which hath the nearest affinity to it Now if the truth of what we have said be considered understood and distiâ—…guished then such a one will know that Temperance Order and Cleanness are the Spring-head of all Virtues and as it were under God the Original not only of Health but of every good Work and Action so great so powerful and so wonderful are the Laws of God and the innocent Methods of Nature they Crown their Observers with the Blessings of Time and Eternity I do not doubt but when you have well considered of what I have already said as to your Distemper and what I shall say but that you will incline to observe the Methods I shall propose for the Cure of your ill Habit of Body and the Diseases attending you Now the Meats and Foods that are most suitable for the preventing your Fatness and other Evils are all such as are clean in their own Nature having no manifest quality too highly exalted for every sort of Food that is unequal doth increase your Maladie and leave a Wound behind it You may eat and probably with some success too Bread Butter Cheese Herbs Roots Fruits Gruels Chocolate Paps Milk-pottage and various sorts of other clean innocent Foods but it will be better for you not to spread your Table too large but confine your self to a less compass viz. to Bread Butter and Cheese Water-Gruel and Flour-Pap only with Salt and no Butter in it and let this be your Method viz. in the morning a Pint of thin Water-Gruel with a small piece of good well Baked Bread a little toasted bite your Bread and sup your Gruell the like when you eat Pap always drinking a quarter of a Pint of Water after it presently and forget not before or after you eat your Gruel to take a walk of a Mile or two in the most clean airy place you can or by running Rivers side for all Airs are much â—…ner by running Waters than else where for by the curious moist thin Spirituous Vapours that such Rivers do send or breathe forth incorporating or mixing with the common Air it both becomes rarifyed and thereby is made more transparent thin and Spirituous so that it easily penetrates into the very center of all parts of the Body opening all the passages and moving Obstructions causing the Circulations of all the Humors Blood and Spirits to pass more freely if this were not so People that walk by such Rivers sides and others that work on it would not have such pressing sharp Appetites even far greater than those that are exercised on the higher Grounds but if any Man Swim or go into such Rivers to wash themselves or do any other thing of that nature it will sharpen and increase the Appetite to a higher degree Now this comes to pass by the fineness of such Airs and the thin Spirituous Virtues that penetrate to the Body on all sides whichare sucked in by the Pores giving a certain recruit to all the natural Spirits in the Body It is likewise to be noted that such as travel or work in Windy Rainy Weather do thereby obtain a shâ—…rper and a stronger Appetite than by the like Exercises in dry Seasons and such a one will not so often want supplys of Drink because such seasons and places do afford them a much finer moisture and more agreeable to Nature You may take your walk before or after you have eaten your Gruel and Bread then Fast till Dinner about one or two of the Clock eat a small Sallad raw made of Parsley Spinage Sorrell and a few Onions with them and eat them with a little Salt and Vinegar no Oil but with Bread and Butter or Cheese and sometimes only with Bread drink with them fresh small Ale or good Water the last being Superior to the first then fast till Supper and about Seven of the Clock eat a Pint of Water-Gruell or Pap with a little piece of Bread toasted and once or twice a week take a walk of 5 6 7 8 or 10 Miles or more as you shall find your self able and as you grow stronger increase your walks to 20 30 or 40 Miles And you must always go till you be weary but not till you be Faint for Nature will not encrease her strength if you do not in a moderate degree exert her Faculties and put her to a little Hardship for it is an undeniable rule and it always holds true that Nature endeavours to strengthen and arm herself against all Affronts and invading Powers for this cause the more you Labour the more you may and the easier it becomes to you which most attribute to Custom which is true in a Sense but give me leave to tell you so soon as you put your self to any unusual Exercise or Labour Nature useth all her endeavours and powers not only to withstand such Labours but to overcome them that she may be a Conqueror with ease and therefore if any particular Member be more used in this Trade or other Employment whether it be a Leg or an Arm that Member or part in a little time grows more potent and strong than the other and for this cause after Tradesmen have done their common days Work most of them can walk and exercise themselves in many other things with delight and not feel half the dulness and weariness as they did at their Customary Employments or Labours which had worn out or dull'd the natural Spirits that supported those parts most employed and did undergo the greatest part of the labour of that Employment or Trade But all this while other Members and parts of the Body that were not so intent or employed in the said Labour remained as it were fresh lively and full of Spirits so that when such a one comes to another sort of Exercise or Labour wherein those Members or parts were not so much concerned as is said before then they do readily lend their Aid and Assistance by which a Man does exercise himself in another Employment for some time with ease and delight notwithstanding he was weary at his usual Trade or Employment The principal cause and reason of this is every part of the Body hath its particular Offices and the natural Spirits that support and supply it with strength and vigour which lyes as it were still and doth not exert its strength nor powers till that part or Member comes to be employed This being the original Cause that a Man after he is weary and dull at the long continuance of Labour in one thing and the whole Body seems to be tired yet at another Employ or Work he shall be as was said before fresh and lively which is by the supplies of the lively Spirits that centered in such Parts and Members whose supporting Strength and Powers were not called forth in the foregoing Labour For this Cause and Reason variety of Exercises and Employments are best and least burthensome to Nature being much easier performed and with more
Stars and Configurations of the Heavens and yet all you say are of various Fortunes Shapes Figures Inclinations and Dispositions I answer now all that you take notice and affirm is a grand Truth and yet we must tell you that this doth not at all invalid or make void Judicial Astrology but that it is most evident that the Planets and Heavenly Bodies have an innate and powerful influence on all Suâ—…lunary Bodies or Things for it is most evident that by the circular Motions Configurations and Influences of those mighty Powers of God or Heavenly Bodies all material things are influenced altered and changed out of one thing or quality into another all the Elements bow before those great Powers and never fail to yield their Obedience and therefore as they retreat towards the Chambers of the South our fruitful Season ceases and the reviving Beams of the Great Eye of the World forsakes our Horrizon we are attended with cold Winds short Days long Nights Rainy Cloudy dark Weather with an intermixture of Frost and Snow which doth during the absence of the Sun and other ruling Constellations strip the Vegetable World of all its Ornaments so that Nature becomes like Old-Age and lies Bed-ridden till the return of this Glorious Body whose presence gives as it were a new Life Vigor and Strength unto all the Undergraduates and Off-spring of this World and for this cause no Man can or dare deny their influences conduct and power in and over visible things but as to the Forms Shapes Manners Strength Weakness Riches Poverty Honour Dishonour Healthiness and the contrary which variously do attend Persons in all Places and Countreys Born at one and the same time and under the same Stars and Constellations which as is said before doth not invalidate the Astrological Science or Influence of the Heavens on Mankind for the causes and reasons following viz. First every Seed produces or generates a Body and Spirit in some proportionable degree according to its Qualifications and Nature never failing to bring forth some new Essence that did not manifestly appear in the old Stock or Parents and although a thousand Persons should be Born at the rising of the same Constellation and under the same Elevation and Configuration of Heaven nevertheless each of these Persons will wonderfully and strangely vary both in their Shapes Forms Inclinations and Fortunes The reason is plain and as it were bare-fac'd for is there not a strange variety in the Foods Drinks Inclinations Dispositions Labours Communications Customs and Educations As for Example suppose that in one City or Town there are ten Persons have ten Sons Born at one and the same minute and they Educate and bring them up in ten several Arts and Trades every one of these Persons shall by the secret power of their Employment be influenced and subjected to the Method and Manners of those that are of the Employment Is not this clearly seen in all sorts of Business and the same is to be understood in Communication Now if those External Conversations as they may properly be termed are endued with such a mighty Energie and Power to seek out their Similies and thereby impose their propertys on the Humane Nature as in a great degree to encrease and change the Inclinations Dispositions Words and Works What then must Meats and Drinks do which are the very Essences and Substances of the Humane Nature every Son and Daughter is endued with all the Qualifications of their Parents and the Seed is made and generated from all the Qualifications of the Father and Mother First from the quality and quantity of their Meats and Drinks clean or unclean well or ill prepared proper or improper Mixtures Likewise it is influenced and as it were inspired by each Persons Employment Communication Words and Works for every Variation not only in Meats and Drinks but also in all other things or manners of Life do beget and produce variety of Shapes Forms Dispositions and Inclinations This is wonderfully manifested in the Husbandman's Art do not the mixtures of various Earths together alter and change the Vegetables for the better or worse stronger or weaker and every sort of Dung or Earth according to its quality and quantity is thereby rendred capable and do bring a newOff-spring of Vegetables called Weeds or Herbs that were never seen to appear in that spot of Land for the mixtures of Earths that are of differing qualities do alter and change the complexion of such Land or Earth by which secret power of Qualities that property that was strong becomes weak and that quality that was in the complexion weak and did as it were disappear becomes most powerful and manifest The very same is to be understood in the Art of Representation doth not a skilful Painter by an apt commixture of various Earths and Drugs most curiously represent all the wonderful variety of the Colours both of the Animal Vegetable and Mineral Worlds which is all done by the Sympathetical Power and Secret Operation of the mixtures and compounding the four grand qualities the Heavens and the Elements do continually sow and shower down Seeds of Varietys As for Example cast up Gravel or Clay that to all appearance is destitute of all the Sal Nitral or Seminary qualities of Vegetation nevertheless being for some time exposed to the Sun and common influences of the Elements such Gravel or Clay will become covered with various sorts of Herbage likewise it is farther to be observed that the Religion Customs and Manners of each Place or Countrey do powerfully alter and change the Complexions of Mankind either for the better or worse Virtue or Vice as suppose there should be a scrutiny made viz. a thousand Male Children of the most roughest fiercest cholerick Complexions should be sent to be Nursed and Educated in a Bannian Countrey where there is no Fighting Quarrelling not Killing either of Men or Beasts or of any Living Creature but all their Methods and Manners are sedate and calm where these young cholerick Sparks have nor do not see any other Precedent or Example but Clemency Mercy and an humble Deportment of their Elders to Men and Beasts esteeming it one of the greatest Sins or Crimes that Man is capable to commit against God and the whole Creation to oppress hurt or kill either Man or any Living Creature and let these Youths remain amongst them till they be 20 or 25 years of Age in which time they will be throughly grounded and fixed in their Religion and Customary Methods not letting them know from whence they came nor from what Parents they proceeded and then you may be assured that he that is fiercest by Complexion all the Rhetorick and profits or interest in the World will not be able to perswade such a one either to Kill Oppress be Drunk or go freely into the Armies of Princes to destroy those they never saw nor had no occasion of Quarrel The like is to be understood in all Religions can
silent only giving the Tutor an account of what he shall discourse and act and within the limits of the fore-mentioned time of a year or two the Learner shall be able to Speak properly easily and readily with a true Accent or Pronunciation as tho' he had been bred up in that Country whose Language he learns Thus briefly and with my wonted freedom I have given you my Thoughts of this Matter but how far they may concur with your Judgment and Inclination is wholly to your self only I desire you to believe they are sincerely intended for your Benefit by him who is SIR Your affectionate Friend and very humble Servant T. T. LETTER XXXI Of Times for EATING SIR YOurs of the 18th of August is before me and am heartily glad of you and your Familys good Health and Welfare and in particular take notice of your Question which when you was in London we had some discourse about viz. The best and properest times of the day for Eating our common Meats and the Natural and Physical Reasons thereof which you desire more fully This Question we have in our Way to Health and some other of our Writings given an account of to which we referr you however the Talents the ever Blessed Creator and Preserver of all Beings hath given me are always Devoted both to the Publick and Private which please to take as followeth THE goodness or badness of Concoction of Foods doth cheifly consist in the strength or weakness of the natural Spirits and according to their Degrees and Powers so is each Person 's Digestion better or worse quicker or slower the Root and Centre of a strong Stomach stands in the Fire therefore all such as are dignified with strong heats such are likewise endued with brisk lively Spirits and consequently with their respective Virtues and Vices cleanness or the contrary so is each Person in Health Strength Sickness and Weakness likewise the times of the day for Eating and Drinking do also add or diminish to each Person 's Health Strength Briskness or dull cloudy Heaviness for this cause we have in several of our Writings given Direction for the times that is to Eat about 8 of the Clock in the Morning and about 3 or 4 in the Afternoon Now the natural Reasons for it is First The length of time between 4 in the Afternoon and 7 or 8 in the Morning is considerable and more hours than half the Day and Night by which the Digestion of the Meats and Drinks are compleatly Concocted and the Stomach freed and as it were cleansed from all superfluous Matter and thereby is rendred fit and capable to receive proper Meats and Drinks and though the Appetite so early in the morning be not so sharp and craving as it is in the day after Labour and Motion in the open Air occasioned by the heat of the Bed and Stilness or gentle Motion but this kind of Dulness that most have so early proves a Benefit rather than the contrary for both craving or sharpness of Appetite doth frequently centre in a kind of Gluttony from whence the old Proverb did take its Birth Too long Fasting and too sharp an Appetite makes a gluttonous Meal and the like is to be understood in too great Drought both being a kind of Distemper and never passes off without leaving behind some signal Evil or at leastwise sowing Seeds and laying sure Foundations for Diseases But the indifferency and cleanness of the Stomach and Appetite in the morning prevents this sort of Gluttony and yet at the same time the Meats and Drinks find a well-prepared Stomach and a Ware-house where there is sufficient place and room to stow the Foods without prejudice to Nature whereas great hunger and strong or too sharp Appetites is in many Persons apt to continue the pleasure of the Palate in Eating and Drinking much longer than the conveniency or necessity of the Stomach and therefore most after such Meals do Experience a heavy hot cloudy Indisposition Secondly Sleep and Rest from action and motion are the principles from which the natural Spirits take their Birth and are hereby continually recovered and sustained and on the other side Motion Exercise and Action are means and methods that waste spend and weaken Now it is clear that in a Morning every Persons Experience doth witness a more brisk lightsomness and that the Body and Mind are more able and fitter to perform all actions of the Body and likewise to exert the Functions of the Mind far exceeding what they are in the Afternoon or latter part of each day and as each Person is more capable and better prepared for all the Actions of Life in the first part of the Day or Morning The like is to be understood of the Actions of the Stomach because all the power of Concoction and Digestion consists in the strength weakness goodness and badness of the natural Spirits for this cause it always proves an evil for any Person to consume or waste the natural Spirits too much either by Labour Fasting or any other Motion or Exercise before Eating because Meats and Drinks do require as strong Spirits and many for the Concoction and Digestion of Foods as Labour Motion and the brisk actions of Life do or rather more as most can or may experience for the cloudy heavy hot weariness and unnatural Disposition that follows after such great Meals of Food and strong Liquors which do overfill and stock the Stomach or Natures Magazin with too great quantities and of contrary qualities proves far harder to bear and of more dangerous consequence than either hard Labour motion or action of the Body for this cause every Person ought to Eat and Drink before the brisk lively natural Spirits are too far spent either by motion labour or too long Fasting by which they are preserved so that such a one shall be capable to go through the fatigue and business of the day with ease and pleasure and thereby free Nature from various Indispositions and from Sowing of Seeds for future Diseases for these reasons all Persons will find by experience after a little use and custom that an early Breakfast as we call it of some sort of Pottages within half or one hour at the most after they rise always Drinking a Draught of Small Ale or Beer before they eat that is so soon as they are up will prove of far more advantage both for Health Pleasure and performing all the actions of Life and Business than a Breakfast about 9 or 10 of the Clock and a Dinner about 12 1 or 2 as the Custom is which doth for the most part prove burthensom all the last part of the day and prejudicial to Nature For this is to be noted that the Meats or Foods after they come into the Stomach do not afford nor distribute their nutritive Vertues under the length or time of 5 or 6 hours or at leastwise that a Person can be sensible or feel a refreshment proceeding
exemplify others and to add divers things in divers parts of them by way of Illustration which made them spin out to such a length as you see them and was wholly designed for the Reader 's Benefit and Satisfaction but if I have been so Unhappy as to fall short of my intended Aim I am sorry for it both upon his and my own account and heartily beg his Pardon who am His highly Oblig'd and Very humble Servant Thomas Tryon THE CONTENTS LEtter 1. Of the noble Sense of Hearing with the various Uses and great Benefits thereof Letter 2. Of the Sense of Smelling with its proper Seat Nature and Uses Letter 3. Of the Sense of Tasting and wherein also the great Mysteries thereof are set forth Letter 4. Of the Sense of Seeing and of its various Uses and Benefits Letter 5. Of the Sense of Feeling with its universal Benefits and Influences over the rest Letter 6. Of Fires and the best way to make Grates whereby a less quantity of Fuel is required and yet that rendreâ—… more useful and expeditious in the Preparation of Foods and upon other occasions than our common Fires Letter 7. Of the best Methods for Tempering of Clay Making of Mortar Tyles Flooring and Bricks together with an Account of different sorts of Earths and what Herbage Fruits Seeds Grains and Trees each is applicable to Letter 8. Of Religion with the Nature and Practice thereof and that the Knowledge of God and a Man's Self is the first step to all true and undefiled Religion Letter 9. Of Dropsies and the Nature of them with some Account of what Diet and Exercises such should use as also how to Retrench Expences by a Frugal Method of Living Letter 10. Of various Opinions in Religion and the Original Cause of those great Differences Oppressions and Violences proceeding therefrom with Remedies proposed for prevention thereof Letter 11. Of the Humanity of Christ shewing the Grounds from whence the great Differences concerning it do arise how it is to be understood and the great Benefits that accrew unto Mankind from it Letter 12. Of an Afflicted Mind and shewing how it may be prevented with some other Remarks Letter 13. Of Faith Hope and Charity with the Excellency and Benefit of each and how Mankind by practising the last imitates his Creator and renders himself capable of being United to all that is Good Letter 14. Of that part of Scripture wherein God commanded or rather permitted Beasts to be Killed and Eaten with the great Error of Mankind in misinterpreting the same and how they are rightly to be understood Letter 15. Of a Soldier 's Life shewing from what Principle that Bloody Employment takes its Birth how contradictory it is to the Divine Law and destructive to the Unity and Well-being of Mankind and that all other Creatures have an equal share in those Calamities Letter 16. Of the Fountain of Darkness with the Actions Employments and Inclinations arising therefrom and how they Govern in every particular Creature when evil Principles obtain the Ascendant Letter 17. Of the Fountain of Love and Light and what Actions Inclinations Dispositions Words and Works proceed therefrom and how they Govern in each particular Creature Letter 18. Of Cleanness with the Benefits thereof and the Mischief of the contrary as also what Foods in their Nature are clean and unclean Letter 19. Of Flesh Broaths and Potages and those made of Herbs Seeds and Grains with an Account of which is most clean and affords the best Nourishment Letter 20. Of the Right and Left Hands with the great Error of Peoples teaching their Children to distinguish them by such Terms Letter 21. Of the Corpulency of the Body with the Cause thereof and how to prevent and abate it Letter 22. Of the Nature and Causes of Fevers and how in some measure to prevent them Letter 23. Of Education wherein is set forth the right true and natural way of Bringing up Children Letter 24. Of the Nature of Smells and what Scents in their Original are Clean Good and Beneficial or the contrary Letter 25. Of Predestination and how it ought to be understood Letter 26. Of Death and why all Creatures especially Mankind are unwilling to Die Letter 27. Of the Science of Astrology wherein are shewed the Causes in Nature why Persons Born at one and the same minute and under the like Constellations are of different Shapes and Forms and of various Fortunes Letter 28. Of the Perpetual Motion wherein is shewed the Impossibility of the Humane Nature's being capable of it as being Diametrically opposite to all God's Methods and Laws Letter 29. Of the noble Science of Musick with the Defects of the best Teachers of it and Methods proposed for the speediest and certainest way to attain to the highest Perfection therein to which is added somewhat concerning the Art of right Speaking and Reading Letter 30. Of Languages and the easiest way for a Person in Years to attain to the true Pronunciatiâ—… of any Foreign Tongue Letter 31. Of the Times of Eating wherein in shewed that about 8 in the Morning and 3 or 4 in the Afternoon is the most proper Season with the Reason thereof Letter 32. To a Planter of Sugar concerning the Premoting of the Cotton Manufactury in our Plantation Letter 33. To a Gentleman in Barbadoes concerniâ—… the first Settlement Growth and Decay of our Sugâ—… Plantations and the necessity they lye under of Planâ—… ing other Vegetations c. Letter 34. To a Planter touching the Manufactuâ—… of Cotton wherein the Necessity and Advantagâ—… thereof is amply considered Letter 35. Of the Making of Sugar wherein the Myâ—… stery of it from the very first Planting of the Caâ—… to its highest pitch of Refining is Explicated wiâ—… the vast Benefits that do accrew therefrom to Engâ—… land where also the Art of Distilling is handled Letter 36. Of the Burial of Birds how unaccountaâ—… it is and the Author's Conceptions thereupon Letter 37. Of Fermentation with the Nature and Oâ—… riginal Invention thereof wherein is also shewed hâ—… Pernicious and Destructive Fermented Liquors 〈◊〉 to Mankind Twenty Seven Philosophical Letters UPON Several Occasions LETTER I. Of the Sense of Hearing SIR I Perceive by your Letter that you have been mightily affected with a Consideration of the Senses in admiring the wonderful Composition of the Organs and the nice and exquisite manner of their Operation for your encouragement to proceed in so commendable and useful Speculation I shall endeavour to Suggest some hints of Meditation to you which perhaps you have not yet thought of I Shall begin with the Ear that noble and brave Sense of Hearing and descant a little upon its Use and Benefits and the great disadvantages Mankind is subjected to through the want of it it is placed in the most Intelligible part of Man It has its residence in the Head and is therefore capable to distinguish between the good and evil qualities of Sounds For Man being a compleat Image or
be manifest to our Senses till it has past through the several Fermentations and Operations of being made into Malt which manifests the hidden sweet Quality which was so central and captivated by the Martial and Saturnine Forms that without this Operation would still have lain hid or disappeared The like is to be understood in the Temperament of most sorts of Earth This is farther manifest in the Housewifes Art of making good Bread when there is a due quantity of Water put to the Meal and well wrought up together such Bread becomes not only smooth and firm without having either eyes or being subject to crumbling but it Eats sweeter and mellower and becomes easier of Concoction affording far better Nourishment than such as is over watered and not sufficiently Tempered provided the other Operations which belong to the making of good Bread be performed viz. Baking c. as we have formerly written in several of our Writings It is farther to be noted that the common Method of over watering both in the Tempering of Bricks Mortar Flooring c. proves baneful and destroys the end for which they are designed for the Labourers generally Temper their Mortar with great quantities of Water to make it easy in Working and greater dispatch in fitting it presently for use but this Method does not open the body so that the Astringent Sal nitral Powers of Nature lie hid as before in which consists the tough glewy binding Quality therefore such Mortar becoming dry is almost as brittle â—…s the Earth of which it was made and is the ruin of many noble Structures for the Labourers instead of putting on much Water at once ought to lay it on by degrees and mix and incorporate the Lime Sand and Water well together by continual Stroaks or Workings which will open their bodies and manifest the hidden sal nitral Virtues and glewy Qualities that make it tough smooth and binding for much Working makes and melts it into a soft smooth Consistency fit for Use with half the Water and raises a dewy Moisture out of its own body which knits and binds and when dry becomes as hard and as durable as the best of Stones Bricks thus Tempered become solid smooth hard and durable and one Brick thus made takes up near as much as a Brick and a half made the common way which are light full of cracks and spungy occasioned by the want of due Working and Management and the mixing of Ashes and light sandy Earth to make them work easy and with greater dispatch as also to save Culm or Coals in the Burning of them The excellency of Bricks consist chiefly in the first and last Operation for Bricks made of good Earth and well Tempered become solid and ponderous and therefore will take up a longer time in Drying and Burning than our common Bricks need Note that the well Drying of Bricks before they are Burned prevents cracking and crumbling in their Burning for when the Bricks are too wet they are then extreams which doth never well together The best way of ordering your Fire is to make it gentle at first and encrease it by degrees as your Bricks grow harder It is also to be noted that in what Earth or thing soever the sal nitral oily Virtues are weak hid or unmanifested that thing is not only dusty and brittle but consequently subject to decay as is most clear and manifest in Stones which tho' they are hard yet are very brittle and more subject to decay than the Lime made thereof for the fierceness of the Fire or Martial Violence doth loosen and open the strong cold Contraction of the Saturnine Quality which Contraction in the original arises from the Element of Water which hath as it were set the Sal nitral Virtues at liberty which were before captivated under the cold Coagulation of the original Forms so that adding a small quantity of Water to those Burned Stones or unslacked Lime will melt them down into a dusty or mealy Substance which being put into a quantity of Water will as readily impart or give forth its Virtues into the said Water as ground Malt will yield and give its sweet Virtues to the warm Liquor in the Mash Tub and leaves the Grains without Strength or Virtue The like is to be understood in slack'd Lime put into a quantity of Water which will draw forth and imbibe the Sal nitral and Oily Virtues of the Lime which will have no more Strength or Virtue than the aforesaid Grains for if you take this Lime thus Infused and join it with Sand or other Earth altho' you Temper it to a high degree yet it will never make a binding or lasting Mortar whence it appears that where the Central Powers or Sal nitral Virtues are hid or captivated or where they are drawn forth by any Art or destroyed by Accident they are of little or no Use for that thing for which they are designed If this were not so why should not Stones beaten into Powder make Mortar or Barley when broken and not Malted yield forth its Virtues into the Water Note that Water draws forth the sweet Virtues of the Barley Malted which makes various Exhilerating Liquors The like is to be understood of Water which hath imbib'd the Sal nitral Virtues and Astringent Qualities of slack'd Lime which renders it fit for many Uses both in Food and Physick viz. It is the only Ingredient that Sugar-Bakers use in the Making and Refining of Sugar for no Sugar can be made without it or its Equivalent viz. Pot-Ashes which are too Dear with us in England for without this Lime-water no Sugar could be Boiled up to a Body or Grain but would still remain a Syrup Sugar in its own Nature is an Extream viz. A compleat Sweet in which the other Qualities are wanting and for that cause cannot be raised to a Consistency and fit for Use without this or a like addition for the Sal nitral Virtues in Lime have their Original from the strong Astringent Band and might of the Fire which is wanting in the Juice of the Sugar Canes which being joined to it gives Life and Vigour to this heavy flat sweet Body and raises it to a hard sparkling Grain shining like Christial and renders it much more useful for Eating and all other Operations than otherwise Lime-water is also good taken inwardly against all inward Bleedings or Ulcerations as also outwardly to wash all Itchy and Leprous Sores and Humors a Poultice made thus viz. Take a quart of Lime-water and make it boiling hot infuse therein some Rosemary for a quarter of an hour keeping it hot but not boiling then add as much Bread to the Water and Roseâ—…ary as will make it thick with two Ounces of Refined Sugar stir it and incorporate it well together spread it on a Cloth and apply it every two or three hours and in a short time it will allay and take away any Swellings or Pains in the Head Neck
Center which by a Sympathetical Agreement reinforces all the material Motions causing a powerful and lively Circulation both of the Blood Spirits and all the Aliments from whence doth arise and proceed a lively brisk Motion Strength Agility and strong sharp Appetite for the more free and open the Trade and Commerce is between the outward and inward Elements or between the Microcosm and Macrocosm the better is the state and condition of Health both of the Body and Mind For this cause the oftner and more any Person doth expose his Body to the open Air and Elements the stronger the Appetite and Digestive Faculties of the Stomach are and such Persons are more strong and lively likewise they are more hardy and more free from Colds and Obstructions which are nothing else but a Condensation or a stoppage of the porous Passages from whence cruel Colds and a thousand Diseases proceed therefore it is not good to Cloath the Body too Warm but of the two Cold is to be preferred to heat provided it be not too much and that it be born with pleasure or without pain For the inward Virtues of the Elements of Air and Water are curious living Powers which do sustain and preserve all the wonderful Beings in this great World but in what Creature or Thing soever these living Powers and the thin penetrating moist Spirits and Vapours become stagnated or thickened then that Creature or Thing becomes dull heavy and full of Indispositions and Crudities Now when in any Creature the fore-mentioned central Fires Burn too violently attracting and drawing all the moist Spirituous Vapours both of the Air and Water consuming and destroying as is before mentioned then immediately the Pores are in a manner stopt and the Forms and Properties do press and as it were rub against each other by which the Fire Burns more intense and fierce like two sticks rubbed hard against each other the Internal central heat is thereby stirred up and awakened and so fiercely kindled that this Fire which lay hid and captivated in the very Center doth by this agitation and fierce motion burn up and destroy the whole Body in a moments time the Fire being the Original of Motion and the true pleasure of all the other Elements when it burns easie or gentle but when it loses its power in any Creature or Thing all becomes cold dull heavy congealed and as it were frozen in that Creature or Thing in which the Fire is impotent and that thing stands near the House of Death and the Melancholly Regions And though this Noble Element the Fire be as it were the Life and Original of all lively Motion and the Well-being of every Creature and when it incorporates or equally mixes with the other Elements burning gently notwithstanding its Excellency wonderful and various uses yet most of the Distempers of the publick State and also the Diseases incident to Mankind are as it were Originally occasioned by this Element and also most of the Outrages that are committed in the great World from Man to Man and likewise the greater part of the Diseases that so terribly torment and afflict Mankind which if Man observe with a clear Eye and Understanding he will then see and find that this great Evil hath fallen upon him for his great and deep Degeneration and Separation from the Unity of Gods Holy Powers and his not knowing and distinguishing the Powers and Principles of God in himself Now Man having lost his way and being sunk into Darkness and Ignorance he takes hold and uses the gross fiery sulphurous and Brimstone Spirit which Governs in Man as he stands in Self-fulness and separated from the Divine Fountain of Benignity or Holy Union not being mixed incorporated or allayed with the sweet Water of Eternal Life in Jesus Christ. This Spirit or Fire before mentioned as it stands divided from the Union is a high lofty exalted Power the Original of all Pride and a domineering Spirit and in what Creature soever it obtains the Government that Creature becomes proud and of an insulting Nature Now the chief and principal cause or reason is that this proud fiery domineering and as it were consuming Spirit of Fire hath obtained and gotten such an Ascendant in the Hearts and very Souls of Mankind and also that the exalted and predominating power in most Diseases is this fiery brimstone or sulphurous quality of Fire Now as any Form or Property obtains the chief Government in the Heart immediately this very quality doth Sign or Stamp its Character and as it were lay its Commands on the imaginative Power and so Signs the Inclinations Dispositions Words and Works from the Government of this lofty fiery Power and Spirit from whence proceeds all Vain-Glory Pride high and lofty Imaginatioâ—… Inclinations and Desires after base slavish violent oppressive Employments as also ardent and longing Desires after unclean gross Foods and high lofty strong Drinks for every Mouth will be fed with agreeable Food the Attraction Desires and Inclinations do always arise and proceed from the ruling Quality and Man being divided from the Union of God and his own Composition into Disunion the fiery envious spiteful Powers exalting themselves cause a direful Appetite in Man And from these very Qualities the violent oppressive Trade of Killing one another and Eating the flesh of the Undergraduates or Beasts having taken their Original Birth for every Spirit Principle and Power doth desire and is supported and maintained by its Similie so that it is most clear nothing being more manifest than from those high exalted fiery Spirits and Powers in Man have sprung such violent and direful Appetites and strong Inclinations after the Blood of their own Kind and to eat the Flesh and Blood of the Beasts likewise to drink hot fiery exalted Liquors so that there is a Concatenation between the Imaginations Inclinations Natural Spirits Dispositions Words and Works Communications Employments and the Diseases Man is most subject unto Now as all the fore-mentioned qualifications do arise and proceed from a fiery ground which do with great power and strong vigour attract proportionable Foods and Drinks therefore most of our Diseases cannot but be Signed with the Character of Fire for every Principle Form or Quality whensoever it hath gotten or attained the Ascendant in any Man it goes on in a streight regular constant Method to do its own Work viz. to nourish support and encrease its own Spirit and Power whether it be in the Good or in the Evil. Hence it is no wonder that Mankind is so frequently seized wounded and destroyed by so many sorts of fiery Diseases viz. Fevers when any thinking Person considers what Powers Principles and Qualities rule and govern in his Heart and Soul there being a Sympathetical Agreement and Inclination between the governing qualities in Mens Minds and their Meats and Drinks and likewise their Diseases all follow one another in a direct Method or Line Now the power and influence Meats and Drinks
and desire to be made manifest that is to be known to its self which cannot be any other way but by being cloathed with a Corporeal Body for a Spirit or an Inâ—…e Power cannot become Individual if it be not cloathed with a suitable Body they being like a Circle in which all the Spiritual invisible Principles and Powers do act and become â—…nown to themselves and thereby be made capable of Joy Hoâ—… Fear and Sorrow It is likewise to be understood as was before mentioned that the Spirit of each Creature is before the Body and the Desire the Cause and Original thereof and as the Learned Apostle Paul saith the Body is Dead without the Spirit and 〈◊〉 Spirit is not nor cannot be known to its self nor Enjoy or Sâ—…fer without the Body and every particular Creature or Being is endued with all the Principles Properties and Qualities of the Eternal Father or Invisible Fountain of Unity and are all the true and natural Sons thereof and therefore each Sensitive Creature doth from an Innate Disposition and Spiritual Inclination desire to be like its Father that hath Begotten it for the Son doth contain the true Nature and Properties of the Father and therefore not only Man but all other inferiour Creatures are the Likeness and Image of him from whence they proceed and had their Birth each according to its Kind and Graduation and as the Original Forms and Powers were more equal or unequal inferior or superior whence proceed the great and wonderful variety of visible Creatures both in the Animal Vegitable and Mineral Kingdoms in this World for accordiâ—… 〈◊〉 the degrees equality and inequality of the Spiritual Quaâ—… and Powers such were the Desires which did naturally 〈◊〉 vehemently attract a proportionable Matter out of all thiâ—… for a Covering our Body and that Sal Nitral or Spiritual Poâ—… and Virtue that did Predominate or had the Ascendant Sigâ—… the Body with a Character and the Inclinations Dispositioâ—… Shapes Figures and Forms were accordingly so that the â—…dation of the variety of Bodies and Complexions proceed 〈◊〉 the degrees of the Invisible or Spiritual Powers And for this Cause it is no wonder that every Creature 〈◊〉 hath obtained that high degree of Sensation and is thereby caâ—…le of enjoying or suffering either Pleasure or Pain 〈◊〉 with the highest diligence endeavour to avoid all Violence 〈◊〉 and Death and desire to Live for Ever seeing that 〈◊〉 sprung from the eternal and unsearchable Fountain of Unity for every Creatures Actions Inclinations and Desires are all â—…cording to the Composition of the Spiritual Properties and 〈◊〉 lities all which have an eternal Original whence the great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Desire in all Creatures do spring and arise of Living 〈◊〉 Ever and notwithstanding the Inferiors have no cause of Dread nor Sense on them of any World or being after this either Good or Evil nevertheless they fear and dread all kinds of â—…rt Violence Oppression and consequently shun and avoid â—…th with as much Cunning and Wisdom as Men and do 〈◊〉 the highest Diligence Industry and Prudence endeavour to â—…serve themselves and Off-spring nay they rather exceed 〈◊〉 besides they have not transgressed their natural Law and â—…fore they cannot be oppressed with any fear of Pain or Sorâ—… after this Life but the Original of all fear of Hurt Violence 〈◊〉 Death doth proceed from the Spirit or Spiritual Powers 〈◊〉 hath cloathed or incircled themselves in Matter or Corpoâ—… Bodies which the Spiritual Properties and Powers would preserve and keep as an Habitation for Ever for by means of 〈◊〉 Corporeal Body or Matter the variety of the Spiritual Proâ—…ties are encircled and so become a Self-subsisting Creature known to its self as was mentioned before and is thereby renâ—…ed capable both of Pain and Pleasure Joy or Sorrow for that which is Eternal doth naturally desire what is like it self 〈◊〉 therefore those Spiritual Beings and Powers that have the like motion and Sensation of all Creatures cannot by all the â—…ning Rhetorick in the World be perswaded on any account oâ—… be made willing to Die or be separated from their Bodies 〈◊〉 nothing is able to abliterate those Inclinations Dispositions and Qualifications of the Spiritual Powers cloathed with material Bodies they received from the Grand or Eternal Fountain the Father and Creator of all Beings so that the natural Disposition 〈◊〉 Desire of all Sensitive Creatures is to preserve their Bodies 〈◊〉 Ever which is like themselves and according to their Oriâ—…al Natures for no Spiritual Power can 〈◊〉 contrary to its 〈◊〉 and its Original Fountain or Father that Made or Created it And for this Cause the Under-graduates do all of them fear and dread Hurt Violence and Oppression or any thing that seems to tend to put a Period to their Lives as the like Actions 〈◊〉 Mankind and much more if it be possible for as they know 〈◊〉 Hurt nor do no Injury to their Knowledge but Live within the Limits of the Law their Creator prescribed them For this Cause all or most of the inferior Creatures do fear all kinds of Violence more than Mankind for the more harmless and innocent any Creature is the greater is the Opposition between the Species of Hurtfulness and Violence so that the Creaâ—… Fears and Calamities are thereby encreased and all Opâ—… is the harder to be undergone For this Cause the more innocent a Creature is the greater 〈◊〉 and Evil it is to Oppress that Creature and therefore Man's Violence Oppression and Killing the Beasts is an extraordinary Evil and Sin against God and his Law for Killing stands in eternal Opposition to the Creating Power of God which proceeds from Eternity to Eternity and this Eternal Spiritual preserving Power being the compleat Life and Essential Being of all Creatures whence proceeds and springs an eternal desire of Life or to Live for Ever according to its Innate Nature so that it is the greatest Sin that can be committed against that wonderful Mystery and Creating Power of God as being most opposite not only to the Creation but also to all the Eternal Spiritual Powers that are cloathed with material Bodies for the true Life Power Motion and Actions of all visible Bodies â—…esides in the Spirits which hath an eternal Original as was mentioned before and therefore not willing to be oppressed hurt oâ—… to have its Body any way destroyed for the Body is the Sâ—…rits natural Right and will not part with it unless necessity compeâ—…s And for these Reasons the highest Evil and Punishment that can be done to Mankind is to put a Period to Life and therefore the Laws of most Countries do not indict or compel Meâ—… to Die but only on the committing of great Evils The continuation of Life is strangelâ—… precious in the Central Qualities and Spiritual Powers of every Corporeal Creature and will not Man choose a miserable troubled laboâ—…ious Life of Vexation rather than a short and easy Death and this Desire and earnest
property that governs the Creature so that as soon as the Body of any thing is opened it may thereby be distinguished what Form or Principle ruled in the Center of Life and he that has the true Use of this Faculty may easily discern the Complexion of any Creature It is an invisible Power it s Body is the Air which in a very short time will convey the Scent to a considerable distance and is received into our Bodies by the Assistance and Mediation of the Air which is a thin Spiritual Body penetrating into all parts doing good or harm according to the respective Qualities that have the Ascendant incorporating with great Vigour with every thing it finds like its self upon which account gross stinking Foggs Scents and Vapours are unclean and extreamly hurtful to the Mind and Body being continually drawn into the Central parts and Wound the Health 〈◊〉 a Spiritual and Invisible manner The contrary is to be understood of good Smells and clean thin sweet Airs c. Now every Scent or Smell whether good or bad clean or unclean does by custom and continual communication beget and strengthen its Simile by which the grossest and most impure Airs become easie and familiar otherwise several stinking Trades and Employments would not be tolerable nor in any degree Healthful for as Gods Love is one and the same in all things so is his Handmaid Nature which uses all possible Endeavours to provide and Arm her self against the Assaults of her common Enemies Custom and Habit begetting their own properties and rendring those things easie which would otherwise never be endured Moreover such troublesom gross Smells are naturally more agreeable to some People than to others as being endued by their Constitutions with greater talents of suitable matter whereby they live as healthy as those who are accustomed to clean and finer Airs Nay some Mens Natures and Complexions are so agreeable to these gross Scents and thick Vapours that they find themselves Disordered when they come into more pure and subtile Airs as is evident in such who Live and are Born in Cities and great Towns A Consideration is also to be had to the Meats and Drinks any Person feeds on which prepare the Body to a better bearing of Scents or Smells whether clean or unclean for Food is the substance of each Mans Body and Spirit and for this cause London and some great Cities are as healthy and as few Dye in them as in the Country in proportion to the number of People notwithstanding the cleanness and goodness of the Air Besides the Foods in many Countries of England are grosser and worse prepared than in great Cities great part of them living on Hogs Flesh ill Ordered and Cooked eaten fresh or very little Salted also penning them up in close Sties during the time of their Fatning is very prejudicial to the Flesh which subjects the Eaters to a great number of unclean Diseases in their Bodies as Mangy Scabs Sores and Boils these things ought to be well considered because they do very much Affect the Body in order to the manner of its receiving the impressions of Airs Scents and Smells Again there is not the same likeness and affinity between the Countryman's Food and Air that he lives in as there is between the Citizens the Country Air being fine and full of Brisk Lively Spirits and the Cities the contrary neither is there the same Agreements in the Methods of living whereby the fineness of the Air is rendred of little value or benefit to them for what the one Builds up the other Destroys Now the Sense we are discoursing of is the common Officer that communicates these Airs and Scents to the whole Body whether they be good or evil and the Body nor the Mind cannot be hurt with them if this Sense will powerfully withstand and oppose them and not suffer them to enter for each Sense hath a Gate which it can open or shut as it pleases and therefore when any Person is among gross and unclean Smells he can hold his Nose But the best way is if he is forced to stay there any considerable time to draw the Air into his Mouth and expell it again the same way by keeping it open by this means a Man may in a great measure avoid the Injury which such Smells would otherwise do for neither the Taste Sight Hearing nor Feeling can be Afflicted with any evil or good Smell not communicate the evil of the bad nor the vertues of the good to the Central parts of the Body nor Affect the natural Spirits each must do its own Business they cannot Act for one another Nevertheless there are some Scents and Smells so highly graduated in the dark direful nature of sullen Saturn and fiery Mars which neither the Temper nor Constitution of Man or other Animals are able to sustain or endure They are of such a vehement subtle and resistless operation that they surprize and destroy all the Faculties and Powers of Life in a Moment Their Motion is so quick as admits no Guard or Prevention There are no Antidotes against their force neither in Foresight nor Physick Italy and Spain can give many fatal Demonstrations of this Truth who are so exquisite in the mixing preparing and compounding of Scents that they have dominion over the very Air to what Extent or Limit they please Nay they will force the Air to Conspire with their Black Designs and retain the Infection till their Mischiefs are Compleated Likewise there are several sorts of Minerals and Metals that in the Melting Refining and Separating send up such Mortal and Inimical Vapours that no Use or Custom in the World can ever render familiar and healthful the more crude and foul any Metal is the more gross and poysonous are its fumes when it passes the fluxes of the Fire as Quick-silver Lead and many other Metals On the other side the higher any Metal is in its Nature Refined and Purged the finer sweeter and more pleasant are the fumes it sends up from the Fire when Melted and Refined and consequently more healthy and agreeable to the Workman The very same is to be understood of the Fat of Beasts or other Animals 't is better or worse clean or unclean according to the Graduation or Birth of the Creature which is declared by their Shapes Forms and Figures to the distinguishing Eye also the Cries and Tones they send forth Likewise when the Flesh oâ—… Fat is Burned and the Centre of the Body opened the fume oâ—… smell informs you what property of Nature had the Principle Government in the Creature the scent of the Dung or Ordure of most Creatures will afford a manifest Discovery of their originaâ—… Qualities whether clean or unclean c. This is apparently evident let a Hog eat the same Grass Corn or Food as Sheep Oxen Cows c. yet the Swines Breath Urine and Dung will never have the same Scent or Smell with the other so that
was ordained viz. to an ill purpose and to their own damage to violate and oppress those of their own kind and all the innocent Inhabitants of the Earth breaking down all the Natural Laws and Bonds of Friendship between each other and destroying the Uniformity of all the under graduates This Sense is the greatest and most noble of all others for it makes the most hidden and mysterious things to appear and that which was and is inclosed in the very Centre of Darkness to become manifest that which was without motion to become Living that which was Cold to become Vigorous and full of Heat and Splendor by its peculiar power Mankind can as it were behold at once half the Globe Water and Earth with the wonderful Varieties and Mysteries therein contained In a word it is the Pleasure and Well-being of every Life and true Guide of all Actions The Eyes are the Gates through which the Spirits of life pass and repass having their ingress egress and regress through the whole Body on all sides by Pores but those that pass through the Eyes are more fine and transparent carrying with them a fiery powerful life and therefore if these two Gates are kept open too long the whole Body in a very little time becomes dull heavy and indisposed not being able to perform any Action or Exercise and this weight or heaviness will come on so strongly even like Death it self that all the powers of the Understanding and Mind cannot maintain the motion and vigour of the Body neither can the most choice Foods or Cordial Drinks but all become still and as it were benum'd For this cause persons may fast longer from Meats and Drinks than from Sleep therefore these Gates must be shut six or eight Hours in every twenty four or else Nature and our Bodies cannot subsist nor be able to go on with common business neither continue in a state of health so great is the necessity of Rest Therefore poor mean Meats and Drinks with a due proportion of Sleep will support and sustain Nature far bey ond the richest Foods and strongest Drinks with half the proportion of Sleep Wherefore all young People or Children ought to have their full time of Sleep and rest that making them strong lively and vigorous and fit for all Actions of Life Besides the Eye-lids are not only useful to preserve the fine thin pure Natural Spirits of Life from the usual motions by which all Actions and Exercises of life are performed but by their closing there is a kind of Cessation from their circular motions so that in this time of sleep the Spirits regain strength and vigour and thereby a new Life and Motion is Generated They likewise serve to many excellent uses in Nature so it defends this delicate tender Sight from all evils that may happen without in 50 60 or 70 years they are also of excellent use at all times or seasons to shut out the Light that the Evils Vanities Intemperances and Disorders lewd Sports and Plays that are daily Acted by Mankind to the great prejudice of himself and dishonour of God which all good Men ought to turn from and not so much as suffer this Glorious Light of Heaven to represent them to our understanding But above all to keep the Eye-lids of young People shut that they may not see the wickedness of this World at leastways as little as may be for vain things are the Pests and Distempers of every Age and whosoever avoids and shuns them as much as in him lies is the more happy And all Tutors and Parents instead of Tricking and Dressing their Children in Bravery and bringing them to Plays and Balls and Dancing Schools should represent to them all sorts of poor Tradesmen and Industrious People bringing them to places where they may see all sorts of poor indigent People who not only rise early but notwithstanding hard Labour and Pains fare very hard having ragged Cloaths and Shoes without Soles being all Dirty going about the Streets Cold and Hungry having no Food to Nourish them Also Weavers and Throwsters where great numbers of Boys and Girls are employed These and many others for want of Conduct and Education become barbarous in their Deportment Women as well as Men. These ought to be represented as Examples to those whose better circumstances will give them the advantage of Learning and Sobriety That it is not as some vainly imagine viz. Lost time to be well taught and skilled in several Arts and Sciences and that betimes too for Seeds Sown and Trees Planted in season bear the best Crop and brings forth the noblest Fruit and whatsoever thing you would not have your Children inclined to never let them see it for Children and young People use all Industry to imitate what they see Example and Precedent going beyond Precept The first is a compleat birth and substance the other but a Notion and no more than Air or Spirit without a Body which passes and repasses and is lost in an invisible breath or fume being quickly obliterated and forgot There are three degrees to be commenced before any thing in the mind of Man attains a compleat birth or come to be substantial the first degree is the Original thought or desire the second is this being modelled and banded to an fro by the five Councellors the inward Senses the Reason and Understanding being always at their Elbows to give necessary advice and this thought being represented to the Judgment to know whether it be fit or reasonable it should be Coyned into Words the next degree is putting these Words into Actions which does Crown the whole and makes the Birth substantial and compleat whether it be in the evil or in the good and can hardly ever be obliterated For instance if a Man think or imagine an evil thing and stop there he may easily repent and thereby annihilate it but if he bring this thought before the Judge by the Councellors and it is by them commanded to be Coyned into Words then if it be an evil thing it will be much harder repented of but if it proceed without Correction into Action then as is said before the case is much more difficult therefore Actions and Evil Precedents do Wound all People very deep more especially Children and young People therefore you ought not to let them see any thing that you would not have them practice as Soldiers in an Army Training fine Horses in their Furniture nor any sort of Shows or Games Fighting and Killing either of Man or Beast nor let them play with Dogs or such like Creatures for whatsoever is seen acted or practised takes deeper root than either that which is a Care Thought or Word every particular thing works on its likeness according to its power and whatsoever is done in the evil by Examples and Precedents the like is to be understood in the Vertuous and good courses of Life And were it possible to make Mankind intelligible
Constitution and Disposition compels them to it But most Beasts Birds and Fish their Rest and Sleep is nothing but a continual waking in comparison of Man's deep and dead Sleep The principal cause why the Creatures are not so drowned in this drowsy Death is they have not broken God's Law but live more intire and according to their Original their Meats and Drinks being more suitable to their Original Natures whether they be clean or unclean for to Unclean Creatures unclean Food is suitable and agreeable to its Qualifications and to the Clean clean Foods are in proportion suitable and therefore all the Beasts are not only more wakeful and less subject to the Sleep of Death than Man having all their Senses more ready lively brisk and at all times more at command for they rarely gratify the four Head Senses to disturb and torment the Sense of Feeling and therefore are not so terribly pestered with such a number of cruel Diseases as Man therefore it is most clear that all the great Powers called Senses are dull heavy and as it were half Dead when sleeping but when waking are brisk and lively all according to the Meats Drinks Employments Communications and Exercises for Mankind by rapacious unclean Meats and Drinks makes himself of another Complexion and his Constitution is another thing than originally it was nothing being so deplorable and so great an Evil as to act and live in a contrary Method to its own Creation and this is the greatest Curse that can fall upon any Creature this is Man's greatest Fall and Misfortune which can never be cured except he again enter into Resignation or Self-denial viz. Into Equality or Union that is into Temperance and Cleanness and live according to his Original State and Constitution But so long as he oppresses the Creatures and violates their Well-being and Quiet he can never have reason to expect to be freed from far greater than the inferiours and therefore this Feeling Power is rarely free from Trouble and Perplexity as being subject to all kinds of irregular Courses both of the Body and Mind there is no Disorder or Intemperance but does fall on it as all our Labour Care Love Hate Hope Fear Hunger Cold Heat evil Communications and all Words and Works this Sense is the Centre or House both of Joy and Sorrow both in Time and Eternity For this cause Mankind ought to be on his Guard at all times and Seasons being beset on all sides both within and without with a great number of Temptations and evil Customs the Degeneration of Man is such that all things he meddles with is a Share to him being deprived of the true use of the Powers Qualities and Principles of himself and being in the Dark he uses all his Senses to a wrong purpose so that all those high and noble Intelligences are sullyed and made subject to the gross inferiour unclean Powers which doth continually load and lay as it were intollerable Burthens on this universal Sense every Action and Motion of Life Inclination and Disposition doth influence that it being the Touch-stone which doth demonstrate from what Principle or Root each Action and Motion of Life doth proceed and take their Birth whether from the Evil or Good Now this Sense is the Judge both of the Body and all its Actions and also of the Desires and Inclinations so that Man hath no occasion to look abroad for Councellors or for a Judge they all dwell in himself he is the Thing viz. The great Mystery wherein all the Treasures both of Time and Eternity are to be understood and therefore the Apostles might well say that whatsoever could be understood or known of our Great Creator and of his great Powers in Nature was manifested in Man and as clear to be seen as the Sun at Noon but who can see the Sun if he be Blind Is it not a most miserable and deplorable Condition Mankind hath fallen and sunk himself into that he hath lost the Understanding and distinguishing Power of his own Composition and of his own Senses and that he hath not the use of them to that degree as the Beasts have as we shall demonstrate when we treat of the Common Animals for it is not possible for any Man to understand the whole if the parts of the Things or Qualities it is compounded of be not distinguished this is most clear and manifest in all Sciences Arts and Trades which do all arise and take their Birth from Man and the Mystery contained in his Microcosm for if all Sciences Arts and Trades yea a thousand Mysteries and rare Inventions that have are and will be found out and brought to light had not been originally Essential in the very Centre of Man then it had been impossible to have brought them to light What great Pity and Lamentation is it that Man who is endued with so many great noble and worthy Faculties and in whom is contained all the great Mysteries of Time and Eternity and made to live in and under the Operation of the United and Illuminated Powers of God's Law should suffer his Will and Desires to enter into the dark Magick of Discord Fierceness Wrath Violence Intemperance Uncleanness and Oppression of all the innocent Inhabitants of the Earth and at the same time to plague and to torment himself for the Groaning of those Creatures that suffer Pain never fail to procure Misery to the Actors thereof It is farther to be noted that that thing which is Pleasure to the Sense of Tasting and a Delight to the Sense of Seeing doth often prove a torment to the Sense of Feeling as in Gluttony and Drunkenness which do frequently distemper the Body and perplex the Mind The like the Sense of Seeing doth bring on this Sense by presenting curious Objects to the Intellects whicâ—… puts Man on the Rack till he hath obtained his desires and wheâ—… that is done there is no more satisfaction than before for iâ—… Wisdom be obliterated then there is nothing can give satisfaction for such do all things by Custom Tradition and President asking no question Now if Mankind hath lost the use of those grosser Powers how can he then be capable of the more Intellectual and Divine Operations of Gods eternal Law and Holy Light The first foundation of this Stupidity Blindness and Erroâ—… was gross Eating Drinking and Uncleanness for nothing hath so much Power and Authority on the Body and Mind 〈◊〉 Meats and Drinks which do sustain and support both Body aâ—… Spirits and according to their respective Virtues or Vices they nourish and incline to this or the other thing so that nothinâ—… hath so great power to preserve the intrinsick Vertues and gooâ—… Properties in Man as Sobriety Temperance and Cleanness and on the other side nothing doth so much fully the worthy and iâ—… telligible Faculties as Intemperance Disorder and Uncleanness This is clearly manifest in that noble Sense the Smelling whicâ—… is as we have said an
a proportionable Body and doth agree with the original Spiritual Power that governed in Spirit For this cause all the Words Works and Actions of Mankind are in their Original nothing else but a Magick or Spiritual invisible transparent Power which doth move and work by several degrees of progressions circular motions and births All these Powers by the help and management of the Judge and five Grand Councellors are Midwifed into the World and become substantial so that all things are Created Made and most wonderfully Generated out of nothing its ground or original being a Magical or Spiritual Power which when understood and distinguished are all Wonderful and Amazing and therefore what Knowledge what Understanding and Distinguishing is so Noble so Great so Divine and Beneficial to Mankind as the true uses of his Senses in himself for so soon as this Divine Sight or Union is in any competent degree obtained then all the Magical and Corporal Spiritual Powers feel and gently touch each other in which consist the highest harmony and solace of the Mind which happy State or Condition of the Soul is called Regeneration or an obtaining some degrees of the first original State and Condition Man was Created in For the fall of Mankind was and is still Magical and Incorporeal viz. in the very Center of his Life for he did by and from the power of his Free Will and consent of the five Grand Councellors penetrate into stir up and awaken the sleeping poysonous fierce Original Qualities and dark Magical Fires which immediately occasioned unequal Motions and Operations whereby each form becomes discontented and invades each others right and so the union of the still quiet and Spiritual Powers became of a terrible selfish nature and being divided in their Government Domineer over each other and then was Man immediately hid from the Divine Vision and the Holy Union hid from him For so soon as these fierce invading forms and qualities had obtained the Government and broken the Simplicity and Innocency of the blessed Union each form did with the highest diligence Court and Covet all things both inwardly and outwardly that was agreeable to its own nature that it â—…ight throughly be increased and strengthened and these disunited Powers of Man's Soul would not nor could not be satisfâ—…ed but had and still have a longing strong desire after Corporality or to Cloath themselves with suitable matter or Bodies and these insulting Powers have gotten the Dominion in the Free Will which is the Primum Mobile or chief Governor of all that Microcosm Man then each Quality longed and lusted strongly and vigorously after proportionable Food that they might thereby be strengthened and increased and so become Corporeal for from this very Ground did always and doe at this day spring those voracious gross and unclean Desires and Inclinations in the Mind and Souls of Mankind for every Desire and earnest Inclination is a swift Spiritual Property or Power proceeding from the awakened Magia of evil or good according to the equality or inequality of the Forms and Powers And if this invisible Thought or Imagination be brought before the Judges and the five Councellors and not cut off or condemned to the Dark Cell of Oblivion but permitted to pass into the World viz. to be Coined into Words and from thence into Actions which do compleat the Birth and then this Desire bare Thought or incoporeal Inclination becomes substantial and Corporeal so that that which was a nothing is by the Husbandman's Management and Cultivation made substantial and becomes a gross Corporeal Body and if that bare Thought Inclination or Desire be evil in its Original Forms or Magick Powers and the Judge and Councellors do propagate it that it arrives to Actions or a compleat birth such go on in their own way and attract all evil and fierceness to its self as proper suitable Matter for every Spiritual Power or Quality when it hath Cloathed its self with a suitable body does still more violently carry on the government and innate nature of its Original and is endued with all the Qualifications and Inclinations that did arise in the first Magick Thought For all things both in the evil and likewise in the good do eternally go on in their Law if the Judge and Councellors do not prohibit the Birth and annihilate the first Thought or Intention which is in their Province to do but if they admit it to pass through all the degrees and properties of Nature and it obtains Corporality then the Law stamps its Soul or Signature on it and so it proves of great difficulty to obliterate and destroy it This was and is still the fall and depravation of Mankind from the Union of God and all united Vertues and good Powers The Magick dark Powers of his Mind and Soul he suffered to be violently awakened which as is before mentioned long after a proportionable Food that they might become Corporal Now the command that he should not eat of the Central fruit that grows in the dark Magick where each form is divided in its government having their Operations in inequalities and the Judge and Councellors concurring then the Senses agreed to the eating all gross unclean violent Foods and such that cannot be procured without Oppression Mans fall was first Magical before it could be Corporal and so is every evil or wicked Action that is done or committed and as the Fall and Man's passing out of the Union of and from God was done in the Mind and from the Central powers of the Wrath and unequal Operations of the Forms and Qualities even so and from the same Center must Regeneration begin its work And first the Eye of the Mind and all the intelligible Powers Councellors and Judges must have the distinguishing Powers made clear and manifest or else no Man can distinguish between the two grand fountains of good and evil And if this Glorious Sight be once obtained then it will be easy to reconcile the divided Forms and Magick Spiritual Powers of the Mind for as the original Disunion began in the Center of Life in that place where the Tragedy was committed must the Redemption and Reconciliation be effected The Fall of Man as was before mentioned was nothing else but breaking the Union of his own Composition when each form quality fountain and spirit advanced it self in domineering and self-will by which all the intelligible Fountains Spirits and Principles operated in Divisions and Tumultuousness so that the Body and Mind was and is filled with pain and horror And what was the first Man's Fall and Degeneration is still every Mans fall that lives in and under the divided forms and disunited powers of their Minds and where the intelligible forms and powers have lost their innate sight and distinguishing properties then the Heart akes and the whole Body and Mind becomes uneasy and in this state and condition the feeling Sense or Power loseth all its harmonical Union true Pleasure and
momentary Pleasure the poor Sense of Feeling is compell'd to endure many of years pain here and eternally hereafter So that the four outward Senses and their passions and intemperances do not only add perplexity to the Body and Feeling Power but the five inward Senses of the Soul and Intellect do still suffer greater misfortunes viz. perpetual Discord and Anxiety and therefore there is no method nor way to obtain the true and natural Pleasure of this noble great and universal Sense and Power of Feeling but only by Temperance Order and cleanness of the other four Senses which method of Life will by degrees open an Intellectual Eye of distinguishing the Compounded Powers of a Mans self and the two grand Fountains of Eternity Love and Light Anger and Fierceness how to avoid the one and Embrace the other For Cleanness Humility Self-denial and Temperance do wonderfully advance and strengthen the Unity and Eye of Understanding and there is nothing does so much disperse and dissipate the thick Clouds of Darkness and depraved Understanding as Cleanness Innocence and the avoiding all oppositions and violences which was are and ever will be the forbidden Fruit the eating thereof became the Substance both of the Corporeal and Incorporeal Powers of Man which did immediately open the Gates of their own Principles and by degrees did Captivate all the innocent harmonical Powers and Properties and then the fierce wrathful invading and unclean Spirits and Principles obtained the Government This was and is called mans Fall or degeneration from Unity then and not before was this Sense perplexed with pain then Man was hid or Captivated in those fierce dark invading turbulent Principles and Powers and the Divine Principle or Eye of Wisdom or Distinguishing was hid from Man and he was aâ—… it were stript of all his Ornaments being left Naked he was forthwith invaded by all the disorders and evils both of the Body and Mind This was the depravation of Mankind and the Original of the opposition and contrary Will in Man which deplorable state and miserable condition cannot be cured but only by 〈◊〉 Medicine Compounded of Innocency Charity Humility Temperance Cleanness and Order in Meats and Drinks Communications and Imployments which are only capable to reinvest all the great and wonderful Senses and Councellors unto their Ancient or Primitive State of Pleasure and Unity where each Sense and intellectual Spiritual Power doth See Hear Smell Taste and Feel both in a Corporeal and incorporeal Consort of Love in Innocency and harmless operation each Principle and Power bringeth all its Works Fruits and productions into the Magazine or great Power of the Sense of Feeling in which all the united Powers of the Michrocosmical World rejoyce that they feel themselves Centered in the Blessed Fountain of God's Eternal Love and Light Which is according to God's Eternal Law every Principle and Quality does its own business and Eternally goes on in its own Method both in the Evil and in the Good For Time and Eternity are one notwithstanding the most Learned as they call them are of another opinion And therefore those that in the time the Soul dwells in the Body do enter with their Wills and Desires into this or the other thing or Principle must dwell in the same Quality to Eternity if it do not uncloath it self of all Stupidity Uncleanness Violence and Wrath for it is these evil Qualities that do Torment this great and wonderful Power of Feeling both in Time and Eternity the trouble and anxiety of the Soul being both the same in the Body as in the Invisible World whatever some may judge to the contrary and it doth suffer both Corporeally and Incorporeally And therefore all that would enjoy the true Pleasures both of Time and Eternity and know the Riches true Delight and Union of this universal Sense the Feeling must Redeem their Time and Cloath themselves with their Original Cleanness and Inocency and live in the simplicity of their Ancient Law not contenting themselves with a groundless hope as most men do some more some less for no Man hopes for what he enjoys or Lives in but for those things he is Ignorant of and is far from seeing or knowing whether the thing hoped for will ever come to pass Therefore he who hopes always fears for hope and fear are brethren dwelling in the House of Darkness and Death And though this be a hard Chapter for some to Read nevertheless it is Matter of Fact for had not Man broken the Law of his Maker then had he not lost his way and by Consequence had had no Cause or Reason to hope to find it nor to fear he should not for the true State of Mans Intellect and Mind is to Understand Distinguish and Enjoy And there is nothing more true than where Hope Fear Joy and Grief Dwells all the Intellectual Powers of the Mind are Ignorant Dark and Blind they being turbulent Passions of the Mind that come in with Mans Transgressions Hope is a Deluding Inticing Airy Thin Quality and if a Man catcheth or layeth hold on it he cannot hold it but it leapeth forth no Bounds nor Limits can Master it If a Man's hopes chance to come to pass it is so Volatile that it inclines the Mind to some other thing which the desire of obtaining doth mightily stir up all the Silent or Magick Powers of the Intellect thereby causing great disquietness of the Soul and hard Pain and Labour even to the hazard both of Health and sometimes of Life and if it be obtained the Diseases of the Body or Mind are no nearer the Cure or Satisfaction No this is a slippery Spark much like the Philosophers Mercury which is almost impossible to Fix which hath deluded many thousands who have been deceived in their Imaginations and fallen into many Calamities without any Satisfaction How many have been deceived by being well Stocked and Freighted with this Airy Notion Hope which is endued with such a Magick Spell or Power that few or none escape its Charms but it leads Mankind with great inclination out of one thing into another which tire the Body and perplex the Mind always running before standing at a distance but never out of sight enticeing Mankind with her Airy Baubles and Novelties that Man doth not need never arriving to a quiet and fixed Harbour And when a Man hath for many Years or perhaps all his Life thus been perplex'd and disquieted he is no nearer a Fixation or Satisfaction than at first but many times farther off and must pass into the Eternal Regions altogether unknown And therefore there is no greater Character or Mark of Man's Depravation or Fall than this night of Hope and various Desires after that which when Attained we are as far or farther from Union and Content than before Therefore he that would enjoy the Illuminating Truth with a clear Sight and distinguishing Understanding must neither possess himself with Hope nor Fear Joy nor Sorrow for they
or other parts of the Body It is likewise to be noted that the more powerful the Original Forms in any Body are the stronger is the Coagulation and that Body or Thing produces a more powerful Salniter for this cause Chalk will not make so good Lime as hard Stones or Flints for a weak thing cannot produce a strong which appears fatal to many fine Structures in London Built with Lime made of Chalk for the Original Forms viz. The Astringency which is from Saturn that gives a Shell Skin or Covering to all Bodies both in the Animal Vegitable and Mineral Kingdoms and is as it were the House where the other Forms dwell and is the Original of all Coagulating Attracting or Indrawing Powers which preserves and keeps the Volatile Salnitral Spirits from Evaporation If it were not so no Creature or Thing could obtain its highest Limit or Perfection and therefore whensoever this hard tart or severe Astringency is broken or wounded the Salnitral Oils or Sweet Virtues suffer Violence and sink into Death without an application of a powerful Medicine or agreeable Remedy Now Chalk doth manifest by its colour and its soft mealy weakness that the forms and principles of Saturn and Martial Fires aâ—…e weak and impotent and that Venus and Mercury have the Dominion or Government thereof who always produce more Nice and Weak Sal Nitral Virtues The powers of Venus are further manifested by its white colour which in its own nature is innocent and yielding and as it were wanting of toughness and fire which the Saturnine and Martial quality always endues their Children with and according as the degrees of those original Forms are placed and qualified in each thing or Body so that thing or Body is harder softer bigger lesser stronger or weaker and their Virtues and Use are accordingly for this cause all Herbs that are harsh astringent hot or bitter afford not only greater Quantities of Sal Niter but more powerful sharp and penetrating as Wormwood and others that are under the Regiment of Saturn and Mars The like is to be understood of all sorts of Earth and Stones for where the Original or Saturnine quality is strong in the Sal Niter such Stones are contracted and drawn into the most compleat consistency or hardness when in Earth then such Earth is of a glewey sticking nature as Clay and all Earth that has Affinity therewith the Sal Nitral Virtues thereof in such Earth lies so hid in the tough Saturnine Body that it will not bring forth Vegitation without being Manured by Earth that has passed through a Ferment or some Digestion wherein the Martial Salt and Venereal propertys are strong from whence such Bodies have their brittle mealy or yeilding quality as Lime Chalk Ashes and Dung for in this sort of Earth the Martial Fires from whence bitterness has its Original are as it were wholly captivated in the Astringent Chamber of Saturn It is also to be noted that this Earth wants the assisting Qualities of Sol Iupiter and Venus for in what thing soever any one Original Form is powerful the Unity thereof is thereby destroyed and that thing may be good for particular Uses but for general it cannot As for Example If the Saturnine Power have the chief Government in any Thing or Creature that Thing or Creature becomes Hard Cold Constringent Melancholy and Pensive as is farther manifested in all Earths wherein Mars hath the chief Government and Dominion such Earths are endued with great Heat are Short Gravelly and Sandy full of small Stones so that in all hot dry Seasons the Vegitations proceeding therefrom are subject to Scorching and Withering It is likewise to be noted that this Martial or bitter Quality is strong in Trees and such Trees are Hard full of Knots and not tall in Stature but when the Taciturn or Astringent Form of Saturn is joined in any Tree or other thing with the Martial or bitter Quality then such Trees or Bodies are tall smooth hard and very dâ—…rable as Oaks and the like in which those Forms are powerful But if Sol or Venus or the sweet Quality have the chief Government in any Earth or other thing such Earth is mellow easy to be wrought and worked up especially if the Form of Iupiter be joined in Government then it is more deep mellow fit for Herbage Tillage and the best of Corn its colour is yellowish and very good for Wheat and not so apt to be Blasted by unseasonable Weather as other Herbage and Grain are where extream Qualities Govern for the nearer the Union the four grand Qualities stand in any Thing or Ceature the more useful and beneficial that thing becomes and its Shape and Form is the more beautiful for every Original principal Quality and Form is endued with peculiar Sal nitral Virtues which is the Original ground from whence arises the great variety of Complexions Forms and Figures Usefulness and the contrary though this be a Digression I don't doubt but it will be useful to the Understanding Reader Note The same Method that has been described about making of Bricks will do for Tyles Note A Wall or House may be made with unburned Bricks first let your Earth be high and well Tempered smooth and well Moulded as is mentioned before this must be done in the hottest Season then dried and turned after the manâ—…er of Brickmâ—…king only it must be longer exposed to the Sun and Elements till they become hard and tough with these Bricks you may make firm substantial Walls for a House after this manner Take Loam or a Brick Earth and mix therewith some good Lime Temper them very high till they become tough smooth and glewey let the Wall of your House be two Bricks or two Bricks and a half thick your unburn'd Bricks being laid in this well Tempered Mortar they will cement and become one hard solid body as if the whole were but one Brick or Stone when you have raised your Wall 4 or 5 Foot high from the Foundation then let it dry 2 or 3 days before you proceed farther then Build thereon 4 or 5 Foot more making the like pause as before and so proceed till your Wall is finished then Temper some of the same Earth the Wall was made of with a little more Lime than you used for the Wall which you must be sure to Temper very well and with this Mortar Plaster all your Wall well on the outside which will keep off the Weather for nothing injures this Wall but wet and moisture which this Coat will defend and if you would have it more beautiful it is only putting more Lime to it and less Loam and when this is dry you may Colour and Paint it with Red Blue or any other Colour that pleases you best Floors the best of them are made thus Take two thirds of Lime and one third of Coal-Ashes well sifted with a small quantity of Loamy Clay mix the whole quantity that you intend to use
his Imaginations Words and Works for every Tree bears Fruits according to its Qualifications and Original Principles If Man would be so wise to stand still and give himself the leisure to consider these things then might he see into his own Essences and Qualitys and how every particular thing is supported by its Simile and that from hence springs such direful inclinations after these Bloody Bestial Meats and Foods Must it not be from the insulting Powers and divided Forms and Qualitys and proportionable Essences in the Central Powers for every Inclination and Desire doth proceed and arise from some Central Quality that wants Food to support it and according to the nature and quality of the Essences such a Mouth it hath and such Food it calls for Now if Men did in the least see into the Mysteries of themselves and understood any thing of this we should not need Arguments to convince them of the truth of what we have in several of our Writings endeavoured to make them sensible of viz. their deplorable State and Condition YOURS T. T. LETTER XX. Of the Right and Left Hands SIR I Have yours and also considered your Question viz. for what cause and reason Mankind in most Nations do teach their Off-spring not only to distinguish their Hands by the terms of Right and Left but all Parents as Fathers Mothers Nurses and Tutors do industriously accustom and teach them to use on all occasions one Hand more than the other that is the Right Hand which is a true Sign and Manifestation of mans Depravity and that he hath lost his way acting in the Dark without any true consideration sight or from Principles as we have more largely treated and shewed in our Writings For Nature nor Gods Law knows nothing of neither Right nor Left but they are words or terms by which the Antients distinguished good and evil Principles and not the Hands or Members of the Body as in the Cases of the Ninivites where it is said there were so many Thousands that did not know nor distinguish their Right Hands from their Left that is good from evil which to do is the greatest Blessing and highest degree of Illumination whatever some dull Souls may imagine to the contrary Now man is the only visible Creature that doth contain the true nature and property both of the visible and invisible World as being a compleat Image of God and of Nature being most wonderfully made and in him is contained all Mysteries both of Time and Eternity And so much as any Man doth truly know of himself and to that degree as he doth distinguish the Principle and in Words Powers and Operations of his own Composition so far he is capable to penetrate into and know of all Created Beings so that it is most clear and true that Man is compleat in all the Spiritual and Corporal Powers Principles and Properties there being nothing wanting to compleat Mans external and internal Happiness and Union but true Wisdom Sight and Understanding and to distinguish the use of the powers and principles he himself contains that is to understand the right from the wrong the evil from the good and how to compose unite and bring the great and most wonderful variety of his Nature into Unity or an equal Temperature this being wanting all his Actions and Methods of Life are done by chance or rather left-handedly that is from evil principles dulness and horrid Stupidity all the properties and qualifications of MansMind and the Members of his Body are equally useful when known and the Harmony neither of the one nor of the other cannot be made up or compleated if any property of the Mind or Member of the Body be wanting or defaced but all goes on in a right line or method are known distinguished and practised there being as is said before no Left-hand in Gods Law This Hand comes in at the Door of Ignorance where the Union of the parts are broken and divided where each Form Quality Inclination and Disposition becomes self-ful and sets up for Mastery which is the principle of the Mind and Spiritual Powers and also in the Members of the Body is rightly called the Left Hand as taking its Birth from Selfefulness or evil Principles being by Men so understood as when any Man does a thing badly that is termed Left-handedly and when a Man meets with Misfortunes in his Business such a one will be ready to say That he got over the Left Shoulder and this word is seldom used but when any thing is done irregular or when Losses and Misfortunes happen and if Man had not lost the Knowledge of God himself and of the Law of Nature the Operation of the Left Hand would not have had any Being in him but his Mind and Intellectual Powers being divided or stray'd from their Union or Harmony then they become Left-handed that is all the Out-goings Inclinations and Actions both of the Mind and Members of the Body have their Operations and Power of Action from Inequality that is from the Influences of the Evil Genius or Left Hand And as Mankind is fallen into the highest degree of Ignorance and Blindness in the Principles of his Mind and Understanding from whence the Power of all Actions in the Members proceed or take their Birth which is the Original Foundation not only of this Error in the Use of the Hands but likewise of all the other Members of the Body for where the Eye of the Mind is put out and where Ignorance possesseth there is no end of Error and Misfortune which can never be regulated till Men distinguish in themselves the Right Hand way from the Left that is Evil from Good Right from the Wrong Union from Disunion Discord from Concord and Equality from Inequality for from the Left Hand proceeds all disasterous and extream Operations and Methods both in the Mind and Members of the Body Nothing is done well that is done left-handedly that is from Ignorance and Blindness Is it not wonderfully strange and as it were miraculous too that in so many hundred Ages as have passed that Mankind should not know the right and proper Use of their principal Members of the Body by whose Actions the Life is preserved but when any Man is endued with a distinguishing Mind and doth thereby penetrate into the gross Ignorance and Degeneration of Mens Minds and Intellects then it will appear to be no wonder that Mankind does know no better for if the Mind be Dark and Ignorant all the Commands and Directions do issue forth and proceed in proportion for all Conduct both good and evil do proceed from within and therefore such as the Mind is suitable are the Actions and Methods of Life The Virtue and Vice of every Tree is discovered by its Fruit. In a word If your Understanding and Mind be left-handed all the Actions and Motions of your Members are in proportion and as the degrees of Wisdom or Ignorance all proceeds accordingly and
have on all the Faculties of Nature no Wise man will or can deny as is before sufficiently demonstrated besides there is still another Ground and deep Original for the conveyance and generation of a great multitude of Diseases but more especially this fiery Distemper viz. the Seed being the compleat Image or Epitome of all the Properties Forms and Powers both of the Body Soul and Spirit and for this cause Man is called the Son or Off-spring of God or his Image The same is to be understood of Man when he Generates a Child is he not his Son and doth he not bear the Image and true Signature of his Father is he not endued with all the principles and powers of Body Soul and Spirits and if the Seed did not contain the true Nature and Property of the whole Father then the Fathers power or part thereof would not have an Essential Being in the Son neither would the Son be his true Image this being true as no Wiseman can doubt Then by the same rule Virtues and Vices of all Kinds are Sowed in the Seed and according as the Father and Mother are qualified and tempered in their Order Sobriety Temperance or Intemperance in their Meats Drinks and Employments Communications Imaginations Inclinations Dispositions Words and Works such is the Seed and the Fruit that is Generated Begotten and brought forth and is in Body Soul and Spirit the very same in all the principles and powers This being true what Conduct Temperance and Order what Cleanness Self-denial and Wisdom ought Parents to be endued with seeing they entail all their Virtues and Vices on their Posterity Now Mankind hath so far estranged himself from all those fore-mentioned Virtues by his gross Evils Violences Oppressions and Uncleannesses that he is run into the deepest degree of Depravity Blindness and Ignorance so that most do live under and are governed by the divided powers and forms of their own Composition where every quality and principle are at Enmity with each other so that he is hunted out of one evil into another Fierceness Violence and Oppression being his chief Delight and as it were the Pleasure and Pastime of most Men viz. Great Men study how they may destroy ruin and kill those of their own Kind and Species and the lower Ranks in hunting oppressing and killing the inferior Graduates and all the innocent harmless Inhabitants of the four Worlds and in Conformity and Proportion to these rapacious Employments are the principal Foods of Man so that there is a Concatenation and Sympathetical Agreement and Concurrence of all sorts and kinds of wrathful fierce Violence contrived and managed by the inbred fierce encroaching spiteful envious Powers which have not only sullyed but as it were obliterated the Noble light of Understanding and hath sunk Man into the deepest and darkest ignorance of himself and all that is good so that he neither sees hears nor understands any thing as he ought and thereby becomes subject to and is acted and governed by the fore-mentioned tyrannical Spirits Now there is no way or means to prevent those violent Diseases and other Distempers but by the wholsom rules of Order Temperance and Cleanness in Meats Drinks Communications Employment Words and Works which doth oppose all the fore-mentioned Customs as much as Light doth Darkness or the Day the Night by which the Observers may obtain a better Seed which will produce a Healthy and Virtuous Off-spring viz. The Foods material and suitable for this purpose are as followeth Bread and all Foods made of the Flour of Corn have the first place both for Cleanness Virtue and good Nourishment as Bread and Water-gruel Flour-pap boil'd Wheat boil'd Barley Hasty-pudding boil'd Bread and several sorts made of the Flours of Seeds and Corn Next to these are Milk Butter Cheese Eggs and a great number of other Exhilerating Foods made thereof The principal Drink alotted and ordained by God and the Law of undefiled Nature is pure clean Water Next to these are Communications which have great power over the Imaginations Inclinations Dispositions Words and Works either to encrease or advance Virtue or Vice and these Employments are very material viz. All such as are Humane free from Oppression or Violence either to Man or Beasts likewise all sorts of Husbandry or any Business in the open Air more especially such as is on or near the Water and to Travel in rainy moist Seasons Thirdly Thin or moderate Cloathing airy clean sweet Houses and Beds observing a mean in all things for Temperance and to understand the proper Measure both in Quantity and Quality are the Sinews of Health both of Body and Mind which to distinguish and understand in a Man's self is the Spring-head of all Blessings for whatsoever may or can be understood of God and of his unalterable Law is compleatly and entirely contained in Man Therefore the greatest Calamity the most miserable melancholy and deplorable Condition in the World is for a Man to be Ignorant of himself not to understand and distinguish the Powers of God and his own Composition for want of this inward true Knowledge he Judgeth of all things as a Blind Man doth of Colours and a Deaf Man of Musick all is done by Chance Trade or Custom so great and so deep is the Depravation of Man SIR Yours to Command T. T. LETTER XXIII Of EDUCATION SIR I Réceived yours of the 20th instant wherein you desire me to give you an Essential Method of Educating and Bringing up your Children they being all Young and of tender Age by which they are rendred capable of being taught and moulded into any Form Method and Government First I referr you to our Book entituled A New Method of Educating Children which I desire you would Read However I shall endeavour to gratify your Desire with those Talents the Lord hath given me not doubting but they will be thereby improved by your Prudent Conduct therefore please to observe these following Rules and Methods 1. YOU ought to understand and endeavour to be sensible that our Creator hath made Man in his own Image and a compleat Epitome of all Principles Qualities and Powers both of the Corporial and Incorporial Worlds all things have an Essential Being in Man's Soul viz. Virtue true Light and Darkness Love and Hate and if Men once come to be sensible of their own Composition and to distinguish between Good and Evil Virtue and Vice and from what Principles each takes its Birth they would hate and lament their ill Conduct both of their own Methods of Life and the bringing up of their Children it is impossible any Man should be capable to avoid the Errors of Educating Children if he doth not distinguish the two Grand Fountains of Good and Evil in himself and how the various Powers Qualities and Inclinations which do all arise and proceed from these two Fountains are to be Qualified Allaied and United for all sorts and kinds of Knowledge and Learning though it
carries the fairest and most plausible Face yet if it do not arise and proceed from the Light of a Man 's own Life and have a Centre in himself and distinguished from what Ground and Principle it proceeds it is of no value but all Fantastick and Uncertain This is most manifest and true in this Visible World and likewise in all Sciences Arts and Trades no Man is rendred capable of giving any true Account or to Judge rightly of any particular Science Art or Trade and the inward Mystery thereof but only such who have Judgment or can distinguish the principal Qualities and Parts of that piece of Art or Workmanâ—…ip therefore it hath by the more Wise and Understanding Men of all Ages been owned that the Knowledge of a Man's self hath been the Spring-head of Wisdom because no Man can possibly know God who knows not his Works all which are a compleat Image of himself and he that doth not understand nor distinguish the Signature of his own Composition cannot do it in any Specifick Body or Thing be it ever so small and inferiour Now the want of this Self-knowledge and distinguishing our own Principles Qualities and Powers is the Grand In-let to all Evil and Error in this World both in particular and publick Governments For this Cause no Man can be a true Politician or Governor in this World if he doth not distinguish the Powers and Principles of Good and Evil in himself for where this central Knowledge is wanting there is nothing but Error Pride Self-Arrogance Covetousness Envy and Domineering their Imaginations being kindled not only in those Evil Qualities but also in the fantastick Regions of this World so that if any Good comes under such Kings or Princes Government it is all as it were by chance therefore my Friend the first true step for obtaining the Wisdom is to seek and know God and the Operation of his Powers in your self which to understand and distinguish is not only the greatest Blessing but it likewise furnishes you with all sorts of Materials for the Mamaegment and Government both of your self and all that God hath put under your Government and Conduct First Your Wife or whosoever Nurses or Brings up your Children must refrain and not use that most idle and pernicious Customs of fantastick foolish Talking to their young tender Infants which doth make such great and deep Impressions even from one Quarter of a year Old which takes such Essential root by way of Simile and so obtains such a Power and strengthens the fantastick Principle that it is not to be wholly rooted out or obliterated Secondly They ought likewise to Cloath their Children in modest plain Garments and by no means to point shew or endeavour to make them sensible where they are Fine This is frequent amongst all sorts of People as well those that esteem themselves Sober and Religious as others which doth mightily infinuate raise and awaken the high lofty Property of Pride and lay sure and lasting Foundations of Self-esteem and by degrees strengthen most evil Qualities by which Means and Methods they put an Esteem and Value on themselves and at the samâ—… time disregard and undervalue all their Inferiors this doth 〈◊〉 deeply wound and lay such sure and lasting Methods of Pride that many thousands of poor distressed Mortals are never heâ—…ed That Mothers and Nurses ought to refrain from the practise of that evil Custom of Slabbering and Kissing their Children asking and teaching the Children to do the same and though this seems to be an innocent Custom at first and likewise their talking of Baudy nevertheless this doth so early open the Gates of Venus and lays sure and lasting Foundations for Wantonness and Uncleanness so that many thousands can never free themselves from those invading turbulent Motions and Inclinations after Women Thirdly Mothers and Nurses should as much as is possible refrain and forbear much Talking especially impertinent Discourse and teach them by a sedate silence and shewing their dislikes in a few words and those as grave and sober as if they were talking with Senators Fourthly They ought not to shew or speak in the hearing of their Children any thing wherein Passion is expressed for whensoever this is practised the Children are thereby Precipitated into the same Principle of Wrath and Violence which from time to time is so mightily strengthened by which early planting Wrath and fierce Passion obtaineth the Ascendant in the Soul which can never be destroyed or overcome but let the Correction of your Children be done by some silent wise sober Methods sometimes by fasting standing silent alone and the like such Corrections will penetrate deeper into their Souls and make them more sensible than Whipping and Beating which doth chiefly serve to advance the Principle of Bitterness Envy and self-ful Power for by the Eternal Law of God every like begets and strengthens its Simile Fifthly Use your Children to a constant hour of going to Bed and Rising viz. Go to Bed at eight and Rise at six or seven according to the Season of the Year Custom makes their Sleep more sound and certain which is a great Conveniency both to Mothers and Nurses Sixthly So soon as your Children can go about teach them several little but useful things both within doors as in the House and also without in the Air viz. To know their Letters which they are capable to learn before they can Speak Sowing Knitting picking up of Sticks or small Stones carrying from and bringing to you several little things also learning to Write Cast Accompts Musick and Drawing in order to Painting and when you are minded they should stand still from those little Affairs then command them to stand silently by you looking on you and what you are doing which still makes a deep Impression on their Minds by which they will not know what that Vanity is called Play there being nothing more pernicious nor promotes Idleness and Vanity more than Childrens Playing promiscuously one amongst another it is certainly one of the Grand Original Banes and destruction of Mankind for it is so timely planted and awakens all sorts of Passions fantastick Spirits and Qualities so that as they by degrees grow stronger and stronger they Degenerate into all sorts and kinds of Wickednesses therefore all Parents Fathers and Mothers ought to employ their Children or else they will employ themselves and spend all their brisk sporting Spirits in Play and Vanity also keep them from the sight of those Children that are suffered to Play also from all Plays and Games and the ill Usage of any of the inferior Creatures for all those Evils are like Pestilential Airs they Influence all their Beholders and leave their fatal Strokes and Wounds behind them Suffer not your Children to speak much likewise be careful that you do not Laugh or make a Jest of any of their Actions for such things prove of evil Consequence to them Seventhly Keep not your Children too long at
secret and wonderful Operations cannot be performed any other way but only by the five great Princes or compleat Governors called Senses the Creator hath appointed each of them its province and government who are always ready and on their Guard to defend the Tree of Life that is that nothing should be communicated to the Central parts of Nature that should be injurious or hurtful for no evil can be conveyed unto the Mind of Man but only by the admittance of one of these Governors or Senses as we have treated else where and therefore it is advisable not to keep bad Company nor Communicate with any thing wherein the wrathful powers and grosser putrifactions have obtained the Ascendant for no Person can withstand the secret Conveyances and Operations of Nature every particular principle and quality goes constantly on in its own way and doth its own work and meddles not with its Neighbour each Sense judges of all things under and belonging to its own province and is only capable of communicating them to the Microcosmical World It is likewise farther to be considered that all or most of those Scents or sweet Smells that proceed from the Animals are for the most part hurtful to the fine Spirits in Man more especially when they are too near as the Civet Cat a rapacious Creature and fiery by Kind therefore that substance or matter called Musk is nothing else but an Excrementitious matter or the â—…ume or froth proceeding from a fierce fiery violent Natured Creature And for this cause it is very offensive to all fine tender Spirited Persons Use and Custom makes it familiar to most there being no other reason to be given for its Vertues but only that it is the dearest of Stinks and if Hogs Dung were as scarce its probable it might be as much in esteem for the Creature is much fiercer than a Hog and the Houses where they are kept are many degrees more offensive and we are not mistaken if we should affirm that Hogs Dung is a better perfume and less offensive to Nature It is likewise to be considered that the evil Scents and Smells that doth arise and proceed from each particular Creatures Excrements or Putrifaction are more offensive to themselves than the evil Smells and Scents proceeding from Animals of another Kind that is evil Smells or Scents that arises from the Dung of Horses and putrified matter in close Stables is not only offensive but takes off their Stomachs from their Meat and infects them with sundry Difeases The like is to be understood of Sheep For Example if they are Folded or Penn'd up too close for several nights in a place the Scent or Smell of their Excrement being conveyed by that great Governor the Sense of Smelling to the Central parts doth infect the Blood and all the Humors with a hot Mangy Disease called by the Learned Shepherds the Scab or Mange Now notwithstanding these Folds lye open and exposed to the Heavenly Dews and Influences of the Air nevertheless the Scent or Smell of their own Excrements are so prejudicial to them Now if Sheep were to be Folded or Penn'd up where Cows or Horses had been put their Excrements or Dung would not have had any such operation or influence on their Humors The very same is to be understood of all other Animals and more particularly in the Human Nature the Scents and Smells that do arise and proceed from our own Excrements or any other Uncleannesses are much more offensive and prejudicial to the Health both of the Body and Mind than such as proceed from the Excrements of other Animals or Things This is evident by all Mens Experience and therefore the Great Creator and preserving Power of the Lord hath endued most or all under-graduated Creatures with an innate Wisdom and self preserving Cleanness far exceeding Mankind which is very wonderful and doth manifest the great Wisdom of the All-wise Creator Therefore it doth plainly appear that all kinds of Uncleanness contradicts the whole course of Nature and in the highest degree opposeth Gods Law and is a true Signal of Mans Degeneration from the Holy Unity he was made to live in and under for all evil Smells proceed from Uncleanness and from the same Root doth arise all Plagues and Epidemical Distempers and for this cause when any Person shall happen to be in places where evil Smells and Scents are or where Epidemical Diseases reign not to suffer the Air in whose Body those poysonous qualities dwell called gross or foul Smells to touch that curious part called the Sense of Smelling which Governor or Prince keeps his Court of Guard between the Nose and Brain but by opening your Mouth and sending it out the same way any Person may in a great degree avoid the evils that come by gross Scents and Smells for the magick inward or secret powers and properties of Nature cannot be roused up awakened or penetrated into nor the Vices nor Virtues of things conveyed to them but only by the five grand Councellors or Governors the Senses each cayrying and communicating all things belonging to its Province so that the evil Air Smell or Scent that doth not touch the Sense of Smelling but passes in and out without the license and admittance of the Smelling is not capable to do so much injury as otherwise for none of the other four Senses can open the Gates either of Virtueor Vice or of any thing but what belongs to its own Province as is mentioned before so that it is clear that evil Scents and Smells are less hurtful that are breathed in and sent out by way of the Mouth without or unknown to the Sense of Smelling whichâ—… method doth free the Brain from many great evils and inconveniences which a little custom will make very easie and familiar so that any Person may pass through or be in stinking places as it were unhurt and at the same time avoid the displeasure of an evil Scent or Smell which doth not as is mentioned before hurt the Health but when such Airs are conveyed to the Sense of Smelling then it hath its evil influences on the Spirits And therefore all Persons that are accustomed to stinking places and are of Trades that communicate with the putrifactions that proceed from fierceness and violence exercised by Mankind on their Fellow Animals or Creatures become dull foul and gross and this curious and as it were Divine Sense loseth its distinguishing property and such Persons are by these and the like Communications made and altered in their very Radix so that most of them appear in another Form and Complexion If this were not so a Tallow-Chandlers Melting-house and Butchers Slaughter-houses and the dark gross stinking Smells and the thick dreadful Fumes thereof could never be made familiar Every Spiritual Power carries in its Bosom a natural Key that can with the greatest facility imaginable open all the secret Doors and Passages of its own Principle and Quality by which Secret
Herbs that grow in Gardens and also in the Fields and Commons their Fumes and Scents are sharp strong and penetrating amongst whom Rosemary is one of the most valuable for its noble and lively Virtues the Fumes of those Herbs do naturally move all kinds of Obstructions for the bitter Quality is the Root of all Motion and in what Creature or Herb soever it is temperate then it is the true moving boiling Power and the pleasure of Life and cause of Joy For this Cause Bitter Herbs are of great Use in Medicines and their Scents and Fumes are in proportion This bitter Quality is the only and principal Friend to the Sweets for the Bitter or Mars doth so mightily love Venus that wheresoever the Bitter Quality meets with the Sweet it hugs it close and keeps it from turning Sharp or Acid for this Cause bitter Herbs as Hops c. are added and put into Beer that the Sweet or Spiritual Virtues might not too quickly turn sour or sharp Physicians have likewise prescribed Potions made of bitter Herbs to moderate or check the Acidity or Sharp Humor in the Stomach occasioned by the eating of so great quantities of Fat sweet Foods and strong Drinks for there is nothing known in Nature that doth allay and as it were captivate the fierce hot Fumes of Mars as the sweet Balsamick Water of Venus or the sweet Quality For this Cause bitter things are mixed or compounded with our Foods more especially with the sweet or oily Body and it is for those Reasons that the Cacao-nut being made into a Food proves so universally grateful and agreeable to most Stomachs which doth chiefly proceed from the Sal Nitral Oils and bitter Quality which Qualifications do render it in the Stomach of easy Separation and Concoction far exceeding all the Oils of other Nuts and likewise of Olives and Almonds besides the Oil of Cacao-nuts is so equally mixed and graduated with the bitter Quality that thereby it becomes dissolvable and will by the heat of Fire melt into a mass or pappy Substance and not become rank as the Oil of all other Nuts and Things will just as though God and his Hand maid Nature had endued this noted Plant and Fruit with all the united Virtues of the Vegetable Kingdom and though this Spoon-meat called Chocolate will not agree with some Stomachs the occasion thereof is not in the Nut but either in the Depravity or Foulness of the Stomach or in the things it is compounded of viz. Sugar Spice Milk and Eggs there being hardly any Spoon-meat or Pottage excepting our thin Water-gruel that will so soon collect and beget so strong and sharp an Appetite as Chocolate made without any thing compounded with it but only made with the entire Nut and Water it being one of the most easiest and cleanfing Spoon-meats that is or can be procured it is not only easy of Digestion of its self but a small Dish after any sort of Food or temperate Meal will not only advance the Concoction but make all easy and lightsome which doth declare the excellency of its Nature and equality of its parts and we do affirm from good Grounds and sufficient Reasons in Nature that there is hardly any Foreign Fruit or Ingredients that come into England or any of the European Countries that is so Homogenial as this Nut though this Nation hath no necessity either for this or any other our own Climate and Country furnishing us with all things necessary both for Food and Physick Praised be the Great Creator of all Beings Now it is likewise farther to be noted that strong Scents or Smells of all fragrant Herbs Flowers Seeds and Grains or Drugs and Spices do best supply and furnish Nature with their Virtues and Excellencies at some convenient distance for this noble Sense of Smelling is so Sublime that near and strong Scents are apt to overcome and as it were glut it that it becomes rather a displeasure and hurtful than a pleasure to Nature all the Senses are liable to be overcome and glutted as well as the Palate and Stomach though the Gluttony of the other four Senses doth rarely prove so hurtful or injurious as that of Tasting or the Palate Sir I could enlarge upon this Subject but have here inserted what is needful at present from Your assured Friend to Command T. T. LETTER XXV Of PREDESTINATION SIR IAm very much concern'd at the Intelligence your last kind Letter gives me in reference to your great disorder about the Consideration of that much Controverted Point of Predestination which hath doth and will occasion great Troubles as well as Disunion among the Christians the end of which never can be expected till Men arrive to a better Understanding THAT Blindness in this Point hath done unspeakable Mischiefs to Mankind will evidently appear by what follows but by God's Blessing a Medicine may be administred that may in some measure if not totally satisfy your longing Desires after Truth in this Case You must therefore know that God without Nature and Creature is an Incomprehensible Unfathomable Eternal Being and therefore the Learned Moses saith that God made all material Things of Nothing and this Nothing is the Eternal Unity and the highest Good even that very Power that preserveth all material Being Now this Unfathomable Eternal Being could neither doth design any thing unlike himself because he is the All in Time and Eternity being the Father of all Creatures whither Corporeal or Incorporeal the everlasting Power and Mind the one only Eternal Will which willeth nothing but Good And when this Unity or Eternal Power had a mind to cloath the various Spiritual Powers with Corporeal Matter or Forms then the invisible Powers Principles and Qualities by the Energy of the one only Eternal Father attracked proportionate Matter for their Body or Cloathing and as the Salnitral Spiritual Powers of the Lord stood in their degrees such were their Forms and Figures Dispositions and Inclinations and hence all the varieties of visible Beings arise and it is as was said before impossible for the only Creator of all things to will any thing contrary to himself being All in All from Eternity to Eternity and it 's for this Reason that all things do so vehemently long after God their Original all Creatures being the Image of him that made them But the nearer any Creature arives to the Unity the highest Good the more Virtuous Beautiful and Happy is that Creature exceeding all those Creatures standing more at a distance and obtains a Name accordingly All things are in pain seeking and groaning with the highest Desire to obtain the Eternal Unity not being capable of Rest till they are swallowed up in it And all the Spiritual Powers by which every Creature is preserved and sustained have an Eternal Original and are so many Branches of the Incomprehensible Unity which is the Cause that all Creatures that are Sensitive desire to Live for ever and the regard every one
hath to preserve his Body though intolerable Pains are always about it is a sufficient Evidence of this Truth The same thing is Essential to Brutes who dread the Shock of Violence and tremble at the Instruments of their Dissolution which proceeds from the Spirits and not from the Body and Desire of Life Wherefore it must be the highest Will to violate the Unity by puting a Period to the Lives either of ones own kind or the other Creatures being the most spiteful Opposition to the Laws of God Nature and Eternity But what can be said or who can convince the great Ignorance and Blindness of Mankind This Evil is the effect of Man's Fall in the abuse of that noble Faculty the free unbounded Will of Man given him alone by his Creator which he should have used to the Glory of God the Preservation of himself and the whole Creation But he forthwith introduced this Will into Self-hood broke the Unity and destroyed the Concord of his own Composition which was the true Image of God and an Epitome of the whole Creation Here came in that Noxious Opinion of Predestination that never could have found a room in Man but by his falling from the Unity into Discord the Operations of the divided Forms Qualities and Principles which is the true Birth of Reprobation and Predestination as is now held and maintained by some among us But 't is evident that God hath given Man a free Will or his Reason by which he surmounts Brutes had been of no use to him 't is this noble Faculty by which he is capable of knowing God and all his Greatures and preserve it from Error God hath given his Law in Nature and revealed Will whereby he is made capable of discerning whenever his Desires and Powers may exceed their Limits Had God before the Creation absolutely Predestinated Mankind he could not have varied from it but have stood in that Law even as the Beasts and all other under-Graduates do for they cannot break that Law as is very plain for did they know their Powers it were impossible for Man to Rule and Guide them and much less being so Impotent for him to Oppress and Destroy them so many ways as he doth Hence it is evident that Man is Free Will by which he Transcends all other Visible Creatures is become his greatest Curse having thereby broke the Unity and defaced the beautiful Image of the Great God by suffering his Will to enter into Discord and his Election depends on himself being accountable for all his Evils and Misfortunes For the Eternal Father of all things is always ready with open Arms to receive all that are willing to hear and observe the Laws and Dictates of the Voice of Wisdom Are not all the Works of the Creator like himself and we his Children endued with Principles Qualifications and Dispositions from himself We indeed vary by and through the Self-hood but God is eternally equal in all his Methods causing the Glorious Eye of the World the Sun and all the Fructifying Dews of Heaven with the sweet Influence of the Caelestial Bodies to fall proportionately on all One Man's Field is not Predestinated to the continual scorching Beams of the Sun and at the same time his Neighbour's to be Drown'd with Floods and Inundations of Water No the Eternal Fountain of Beings hands forth his Spiritual and Temporal Blessings without respect of Persons having equal regard to the meanest and most Noble of his Creatures none having any Character or defending Power beyond another to protect him from the wrath of the Elements Sickness or Death which made the Wise King Solomon say that one Event happened to the Wise man and the Fool. Now had the Almighty Being like some unequal Tyrant or unrighteous Prince made and appointed some of his Sons and Daughters to Eternal Misery after this Life and others to all imaginable Happiness he would never have given Laws whereby Man might govern his Will and all Preaching and Teaching had been vain and as ineffectual as to Beasts who live in their limits that is set them and as they do not particularly call any thing their property so they freely possess and use what Nature sets before them Nothing is more impious and contradictory to God than this Opinion and wicked Imagination making the most Merciful Righteous and Just God the Maker and Preserver of all things the Original cause of Evil. Every Man becomes predestinated to good or evil in this World and the World to come as he introduceth his Will or Desires into good or evil it being in the power of each Principle and Quality to predestinate and lead all those that are entred into it according to its power either into good or evil For Instance the Son Disobeys his Father and Mother takes to the High-way to Kill Rob c. and continuing in this Method the wrathful fierce Principle and Quality rules over him anâ—… will most assuredly predestinate him to Destruction Therefore my Friend turn the Eye of your Understanding inwards all the Wonders and Mysteries of God's Nature are within you you are the Thing your Self and if with Fervor and Devotion you wait at Wisdoms Altar you will quickly feel the Grace and Holy Power the Glorious Light of the Son of God arising in you and teaching you such harmless innocent Methods of Life and Love that will lead you into the Unity and convince you that as God is One and undivided having equal respect to all the Sons and Daughters of Men and whensoever the Harmony is broken it proceeds from our selves and not from God's Predestinating us and this take to be a sufficient Answer and I hope it may be as aparent to you as it is evident to Your Faithful Friend T. T. LETTER XXVI Of DEATH SIR 〈◊〉 â—…ceived yours and take notice of the Contents and in particulâ—… 〈◊〉 of your unvulgar Philosophical Question viz. You desire to know 〈◊〉 Original Cause and Grand Reason wherefore every Sensitive 〈◊〉 under Heaven doth with great earnestness desire to Live for Ever 〈◊〉 on the other side fear and dread nothing so much as any kind of 〈◊〉 or Violence that may tend towards the putting a Period to the â—…fe MY Friend all the wonderful and amazing varieties of created Beings and Creatures in this Visible World which are beyond all Humane Numbers have all proceeded and sprung from an Eternal Original and are an Epitome or Image of the 〈◊〉 and Incorporeal Worlds and Principles and these manifested Powers do contain the true Nature and Property of the Internal Worlds oâ—… Spiritual Beings for every particular or speâ—… Body or Thing doth in its Signature and Complexion carry that Eternal Stamp or Character it was Sealed with from Eternity or before it was separated from the Great Fountain of 〈◊〉 Unity Now it is to be noted and considered that the great and 〈◊〉 Powers and variety of the invisible Spiritual Beings did do and ever will long
only prevent many Evils but renders their Family easily Governable preventing all evil Communication as Idle Jesting Laughter Anger and a hundred other Inconveniences that attend the Northern Christians for Silence is the true Nurse and Support of Wisdom more especially when the Seeds of Virtue are sown in Childhood Likewise most of the Western Indians are great Observers of Silence speaking much in a few Words for much talking is the bane of Meditation obstructing the due consideration which ought always to have the first place in the Mind before the Thoughts or Imaginations are Coined into Words so that Person which is silent by Choice and Prudence doth obtain many advantages of a talkative Man he that is silent and utters nothing but what is well digested and weighed such a one can remember all his Discourse and Conversation in order but on the other side he that is talkative or speaks much utters many things by chance and is subject to forgetfulness This the Christian Nations have and do daily experience to be too true Since the Gates of Silence have been broken open in the Christian Nations and talking of it hath been advanced the true practice hath been neglected and it doth now consist chiefly in noise and giving a parcel of fine words for there are no People in the World do talk so much of Devotion and Religion and do practise so little Words without Practice are like Faith without Charity and it is too true that most do study and endeavour to improve their talents of Words and well methodiz'd Discourses more than they do in the Practical part the last being the Life and the first nothing but Clamour and making our Creator Author of all those evil Practices which do concur to make the Soul of Man uneasy both Living and Dying What Countrey in the World doth equal the Northern part of Christendom in that Universal Sin of Drunkenness which never goes alone but is attended with a numerous train of Evils of the blackest Nature and Character more especially amongst the Reformers who are willing to be thought the best of Christians There are very few that have wherewithal but do in one degree or other exceed in their Glasses which reigning Sins most of the Eastern and Western Indians have avoided and freed themselves from by contenting themselves with that Drink which our Creator and his Handmaid Nature have given and ordained for Drink both for Man and also for all other Creatures viz. pure undefiled Water which hath preserved them from many Evils and Outrages which others that have neglected this Blessed Fountain have committed against God and all other Creatures also they are not only the greatest Drinkers of strong Drinks but the most voracious Eaters of all sorts of gross unclean Flesh making little or no distinction between one sort and another which doth generate all things proportionable thereunto rendring them surly bold robustick gross in all the Actions of Life which makes very great additions of trouble and discontent when they are forced to look that grim and meagre Tyrant Death in the Face Besides what hath been said before there are two or three vexatious Evils that the Northern Christians and others that call themselves by that name do torment and plague each other with viz. Persecution which doth mightily stir up Envy Back-biting and various sorts of Hatred and Contention which do look with grim fierce wrathful Countenances on a Dying Bed likewise amongst them have been midwifed into these Northern Regions various and unheard of Heresies and most wicked Opinions as Ranters of various sorts and kinds which tend to all Evil and Sensuality ' What Intemperance or Uncleanness is there in the World that the Northern Christians have not midwifed into an essential and substantial Method by a Universal Custom and Practice there is hardly a poor Tradesman or Labourer that doth not spend the 8th or 10th part of his Gettings or Wages in Tobacco and Strong-drink and at the same time their poor Wives and Children half Starved for want of Necessaries These Vices of late years are become a Trade and practised by the greatest Pretenders to Christianity and Religion and many other inferior Violences as young People throwing at Cocks and several other cruel Sports and neither the Fathers Preachers of the Gospel nor Elders of the People do Correct them for those vile Pranks and Evils so that it is as clear as the Sun Beams that all or most of these Intemperances and wicked Customs are justified by our Senators and Parents for what Evils or Crueltys soever are commonly practised in any Place or Countrey and not Corrected or Punished neither by Parents nor Magistrates is a true Sign that such things are justified Now let any prudent Person give himself leasure but to consider these depraved Customs and Actions of Mankind with a distinguishing Understanding and then he will see with half an Eye the true cause and reason why Man is so perplexed at the Hour of Death or on a Sick Bed and how hard a thing it is for him to look the pure undefiled Love and Son of Eternal Light in the Face when most of his Actions and Words are bloody cruel inhumane and as black as Hell The whole business of Life and all the Ingenuity Gifts and Graces the Great Creator hath endued Man with have been most or all improved to advance Pride Vain-glory Cruelty Oppression and Selfhood My Friend when you have read over this Epistle and weighed it well with a distinguishing Mind you will be satisfied wherefore Mankind is so affrighted when he thinks of his Change or when he is on his Sick and Dying Bed These are some of the improved Talents the Lord hath given me which I freely present and recommend to you which please to receive for Answer I remain Your ready Friend and humble Servant in the Love of God T. T. LETTER XXVII Of ASTROLOGY SIR YOur kind Letter is before me and I have considered the Contents thereof Your principal Question is whether that Noble branch of the Astral Sciences called Astrology hath so great influence and important Signification on the Humane Race as Astrologers of all Ages have affirmed as appears by many of their Learned and Ingenious Volumes wherein they do endeavour to demonstrate that each Person is either Fortunate or Unfortunate Healthy or Unhealthy Strong or Weak Wise or Foolish Tall or Short Handsom or the contrary all according to the time or minute of Birth and ruling Constellations they are Born under and an hundred things more to this purpose too tedious to be here ennumerated Now you say nothing makes such deep and grounded Scruples in your Mind and Understanding of the Validity or Truth of this Art as this one particular viz. no Person of Understanding but believes that in the City of London and likewise in the Nation that there are a great number Born at one time or minute and under the same degrees of Ascendants ruling
any perswade a Turk to become a Christian after 20 years of Age Or on the other side a Christian to be a Turk and so of all others by which this great Truth doth appear over all that Customs Examples and Living Precedents have far greater power and influence over Mankind than the Constellation any Person is Born under Besides the wonderful and amazing Varieties both of the Animal Vegetable and Mineral Kingdoms are such that the Births of all Created Beings are in one degree or other manifestly unlike many Men have been curious in this matter but no Man could ever find two things in all Circumstances alike or of one dimention or complexion And the original cause of this Wonder is hid from the Eyes and Understanding of the greatest number of Men the blindness ignorance and wickedness of Mankind is so great that the Sons of Wisdom are forbid discovering of this secret Wisdom for the Unlearned would not only trample Pearls under foot but also make an ill use of them no Man doubts but according to the old Maxim of Wisemen and Naturalists that Man in Soul Body and Spirit is a compleat Epitome or Image of the Great Immense Creator and Father of all Beings and therefore in him is contained the true nature and property of all material Things or Elements and he may be fitly and properly likened or compared with the Earth in which are the Seminary Seeds and powers of all Herbs Grains Fruits and Trees of which there is amazing variety even beyond Humane number only this difference is to be understood the Sal Nitral forms and four grand qualities stand in their several respective degrees in some things one form and quality is strong another weak which doth occasion the great difference of Earths which by the understanding Husbandman and his Cultivation can be made capable to bring forth all kinds of Herbage Corn Seeds Fruits and Trees by his encreasing and decreasing of qualitys which by his Dressing Dunging and Manuring he changeth the complexion of the Ground by his apt mixtures making weak qualities strong and strong properties weaker Now can any understanding Man imagine but that there will be the like great difference in the Humane Nature for Mens Employments together with their Communications are able to vary their Complexions abating and lessening their sanguine tractable Tempers and advancing their fierce invading Tempers which before their conversing with things of the like nature could hardly be seen or known so that there is nothing more true than that every particular Trade Employment or Practice doth incircle all such that enter into such Business having a Key that opens all the secret Doors and Gates and the Complexion or Nature of that thing is never satisfied till it hath found out its Similie which in a little time and practice doth strengthen and advance by which weak Dispositions and fainty Inclinations become strong and powerful and on the other side strong Inclinations and Dispositions are mightily weakned and grow languid and drooping as if they had a Consumption Now if every Man and Woman did not contain the true nature and property of the whole then this could not be done for every particular thing must have a Friend or a Confederate in the Humane Nature or else it could have no power to encrease decrease strengthen or weaken Forms Principles and Qualitys and mould them into their Natures by impressing their Dispositions and Inclinations in a great degree alter and chang them Now if this be true of Exercises and Employments which are but External and managed with the motion of the Members of the Body then what power and influence must Meats and Drinks have on the Soul Spirit and Body which are as it were the Original or Seminary Seeds and Substance of the Humane Nature whose Operations are all Internal from which are generated Blood Spirits Inclinations Words and Works either clean or unclean better or worse all according to the nature of the Foods If Mankind and those skill'd in the Astrological Science did understand and had Wisdom to distinguish these things they would be far more afraid of the malignant influences of the Stars and Constellations that rule in that part of the Globe called the Earth that is evil Education unclean Meats Drinks Exercises Trades Employments Communication Tradition wicked Customs and Examples than from the Male Configuration of the Heavenly Bodies not but Men do by their Uncleanness and Sinful Methods most powerfully attract and draw the venemous Nature and Dispositions out of all the Stars Elements and all Undergraduated things for as is mentioned before Man is like all things and all things like him and so he is rendred capable to influence all things and all things have power to influence him either for better or worse So wonderful hath our Blessed Creator made all Creatures and Beings enduing them with an influential Power and Energie and more particularly the Humane Nature for it is not to be doubted but that Mankind is endued with an innate Power and thereby is not only rendred as capable to move and influence the Starry Coelestial and all the powers of the Elements as they are to move and influence him to that or the other thing whether it be Virtue or the contrary for the Princes Governors Magistrates of all kinds together with the Priests Prophets and Advocates are the great Stars Planets and Constellations that Govern and under whose influence all Men and other Creatures and Things are subjected to in this Sublunary World there being nothing more true and manifest that they are the Lordâ—… of every Mans Ascendant for by the power and vertue of their Commands Laws Customs and Traditions they make all bow before them let them be of what Constitution Nature or under what Constellation soever all Configurations both good or ill must yield Obedience to their Methods as we have before shewed by the Memorials Laws Customs Traditions and Religions of all Nations for this cause that which is esteemed true Virtue and Religion in one Country is Evil or Vice in another Now can any Person that wears Eyes in his Head be so ignorant as to think or believe that the powers and influences of the Coelestial Bodies are the prime Cause and Promoters of those vast Variety and Difference there is in the Religions and Manners of Mankind no no the true Original of all this amazing variety of Sentiments and Methods are the Orâ—…cles Prophets and Gods each Country doth Observe Adore and Worship be they either good or evil all both the Wise and the Simple fall Victims to their power Would not Swearing as is mentioned before and all other evil Words be they of what nature soever be as unknown and altogether as hard and impossible as for Children to learn Hebrew Greek or any other Language they never heard any speak no the Coelestial Stars and great illuminated Bodies whose Orbs or Circles they move by our demonstrative Guesser The
Mathematicians do tell us that the Orb or Circle of each Planet is far greater than the whole Globe of Earth and Water which hitherto no Man in the general hath doubted what they have found true by the Observations of the most Learned and Ingenious of all Ages for some thousands of years and if so what morâ—…l Man can guess the wonderful Creatures and Inhabitants that may possibly dwell and inhabit those Spacious Airy Plains for so they seem to us and who can tell but that the Globe of Earth and Water may appear to the Creatures of those Worlds as they do to us and consequently that the Mathematicians and Astrologers of those unknown Worlds may make as great ado about the influences of our Planets Stars and Constellations as we do of theirs and give us the same Titles and Names as we do them but we have never ravelled in their Regions nor conversed with the People and World of the Moon and therefore shall submit and be silent in this guessing Philosophy It is further to be considered that the good and evil Successes or Fortunes to the Ascendants Planets and Significators that as Astrologers say are showered down upon Mankind by the benevolent and malignant influences of those great Luminaries and Coelestial Bodies which are various and strange if all be true as Philosophers say Now the Evils and Misfortunes are as it were beyond Humane number in comparison of the Good and whatsoever Misfortune or Evil doth happen or befall Mankind is by many of those cunning Men attributed to the Configurations and Directions of Planets and Significators or some one of them to Saturn they say when ill lignified he powerfully inclines his Sons and Daughters to Oppression Violence Killing Covetousness Back-biting Envy Strife and all kinds of evil Words and Works And the like is to be understood of the other Six Planets whereas it is as clear as the Sun Beams at Noon-day that all the Intemperances Evils and Outrages Mankind doth commit against God and his Neighbour are generated and midwifed into the World by Customs Presidents evil Communications and Examples as appears by the foregoing and if this be true how angry then will those great Illuminated Powers of Heaven be with Man for laying the Cause and Foundation of those great Evils upon them as when the fair Sex are vain proud wanton and foolish to say that Venus that great and wonderful Illuminated Body and Queen of Love is the cause that inclines them to such Wickedness or when a young Man is ingenious sharp and witty and turns all into Cheating to attribute it to Mercury and when any Person is vain wanton and unconstant to lay the cause on the Moon and her Influences or when a Man is fierce devilish hard-hearted cruel and subject to Wrath Passion and Violence to lay the cause on Mars and when false in Religion to attribute it to an unfortunate Iupiter and when proud and subject to Vain-glory and boasting to fix it on the Sun when in Truth the Original cause of most or all Evils and Sins take their first birth in the center of a Mans self and the People he Lives amongst and communicates with so that Mankind doth mightily add to his evil Course of Life by laying the cause where he should not and belying those innocent Powers which wicked Trade he hath followed ever since he transgressed Gods Holy Law and Commandment putting the evil from himself and laying the cause on some other thing of which its said that our Mother Eve was the first Precedent or Example Now what Mankind have to say for themselves when they shall be brought to the Test I cannot imagine for it seems impossible for Astrologers that they should pass their Accompt without making retalliation or satisfaction so that the Wisemen have made but poor work of their Studies It is likewise further to be Noted that no Creatures or Sublunary Bodies are subject or compelled to obey the Influences of the Heavenly Bodies but only such as have kept and Lived under the Law of God and observed and not broken the limits of their Natural Orbe or Circle in which each specifick Body or Creature was Originally Created and brought forth as we have hinted before for all the wonderful and most amazing of the Heavenly Luminaries called Stars Planets and Signs and though their number be far beyond all Humane Numeration nevertheless each of them doth keep within the limits and bounds of their Orbs and Original Circles and doth alway move with an exact and regular motion keeping and obeying the Voice and great Law of their Creator And for this cause all Corporeal Beings that live and move within the Limits of their first Law and have not at any time broken nor in any degree exceeded its bounds are all subject to the Laws Orders and Methods of Heaven and to all the Influences of those great Powers vulgarly called Stars Planets and Constellations and they do with the highest diligence endeavour to observe and imitate their Superior Powers every Creature observing both time and season so that all things are done and brought forth in an exact and wonderful Method and Order which is strangely amazing and surprizing to any considerate Person Do not all the numerous Off-springs of the Earth obey the Motions Influences and Voice of the Heavenly Bodi or Constellations And are not the Children or Fruits of our Mother Earth better or worse strong or weak vertuous or the contrary all according to the Benevolent or Malevolent Influences or Configurations of the Stars Constellations and Elements The like is to be understood of the Sensitive Creatures called Beasts of which there is an unaccountable variety nevertheless each doth in a most wonderful manner and curious method observe and constantly obey the Original Law God stamped on them and their Young Ones or Children learn and observe the same without the invading fierce Rods of School-Masters or Tutors and as the Heavenly Bodies and Governing Powers of the Great Creator do all work move and govern in a most exact and regular Order and Method The like is to be understood of all the Children or Off-spring of the Elements who keep their first Law and therefore they do all as exactly keep and observe their times and seasons alway moving within the compass and bounds of their own Circles or Orbs they were Created in and their whole business both of Motion Inclination and all the Actions of Life is to imitate and observe the Laws and Commands of their Superiors viz. the Heavenly Bodies But the contrary is to be understood of the Humane Race who have defaced their noble Image by breaking the Law of their Creator and thereby have destroyed the Orbs and Limits of their own Circle so that they are as it were blind and know little or nothing of the wonderful Operations of their own Heaven nor are they in any degree sensible of their own Natures or the Principles they are compounded
little contributed in as much as what from the one and the other cause we do experimentally find there is not one of Thirty or Forty that ever attains to any competency of knowledge in this Art or to perform a Part at Sight so that their Time Labour and Money spent therein is much worse and redounds more to their damage than if so much had been given clearly away for the Tree is not only lost but even the Season for Planting and Sowing also Wherefore upon the whole matter it must necessarily follow that if shorter easier and quicker Methods be not gone upon for the obtaining a competent stock of Knowledge and assurance in it than is now generally taught it will be the part of every considerate Person to desist from the pursuit of it and to engage and advise others as much as he can to the contrary But Sir your longing and earnest desire after Wisdom and true Knowledge having penetrated into the very Center of my Magia or Magick Powers as I may call them has generated many thoughts and true Mathematical Notions in my Head concerning thisScience ofMusick which I shall make bold toMidwife into the World in due Season whether with or without the leave of our Musical Gentlemen but first communicate them unto you for your approbation and satisfaction and having premised that I have already shewed in my Book Entituled A way to Health the Excellency of Musick in General and particularly the principles and Birth as Sounds and Harmony to which I referr you I shall endeavour in this place to lay down a short and easy way and method for Learners to obtain a competent Knowledge of this noble Science The first thing then that you are to teach your Children whom you design for Musick is to read and know the proper Names and the Notes and the Gamut and to distinguish them in their several places and distances Secondly you are to teach them the time and length of each Note by expressing them with the Voice and motion of the Foot if it be Instrumentals but if Vocal then with the motion of the Hand and this any Musical Child will readily learn and perform in less than four Months if they be kept to the practice thereof but two or three hours in a day When that is done then teach them to strike the Notes with the Bow or Finger according to what Musick it is and be sure to make them keep and constantly beat the time of each Note with the foot and never suffer them to neglect the motion of it or of the Hand and as soon as they can strike the Strings any thing clear and firm then proceed to some easy Lesson not to strike one Note or Bar without measuring of them with the motion of the foot and Voice too and tho' the Child cannot Sing them yet in Speaking of them in time together with the fore-mentioned motion of the foot will not only confirm them in the dividing of the time but also beget a natural motion and habit both in the Members of the Body and Intellect or Mind too Or else you may teach Children to strike the Strings then make them to do it in time always using the motion of the Foot or Hand and so proceed never suffering them to neglect the said motion of the Foot and Speaking or Voice which is a double confirmation and will give the Learner assurance making them to understand the dividing of time much sooner Now by either of these Methods you may learn any Child of Six Seven or Eight years of Age to play any indifferent Lesson Base or Division at sight within the space of one year which I caused one to do in less than Ten Months and when he could do that learned to Sing and take out all indifferent Songs without a Master in four Months space for the greatest difficulty in learning of this noble Science consists chiefly in understanding of the Time since by the wonderful and secret Art of dividing it all Musical Harmony is performed and without it there is none either in Man or Birds but only a Voice Tone or Noise undistinguishable and therefore Musical Harmony is nothing else but a proper and most natural method of Talking in Tune or a kind of a Simpathetical agreement between Words Tones and Sounds divided into longer or shorter Sentences which can never be nicely or properly performed either in Vocal or Instrumental Musick but only by the motion of the Members of the Body as well as the Intellectual part of Man For all Arts Sciences and Trades whatsoever are learnt by a three-fold Method or Birth the first whereof is done by opening the hidden or Magick powers in us vulgarly called Thoughts or Imaginations the second is when those Thoughts or Desires are formed into Words or Sentences and the third Birth is the putting of these two into Motion and Action whereby Thoughts and Words become in a kind Essential Substantial or Material which so long as the Art or Science remains in the Magia only could never obtain Essentiality but continued as an Ideal power and as it were unknown easily cut off lost or forgot But when the Thoughts or Magick Powers are formed into Words they then become more External and do thereby obtain as I may say a Sidaereal or Airy Body which is much more difficult to be obliterated than that which is retained in the Thoughts or Magia of the Mind but still Words being no more than a composition of the Airy Powers can by no means become really substantial but only by being put into Action which is clearly demonstrated and understood in the learning of all Arts Sciences Trades and Employments not but that the Five Senses may be made capable of great Distinguishings and Understandings by being accustomed to hear Musical Harmony but they can never perform or do any thing except such do midwife the Magick Powers of Hearing into Words Motion and Action which Crowns the whole with Essentiallity and gives it an existence and therefore it s almost impossible for any Person to be a compleat Artist in any common Trade Art or Science by the use of the Sense only except such things be performed by the Motions and Actions of the Body and Members thereof for while any Art remains in the Magia only of Thoughts or Words it can never be performed from that very reason or constitution of such Bodies if I may call them so which are invisible and as it were Aethereal and cannot be incircled or made Essential so that our Thoughts and Imaginations pass and repass leaving no Precedent or Foot-steps behind them that any thing can be learned thereby and tho' Words may be said to approach nearer unto a Corporiety than Thoughts yet they being too slender and their Airy Bodies invisible they cannot make such a deep impression nor become so substantial and significant as the Motions or the Members of the Body and for this cause
those that have had regard to the encrease strength and health of their Posterity have always allotted the eaâ—…est and finest Employments for Women And I must tell you that nothing hath more hurt and injur'd the Plantations than the hard Labour and unkind Usage towards your Black Women for the whole preserâ—…tion of Mankind as to Encrease Health and Strength resides in the prudent Conduct of Women For pray tell us what can be a greater Indication of Evil unto any Country than that the Off-spring or Children of the Natives will not maintain their numbers of People can any Person be made to believe that if there were 10000 People of all Ages both Males and Females put into any open Healthy Country where they have all conveniences of Life and there to Inhabit for 20 or 30 years that then they should be dwindled away to 5000 or a less number would not any Man expect instead of 5000 more than 20000. Now this Decrease of People doth never happen but on some eminent occasion either the Climate is extreamly unhealthy or the People intemperate sweeping Sicknesses and Wars This Decrease of Negroes in all the Sugar Plantations is too true and the occasions thereof too little examined into or regarded which proves the greatest detriment to your Settlements doth not the contrary of this manifestly appear in England hath not their Off-spring and Native Children within the compass of a few years viz. 60 or 70 at the most settled many great Collonies and Plantations as New England Iamaica the Island of Barbadoes Virginia c. besides the great numbers that have of late been destroyed in the Wars at Land and Sea and others that yearly have and do furnish the great numbers of Ships with Seamen and notwithstanding these Consumptions England hath more Natives and Hands than Employments or Bread at a reasonable rate Now when these things are considered and understood you then will find upon the whole matter what sort of Conduct and Methods you have subjected your selves to and that your great industry to make large quantities of Sugar without having a sufficient number of Hands and very often good keeping too for it is always a rule that never fails if there be not a due proportion between the Labour Foods and Rest then Nature must by degrees sink and dwindle into a Consumption extraordinary Labour calls for extraordinary Meats Drinks and Rest more especially in hot Climates where hard working cannot be endured as in Cold which we have more largely set forth in our Treatise of the Fruits of the East and West Indies Now I say that some such Methods as we have proposed would certainly give you great ease and at once set you and your Posterity free from those intollerable Burthens and Slaverys you and your Servants undergo for there is nothing more true than Gods Eternal Law that if we over-burthen our Servants that are subjected under our Government for what cause or reason is unaccountable and do not in some degree do by them as we would be done unto if we had been served as they have viz. carried away contrary to our own Wills and Inclinations into Foreign Regions or as we would have our Children done by in the like condition that then you may be sure that suitable returns will be made to the Oppressor or to his Off-spring for the Groaning of him that suffereth pain is the beginning of trouble and misery to him that caused it and it is not to be doubted but under this black Character of Oppression and Violence the Sugar Plantations do now lye under is not this manifest by many and some of the chiefest Note for the more they forecast take care Labour and Oppress in hard severe Methods the poorer and more behind hand they become also the loose and extravagant Education of your Youth is a sure indication of Calamity and Misery to any Country for in a few years they come to Govern the publick Affairs These things are of greater moment and importance than the foolish and unthinking do imagine and though Mankind doth slight these Admonitions and natural Methods and goes on in their hard Hearted ways yet Gods Providence and the Divine Hand never forgets but early or late there must be retalliation made These things we recommend to your prudent consideration SIR Your very humble Servant T. T. LETTER XXXIII To a Gentleman in Barbadoes SIR WIth many serious Thoughts and Reflections have I at times revolved upon the State of our American Plantations and the various Methods our Government hath used in reference to them and their Trade so much I presume to theirs and our own disadvantage at least at long run notwithstanding the small Benefit that has been reaped seemingly by the Imposts laid upon them and the receipt of your last together with your Request therein having awakened my Mind afresh to resume my former Conceptions upon the said Subject I am free to Communicate all that I have thought of in general thereupon but more particularly what regards the Sugar Settlements and your Island of Barbadoes which is the chief of them still both for its own Produce the advancement of Navigation and vending the Manufactures of England and how advantagious it has been in former times to the Crown of England in all those Respects might be manifested by divers Instances but not to run back too far it 's sufficient to observe that that little spot of Ground which you know is not above 12 Miles over and 28 in length did in King Charles the 2d's Reign the Commodities being then free from high Customs and Impositions for many years together load between 3 and 400 Sail of Ships and most of them of a considerable burden with the Produce of it the reason of which Plenty must arise from no other than the natural goodness of your Soil and the extraordinary Diligence and Industry of the Planters and I may say Slavery too For if in the Infancy of our Sugar Plantations their Produce of Sugar Indico Ginger and Cotton had not yielded a considerable Price and the Duties been easy it had been impossible ever to have settled them or at leastwise to have brought them to any such perfection as they be for a Man must be in disburst at least 2 or 3000 l. before he can make 100 weight of brown Sugar not worth above 12 or 14 s. For this reason most of the first Settlers being Persons of small Stocks others would not run the Hazzard of tedious and dangerous Sea-Voyages into the Torrid Zones which at first proved very unhealthy for want of Conveniencies of Life and a prudent Conduct of Affairs which occasioned the Death of many in the very Enterprize who left the Benefit of their Labours to others and most of those that Survived before they could bring things to Maturity had contracted such large Debts with the Merchants both there and in England that they were forc'd to Sell and the very same Fate
than that which they leave or reject Now the Stomach cannot make so easy a Digestion thereof as it can of Foods made of Vegetations if properly managed in the Preparation which is the reason why some have refrained Eating of Animals whereby they have obtained an higher degree of Health and Pleasure than they had before Now it is to be noted that as Fermentation in Vegetables breaks and destroys the Rest of that thing so Drinks that have passed thro' these fiery Operations are changed for the worse that is the original Unity by this Motion is disturbed and there is an unequal working struggling and dividing Power between tâ—…em each Quality endeavouring to be Lord over the other whereby the whole sinks into its original Form and all such Liquors in a short time become sharp harsh or flat so that both the Water and the Juices of the Fruits become divested of their natural Bodies which as long as any thing remains entire incircles all the spiritual Powers or original Principles and preserves them in the Unity wherein they were Created wherefore all Fermented Drinks and more especially those that are strong never fail to operate like themselves so that as the original Forms are by this Art divided in a self-ful domineering Operation the very same they do in the Stomach wherefore the common drinking of such Liquors are Experimentally found baneful to Mankind by the great number of cruel Diseases that more particularly of latter years have been introduc'd amongst us especially Gravel Stone Gout and the like Evils which the Natives of all such Countries who constantly drink Water know nothing of tho' it is not such Liquors alone that are thus destructive to Humane Nature for since sensible Creatures I mean Flesh and Fish are become our principal Food Mankind not only inherits all the Disorders and Diseases such Creatures as he Eats are subject to he having little or no regard to Cleanness Uncleanness Season of the year and of Generation but the worst of all is these cruel Distempers are convey'd down and entailed upon our Children and Posterity and therefore grow more and more upon us and there are no Medicines found out that will Cure them for the Stomach cannot draw any proper Aliment from things that have passed thro' the fierce unequal Operations of Fermentation because Inequality cannot administer Equality each thing operating like it self and for this cause if Mens Foods were to be managed after the manner of Drinks they would in a short time destroy Mens Health and sink the Body into Death and hence it is and I presume with very good reason too that I have given Water the Preheminence before all Liquors as in respect to Food I have done to Herbs Seeds Grains and Fruits whatever the unthinking World may imagine to the contrary and since we find there can be no greater Character of the Virtues of Meats and Drinks than their long keeping sound and good and that Fruits Grains and Seeds together with Water do so much longer than Flesh Fish or Fermented Liquors one should think there could be no difficulty made in the choice of them seeing the Almighty hath provided such amazing varieties of Vegetables for us and much easier to be got than either Fish or Flesh. But to return to the Art of Fermentation as to the Original thereof it was first found out and promoted by the Egyptians or Eastern Philosophers and Physicians for as soon as Man had depraved and separated himself from his Original state of Unity all the Original Qualities and Principles in him were terribly stirred up by his longing free Will after all Intemperances and Evils to which he was continually tossed to and fro so that many destructive dark Inventions have and do still take their rise from thence which did and ever since have filled the whole Earth with Violence and as such Inventions and evil Customs have been admitted and incouraged so have our Diseases proportionably encreased which has occasioned the more prudent and sober part of former Ages to think of and invent equivalent Medicines or Antidotes and so went to work raking as it were into the Center of all Elemental Things and Creatures and more especially into the three Grand Kingdoms of Nature viz. the Animal Vegetable and Mineral to find out an Universal Medicine that might be able to cope with or Cure Universal Distempers concluding there was no Vice so great but there was a Virtue as great which if obtained might be effectual to that end But herein the most Learned and Ingenuous of all Ages have found themselves grosly mistaken as experience witnesseth yet for all their continued Failures every Age and Country are still pestered with a great number of those Philosophical Heads that tell Lies in the face of the Sun and magnify what they can do in this kind especially on Minerals It s true they have been able by the power of their Calcinary Fires to Flux and Refine Metals into a much higher degree of purity and fineness which has proved very beneficial to Mankind as being thereby fitted for various profitable uses But all this while they found no such thing as the Seeds of Metals nor yet any Ferment that was capable to divide the Original Forms or to bring them into a working boyling active power or strifeful opposite motion which Qualifications and Operations do appear in all things that are capable of Fermentation as we see in Vegetables but instead of extracting or obtaining such Seed or Ferment they procured all the opposite qualities for their fierce Fires did in a moment destroy all the Seminary or Living powers of such Metals of what kind or nature soever they were and totally obliterated the Characters and Powers of Multiplication The very same thing happens in the Vegetative Kingdoms for if you offer any Seed or Grain to the heat of common Fires a little will kill all the Spermatick or Seminary Quality which that moment puts a final stop both to the progression and multiplication of the said Seed or Grain and no better can surely be expected from such fiery Tryals in the Animal Kingdom Will any Person of common understanding believe you should you tell him that by Killing of Beasts and refining their Flesh and Blood with harsh and strong Fires you can obtain the Seed and that by the virtue and efficacy thereof with the help of some Menstruum you can multiply the same Species of Creatures from Tenfold to Ten Thousand as some of the Learned in the Art of Refining are apt to talk and boast of But so far it is from being in Mans power to effect this that we see if two Beasts of different kinds couple together the Creature that proceeds from such is rendred uncapable of Generation so fruitless have most of our Spagyrick Philosophers in all Ages been mostly both in their fiery Operations on Minerals and Animals and all they have done has been but to draw a circle of Darkness
about themselves wherein many Thousands have not only been accessary to their own Destruction by the venemous fumes of their own Fires but inticed others into the same Mischiefs by their Lying Volumes left behind them which have had no small influence on many very Ingenuous Persons whose Inclinations prompted them to those curious Studies together with the hopes of Gain and to become Richer than the Princes of the Earth and who tho' they have been endued with much Wit and other ingenuous Faculties yet they are void of any spark of true light or distinguishing understanding in the wonderful Operations of Nature Gods Eternal Power and fixed Methods of his Law But admit we should suppose they could attain to a proper Ferment both in the Mineral and Animal Kingdoms and Seminary Qualities whereby they could Ferment all Minerals as also the Flesh and Blood of Animals yet they shall not be able thereby to obtain the multiplying quality of Nature let their Menstruum be what it will because Fermentation wheresoever it is effected does in a moment destroy the unity of that thing and all its Seminary Qualities from whence multiplication proceeds by this fierce motion awakening the Central Principles out of their rest as already mentioned Further I say if this Fermentation could have been effected in the Mineral and Animal Kingdoms these Gentlemen would be as far off an Universal Medicine as ever neither would they be able ever to have made better Work or Medicines than there are made of Vegetations in the method of Fermentation and Distillation nor probably so good because Minerals are harder crude and harsher by much than Herbs Fruits Grains and Seeds having as it were no proportionable assimilation with the Humane Nature to which they are great Strangers and so rendred not capable of being made Homogeneal insomuch that Metals this way could be of no real benefit to Mankind but rather increase our Evils and Intemperances and our Operators instead of preparing Universal Medicines would have made Universally destructive Liquors or Spirits which no Art could ever make agreeable to Humane Nature and must be much worse than the Spirits or Brandies made of Vegetables are Again whatever could that way be drawn or extracted from the Bestial Nature of Animals must of necessity be gross and unclean in proportion to the Original from whence it proceeds for Nature never lies but is constant and true in all her Operations I will not take upon me in this place to say that the Arts of Fermentation and Distillation in any kind had been better lost than found in the World tho' it is most certain that Fermentation in the strictest and best Sense is no other than a certain vegetative and insensible Delirium or Madness and therefore all its Operations when the Fermented Liquor is strong and spirituous are in proportion and the same as I may say being Disbanded from under the Government of its Superior Officers so soon as a quantity of it is introduced into Mans Body it plunders Nature of all its sweet Virtues by drying and parching them up and at the same time breaks the Government of the Sentes turning Reason and Wisdom adrift so that the Body is in no better condition than a Ship without either Pilot or Rudder and penetrating into all parts and corners awakens and stirs up the Original Fires and by confederating with the same the whole Man becomes Mad and like one out of his Wits For which cause the Egyptians and Eastern Countries where the Art is supposed to have been invented foreseeing the Evils that would necessarily ensue did both by Laws and customs prohibit the Drinking thereof confining the said Liquors to the circle of Medicines I might take upon me were it necessary to ennumerate here the many kinds of Evils and Distempers the Drinking of such Liquors has introduced into the World but to wave that as being well known and but too sensibly felt I shall touch a little upon the other Inconveniences that do attend Fermentation and Distilling Are not most of our noble Fruits Grains and Seeds very much wasted and destroyed hereby which if otherwise managed would be considerable Preservatives For Example one Bushel of good Barley made into Malt Ground Fermented and Distilled into what they call Common Proof-Spirit makes but about Five Quarts thereof which in weight is not above Eight Pounds and an Half whereas the Barley before it was so ordered as aforesaid weighed about Forty Five Pounds and would have made Bread enough to sustain Six or Seven Persons for a whole Week with some other Foods or if the said Bushel of Malt had been Brewed into Beer or Small Ale it would have made Twenty or Four and Twenty Gallons of good Drink And tho' this last be of much less value to Mankind than the said Corn made into Bread yet it far exceeds the Five Quarts of Brandy both in quality and in all its Uses The like is to be understood in most of our other Grains and Fruits In a word Fermentation and Distillation have Midwifed into the World all the enticing Drinks and Liquors that are Drunk and tho' these Arts may be allowed to advance some particular things to an higher degree of usefulness yet they are but few and might well enough be spared Indeed Bread and Flour of Corn being of a ponderous close glewy Body Fermentation doth advance and better accommodate it to our Stomachs making it of an easier Digestion tho' at the same time this virtue of putting Ferment into our common Bread the supposed advantages thereof proceed chiefly from custom for the Ancients whose Health and long Life far surpassed ours in these latter days according to the Testimony of History used neither Ferment nor Salt in their Cakes and many of the Eastern People do follow that custom to this day And it is also remarkable that among the Iews and other Religions too after some of them came to allow Drinking Wine and Fermented Liquors yet they would not admit of Bread that was Fermented either with Leven or Lees of Wine to be eaten in their Religious Rites or Worship esteeming the same unclean in comparison to that which had no Ferment or Leaven therein and this they called clean or unleavened Bread Neither is this also to be omitted concerning our common Bread that if the Yeast be too much in quantity such Bread becomes in a very short time dry and harsh losing its sweet pleasant taste and moisture And by the by I may add in like manner that Salt is a certain and sure Enemy to Bread not only by causing it to corrupt in a short time but also it takes away and doth as it were destroy the natural pleasant sweetness thereof and indeed there is no manner of thing to be urged but custom for putting it in and 't is well known that Bread which is designed to be kept for a considerable while must have neither Salt Ferment nor Yeast in it and this
invisible Power whose body is the Air This is the Sense by whose directions all the Beasts and Creatures who have kept Gods Law do distinguish and choose their Foods viz. what to eat and what to forbear this Sense penetrates to the very Center of each thing and doth distinguish the good and evil Qualities and presents them to the Judge and if good they embrace them if evil they refuse them this all the undergraduated Creatures do perform without touching oâ—… tasting which noble distinguishing Power Man hath least of anâ—… thereby the Sense of Feeling is wounded by receiving Meats and Drinks that produce Diseases and Pains for all the Disordeâ—…s Intemperances and Errours of the other four fall or centre oâ—… the Sense of Feeling whence springs such a multitude of Diseases in the Body and Mind This Sense is a faithful Centinel or Guard that presents all Comers and Goers to the distinguishing Powers and Judge which gives certain and true Judgment if it be not corrupted and blinded by degenerate Courses and unclean Methods of Life otherwise it is capable to determine by its Touchstone the Complexion of each thing if it be cold as a stone then it turns it by as unfit for communication because of his weight and hardness the Central fire being locked up in the cold Watry Coâ—…lation or strong Bond of the Saturnine property and thereâ—… it is only good for such uses as Building to withstand the wrath of the Elements and to shelter Man from their fierceness also if any thing be presented in which the strong fierce heat is kindled it puts that by and tells its various uses for which it is good and the contrary the Truth of this may be further demonstrated by several Arts Trades and Employments The judgment whereof chiefly depends on this Sense of Feeling for by handling it is known whether work be welldone and compleat It s smoothness closeness thickness thinness c. are represented to the Understanding and determined according to what it finds whether it be good or evil It is likewise farther to be noted that this Sense of Feeling is the ground or original to all Corporality for though the Mind or Soul do contain all Principles Forms and Powers which do all lie in the sleeping or silent Magia even as all forms and qualities of Nature do in the Earth which could never be known or become manifest if the Husbandman by Manuring and Cultivation did not stir up and awaken the innate Powers and Qualities which do as it were stir up and wrestle with each other from whence proceeds a lively brisk motion of heat and vigour which is called growing or vegitation and then the hidden or incorporeal Forms and Qualities become visible being manifested in corporeal and individual Bodies for none of the Magical Forms and Powers can be known before they become Cloathed with suitable Bodies For every Spiritual Power or Quality when it is stirred up or agitated by circular motions and the russling or rubbing together of contrary Principles which do generate and open the Gates of heat and moisture which lie hid under such Spiritual or Magical Power and Form and is capable to attract proper and agreeable matter for a Cloathing or Body and according to the Governing or Predominant quality in the Spirit or Magick fire whether it be the bitter sour salt or sweet such a Body Shape or Form that thing obtains and is accordingly Vitious or Vertuous For in all Corporal Beings the Flegm or Body is the House wherein the hidden or Spiritual Beings become manifest and therefore so soon as the Spiritual substance that is surrounded and skinned over hath obtained its highest limit then there is no longer a Progression or Vegitation but all falls into Retrogradation Now the Flegm or Body doth by degrees dye and the inward power strength vertue and spirit of the thing loseth its House or Cloathing and so sinks into its Original and becomes again mingled with the hidden Powers and Spiritual Beings of the Elements and so much difference and variety you see in the Shapes Forms and Colours in the Animal Vegitable and Mineral Kingdoms which is beyond all human numeration The same variety there is in the Complexions of the Spiritual Powers and Qualities each Spiritual matter that hath the Government gives the Shape and Colour and as the Operations of the hidden Nature are in the Creating Generating and bringing to Manifestation the deep and wonderful Powers of the Vegitable and Mineral Kingdoms The very same is to be understood in the Animal Kingdom there being no difference but that the last is higher graduated The Body of Man is the human Ground or Earth which is as it were a Circle in which is contained all the Spiritual Powers Forms and Principles of Nature if this were not so Man could not nor ought not to be stiled or called the Image or Likeness of God so that in Man lyes hid all the wonderful Mysteries and Magick Powers of things even as they do in the Earth Now the Will is the Husbandman who can and doth by the assistance of the five great Powers and Councellors the Senses stir up and awaken the sleeping Magick Powers unto a sensible Feeling Tasting Seeing Smelling and Hearing of each other And this is Sensation or a stirring feeling Power For all the hidden inwardmost Principles and Powers of the Body are Magical Spiritual and Invisible the Body is but the Flegm or Cloathing of the said Powers as the gross body of Vegitables are the Cloathing or Covering of the Spiritual Sal-Nâ—…tral Virtues and Powers and keeps the said Virtues from evaporation For no Spiritual Power can be or ever is contented or satisfied when once it is awakened or stirred up out of its silent Magia or quiet Rest till it obtains a body without which it cannot become manifest to its self nor to the rest of the Corporal or Visible Powers for all the hidden Principles or Qualities are not satisfied till they are invested with proportionable bodies that thereby they may obtain an individual Being Therefore from Words each Man doth proceed to Actions or Works which doth compleat all the gradual proceedings and birth of Nature by which they become essential and substantial so that Principle Quality or Power that was in its first original ground a Naked or Magick thought is by the working moving Powers and contrary Qualities brought into a visible substance or Corporeal Body so that from the Nothing or invisible Spiritual Powers the Visible and Corporal Bodies and Substances of all things have taken their birth and therefore it was well and truly said by the ancient Seers and Wisemen that God made all things out of nothing For the original ground or unchangeable and incomprehensible Being is a Nothing in comparison to Corporality or Corporeal Bodies and therefore no Magick Powers or Spiritual Being can be manifest to its self or become individual as before mentioned till it Cloaths it self with
pleasure If this were not little weak Children could never go through a days Play with such might and vigor as they do for they are not conducted by Reason nor Interest for the obtaining a days Wages or greater Gain but follow Nature and so soon as they are dull and weary at one Sport or Pastime they presently fall to another never reasoning the Cause or studying the Point but go out of one thing into another so that when night comes they have tired all their Members and Parts of their Bodies and have left no Spirit uncalled It is therefore a grand Mistake in all Parents and Tutors of Children being a wrong Notion viz. To let their Children Play to refresh and make themselves more agil and lively whereas the very contrary is to be understood for nothing does so much unfit dull and becloud their brisk lively sporting Spirits as such various Sports which unfits and renders them uncapable for all sorts of Learning Whereas they ought to be Methodiz'd by their Tutors and Parents that is to be appointed several sorts of Learning for the day not exceeding one hour at a time for one sort of Art and though the same sort might come in the afternoon as in the morning yet they should spend but one hour at a time by which they might learn six several sorts of Arts and Sciences in one day viz. Language Writing Singing or other sorts of Muâ—…ick some useful parts of the Mathematicks and Gardening â—…itting or Sowing the meaner Arts to spend the less time in by which the whole day would be nothing but a Play or Diyersion Of all Exercises Walking or Going is one of the most strong and healthy for as we have demonstrated most Employments Trades or Arts when a Man hath Laboured all day at any of them yet he leaves some Member or Part of the Body as it were unwearied so that a Man may as it were with some kind of Delight and Pleasure exercise himself in another but Going or Walking hard does at once tire and weary all the Parts of the Body and though some are more weary and tired than others because more exercised or more weak yet all will be wearied or tired after hard Walking So that if a Man after such Going doth exercise or labour at any other thing he will presently find himself disabled and no Member or Part can supply him with fresh and lively Spirits which doth shew and clearly manifest that Walking or Going is one of the best and most natural as well as equal Exercises and for that very reason it begets the best Stomach and Appetite and is the principal Employment for Health and the encrease of good Blood strong clean Spirits and vigorous Nerves and particularly for all fat gross phlegâ—…tick People and such as are apt to be so And the more such use Going the more they may and the greater the Journeys are the better provided they come to it by degrees there being no Trade or Employment so beneficial natural and healthful though all Exercises are beneficial and good for most or all People And if going on foot were esteem'd genteel and customary many would receive great Advantages thereby and notwithstanding it is so natural so healthy and gives the Practisers thereof such strength and pleasure of Appetite nevertheless few there are that chuse it for their own sakes or the Benefits it endues the Practisers withal Riding is a good Exercise and of much motion and passing through various Airs begets good Appetites and is healthful but not to be compared with Going on foot as not being so natural nor employing the Members and Parts of the Body so equally and genteel so that Riding cannot encrease and beget such Strength nor so many powerful Spirits Indeed it is an Employment or Exercise of great motion but very unlike Nature being the motion of the Horse and not of the Man which is altogether contrary to the natural habits and motion of Going and all other Motions that Men are subject to or ever practise and as this Riding Jolting Turbulent Horse-motion is altogether contrary to any Motion or Gesture that belongs to Men or that they are subject to so it cannot be made easy but by custom and such as do not accustom them selves to Riding when Young can hardly ever make it easy in Age the greatest Use of it is that it is expeditious and genteel and Going on foot seems Poor Beggarly and Despicable even as almost all the usefullest and most innocent things in the World are a Horse is a high lofty proud Creature and may in some measure influence his Rider with such Dispositions but Going on foot is innocent simple natural and contemplative free from care having but one to take care for the fewer we have in Family the less is our Trouble Your Friend T. T. LETTER XXII Of FEVERS SIR BY yours I am inform'd of your present ill state of Health and that you are very subject to a Fever or much Indisposed by Heat which attacks you on every side and upon every small Disorder of Meats Drinks and Exercises and that you desire my Iudgment of the Original of those hot Humors and by what Method to prevent them which I shall readily do the Gifts and Talents God hath bestowed on me are all at the Service of true Seekers of Wisdom that being the end for which they were given FEvers are as various in their degrees as they are in their Natures all according to the Meats Drinks Employments Venus and Airs together with the Intemperance of the Stock or Parents this last is the most dangerous and deepest rooted of all others and hardest to be Eradicated for every Fruit is better or worse according to the temperance equality or inequality of the original Forms of that Thing or Creature both in the Animal Vegitable and Mineral Worlds or Kingdoms for the Fruit of each thing is the compleat Son or Image of all the Principles Qualities and Powers of the Father that Generated or Begot it so that all the Intemperances or unequal Methods of Life be it Meats Drinks or any other thing do centre in the Seed which contains all the Species and Essences of the Disorders both of Body and Mind and do rarely fail to engraft and entail those incroaching Properties and unequal Powers Many of these Diseases thus procured lie hid during the time of Youth or so long as Nature is vigorous and strong but so soon as Age comes or any other concurring Accident or Intemperance they start up and appear in their own Forms for which there is hardly any Medicine found that can make them tolerable Is not this most clear and manifest in all the Beaâ—…ts and Vegetables of the Earth and are not all the Young ones or Off-spring of this wonderful and amazing variety of Beings better or worse sound or unsound healthy or unhealthy strong or weak according to the temperaments and goodness of the Seed and the