose opposite extremes make the two Poles in case the whole Earth could be divided into two or more great parts there would instantly result in every part or division a special Axis two speciall Poles a speciall Aequator and all other conditions as formerly in the whole Globe so that the septentrionall part of one piece would conjoin it self to the Austrine part of another and the septentrionall parts reciprocally avert themselves each from other as the parts of a Loadstone And this we may understand to be that mighty and so long enquired Cause why all the parts of the Terrestriall Globe do so fiâ—mly cohaeâ—e and conserve the primitive Figure the Cohaesion Attractive Virtue constant Direction and spontaneous Verticity of all its genuine parts all whose Southern Fibres doe magnetically or individually conforme and conjoyn themselves to the Northern and their Northern to the Southern being the necessary Causes of that Firmness and constancy of Figure Impossible we confess it is to obtain any ocular Experiment of this constitution of the Earths internall Fibres the very Cortex of the Earth extending some miles in profundity but yet we desume a reasonable Conjecture thereof as well from the great similitude of effects wrought by the Earth and other Magneticks as the Experience of Miners who frequently observe and constantly affirme that the Veins of subterraneous Rocks from whose chinks they dig Iron oare doe allwayes tend from South to North and that the Veins of eminent Rocks which make the Giant Mountains upon the face of the Earth have generally the same Direction And though there are some Rowes or Tracts of Mountains that run from East to West or are of oblique situation yet are there alwayes some considerable intercisures among them from South to North so that that can be no sufficient argument that the interior Fibres of the Earth which are truely and entirely magneticall and subjacent under those Mountainous rocks doe not lye in a meridionall position or conforme to the Axis of the Earth The TENTH that since the observations of Miners ascertain us that the Ranges or Tracts of Rocks in the Cortex or accessible part of the Terrestriall Globe do for the most observe a praecisely Meridionall situation and tend from South to North and sometimes i. e. in some places deâ—lect toward the East and West with less and greater obliquity and that our Reason may from thence and the similitude of the Eâ—rth and Loadstone naturally extract a Conjecture that the Fibres of the Earths Kernell or inaccessible parts though for the most they tend praecisely from the South to the North may yet in many places more and lâ—ss Deflect toward the East and West we need no longer perplex ouâ— minds with enquiring Why all Magnetiques and especially the Versory or Needle of the Sea-mans Compass being horizontally
a stone fall Down again He shall Answer that what moves it Downward per se is the Generant it self or that which first Produced the stone and that which moves it downward per Accidens is that which removes the impediment or obstacle to its descent as the hand of a man or other thing supporting the stone And if you again enquire of him What is the Difference betwixt the Upward and Downward motion of a stone how one should be Violent and the other Natural since according to his own Assertion both are Caused by another His Return will be that the Difference lies in this that the stone is not carried upward of its own Nature but Downward as having the Principle of its Descent inhaerent in it self but not that of its Ascent If you urge Him yet farther since the stone hath in it self the Principle of its Motion why therefore is it not moved only by it self but wants Another or External Motor His Answer will be that there is a Twofold principle of motion the one Active the other Passive and in the stone is only the Principle Passive but in the External Motor is the Active When yet it may be farther pressed that since according to his own Doctrine the Passive principle is the matter and the Active the Forme as to the matter that cannot be the principle of its motion Downward no more than of its motion upward and as for the Forme if that be neither the Active principle nor the Passive as he will by no means admit certainly there can be none Which for Him to allow were plainly to destroy his own great Definition of Nature wherein He acknowledgeth it to be the Principle of Motion But alas these are but light and venial Mistakes in comparison of those gross Incongruities that follow When Aristotle comes to handle the Species or sorts of Natural Motion you may remember that He first Distinguisheth Natural motion in Direct and Circular and then subdistinguisheth the Direct into 1 that which is from the Circumference toward the Centre or from the Extrems toward the middle of the world which He calls Downward and 2 that which is from the Centre toward the Circumference which He calls Upward assigning the former or Downward motion only to Heavy things to the Earth simply to Water and mixt things Secundum quid and the Upward be What then must that External Principle be as Aristotle contends the very Generant of the thing moved Certainly that 's highly Absurd since the Generant is absent and perhaps long since ceased to be in rerum natura and nothing either Absent or Nonexistent can be the Efficient of a Natural Action such as motion is If you will have that to be moved by the Generant signifies no more than to receive a Virtue or Power of moving it self from the Generant then while you endeavour to save Aristotle from the former Absurdity you praecipitate him into a gross Contradiction of his own Doctrine for since the Generant it self ought to be moved by its Generant and that again to be moved by its Generant and so upward along the whole series of Generants till you arrive at length at some First Generant from whence that Virtue was first derived you bring Aristotle to allow a First Generant which impugns his fundamental supposition of the Eternity of the World Nay if you admit God to be the Author of the First Generant it will then follow that God must be the Cause of this particular motion and not the First Generant no more than the Last Finally is that the Cause which only removes the Impediment to a Heavy bodies Descent Neither is that Reasonable for as Aristotle himself confesseth such a Cause is only a Câ—use by Accident Seeing therefore that the Downward motion of a Heavy Body doth not proceed from any Internâ—l Principle nor from either its Generant or that Accidental one which removes the Impediment to its Descent in the supposed Capacity of an External let us proceed to enquire Whether there be not some other External Cause whereupon we may reasonably charge that Effect Which that we may do with the more both of order and plainness it is requisite that we first remember how Philosophers constitute diveâ—s sorts of Violent or Externally-caused motion Empericus â— advers physicos makes 4 distinct species thereof viz. Pulsion Traction Elation Depression And Aristotle sometimes superads a fifth namely Collision sometimes disallowing Empericus his Division affirms that the species of motion made by an External principle are Traction Pulsion Vection and Volutation upon good reason reducing Elation and Depression to either Traction or Pulsion forasmuch as a body may be elevated or depressed by either â—raction or Pulsion But yet He hath left us rather a Confusion than logical Discrimination of the species of Violent motion for Collision and Pulsion are one and the same thing and Vection may be performed either by Pulsion or Traction insomuch as the thing movent doth not forsake the thing pulsed or drawn but constantly adhaereth unto it and as for Volutation it is both Pulsion and Traction at once as may be easily conceived by any man who seriously considers the manner thereof Nay Traction it self may be justly reduced to Pulsion forasmuch as the movent which is said to Draw a thing doth indeed nothing but Impel it by frequently reiterated small strokes either directly toward it self or to a lateral region and yet notwithstanding for plaâ—nness sake and the cleerer Demonstration of our praesent thesis we judge it convenient to conserve the Common Notion and to determine that all Motion impressed upon one body by another is performed in the General either when the movent Propels the moveable from it self or Attracts it toward it self For albeit the movent sometimes propels the thing moved from another body or attracts it to another yet can it not possibly do that but it must at the same time either Avert it in some measure from or Adduce it toward it self Nevertheless it is not to be denied but Pulsion is always the Chieâ— Species â—nd for that consideration alone is it that Proâ—ection which is only Impulâ—â—on or as Aristotle emphatically calls it a more Violent motion is generallâ— aâ—cepted as synonymous to Violent motion and that Philosophers seldoâ— or never Exemplifie Violent motion but in Projectills whether they be projected upward or downward â—â—anveâ—sly obliquely or any way whateveâ— These things considered◠〈◊〉 follows of pure necessity that the Downward motion of Heavy Boâ—â—es being caused not by any Inteâ—nal but bâ— an â—xternal Force impressed upon them must be effected either by Impulsion or by Traction Bâ— Impulsion it cannot because in the case of a stone throwneUpward ther◠〈◊〉 nothing External that can be imagined to impel 〈◊〉 Down again 〈…〉 attained the highest point of its mountee unless 〈◊〉 should be the 〈◊〉 and iâ— its Descent did proceed from the
us â— in Comment 87. that it was Hâ—s opinion that a 〈…〉 other thing â—alling from on high is Corroboâ—â—ted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Totalitate propria and hath its species maâ—â— morâ— and moâ—◠〈◊〉 as it comes neerer and neerer to its proper 〈◊〉 and so 〈…〉 degree of Gravity acceding to it in every â—egree of its 〈◊〉 to the Earth it is accordingly carried more and more swâ—ftly But 〈◊〉 that Simplicius hath not expounded how the 〈◊〉 stonâ— can 〈…〉 how it can be Corroborated or acquire more and more 〈…〉 its species or how that additament of fresh â—ravity should 〈…〉 judge you whether He hath done Aristotle 〈…〉 Author of that Opinion which instead of 〈◊〉 â—he 〈…〉 much more obscure than afore Besides we have the 〈…〉 that a descending body is not carried the more â—wâ—ftly by reâ—so◠〈◊〉 â—ny access or additament of Gravity a stone 〈…〉 ounce 〈…〉 as speedily down as one of an hundred pounâ— 2 Others 〈…〉 as the same Simplicius commemorates who 〈…〉 the Cause 〈…〉 the Decrease of the quantity of the Aer 〈◊〉 the sâ—oâ—◠〈◊〉 that by how much the higher a stone is by so 〈…〉 and so much the greater Resistence to the motion 〈…〉 much the greater quantity of the Aer resisting 〈…〉 consequently the resistence of the Aer growing 〈…〉 of the stones descent the velocity of its 〈…〉 proportion thereunto And this after 〈…〉 sinking in deep water more slowly 〈…〉 neer the bottom But though we admâ—t 〈…〉 stone Descending yet we 〈…〉 to mâ—ke â—ny sensible difference of 〈…〉 And would you have an Argument to 〈…〉 one fathom 〈…〉 fall the same 〈…〉 fathoms observe again with what velocity it passeth the last or tenth fâ—thom This done consider sinâ—e in the latter case the velocity shall be incompaâ—ably greater than in the former whether it be not necessary that thâ—t great auâ—mentation of velocity in the stone while it pervadeth the tâ—nth fathom of space must not arise from some other and more potent Câ—use thâ—n the resistence of the inferio◠〈◊〉 For in both caseâ— the stone carries the same proportion of weight and in the lowest fâ—thom there is the same quantity of Aer and consequently the same measure oâ— resistence And if you weigh the stone fiâ—st in some very high place â—nâ— afterward in a low or very neer the Earth surely you cannot expect to findâ—â—t heavier in the low place in respect of the lesser quantity of Aâ—r â—ubâ—jaâ—ent than in the high in respect of the greater quantity of Aer there 〈◊〉 it Lastly as for their Argument desumed from the slower sinkâ—ing of weights in deep than in shâ—llow 〈…〉 thereof 〈…〉 same with thâ—t of the more diffiâ—ult depression of a 〈…〉 Aer neer the bottom thâ—n neer the top of the 〈…〉 explained 3 A third â—onceipt there 〈◊〉 imputed to Hipparchuâ— by the 〈◊〉 Simplicius which comparing the Downward motion of a stone 〈◊〉 by its own proper Grâ—vity with the Upward motion of the 〈…〉 caused by an External â—orce impressed upon it by the 〈…〉 infers that as long as the force imprest praevails over the stones Gravity 〈◊〉 long is the stone carried upward and that more swiftly in the beginning because the â—orce is then strongest but afterward less and less swiftly because the same fâ—rce imprest is gradually debilitated until the stones proper Gravity at length getting the upper hand of the force imprest the stone begins it motion Downward which is slower in the beginning because the Gravity doth not yâ—t much praevail but afterwards grows more and more swâ—ft because the Gravity more and more praevails But this leaves us more than half way short of the Difficulty for though it be reasonable to assume that a certain Compensation of Velocity is made in both 〈…〉 that the Decrease of Velocity toward the end of the Upward motion is made up again by the Encrease of Velocity toward the end of the Downward and that in proportion to the degrees of space yet forasmuch as the motion of a stone falling down is constantly Accelerated not only after it hath been projected Upward but also when it is only dropt down from some high place to which perhaps it was never elevated but remained there from the beginning of the world as it often happens in deep mines the earth â—â—derneath the stones neer the surface of it being 〈…〉 cannot the stones Gravity gradually praevailing over the Imprest Force be as Hipparchus concludes the Cause of it◠〈…〉 of its Descent These Reasons thus deluding our Curiosity let us have 〈…〉 formerly asserted Position that All terrene 〈…〉 are Attracted by the magnetique Virtue of the Earth 〈…〉 that the magnetique Virtue of the Earth is 〈…〉 afar off and thereupon infer that the 〈…〉 therefore more rapid neer the earth than far from 〈…〉 took Virtue seems to be greater and so the 〈…〉 truth neerer the stone 〈…〉 and plausible to our first thought but insatisfactory to our second For if it were so then ought the Celerity of the stones motion in one fathom neer the Earth to be the same whether the stone be let fall from the altitude of only one fathom or from that of 10 20 an 100 fathoms when we exactly measure the spaâ—â— of time in which it pervades the one fathom neer the earth in the former case and compare it with that space of time in which it pervades the same lowest fathom in the latter It may be farther observed that whether a stone be let fall from a small or a great altitude the motion thereof for the first fathom of its descent is always of equal velocity i. e. it is not more nor less swift for the first fathom of its descent from the altitude of an 1â—â— fathoms than from the altitude of only two fathoms when yet it ought to be more swift for the first fathom of the two than for the first of the hundred if the Attraction of the Earth be more vehement neer at hand than far off in a sensible proportion We say in a sensible proportion because forasmuch as the magnetique rays emitted from it are diffused in â—ound from all parts of the superfice thereof and so must be so much the more dense and consequently more potent by how much less they are removed from it therefore must the Attraction be somewhat more potent at little than at very great distance but yet there is no tower or praecipice so high as to accommodate us with convenience to experiment whether the power of the Earths magnetique rayes is Greater to a sensible proportion in a very low place than in a very high And yet notwithstanding nothing seems more reasonable than to conceive that since the magnetique Attraction of the Earth is the true Cause of a stones Downward motion therefore it should be also the true Cause of the continual Increment of its Velocity during that motion But how it should be so there 's the Knot Which
this invented by Gassendus Thirdly we may account the Line DE for the first degree of Velocity acquired in the end of the first time insomuch as the first time AE is not individual but may be divided into so many instants or shorter times as there are points or particles in the line AE or AD so neither is the degree of Velocity individual or wholly acquired in one instant but from the beginning encreaseth through the whole first time and may be repraesented by so many Lines as may be drawn parallel to the Line DE betwixt the points of the Lines AD and AE so that as those Lines do continually encrease from the point A to the Line DE so likewise doth the Velocity continually encrease from the beginning of the motion and being represented what it is in the intercepted instants of the first time by the intercepted Lines it may be represented what it is in the last instant of the same first time by the Line DE drawn betwixt the two last points of the Triangle ADE And because the Velocity thenceforward continuing its Encrease may be again signified by Greater and Greater Lines continently drawn betwixt all the succeeding points of the remaining Lines DB and EC hence comes it that the Line FG doth represent the degree of Velocity acquired in the end of the second moment the Line HI the Velocity acquired in the end of the third moment and the Line KL the velocity acquired in the end of the fourth moment And evident it is from hence how the velocities respond in proportions to the Times since by reason of the Triangles of a common angle and parallel bases it is well known that as DE are to EA so FG to GA HI to IA and KL to LA. Thus keeping your eye upon the Figure and your mind upon the Analogy you shall fully comprehend that in the first moment of Time the falling stone doth acquire one degree of Velocity and pervades one degree of space that in the second moment of Time it acquires another degree of Velocity which being conjoynd to the former makes two and in the mean while three spaces are pervaded that in the third moment it acquires another degree of Velocity which conjoyned to the two former makes three and in the mean while seven parts of space are pervaded and so forward You shall fully comprehend also that the Celerities obtain the same Ration as the moments of Time and that the spaces pervaded from the beginning to the end of the motion have the same Ration as the Quadrates of the moments of Time which we assumed to Demonstrate out of Gassendus But still it concerns you to remember that we here discourse of that Motion which is Equally or Uniformly Accelerated or whose velocity doth continually and uniformly encrease nor is there any moment of the consequent time in which the motion is not more swift than it was in every antecedent moment and in which it is not accelerated according to the same Reason For the want of this Advertisement in chief seems to have been the unhappy occasion of that great trouble the Learned Jesuit Petrus Cazraeus put Gassendus to in his two Epistles De Proportione qua Gravia decidentia accelerantur And this kindly conducts us to the Physical Reason of this Proportion in which the velocity of bodies Descending is observed to encrease For wholly excluding the supposition of the Aers assistance of the Downward motion of a stone by recurring above and so impelling it downward and admitting the Magnetick Attraction of the Earth to be the sole Cause of its Descent unto both which the considerations formerly alleadged seem to oblige us it is familiar for us to conceive that the Increment of its Celerity according to the proportion assigned ariseth from hence While in the first moment the earth attracts the stone one degree of Celerity is acquired and one degree of space is pervaded In the second moment the attraction of the Earth continuing another degree of celerity is acquired and three equal spaces are pervaded one by reason of the degree of celerity in the mean while acquired and two by reason of the degree of celerity formerly acquired and still persevering as that which is doubly â—equivalent to the new degree in the mean while acquired because it is Complete and entire from the very beginning of the 2d moment but the other is only acquiring or in fieri and so not complete till the end of the second moment Then according to the same Ration in the third moment another degree of celerity is acquired and five spaces equal are pervaded one by reason of the new degree of celerity in the mean while acquired and fower by reason of the two former persevering i. e. two in each moment praecedent or one of a duplicate aequivalency to the new one not yet complete Then in the fourth moment another degree of celerity is acquired and seven spaces are pervaded one by reason of the fresh degree in the interim acquired and six by reason of the three former perâ—â—vering i. e. two in each praecedent moment And so of the rest through the whole motion computing the degrees of encreasing Celerity by the ration of Quadrate Numbers Now many are the Physical Theorems and of considerable importance which might be genuinely deduced from this excellent and fruitful Physicomathematical speculation and as many the admired Apparences in nature that offer themselves to be solved by Reasons more than hinted in the same but such is the strictness of our method and weariness of our Pen that we can in the praesent make no farther advantage of it than only to infer from thence the most probable Reason of that so famous Phaenomenon The equal velocity of two stones or bullets the one of 100 pound the other of only one ounce weight descending from the same altitude experience constantly attesting that being dropt down together or turned off in the same instant from the top of a tower the Lesser shall arrive at the ground as soon as the Greater For this admirable Effect seems to have no other Cause but this that the Lesser body as it containeth fewer parts so doth it require the Impulses or strokes of fewer Magnetical rays by which the attraction is made and such is the proportion of the two forces as that each moveable being considered with what Resistence you please still is the force in the movent equally sufficient to overcome that resistence and a few magnetique rays suffice to the attraction of a few parts as well as many to the attraction of many parts So that the space being equal which both are to pervade it follows that it must be pervaded by both in equal or the same time Provided always that the two bodies assumed be of the same matter for in case they be of divers matters as the one of Wood the other of Iron or Lead that may cause some small
Water of the same importaâ—ce Art 5. No Câ—mbuâ—tâ—â—le in Aer and so the opinion of the Ariâ—â—otâ—leans that the Extinctiâ—n of Flame imprisâ—ned is to be charged on the Defect of Aer for its sustentaâ—tiâ—n grosly erroneous Art 6. A fourth singular and memorable Experiment of the Authors of Yce at the nose of a large Reverberatory Furnace charged with Ignis rotae evidencing a Vacuity inter spersed in the Aer Art 7. An Inference from that Experiment that Aer as to its General Destination is the Common Receptaâ—y of Exhalations Art 8. A second â—llation that the Aer doth receive Exhalations at a certain rate or definite proportion which cannot be transcended without prodigious violence Art 9. The Existence of Inane Incontiguities in the Aer confirmed by two considerable Aâ—guments Art 1. That Water also contains Vacuola empty Spaces demonstrated Art 2. From the Experiment of the Dissolution of Alum Halinitre Sal Ammoniac and Sugar in Water formerly sated with the Tincture of Common Salt Art 3. The verity of the Lord 〈…〉 that a repeated 〈◊〉 not Rhuâ—barb 〈…〉 a virtue 〈…〉 a simpâ—e 〈…〉 in equal quantity and why Art 4. Why two Drachms of Antimony impragnaâ—e a pint of Wine with so strong a vomitory Faculty as two ounces Art 5. Why one and the same Menstruumâ—ay â—ay be enriched wiâ—h vâ—rious Tinctures Art 1. Two other Arguments of a Vacuity Dissâ—minate inferrible from 1 the difference of Bodies in the degrees of Gravity 2 the Calefaction of Bodies by the penetration of igneous Atoms into them Art 2. The Experiments vulgarly adduced to prove no vacuity in nature so far from denying that they confess a Disseminate one Art 3. The gâ—and Difficulty of the Câ—uâ—e of the Aers restitution of it self to iâ—s natural â—ontexture after raâ—efaction and condensation â—atisfied in brief Art 1. What is conceived by a Coacervate Vacuity and who was the Inventor of the famous Experiment of Quicksilver in a Glass Tube upon which many modern Physiologists have erected their perswasion of the possâ—bility of introducing it Experientiam apponam cusus invenâ—ionem etsi 〈◊〉 qui alii ambitiosiâ—s 〈…〉 tamen mihi conâ—â—at 〈◊〉 à Torricellio 〈…〉 Art 2. A 〈◊〉 description of the Expâ—riment and 〈◊〉 rate 〈◊〉 Art 3. The Authors reason for his selection of only six of the most considerable Phaenomenae to explore the Causes of them Art 1. The First Cardinal Difficulty Art 3. The Desert space in the Tube argued to be an absolute Vacuum coacervate from the impossibility of its repletion with Aer Art 5. The Vacuity in the Desert Space not praevented by the insinuation of Aether Art 6. A Paradâ—â— â—hat Nature doth not abhor all vacuity per se but only â—x Accidenti or in respect to Fluxility Art 7. A second Argument against the repletion of the Desert space by Aether Art 8. The Vacuity of the Desert space not praevented by an Halitus or Spiritual Efflux from the Mercury for three convincing reasons Art 9. The Authâ—rs Apostacy from the opinion of an absolute Coacervate Vacuity in the desert space in regard of Art 10. The possibiliâ— of the subingression of light Art 2. Of the Atoms or insensible bodies of Heat and Cold which are much more exile and penetrative then common Aer Art 12. Of the Magnetical Efflux of the Earth to which opinion the Author resigns his Assent Art 13. No absolute plenitude nor absolute Vacuiâ—y in the Desert Space but only a Disseminate Vacuity Art 1. The second Difficulty stated Art 2. Two things necessary to the creation of an excessive or praeternatural Vacuity Art 3. The occasion of Galilaeos invention of a Brass Cylindre charged with a wooden Embol or Sucker and of Torricellius invention of the praesent Experiment Art 4. The marrow of the Difficulty viz. How the Aer can be impelled upward by the Restagnant Quicksilver when there externally wants a fit space for it to circulate into Art 5. The solution of the same by the Laxity of the Contexture of the Aer Art 6. The same illustrated by the adaequate simile of Corne infused into a Busâ—el Art 7. A subordinate scruple why most bodies are moved through the Aer with so little resistence as is imperceptible by sense Art 8. The same Expeded Art 9. A second dependent scruple concerning the Cause of the sensible resistence of the Aer in this case of the Experiment together with the satisfaction thereof by the Gravity of Aer Art 1. The State of the Third Difficulty Art 2. The Solution thereof in a Word Art 3. Three praecedent positions briefly recognised in order to the worthy profounding of the mystery of tâ—e Aers resisting Compression beyond a certain rate or determinate proportion Art 4. The Aequiponderancy of the External Aer pendent upon the surface of the Restagnant Mercury in the vessel to the Cylindre of Mercury residuous in the Tube at the altitude of 27 digits the cause of the Mercuries constant subsistence at that point Art 5. A convenient 〈◊〉 illustrating and enforcing the same Art 6. The Remainder of the Difficulty viz. Why the Aequilibrium of these two opposite weights the Mercury and the Aer is constant to the praecise altitude of 27 dâ—gâ—tâ— remâ—ved Art 7. Humaâ—e Perspicacity terminated in the exterior parts of Nature or simple Apparitions which eluding our Cognition frequently fall under no other comprehension but that of rational Conjecture Art 8. The constant subsistence of the Mercury at 27 dâ—gits adscriptive rather to the Resistence of the Aer then to any occult Quality in the Mercury Art 9. The Analâ—gy betwixt the Absolute and Respective Aequality of weighâ—s of Quicksilver and Water in the different altitudes of 27 dâ—gits and 32 feet Art 10. The definite weights of the Mercury at 27 dâ—gits and Water at 32 feet in a Tube of the third part of a digit in diametre â—â—und to be near upon two pouâ—d Paris weiâ—ht * Consulâ—ndus Mersennus in tract de Mensuris ponderibus cap 1. 〈◊〉 physicomathemat p. 229. Art 11. Quaere Why the Aequilibrium is constant to the same point of altitude in a Tube of a large concave as well as in one of a small when the force of the Depriment must be greater in the one then the other Art 12. The solution thereof by the appropriation of the same Cause which makes the descent of two bâ—dies of different weights aequivelox Art 1. The Fourth Capital Difficulty proposed Art 2. The full solution thereof by demonstration Art 3. The same confirmed by the theory of the Cause of the Mercuries frequent Reciprocations before it acquiesce at the point of Aequipondium Art 1. The Fifth Principal Difficulty Art 2. Solved by the Motion of Restauration naâ—ural to each insensible particle of Aer Art 3. The incumbent Aer in this case equally distressed by two contrary Forces Art 4. The motion of Restauratiâ—n in the Aer extended to the satisfaction of another consimilar Doubt concerning the subintrusion
of Pythagoras Plato and Aristotle Art 13. And by the Capacity of the most subtle parts of the Aer Art 14. The Reason 〈…〉 Art 15. The most subtle Particles of the Aer onely the material of Sounds PARADâ—X Art 16. One and the saâ—e nuâ—eâ—icaâ— vâ—ycâ— not heard by two men noâ—â—oth ears of one man Art 17. A PROBLEM not yet solved by any Philosopher viz. How such infiâ—ite Variety of Words is formed onely by the various motions of the Tongue and Lips Art 18. A Second also yet unconquered Difficulty viz. the determinate Pernicity of the Aers motion when exploded from the Lungs in Speech Art 19. All Sounds Created by Mâ—tion and that either when that intermediate Aer is confracted by two solids mutually resistent or when the aer is percust by one Solid or when a solid is percust by the Aer Art 20. Rapidity of motion necessary to the Creation of a Sound not in the First Case Art 21. But in the Sâ—â—â—nd and Last Art 22. 〈…〉 are of 〈…〉 the Dâ—lation Art 23. The Reaâ—on thereof Art 24. To measure the Velocity of great Sounds Art 25. Sounds â—oe subject to Râ—â—ardatâ—â—n â—â—om adveâ—se noâ— Acceleration frâ—m Secunâ— Winds Art 1. That all Sounds where the Aer is percussed by one solid are created immedâ—ately by the Frequencâ— not the Velocity of motion demonstrated Art 2. Anâ— likewise where the â—er is the 〈◊〉 Art 3. 〈…〉 Acute sounds aâ—iâ—e from the more and â—raâ—e fâ—om â—he less 〈…〉 of the aer demonâ—â—raâ—ed Art 4. 〈…〉 Art 5. The same Analytically praesented in Scheme Art 6. A just and unanswerable Exception against the former Harmonical Hypothesis Art 7. PROBLEM 1. In what instant an Harmonical Sound resulting from a Chord percussed is begun Art 8. That a Sound may be creaâ—ed in a Vacuum contrary to Athanas. Kircher in Art Magn. Consâ—ni Dâ—ssoni lib. 1. cap. 6. Digressionâ— Art 9. Why all Sounds appear more Acute at large than at small distance Art 10. Why Cold water falling makes a fuller noise than warm Art 11. Why the voice of a Calf is more Base than that of an Ox c. Art 12. Why a Dissonance in a Base is more deprehensible by the ear than in a Treble voice Art 1. That the Cognition of the Nature of Odours is very difficult in respect of the Imperfection of the sense of Smelling in man and Art 2. The contrary opinions of Phylosophers concerning it Art 3. Some determining an Odour to be a substance Art 4. Others a meer Accident or Quality Art 5. The Basis of the Latter opinion infirme and ruinous Art 6. That all odorous Bodies emit corporeal Exhalations Art 7. That Odours cause sundry Affections in our Bodies and such as are configâ—â—able only to substances 8 de Compos medic secund loca cap. 4. Art 8. That the Reason of an Odours affecting the sensory consists only in a certain Symbolisme betwixt the Figures and Contexture of its Particles and the Figures and Conâ—epture of the Particles of the Odoratory Nerves Art 9. That the Diversity of Odours depends on the Diversity of Impressions made on the sensory respondent to the variâ—us Figures and Contexture of their Particles Art 10. Why some Persons abhor those smells which are grateful to most others Art 11. Why among Beasts some species are offended at those scents in which others hâ—â—â—ly delight Art 12. The Geâ—eratiâ—n and Dâ—ffusion of Odours due only to Heat Art 13. The Differences of Odours Art 14. The Medium of Odours Art 1. From the superlative Acuteness of the sense of Tasting Aristotle concludes the cognition of the Nature of Sapours to be more easily acquiâ—able than the nature of any other sensible object but refutes himself by the many Errors of his his own Theory concerning the same Art 2. An Abridgment of his doctrine concerning the Essence and Causes of a Sapour in General Art 3. And the Differences of Sapours with the particular Causes of each Art 4 An Examination and brief redargution of the same Doctrine Art 5. The postpâ—sitâ—on thereof to the more verisimilous Determination of the sons of Hâ—rmes who adscribe all Sapours to Salt Art 6. Bâ—t faâ— mâ—re to that most profound and satisfactâ—ry Tenent of Democritus and Plato which deduceth the Nativity of Sapours from the various Figures and contextures of the minute particles of Concâ—etions Art 7. The advantages of this sentence above all others touching the same subject Art 8. The Objections of Arist. concisely though solidly solved Art 9. That the salivous Humidity of the Tongue serveth to the Dissolution and Imbibition of the Salt in all Gustables Art 1. This Chapters right of succession to the former Art 2. The Diveâ—â— accepâ—ation of the term Touching Art 3. A pertinent though short Panegyrick on the sense of Touching Art 4. Some Tactile Qualities in common to the perception of other senses also Art 5. A Scheme oâ— all Qualities or Commonly or Properly appertaining to the Sense of Touching as they stand in their several Relations to or Dependencies on the Univâ—â—sâ—l Matâ—er Atoms and so of all the subâ—equent Caâ—ital Aâ—guments to be treated of in this Book Art 6. The right of Rarity and Dâ—nsity to the Priority of consâ—deration Art 1. The Opinion of those Philosophers who place the Reason of Rarity in the actual Division of a Body into small parts and the brief Refutation thâ—reof Art 2 A second Opinion deriving Raâ—ity and Density from the several proportions which Quantity hath to its substance convicted of iâ—compreâ—ensibâ—lity and so of insatisfaction Art 3. A Third desuming the more and less of Rarity in Bodies from the more and less of VACUITY intercepted among their particles and the Advantages thereof aâ—ove all otâ—ers concerning the same Art 4. The Definitions oâ— a Rare and of a Dense Body according to the assumptiâ—n of a Vacuity Disseminate Art 5. The Conâ—ruiâ—y of those Dâ—finitions demonstrated Art 6. 〈…〉 of Diffâ—â—ulties wherein the thoughts of Physiâ—logists have so long wandered â—educâ—d to a pâ—int the genuine state of the 〈◊〉 Art 7. That Rarity and Density can have no other Causes immediate but the more and less of Inanity interspersed among the particles of Concretions DEMONSTRATED Art 8. Aristotles Exceptions against Disseminate Inanity neither important nor competent Art 9. The Hypothesis of a certain 〈◊〉 substance to repâ—enish the pores of Bodies in Raâ—ifaction demonstrated insufficient to sâ—lâ—e the Difficulty or demolâ—â—h the Epicuâ—â—a◠〈…〉 Vacuâ—â—e Art 10. The 〈…〉 understandâ—ng tâ—e Reasonâ— aâ—d Manner of â—aâ—i action and Câ—ndensation from the 〈…〉 Art 11. PARADOX That the Matter of a Body when Rarified doth possess no more of true Place than when Condensed and the Conciliation thereof to the praeposed Definitions of a Raâ—e and of a Dense Body Art 12. PROBLEM Whether Aer be capable of Condensation to so high a rate as it is of Rarifaction and the Apodictical solution thereof Art 1. The opportunity of the present speculation concerning the Causes of
to Aristotle Art 1. The Link connecting this Section to the former Art 2. That Cold is no Privation of Heat but a Real and Positive Quality demonstrated Art 3. That the adaequate Notion of Cold ought to be deâ—umed from its General Effect viz. the Congregation and Compaction of bodies Art 4. Cold no â—mmaterial but a Substantial Quality Art 5. Gassendus conjectural Assignation of a Tetrahedical Figure to the Atoms of cold asserted by sundry weighty considerations Art 6. Cold not Essential to Earth Water nor Aer Art 7. 〈…〉 Art 8. Water the chief Antagonist to Fire not in respect of its Accidental Frigidity but Essential Humidity and that the Aer hath a juster title to the Principality of Cold than either Water or Earth Art 9. â—ROBLEM Why the breath of a man doth Warme when expiâ—ed with the mâ—uth wide open Cool when efflated with the mouth contracted Art 10. 〈…〉 the premises Art 1. Why Fluidity and 〈◊〉 are here considered before Humidity and 〈◊〉 Art 2. 〈…〉 Art 3. 〈…〉 a Firme Art 4. Fluidity defined Art 5. Wherein the Fâ—rmal Reaâ—on thereof doth consisâ— Art 6. The â—ame â—arther illustrated by the twoâ—â—â—ld Fluidâ—ty of Metals and tâ—e peculiar reason of each Art 7. Firmness defined Art 8. And dâ—rived froâ— either of â— Causes Art 1. Humidity defined Art 2. 〈◊〉 defined Art 3. 〈…〉 Art 5. PROBLEM 1. Why pure water cannot wash out oyle from a Cloâ—â— which yet waâ—er wherein Ashes have been decoâ—ted or soap dissolved easily doth Solut. Art 6. PROBLEM 2 Why stains of Ink are not to be taken out of cloths but with â—ome Acta Liquor Solut. Art 1. The 〈◊〉 of the Chapâ—er Art 2. 〈◊〉 â—nd Soft 〈◊〉 Art 3. The Difference betwixt a Sâ—ft and Fluid Art 4. Solidity of Atoms the Fundament of Hardness and Inanity intercepted amâ—ng them the fuâ—dament of Softness in all Concretions Art 5. Hardneâ—s and Soâ—â—nesâ— no 〈◊〉 but mâ—â—rly â—omparative Qualities as adscriptive to Concretions contrary to Aristotle Art 6. Sâ—ftness in Firme things deduced from the same cause as Fluidity in Fluid oneâ— Art 7. The General Reason of the Mollification of Hard and Indâ—ration of Sofâ— bodies Art 8. The special manners of the Mollification of Hard and Induration of Soft bodies Art 9. PRâ—â—LEM Why Iron is Hardned by being immersed red-hot into Cold Water and its SOLUTION Art 10. The Formal Reasons of Softness and Hardness Art 11. The ground of Aristotles Distinction betwixt Formatilia and Preâ—â—ilia Art 12. Two Axioms concerning illustrating the nature of Softness Art 1. Flexilitâ— â—â—actility â—uctility c. deâ—ived from Sâ—â—iness and Rigidity from â—aâ—dnâ—â—s Art 2. PROBLEM What is the Câ—use of the motion of Restoration in Flexiles and the SOLUT. Art 3. Two Obstructions expeded Art 4. Why Flexile bodies grow weak by over-much and over frequent Bending Art 5. The Reason of the frequent Vibrations or Diadrâ—ms of Lutestrings other Tractile Bodies declared to be the same with that of the Restorative Motâ—â—n of Flexiles and Demonstrated Art 6. PROBLEM Why the Vibrations or Diadrâ—ms of a Chord distâ—â—ded and percussed are Aeâ—uitemporane â—us â—hough not Aeâ—â—ispatial and the SOLUT. Art 7. PROBLEM Why doth a Chord of a duple length perform its diadroms in a proportion of time duple to a Chord of a single length both being distended by equal force yet if the Chord of the duple length be distended by a duple fore or weight it doth not perform its Diadroms in a proportion of time duple to that of the other but only if the Force or weight distending it be quadruple to the First supposed and its SOLUT. Art 8. The Reasons of the vast Ductility or Extensibility of Gold Art 9. Sectility and Fissility the Consequents of Softness Art 10. Tractility and Friability the Consequents of Hardness Art 11. Ruptility the Consequent partly of Sâ—ftness partly of Hardness Art 12. PROBLEM Why Chords dâ—â—â—â—enced are more apt to break neer the Endâ— than in the middle â—nd its SOLUT. Art 1. That the Insensibility of Qualities doth not import their Vnintelligibility contrary to the presumption of the Aristotelean Art 2. Upon what grounds and by whâ—m the Sanctuary of Occult Qualities was erected Art 3. Occult Qualities and profest Ignorance all one Art 4. The Refuge of Sympathies and Antipathies equally obstructive to the advance of Natural Science with that of Ignoâ—e Proprieties Art 5. Thatall Attraction referred to Secret Sympathy and all Repulsion adscribed to secret Antipathy betwixt the Agent and Patient is effected by Corporeal Instruments and such as resemble those whereby one body Attracteth or Repelleth another in sensible and mechanique operations Art 6. The Means of Attractions sympathetical explicated by a convenient Simile Art 7. The Means of Abaction and Repulsions Antipathetical explicated likewise by sundry similitudes Art 8. The First and General Caâ—ses of all Love and Hatred betwixt Animals Art 9. Why things Alike in their natures love and delight in the Society each of other and why Vnlike natures abhor and avoid each other Art 1. Th◠〈◊〉 of Qualitâ—â— repuâ—ed â—ccult Art 2. Natures 〈…〉 in 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 or Câ—â—â—piration of all parts of the Universe no Occult Qualâ—ty Art 3. The 〈…〉 of mans will Art 4. The Afflux and Reflux of the sâ—a inderivative from any immaterial Influx of the Moon Art 5. 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 and â—â—nversion of â—he 〈◊〉 and other Flowers Art 6. Why Garden Claver hideâ—h it sâ—alk in the heat of the day Art 7. Why the 〈…〉 usually 〈◊〉 soon after midnight and at break oâ— day Art 8. Why Shell-fish growe fat in the Full of the moon and lean again at the New Art 9. Why the Selenites resembles the Moon in all not several Aâ—spects Art 10. Why the 〈…〉 Art 11. 〈…〉 Art 12. A COROLLARY Why the Granules of Gold and Silver though much more pondrous then those of the Aqua Regis and Aqua Fortis wherein they are dissolved are yet held up and kept floating by them Art 13. The Cause of the Attraction of a Less Flame by a Greater Art 14. The Cause of the Invâ—â—ation of flame to Naphtha at distance Art 15. Of the Ascention of Water into the pores of a Spunge Art 16. The same illâ—strated by the example of a Syphon Art 17. The reason of the Percolation of Liquors by a cloth whose one end lieth in the liquor and other hangs over the brim of the vessel that contains it Art 18. The reasâ—â— of the 〈…〉 that ar◠〈◊〉 Art 19. The reason of the Discent betwixt Lute-strings of sheeps Guts and those of Woolfs Art 20. The tradition of the Consuming of all Feathers of Foul by those of the Eagle exploded Art 21. Why some certain Plants befriend and advance the growth and fruitfulness of others that are their neighbours Art 22. Why sâ—me Plants thrive 〈…〉 of some others Art 23. The â—â—ason of the great Frieâ—dship betwixâ— the Male and Femaâ—e Palm-trees Art 24. Why all â—â—ines grow â—ick and
Iâ—testine Cauâ—es of Corruptâ—â—n chiefly Twâ— 1 the interception of â—â—anity among the 〈◊〉 particâ—es of Bâ—dies 2 â—â—e â—ential Gravity and inâ—eparable Mobility of Atoms Art 6. The Generall Manners oâ— Ways of Generation and Corruption Art 7. Inadverâ—â—â—cy of Aristotle in making Five General 〈◊〉 of Generatiâ—â— Art 8. The special Manners of Generation innumerable and why Art 9. All sâ—â—ts oâ— Atoms not indiâ—feâ—ently coâ—petenâ— to the Constitution of all sorts of thing Art 1. Why thâ— Nature of â—otion which dâ—sâ—rved to have been the subject of the first speculatiâ—â— was resâ—rved to bâ— the Argumâ—nt of tâ—e Last in this Phâ—siology Art 2 An Epicurean Principle of â—unâ—amental concern to moâ—ion Art 3. 〈…〉 Art 〈…〉 Art 6. Emperiâ—â—â— his â—â—â—ections against that Dâ—finition of Epicâ—rus and 〈…〉 of each Art 7. That tâ—ere is motion contrary â—o thâ— Sopâ—â—sms of Parmenides Melâ—ssus Zeno Dâ—â—doâ—us and the Sceâ—ticks Art 1. 〈…〉 Art 2 The 〈◊〉 deduced from the 〈◊〉 Epicurean Pâ—â—â—cipâ—e of moâ—â—on 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 considâ—raâ—le Conclusions extracted from theâ—ce Art 4. 〈◊〉 or Aequanility â—he 〈◊〉 â—haracter of a Natural motionâ— and 〈◊〉 want of uniâ—ormity of a 〈◊〉 Art 5. â—he Dâ—wnwâ—rd motion 〈◊〉 Inanimates derived from â—n External Principle contrary to Aristotle Art Art 12. That the Proportion or Ration of Celerity to Celerity encreasing in the descent of Heavy things is not the same as the Proportion or Ration of Space to Space which they pervade contrary to Michael Varâ— the Mathematician Art 14 〈…〉 Art 16. The Physical Reason of that Proportion Art 17. The Reason of the Eâ—ual Velocâ—ty of Bâ—dies of very dâ—ffeâ—â—nâ— weigâ—ts falling from the same altitude inferred from the same Theâ—â—y Art 18. Gravity Distinguish't into Simple and Adjectitious Art 19. The Râ—â—e of that superlative velocity with which a Bullet would be carried in case it should fall from the Moon Sun or region of the â—ixed stars to the Earth and 〈◊〉 each of those vast heights to the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 Art 1. What and whence is that Force or Virtue Motive whereby Bodies Projected are carried on after their Dismission from the Projicient Art 2. The Manner of the Impression of that Force Art 3. That all Motion in a free or Empty space must be Vniform and Perpetual and that the chief Cause of the Inequality and Brevity of the motion of things projected through the Atmosphere is the magnetique Attraction of the Earth Art 4. That in the Atmosphere no body can be projected in a Direct line unless perpendicularly Upward oâ— Downward and why Art 5. That the Motion of a stone proâ—ected upwards obliquely is Composed of an Hâ—â—izâ—â—tal and Perpendiâ—ular together Art 6. Demonstration of that Composition Art 7. That of the two different Forces impressed upon a ball thrown upward from the hand of a man standing in a ship that is under sayl the one doth not destroy the other but each attainâ— its proper scope Art 8. Tâ—at the space of time in wâ—iâ—h the â—all is Aâ—cending fâ—om the F 〈…〉 the Top of the Mâ—st is equal to that in which it is again Descending from the top to the â—oot Art 9. 〈…〉 Art 10. The Reason and Manner of the Reflexion or Rebounding motion of Bodies diverted from the line of their direction by others encountring them Art 11. That the â—mersiâ—n of a weight appenâ—â—d to a 〈…〉 the perpendicular 〈◊〉 which it had â—â—duced it self in Vibration 〈◊〉 a Râ—flexion 〈◊〉 betwixt 〈◊〉 Reflexion at all and the Least Reflexion assignable and the Râ—le of all other Reflexion whatever Art 12. â—he â—eaâ—â—n of the Aeâ—ualitâ— of the Angles of Inâ—idenâ—e and Râ—â—lâ—xiâ—n Art 13. Two Inferences from the praeaâ—ses viz. 1 That the oblique Projection of a Globe against a plane is composed of a double Parallel and 2 That Nature suffers no diminution of her right to the shortest way by Reflexion Art 14. Wherein the Aptitude or Ineâ—â—itude of bodies to Refleâ—ion doth consist
the strings caused in the Aer and the Aer caused in the spirits of the Animal and consequently that the Animal should suffer a kind of Itch or gentle vellication in all its nerves and muscles and to ease it self of that troublesom Affection move all its members not only with great agility but variety of motions correspnodent to those of the Harmony impressed upon its spiritual substance especially where the Harmony is proportionate to the specifical and perhaps individual Constitution of the same That the vital Humor of these and most other Spiders is both viscous and a subject capable of Sounds as we here assume may be inferred from the relation of Peter Martyr in Histor. sua Indiae Occidental that in the West Indies there is a certain species of Phalangiums or Venenate Spiders whose poyson being expressed is so exceedingly viscid and tenacious that the Natives use to draw and spin it out into long threads and twist those threads into Treble strings for their instruments of Musick as also from our own ocular testimony whenever we press a Spider to death And what is of greatest moment to our praesent Disquisition that the Venome of the Tarantula by rea on of the Acrimony or Mordacity of its Spiritual and hot particles causeth an uncessent Titillation or Itching joyned wiâ—h great heat in the nervous and musculous parts of mans body when it is in aestuation and commotion therein may be collected from the agreeing relations of all persons who have known the misery of Taraâ—tisme every one complaining of an insufferable Itch in all parts of his body during the paroxisme and finding a remission of the same immediately after profuse sweating For your farther Confirmation herein be pleased to hear Father Kircher tell you a memorable and pertinent story A certain Cappucine saith He of the Monastery belonging to that Order in Tarentum being bitten by a Tarantula and by his in that point too severe Superiors forbidden to have recourse either to Baths or Dancing for the cure of his infection as means that might seem too light and inconsistent with the gravity and rigid rules of his Profession was so miserably and beyond all patience tormented with an itching and burning in both the interior and and exterior parts of his body that rest and quiet were things he had long since been a stranger to and hoping to find some ease and allay of his restless pains by bathing in cold water he one night privily conveyed himself out of the Covent and leaped into an Arm of the Sea that embraced the town Where indeed he met with a perfect cure of aâ—l his torments and grievances being instantly drowned leaving his Brethren to lament their own great loss as well as the Sadness of his Face and his Superiors to repent the cruelty of that Superstition which had denied him the use of those innocent Remedies Musick and Dancing which the happy experience of many thousands had praescribed Lastly as it is not every Harmonical Ayre that suits with the Genius of every Tarantula but every particular species holds a secret Correspondence to some particular sorts of Instruments Tunes and 〈◊〉 composed of such and such Notes So likewise is it not the Musick of every instrument nor every modulation of sounds that move and excite every person infected with this kind of poyson but every Tarantiacal Patient requires such and such particular Harmonious Tunes Strains and Notes as are proportionate to that Diathesis or Disposition which results from the Commixture and Confermentation of his owne Humors and the Venome infused into his body Which is the Reason why some dance to no musick but that of Drums Trumpets and other loud and martial instruments and others again are easily charmed to Levolta's by the mild and gentle Consonances of Lutes and Tiorba's And if the Patient being of a hot and bilious Complexion be intoxicated by the venome of a Tarantula of the like Cholerick temperament upon the aestuation and confermentation of those two consimilar Humors the Patient shall become Feverish insatiately thirsty restless and furiously maniacal but where a Melancholy Tarantula hath empoysoned a man of the like dull and sluggish Constitution in that case He shall be infested with great and inexpugnable Drowsiness Stupidity Spontaneous Lassitude love of Solitude unseasonable and affected Silence and the like Symptoms contrary to the former and shall be relieved only by grave and solemne tunes the Accidents supervening upon this kind of intoxication alwayes following and betraying the capacity of the praedominant Humor and responding to that Harmony which hath the most of proportion to the Genius of the Poyson And as for the Annual Relapses of Patients into their Tarantâ—acal Fits the Cause thereof must be only this that the Reliques of the Poyson causing a fresh Commotion and Fermentation of the most susceptible Humors of the body and especially of the Serous and Bilious part of the blood for most persons thus affected have their Paroxysms in the hottest season of the year and imbuing them with exceeding great Acrimony and Mordacity diffuse themselves through the Arteries and Veins into all parts of the body and fixing more especially on the thin membranes that invest the muscles so oppress prick and vellicate them as that the infected shall know no rest nor case till he hath danced and sweat to the dissipation and expulsion of all those sharp and pungent particles that were diffused into the Habit of his body But what particular Sounds and Notes and Strains and Ayres are Accommodate to the Venome of this or that particular Tarantula we leave to the determination of the long experienced Musicians of Tarentum only thus much we may say in the General that by how much the more frequent Diminutions of Notes into halfs and quarters which is called Division and the more frequent permistion of Sharps and Flats in a Tone charged with frequent Semitones the Tune containeth by so much the more grateful will the same be to all Tarantulized Persons because from the Celerity of the motions it comes that the Dormant Venome is more nimbly agitated and so must sollicite them to dance the more spritely and vehemently Hence is it that the Musicians of Italy such especially who proress the certain and speedy Cure of the Tarantisme for the most part enrich and adorne their strains with various Divisions of Notes and that mostly in the Phrygian Tone because it consisteth of frequent Semitones 8 What we have here said concerning the Magick of Harmonious Sounds both upon the Tarantula it self and those unhappy men whom its Fascinating venome hath Tarantulized as it doth wholly take off the Incredibility of those Relations which some Natural Magicians have set down of the Incantation of Serpents by a wand of the Cornus or Dog tree so doth it also give us no obscure light into the dark Cause of that Effect which among the Ignorant and Superstitious hath ever passed for meerly
praestigious and Diabolical For it being certain that all Serpents are most highly offended at the smell and influx of those invisible Emanations proceeding from the Cornus by reason of some great Disproportion or Incompossibility betwixt those subtile Effluviaâ—s and the temperament of the Vital and Spiritual Substance of Serpents insomuch that in a moment they become strongly intoxicated thereby Why should it seem impossible that He who understands this invincible Enmity and how to manage a wand or rod of the Cornus with cunning and dexterity having first intoxicated a Serpent by the touch thereof should during that fit make him observe and readily conforme to all the various motions of that wand So as that the unlearned Spectators perceiving the Serpent to approach the Enchanter as he moves the wand neerer to himself to retreat from him as he puts the wand from him to turne round as the wand is moved round to dance as that is waved to and fro and lye still as in a trance when that is held still over him and all this while knowing nothing that the simple virtue of the wand is the Cause of all those mimical motions and gestures of the Serpent they are easily deluded into a belief that the whole seene is supernatural and the main Energy radicated in those words or Charms which the Impostor with great Ceremony and gravity of aspect mutters forth the better to disguise his Legerdemane and dissemble Nâ—ture in the Colours of a Miracle And as in this so in all other Magical Practices those Bombast Words nonesense Spells exotique Characters and Fanatick Ceremonies used by all Praestigiators and Enchanters have no Virtue or Efficacy at all that little only excepted which may consist meerly in the sounds and tones in which they are pronounced in respect whereof the eare may be pleased or displeased as to the Causation of the Effect intended nor doe they import any thing more than the Circumvention of the Spectâ—â—tors judgement and exaltation of his Imagination upon whom they prâ—etend to work the miracle Which considered it will be an argument not only of Christianism but of sound judgement in any man to conclude that excepting only some few particulars in which God hath been pleased to permit the Devil to exercise his Praestigiatory power and yet whoso shall consider the infinite Goodness of God will not easily be induced to beleive that He hath permitted any such at all all those Volumes of Stories of Fascinations Incantations Transformations Sympathies of men and beasts with Magical Telesms Gamahues or Waxen Images and the like mysterious Nothings are meer Fables execrable Romances So Epidemical we confess hath the Contagion of such Impostures been that among the People when any Person waxeth macilent and pines away we hear of nothing but Evil Neighbours Witchcraft Charms Statues of Wax and the like venefical fopperies and instantly some poor decrepite old woman is suspected and perhaps accâ—â—â—d of malice and Diabolical stratagems against the life of that person who all the while lieth languishing of some Common Disease and the leâ—â—â—ed Physician no sooner examines the case but he finds the sick mans Consumption to proceed from some inveterate malady of the bodie as Ulcer of the Lungs Hectique Fever Debility of the Stomack Liver or other common Concocting part or from long and deep Grief of mind In like manner when the Husband man observes his field to become barren 〈◊〉 chattel â—o cast then yong or die his corn to be blasted his fruits 〈…〉 immaturely or the like sinister Accidents nothing is more usual 〈◊〉 than to charge those misfortunes upon the Magical Impraecations of some offended Neighbour whom the multitude supposeth to be a 〈◊〉 man or Conjurer And yet were the Philosopher consulteâ—â—bouâ— those Disasters he would soon discover them to be the ordinary 〈◊〉 genuine Effects of Natural Causes and refer each Contingent 〈◊〉 proper original True it is likewise that many of those Sorcerers who◠〈◊〉 vulgar call White Witches in respect of the good they 〈…〉 frequently pâ—â—â—scribe certain Amulets or Perâ—apts for the praecentio◠〈…〉 of some diâ—â—ases and in this case if the Amulet or Perâ—apt 〈…〉 such Natural Ingredients as are endowed with Qualitieâ— repugâ—â—â—â— to the Disâ—â—se or its germane Causes we are not to deny 〈…〉 But as for those superstitious Invocations of Angels an◠〈◊〉 Salamons Characters Tetragrammatons Spells Circles an◠〈…〉 and ridiculous Magical Rites and Ceremonies used by the 〈◊〉 at the time of the Composition or Application of those Amulets or 〈◊〉 they are of no power or virtue at all and signifie nothing but 〈◊〉 Delusion of the Ignorant Again we grant that the Imagination 〈◊〉 Confidence of the sick Person being by such means exalteâ— may 〈◊〉 very much to his Recovery for it is no secret that the 〈…〉 men are for the most part erected and their drooping spirit◠〈…〉 by the good opinion they have entertained of the 〈…〉 Confidence they place in his praescripts but yet are 〈…〉 allow any Direct and Natural Efficacy to that 〈…〉 and Ceremonious administration of Remedies which are 〈◊〉 observed by such Impostors as praetend to Extraordinary skill an◠〈◊〉 supernatural way in the Cure of Diseases and seem to affect and 〈…〉 the detestable repute of Magicians And what we say of the 〈…〉 Amulets and the like we desire should 〈…〉 or Love-procuring Potions oâ— the Ligature 〈…〉 Wedding night to cause Impotency in new 〈…〉 then Brides a thing very frequent in Zant and Gascoâ—◠〈…〉 because each of these hath other Causes than those 〈…〉 Nugaments praescribed by those Cheaters and 〈…〉 they can have upon the persons to whom they 〈…〉 in the praepossession of their Phancy and 〈…〉 to Hope or Fear 9 〈…〉 a certain sort of Fascination Natural about which 〈…〉 and most Nurses when they observe 〈…〉 fall into Cachexâ—es languishing condition◠〈…〉 instantly crie out that some envious 〈…〉 them Concerning this secret therefore in 〈…〉 part hath no interest at all we say that if there be any thing of truth as to matter of Fact the Fascinating activity of the old malicious Crone must consist only in this that she doth evibrate or dart forth from her brain certain malignant Spirits or rayes which entering the tender body of the Infant do infect the purer spirits and so the blood in its Arteries and assimilating the same to their depraved and maligne nature corrupt all the Aliment of the body and alienate the parts from their genuine and requisite temperament Not that those Malignant Emissions can arrive at and infect an Infant that is absent as is vulgarly conceived but that the malicious old woman must be praesent and look with an oblique or wist look and breath upon the Child whose health she envies nay conjure up her Imagination to that height of malice as to imbue her spirits with the evil Miasme or Inquinament of those vitious and corrupt Humors wherewith her half-rotten Carcass is well stored and