main Truth We plead for in this Discourse is so nearly concern'd in what hath been taught by those that would keep God from being thought to have any share in the Production of the Universe I can scarce forbear as unwilling as I am to digress to represent to You on the present occasion a few Considerations which may assist You if not to lessen the Arrogance of such Persons at least to keep Your self from thinking their Evidence as great as their Confidence is wont to be Now of the Philosophers we speak of some being Atomists and others not it will be requisite to say something to each of the two sorts And because we not long since in an Illustrious Company where You Pyrophilus are not unknown met with one of them who avowedly grounded his Opinions on the Aristotelean or vulgar Physiology We shall first recommend to You two or three Considerations concerning such arrogant Peripateticks For I speak not of that Sect in general of which I know there are divers excellent Men. First then You will in many Passages of the following Essays finde that diveâ—s things that have been very Magisterially taught and confidently believ'd among the Followers of Aristotle are Errors or Mistakes and that as several even of the obvious Phaenomena of Nature do contradict the common Peripatetick Doctrine so divers at least of those that are more abstruse are not explicable by it and as confidently as these his Followers talk of the expounding the very Riddles of Nature yet I remember that he himself somewhere for I cannot call to minde the place did not scruple to confess that As the Eyes of Owls are to the splendor of the Day so are those of our Minds even to things obvious and manifest I shall next take notice That Philosophers who scorn to ascribe any thing to God do often deceive themselves in thinking they have sufficiently satisfied our Enquiries when they have given us the nearest and most immediate causâ—s of some things whereas oftentimes the assignment of those Causes is but the manifesting that such and such Effects may be deduc'd from the more Catholick affections of things though these be not unfrequently as abstruse as the Phaenomena explicated by them as having onely their Effects more obvious not their Nature better understood As when for instance an account is demanded of that strange supposed Sympathy betwixt Quick-silver and Gold in that we finde that whereas all other Bodies swim upon Quick-silver it will readily swallow up Gold and hide it in its Bosom This pretended Sympathy the Naturalist may explicate by saying That Gold being the onely Body heavier then Quick-silver of the same bulk the known Laws of the Hydrostaticks make it necessary that Gold should sink in it and all lighter Bodies swim on it But though the cause of this Effect be thus plausibly assign'd by deducing it from so known and obvious an affection of Bodies as Gravity which every man is apt to think he sufficiently understands yet will not this put a satisfactorie period to a severe Inquirers Curiositie who will perchance be apt to alledge That though the Effects of Gravity indeed be very obvious yet the Cause and Nature of it are as obscure as those of almost any Phaenomena it can be brought to explicate And that therefore he that desires no further account desists too soon from his Enquiries and acquiesces long before he comes to his Journies end And indeed the investigation of the true nature and adequate cause of gravity is a task of that difficulty that in spight of ought I have hitherto seen or read I must yet retain great doubts whether they have been clearly and solidly made out by any Man And sure Pyrophilus there are divers Effects in Nature of which though the immediate Cause may be plausibly assign'd yet if we further enquire into the Causes of those Causes and desist not from ascending in the Scale of Causes till we are arriv'd at the top of it we shall perhaps finde the more Catholick and Primary causes of Things to be either certain primitive general and fix'd Laws of Nature or rules of Action and Passion among the parcels of the Universal Matter or else the Shape Size Motion and other primary Affections of the smallest parts of Matter and of their first Coalitions or Clusters especially those endowed with seminal Faculties or Properties or to dispatch the admirable conspiring of the several parts of the Universe to the production of particular Effects of all which it will be difficult to give a satisfactory Account without acknowledging an intelligent Author or Disposer of Things And the better to clear so weighty a Truth let us further consider on this occasion That not onely Aristotle and those that mis-led by his Authority maintain the Eternity of the World but very many other Philosophers and Physitianâ— who ascribe so much to Nature that they will not be reduc'd to acknowledge an Author of it are wont very much to delude both themselves and others in the account they presume to give us as satisfactory of the Causes or Reasons of very many Effects I will not instance in the Magnetick Properties of Things nor any of those numerous abstrusities of Nature which 't is well known that the Aristoteleans are wont to refer to Sympathy Antipathy or Occult Qualities and strive to put Men off with empty Names whereby they do not so much lessen our Ignorance as betray their own But I shall instance in those more obvious Phaenomena of which they suppose they have given us very satisfactory Accounts If you ask one of those I speak of whence it comes to pass that if a Man put one end of a long Reed into a Vessel full of Water and suck at the other end his Mouth will be immediatly fill'd with that Liquor he will readily tell you That the Suction drawing the Air out of the cavity of the Reed the Water must necessarily succeed in the place deserted by the Air to prevent a Vacuity abhorr'd by Nature If you likewise ask such a Man Why to Women about a certain Age their Purgationes Menstruae do commonly supervene he will think he has sufficiently answered you when he has told you that about that Age beginning to beripe for Procreation Nature has wisely provided that their superfluous Blood should be sent to the Uterine Vessels partly to dis-burthen the Mass of Blood of an useless load and partly to contribute Matter or at least afford Nourishment in case of Conception But though these Solutions are wont to be acquiesc'd in by such as those that give them yet I see not how they can satisfie a rigid Reasoner For not now to mention what may be objected against them out of some Modern Mechanical and Anatomical Observations let us a little consider that to say that the ascent of the Water in the first Problem proceeds from Natures Detestation of a Vacuity supposes that there is a kinde of
taken notice of such a Person I say will scarce be backward to think that so admirable an Engineer as Nature by many pieces of her Workmanship appears to be can by very various and differing Contrivances perform the same things and that it is a very easie mistake for Men to conclude that because an Effect may be produc'd by such determinate Causes it must be so or actually is so And as confident as those we speak of use to be of knowing the true and adequate Causes of Things yet Epicurus himself as appears by ancient Testimony and by his own Writings was more modest not onely contenting himself on many occasions to propose several possible ways whereby a Phaenomenon may be accounted for but sometimes seeming to dislike the so pitching upon any one Explication as to exclude and reject all others And some Modern Philosophers that much favor his Doctrine do likewise imitate his Example in pretending to assign not precisely the true but possible Causes of the Phaenomenon they endeavor to explain And I remember that Aristotle himself what ever confidence he sometimes seems to express does in his first Book of Meteors ingeniously confess that concerning many of Natures Phaenomena he thinks it sufficient that they May be so perform'd as he explicates them But granting that we did never so certainly know in the general that these Phaenomena of Nature must proceed from the Magnitudes Figures Motions and thence resulting Qualities of Atoms yet we may be very much to seek as to the particular Causes of this or that particular Effect or Event For it is one thing to be able to shew it possible for such and such Effects to proceed from the Various Magnitudes Shapes Motions and Concretions of Atoms and another thing to be able to declare what precise and determinate Figures Sizes and Motions of Atoms will suffice to make out the propos'd Phaenomena without incongruity to any others to be met with in Nature As it is one thing for a Man ignorant of the Mechanicks to make it plausible that the motions of the fam'd Clock at Strasburge are perform'd by the means of certain Wheels Springs and Weights c. and another to be able to describe distinctly the Magnitude Figures Proportions Motions and in short the whole Contrivance either of that admirable Engine or some other capable to perform the same things Nay a Lover of disputing would proceed farther and question that way of reasoning which even the eminentest Atomists are wont to employ to demonstrate that they explicate things aright For the grand Argument by which they use to confirm the truth of their Explications is That either the Phaenomenon must be explicated after the manner by them specified or else it cannot at all be explicated intelligibly In what sense we disallow not but rather approve this kinde of Ratiocination we may elsewhere tell you But that which is in this place more fit to be represented is That this way of arguing seems not in our present case so Cogent as they that are wont to imploy it think it to be For besides that it is bold to affirm and hard to prove that what they cannot yet explicate by their Principles cannot possibly be explicated by any other Men or any other Philosophy besides this I say that which they would reduce their Adversaries to as an Absurdity seems not to deserve that name For supposing the Argument to be conclusive That either the propos'd Explication must be allow'd or Men can give none at all that is intelligible I see not what absurdity it were to admit of the consequence For who has demonstrated to us That Men must be able to explicate all Natures Phaenomena especially since divers of them are so abstruse that even the Learned'st Atomists scruple not to acknowledge their being unable to give an account of them And how will it be prov'd that the Omniscient God or that admirable Contriver Nature can exhibit Phaenomena by no wayes but such as are explicable by the dim Reason of Man I say Explicable rather then Intelligible because there may be things which though we might understand well enough if God or some more intelligent Being then our own did make it hâ—s Work to inform us of them yet we should never of our selves finde out those Truths As an ordinary Watch-maker may be able to understand the curiousest Contrivance of the skilfullest Artificer if this Man take care to explain his Engine to him but would never have understood it if he had not been taught Whereas to explicate the Nature and Causes of the Phaenomena we are speaking of we must not onely be able to understand but to investigate them And whereas it is peremptorily insisted on by some Epicureans who thereby pretend to demonstrate the excellency and certainty of their Explications that according to them Nature is declar'd to produce things in the way that is most facile and agreeable to our Reason It may be replyed That what we are to enquire after is how Things have been or are really produced not whether or no the manner of their Production be such as may the most easily be understood by us For if all things were as those we reason withal maintain casually produced there is no reason to imagine that Chance considered what manner of their Production would be the most easily intelligible to us And if God be allowed to be as indeed he is the Author of the Universe how will it appear that He whose Knowledge infinitely transcends ours and who may be suppos'd to operate according to the Dictates of his own immense Wisdom should in his Creating of things have respect to the measure and ease of Humane Understandings and not rather if of any of Angelical Intellects so that whether it be to God or to Chance that we ascribe the Production of things that way may often be fittest or likelyest for Nature to work by which is not easiest for us to understand And as for the way of arguing so often imploy'd especially against the Truth we now contend for and so much rely'd on by many Modern Philosophers namely That they cannot clearly conceive such or such a thing propos'd and therefore think it fit to be rejected I shall readily agree with them in the not being forward to assent to any thing especially in Philosophy that cannot well be conceiv'd by knowing and considering Men But there is so much difference among Men as to their faculty of framing distinct Notions of thâ—ngs and through Mens partiality or lazyness many a particular Person is so much more apt then these Men seem to be aware of to think or at least to pretend that he cannot conceive what he has no minde to assent to that a Man had need be wary how he rejects Opinions that are impugn'd onely by this way of Ratiocination by which I hope it will not be expected that we should be more prevail'd with then that Sect of Philosophers that
P. 49. Piso ib. From the Root Mandihoca that abounds with a very potent Poison there is made not onely excellent Aliment but even Antidote too P. 50. Ex Augustino You ought not to use your Eyes as a Bruit onely to take notice of Provisions for your Belly and not for your Minde Use them as a Man Pry up into Heaven See the things made and enquire the Maker Look upon those things you can see and seek after Him whom you cannot see and believe on Him you cannot see because of those things you see And be not like the Horse and Mule c. P. 75. Epicurus in Epist ad Herod in Laertio As to the Meteors you ought not to believe that there is either Motion or Change or Ecclipse or the rise or setting of them because of any superior President which doth or hath so disposed of it and himself possesses all the while Happiness and Immortal Life Wherefore you must think that when the World was made those implications and foldings of Atoms happen'd which caused this necessity that these Bodies should pass through these Motions There are infinite Worlds some like this some unlike it For since Atoms are infinite as I newly shewed from the infiniteness of the Spaces some in one others in others distant parts of these Spaces far from us variously concur to the making of infinite Worlds P. 75. Lucretius Lib. 5. But how at first when Matter thus was whirl'd Heav'n Earth and Sea the high and lower World The Sun and Moon and all were made I 'le shew For sure the first rude Atoms never knew By sage Intelligence and Councel grave T' appoint the places that all Beings have Nor will I think that all the Motions here Order'd at first by fixt Agreements were But th' Elements that long had beat about Been buffeted now in now carryed out Screw'd into every hole and try'd to take With any thing in any place to make Somewhat at last after much time and coyl Motions and Meetings and a world of toyl Made up this Junto And thus being joyn'd And thus in kinde Embraces firmly twin'd And link'd together they alone did frame Heav'n Earth and Sea and th' Creatures in the same P. 77. Aristot Metaph 12. c. 6. How shall things be mov'd if there be no actual cause For Matter cannot move it self but requires to be mov'd by a Tectonic ' thing-creating Power P. 78. Ciceronis de Thalete He said Water was the Principle of all things but God was that Intelligence that made all things out of Water Ejusdem de Anaxagorâ The delineation and manner of all things he thought to be design'd and made by the power and reason of an infinite Intelligence P. 80. Garcias ab Horto L. 1. simp c. 47. Diamonds which ought to be brought to perfection in the deepest Bowels of the Earth and in a long tract of Time are almost at the top of the Ground and in three or four Years space made perfect For if you dig this Year but the depth of a Cubit you will finde Diamonds and after two Year dig there you will finde Diamonds again P. 93. Arist de Mundo cap. 6. It remains that we speak briefly concerning that 〈◊〉 whose Power preserves and supports all things in like manner as we have compendiously handled other matters For it would seem criminal to pass over the chief part of the World untouch'd having design'd to discourse of the Universe in a Treatise which if less accurate yet certainly may be sufficient for a rough platform of Doctrine Ibid. For God is both the Preserver of all things contain'd in the Universe and likewise the Producer of every thing whatsoever which is any wise made in this World Yet not so as to be sensible of labor after the manner of a Workman or a Creature which is subject to weariness for he is indued with a power which is inferior to no difficulty and whereby he contains all things under his authority even such as seem most distant from him 'T is more magnificent and agreeable to conceive God so resident in the Highest Place that nevertheless his Divine Energy being diffus'd throughout the whole World moves both the Sun and Moon turns round the whole Globe of Heaven and affords the causes of Safety and Preservation of such things as are upon the Earth But to sum up all in brief what the Pilot is in a Ship what the Driver in a Chariot what the chief Singer is in a Dance finally what Magistracy is in a Commonwealth and the General in an Army That is God in the World Unless there be this difference That much toil and manifold cares perplex them but all things are perform'd by God without labor or trouble P. 98. Galen de Plac Hipp Plat Lib. 7. Whereas therefore saith he all Men ascribe that to Art which is made aright in all respects but that which is so only in one or two not to Art but Fortune The structure of our Body gives us cause to admire the excellent Art exactness and power of Nature which fram'd us For our Body consists of above Two hundred Bones to each of which tends a Vein for conveying of nourishment in like manner as to the Muscles which is accompanied with an Artery and a Nerve and the parts are exactly pairs and those plac'd in the right side of an Animal are wholly alike to those in the other Bone to Bone Muscle to Muscle Vein to Vein Artery to Artery and Nerve to Nerve excepting onely the Bowels and some other parts which seem to have a peculiar construction So that the parts of our Body are double and altogether alike among themselves both in greatness and shape as also in consistence which I place in the diversity of softness and hardness As therefore we use to judge of things made by Men acknowledging the skill of a Work-man by the building of a Ship with extraordinary Art so also it behoveth to do in those of God and to admire the Framer of our Body whosoever of the Gods he were although we do not see Him P. 101. Arist de Mundo Cap. 6. 'T is an ancient Tradition saith he diffus'd amongst all Mankinde from our Ancestors That all things were made and produc'd of God and by God and that no Nature can be sufficiently furnish'd for its own safety which is left without the support of God to its own protection P. Ead Thus therefore we ought to conceive of God If we consider His Power He is Omnipotent if His Shape most Beautiful if His Life Immortal and finally if His Virtue most Excellent Wherefore though undiscernable by any corruptible Nature yet He is perceiv'd by such in His Works and indeed those things which are produc'd in the Air by any mutation whatsoever in the Earth or in the Water we ought deservedly to term the Works of God which God is the absolute and soveraign Lord of the World and out of whom
the Usual Distillation ib. Of the power of good Menstruums in facilitating Distillation 181 That the calcination of Gold is facilitated by Amalgamation with Mercury 182 The power of Verdigreas distilled in drawing Tinctures of Glass of Antimony c. ib. That the Naturalist may find out wayes to preserve Medicines longer and better then is usual 183 Of fuming Liquors with Sulphur ib. And adding a little of the white Coagulum made of the pure spirits of Wine and Urin. ib. That the most principal way of lessening the charge of Cures would be the finding out New and more effectual Remedies 184 An History of a radicated Epilepsie that was cured by the Powder of Misselto of the Oak 185 Chap. VIII Other proofs that the Naturalists skill may improve the Pharmaceutical preparation of simples 186 Of the best waies to correct Opium 187 Of the best way of correcting Mercurius vitae 188 An Excellent Medicine made of those churlish Minerals Quicksilver and Antimony ib. Waies to take away the Vomitive faculty of Antimonial Glass 189 190 A New and excellent way to get the Primum Ens or Essence of some Vegetables 191 The influence of these Prima Entia to cause renovation or rejuvenescence 192 193 Of Helmonts Via Media of Elixir Propâ—ietatis â—94 And the perfuming it by cohobations with Musk and Amber ib. A Commendation of Helmont's Medicines 195 Of the power of Chymistry 196 Of the power of Noble Menstruums particularly 196 â—97 The power of Sal-Taltari Volatized 198 Of the possibility of Volatizing it 199 That there may be other Menstruums besides such as are Acid Urinous or Alcalizate 200 How these severally disarm and destroy one another and that what an Acid Menstruum dissolves an Vrinous or Alcalizate doth precipitate ib. Of a Menstruum unlike to all these ib. Chap. IX That Chymistry it self much more Physiology is capable of affording a New and better Methodus Medendi 201 202 203 Instances to prove that the unusual efficacies of New Remedies may alter and make the method of Curing more compendious 204. In the Kings-Evil ib. In Plurisies 205. In the Rickets ib. Chap. X. That great Cures may be done by outward Applications 207 Of the efficacy of Lapis Nephriticus and divers other Appensa 208 209 The Cures of the Dropsy and Schyrrhus Lienis by the external application of Spunges dipt in Lime water 210 Of strange Cures perform'd neer Rome in the Serpentine Grotta ib. Of the Operations of Suphur Cantharides and Quicksilver and Tobacco externally applied 211 Instances in divers Medicines which have differing effects inwardly given and outwardly applied 212 213 That preparation may much improve Simples which are outwardly applied ib. Instances in divers preparations of Gold ib. An Oyntment made of Aurum fulminans for the Haemorrhoides and Veneral Ulcers ib. The Cure of a Person esteem'd bewitcht by an appended Mineral 214 Of the power of Jasper to stanch Blood 215 The Incontinentia Urinae Cured by the powder of a Toad burnt alive and hung about the neck 216 Effects ascribed to Witchcraft cured Per appensa 217 Paracelsus cured Quartan's by a Plaister 218 Diseases Cured by Frights 219 Physick now in China in a good condition without Phlebotomy Potions or Issues 2â—0 Where practitioners of Physick are illiterate there Specificks may be best met with 221 The usefulnesse of the knowledg of the Medicines of Barbarous Nations 221 222 223 A Comparison of this Empirick part of Physick with the Rational 224 Chap. XI Of other Extraordinary Medicines which work by Magnetisme Transplantation c. 225 The Cure of an Vlcer in the Bladder by the Sympathetick Powder 226 The effects of the Weapon-salve and other Magnetical Remedies 227 228 Observations of the Transplantation of Diseases 229 230 231 The sometimes not succeeding of Magnetical Medicines no sufficient cause to abandon their Vse 232 Chap. XII Instances of divers Cures upon Bruits and how these are appliable to men 233 234 235 Chap. XIII That the handling of Physical Matters was anciently thought to belong to the Naturalist 236 That the rejecting Specificks because they make no visible Evacuation is irrational 237 That great changes may be made only by displacing without any Evacuation of the parts 238 The making of Vinegers is an Instance of this truth especially in the Indies ib. Instances in Sura and the Iuice of Mandioca 239 In the Effects of Thunder and Earthquakes ib. Divers Instances to prove that invisible Corpuscles may passe from Amulets and cause great alterations in the Iuices of a Mans Body 240 Galens Example of Peiony-Root c. 240 241 242 Of Purging by the Odor of Potions 243 Of the Purging and Vomiting Quality of the Air of the Mountain Pariacaca 243.244 The power of Steams seen in the Infectious Effluvia 244 Of alterations made by the Passions of the mind 245 Chap. XIV Divers Instances of the power of Imagination 246 An Instance of the Hair of the Head chang'd in Colour upon a sudden Fear 247 How the Authors discourse concerning the power of Effluvia ought to be understood 248 That the particular State of disposition of the Engine of humane Body is considerable as to the effects of these Impressions 249 250 251 252 The effects of the Moss growing on Humane skill in stanching Blood 253 Burnt Feathers or the Smoak of Tobacco remove Hysterical fits ib. Cures of Dysenteries by Fumesi 254. And by sitting on a hot Anvil ib. Cures of the Colick by Clysters of the Smoke of Tobacco ib. Of other Cures done by Smoak 255 Of the sudden ceasing of the Plague at Grand Cayro in June 256 257 Chap. XV. That Humane Body may be alter'd by such Motions as Act in a Grosse and meerly Mechanical manner prov'd by divers Instances 258 259 The Instance of the Cure of the biting of the Tarantula by Musick particularly modified 260 261 Chap. XVI Divers instances of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Peculiar aversion of particular persons from particular things and of the commotions made in the Body thereby 262 263 That since the Body receives such alterations from such unlikely things there is no just arguing against Specificks because they operate not by any Obvious Quality 264 Of the Operations of Poysons and Antidotes 265 266 267 What is to be done when the Specifick seems likely to increase the Disease 268 Chap. XVIII A Disquisition concerning the Ordinary Method of Physick 268 269 270 271 Instances of some Medicines condemn'd for Noxious which yet have prov'd Useful 272 Of the Use of Guajacum for Consumptions and Mercury for Palsies 273 That there are divers Concretes as to sense similar whose different parts have contrary Qualities as Rhubarb and Oyl Olive 274 Of improbable Cures viz. of a Plurisy by a Laudanum Opiatum 275 Of curing Coughs and Consumptions by Saline Medicines 276 Of the Curing Phtisical Consumptions by the Acid Smoak of Sulphur 277 The Use of the Livers and Galls of Eeles in expediting the hard labour of
affirme that the knowledg of the Creatures does lesse advantage Man as it ennables him to Master them then as it Assists him by admiring and serving him to become Acceptable to their Author And what ever our distrustful Adversaries are pleas'd to surmise to the contrary certainly God intended that his Creatures should afford not only Necessaries and Accommodations to our Animal part but Instructions to our Intellectual The World is wont to be stil'd not unfitly by Divines The Christians Inne but perchance it may be altogether as properly call'd his Ship for whereas both Appellations suppose him a Traveller the Inne though it refresh him in his Journey does not further him in it but rather retard his progresse by detaining him in one place whereas a Ship not only serves the Passenger for an Inne when he is weary but helps to convey him towards his Journey 's End And according to this Notion to suppose that God hath placed in the World innumerable things to feed Man and delight him and none to instruct him were a conceit little lesse injurious to God then it were to a wise Merchant that sends Persons he loves to a farre Country to think that he would furnish their Cabinets with plenty of Provisions soft Beds fine Pictures and all other accommodations for their Voyage but send them to Sea disprovided of Sea-Charts and Mariners Compasses and other requisite helps to steer their Course by to the desired Harbour And indeed so farre is God from being unwilling that we should Prye into his Works that by divers Dispensations he imposes on us little lesse then a necessity of studying them For first he begins the Book of Scripture with the Description of the Book of Nature of which he not only gives us a general account to informe us that he made the World since for that end the very first Verse in the Bible might have suffic'd But he vouchsafes us by retaile the Narrative of each Day 's Proceedings and in the two first Chapters of Genâ—sis is pleas'd to give nobler hints of Natural Philosophy then men are yet perhaps aware of Though that in most other places of the Scripture where the Works of Nature are mentioned but incidently or in order to other purposes they are spoken of rather in a Popular then Accurate manner I dare not peremptorily deny being unwilling to interesse the reputation of Holy Writ design'd to teach us rather Divinity then Philosophy in the doubtful contentions of Naturalists about such matters as may though the History of the Creation cannot be known by the meer Light of Natural Reason We may next observe that God has made some knowledg of his Created Book both conducive to the beliefe and necessary to the Understanding of his Written one Our Saviour making it one cause of the Sadduces great Error about the Resurrection that they knew not the Power of God And the Scripture being so full of Allusions to and comparisons borrowed from the properties of the Creatures that there are many Texts not clearly Intelligible without some knowledg of them as may appear even by the first Gospel The Promise that the Seed of the Woman should Bruise the Sâ—rpents Head and have his Heele bruised by that subtle Creature preached to fallen Man in Paradise and by the representation of the Worlds Four great Monarchies and the Genius of each of them under the Notion of Four Beasts in Daniels prophetick Vision and that often repeated Precept of our great Master to his Disciples is coucht in an expression alluding to the properties of Animals For where he commands them to be Wise as Serpents and Harmlesse as Doves he does not only recommend to them a Serpentine warinesse in declining dangers but seems also to prescribe not alone an inoffensivenesse towards others the conspicuousnesse of which quality in Pigeons have made them though erroneously be supposed to have no Gall But also as harmlesse a way of escaping the dangers they are actually ingaged in as that of Doves who being pursued by Birds of Prey endeavour to save themselves not by fight but only by flight And indeed so many of the Texts in Scripture are not to be competently illustrated without some knowledg of the properties of the Creatures related to in them that I wonder not that Levinus Lemnius Frantzius Rueus and other Learned Men have thought it requisite to publish entire Treatises some of the Animals others of the Stones and others of the other Works of Nature mentioned in Scripture Only I could wish that they had been as wary in their Writings as commendable for their Intentions and had not sometimes admitted doubtful or fabulous accounts into Comments upon that Book whose Prerogative it is to teach nothing but Truth Nor ought their Labors to deterre others from cultivating the same Theme For as such is Gods condescention to Humane weaknesse most of the Texts to whose Exposition Physiologie is necessary may be explicated by the knowledg of the external or at least more easily observed qualities of the Creatures So that there are divers not to be fully understood without the Assistance of more penetrating indagations of the Abstrusities of Nature and the more unobvious properties of things an Intelligent and Philosophical peruser will readily discerne Now if you should put me upon telling you Pyrophilus what those Attributes of God are which I so often mention to be visibly display'd in the Fabrick of the World I can readily answer you that though many of Gods Attributes are legible in his Creatures yet those that are most conspicuous there are his Power his Wisdome and his Goodnesse in which the World as well as the Bible though in a diffâ—ring and in some points a darker way is designed to instruct us which that you may not think to be affirm'd gratis we must insist a while on each of the Three And fiâ—st How boundlesse a power or rather what an Almightinesse is eminently displayed in Gods making out of Nothing all Things and without Materials or Instruments constructing this Immense Frabrick of the World whose Vastnesse is such that even what may be prov'd of it can scarcely be conceived and after a Mathematical Demonstration its Greatnesse is distrusted Which yet is I confesse a wonder lesse to be admir'd then the Power expressed by God in so immense a Work which neverthelesse some moderne Philosophers whose opinions I find some Cabalists to countenance suppose to be not the only Production of Gods Omnipotence Not to mention Elephants or Whales some of which an Hyperbolist would not scruple to call moving Mountains and Floting Islands and to passe by those stupendous Hils and those Seas where the Light looses it selfe as Objects which their neernesse only represents so Bulky let us hasten to consider that whereas the Terrestrial Globe we Men inhabit containes besides all those vast Kingdomes the Unions of some of which constituted the Worlds foure celebrated Monarchies those spacious since detected American Regions that
Physiological subjects without employing either them or frequent and tedious Circumlocutions in their stead Thus when I say that a stone endeavors to descend towards the Centre of the Earth or that being put into a Vessel of Water it affects the lowest place I mean that not such a Mathematical Point as the Centre of the Earth hath power to attract all heavy Bodies the least of which it being a point it cannot harbor or that a Stone does really aim at that unknown and unattainable Centre but that as we say that a Man strives or endeavors to go to any place at which he would quickly arrive if he were not forcibly hindered by some Body that holds him fast where he is and will not let him go So a Stone may be said to strive to descend when either by the Magnetical Steams of the Earth or the pressure of some subtle Matter incumbent on it or by what ever else may be the cause of Gravity the Stone is so determined to tend downwards that if all Impediments interpos'd by the Neighboring Bodies were removed it would certainly and directly fall to the ground or being put into a Vessel with Water or any other Liquor much less heavy then it self for on Quick-silver which is heavier Stones will swim the same Gravity will make it subside to the bottom of the Vessel and consequently thrust away its bulk of Water which though heavy in it self yet because it is less ponderous then the Stone seems to be light And so in our late instance in the Clock if it be said that the Hand that points at the Hours affects a circular motion because it constantly moves round the Centre of the Dial-plate 't is evident that the inanimate piece of Metal affects not that motion more then any other but onely that the impression it receives from the Wheels and the adaptation of the rest of the Engine determine it to move after that manner And although if a Man should with his Finger stop that Index from proceeding in its course it may be said in some sense that it strives or endeavors to prosecute its former Circular Motion yet that will signifie no more then that by virtue of the Contrivance of the Engine the Index is so impell'd that if the Obstacle put by the Finger of him that stops it were taken away the Index would move onwards from that part of the Circle where it was stopt towards the mark of the next Hour Nor do I by this Pyrophilus deny that it may in a right sense be said as it is wont to be in the Schools that Opus Naturae est opus Intelligentiae Neither do I reject such common Expressions as Nature always affects and intends that which is best and Nature doth nothing in vain For since I must according to the above-mention'd Notion refer many of the actions of irrational Creatures to a most wise Disposer of Things it can scarce seem strange to me that in those particulars in which the Author intended and it was requisite that irrational Creatures should operate so and so for their own Preservation or the Propagation of their Species or the publick good of the Universe their Actions being ordered by a Reason transcending Ours should not onely oftentimes resemble the Actings of Reason in Us but sometimes even surpass them As in effect we see that Silk-worms and Spiders can without being taught spin much more curiously their Balls and Webs then our best Spinsters could and that several Birds can build and fasten their Nests more Artificially then many a Man or perhaps any Man could frame and fasten such little and elaborate Buildings And the Industries of Foxes Bees and divers other Beasts are such that 't is not much to be wondered at that those Creatures should have Reasons ascrib'd to them by divers Learned Men who yet perhaps would be less confident if they considered how much may be said for the Immortality of all rational Souls And that the subtle Actings of these Beasts are determined to some few Particulars requisite for their own Preservation or that of their Species whereas on all other occasions they seem to betray their want of Reason and by their Voice and Gestures seem to express nothing but the Natural Passions and not any Rational or Logical Conceptions And therefore as when to resume our former comparison I see in a curious Clock how orderly every Wheel and other part performs its own Motions and with what seeming Unanimity they conspire to shew the Hour and accomplish the other Designs of the Artificer I do not imagine that any of the Wheels c. or the Engine it self is endowed with Reason but commend that of the Workman who fram'd it so Artificially So when I contemplate the Actions of those several Creatures that make up the World I do not conclude the inanimate Pieces at least that 't is made up of or the vast Engine it self to act with Reason or Design but admire and praise the most wise Author who by his admirable Contrivance can so regularly produce Effects to which so great a number of successive and conspiring Causes are requir'd And thus much Pyrophilus having been represented concerning those that rejecting from the Production and Preservation of Things all but Nature yet imbrace the Principles of the vulgar Philosphy you will perhaps think it more then enough but Object That what is not to be expected from the barren Principles of the Schools may yet be perform'd by those Atomical ones which we our selves have within not very many Pages seem'd to acknowledge Ingenious And I know indeed that the modern Admirers of Epicurus confidently enough pretend that he and his Expositors have already without being beholding to a Deity clearly made out at least the Origine of the World and of the principal Bodies 't is made up of But I confess I am so far from being convinc'd of this that I have been confirm'd rather then unsetled in my Opinion of the difficulty of making out the Original of the World and of the Creatures especially the living Ones that compose it by considering the accounts which are given us of the Nativity if I may so speak of the Universe and of the Animals by those great Denyers of Creation and Providence Epicurus and his Parapharst Lucretius Whose having shown themselves as I freely confess they have very subtile Philosophers in explicating divers Mysteries of Nature ought not so much to recommend to us their impious Errors about the Original of Things as to let us see the necessity of ascribing it to an Intelligent Cause This then is the account of this matter which is given us by Epicurus himself in that Epistle of his to Herodotus which we finde in Diogenes Laertius Quod ad Meteora attinet existimari non oportet aut motum aut conversionem aut Ecclipsin aut orâ—um occasumvè aut alâ—a hujuscemodi ideo fieri quod sit Praefectus aliquis qui sic
quae ex aqua cuncta finxerat And that of Anaxagoras the same Author should give us this account Omnium rerum descriptionem modum mentis infinitae vi ac ratione ratione designari confici voluit For though these great Men exceedingly err'd in thinking it necessary that God should be provided of a pre-existent and by him not created Matter to make the World of yet at least they discern'd and acknowledg'd the necessity of a Wise and Powerful Agent to dispose and fashion this rude Matter and contrive it into so goodly a Structure as we behold without imagining with Epicurus that chance should turn a Chaos into a World And really it is much more unlikely that so many admirable Creatures that constitute this one exquisite and stupendous Fabrick of the World should be made by the casual confluence of falling Atoms justling or knocking one another in the immense vacuity then that in a Printers Working-house a multitude of small Letters being thrown upon the Ground should fall dispos'd into such an order as clearly to exhibit the History of the Creation of the World describ'd in the 3 or 4 first Chapters of Genesis of which History it may be doubted whether chance may ever be able to dispose the fallen Letters into the Words of one Line I ignore not that sometimes odde Figures and almost Pictures may be met with and may seem casually produc'd in Stones and divers other inanimate Bodies And I am so far from denying this that I may elsewhere have opportunity to shew You that I have been no carelesse Observer of such Varieties But first even in divers Minerals as we may see in Nitre Chrystal and several others the Figures that are admired are not produc'd by chance but by something analogous to seminal Principles as may appear by their uniform regularity in the same sort of Concretions and by the practice of some of the skilfullest of the Salt-peter Men who when they have drawn as much Nitre as they can out of the Nitrous Earth cast not the Earth away but preserve it in heaps for six or seven Years at the end of which time they finde it impregnated with new Salt-peter produced chiefly by the seminal Principle of Nitre implanted in that Earth To prove that Metalline Bodies were not all made at the beginning of the World but have some of them a Power though slowly to propagate their Nature when they meet with a disposed Matter you may finde many notable Testimonies and Relations in a little Book of Physico-Chymical Questions Written by Jo Conradus Gerhardus a Germane Doctor and most of them recited together with some of his own by the Learned Sennertus But lest you should suspect the Narratives of these Authors as somewhat partial to their Fellow Chymists Opinions I shall here annex that memorable Relation which I finde Recorded by Linschoten and Garcias ab Horto a pair of unsuspected Writers in this case concerning Diamonds whereby it may appear that the seminal Principles of those precious Stones as of Plants are lodg'd in the Bowels of the Mine they grow in Diamonds says the first in that Chapter of his Travels where he treats of those Jewels are digg'd like Gold out of Mines where they digg'd one year the length of a Man into the Ground within three or four years after there are found Diamonds again in the same place which grow there sometimes they finde Diamonds of 400 or 800 Grains Adamantes says the latter qui altissimè in terrae visceribus multisque annis perfici debebant in summo fere solo generantur duorum aut trium annorum spatio perficiuntur Nam si in ipsa fodina hoc anno ad cubiti altitudinem fodias Adamantes reperies Post biennium rursus illic excavato ibidem invenies Adamantes And next how inconsiderable alass are these supposed Productions of Chance in comparison of the elaborate Contrivances of Nature in Animals since in the Body of Man for instance of so many hundred Parts it is made up of there is scarce any that can be either left out or made otherwise then as it is or plac'd elsewhere then where it is without an apparent detriment to that curious Engine some of whose parts as the Eye and the valves of the Veins would be so unfit for any thing else and are so fitted for the uses that are made of them that 't is so far from being likely that such skilful Contrivances should be made by any Being not intelligent that they require a more then ordinary Intelligence to comprehend how skilfully they are made As for the account that Lucretius out of Epicurus gives us of the first Production of Men in I know not what Wombs adhering to the Ground and which much more becomes him as a Poet then as a Philosopher I shall not here waste time to manifest its unlikelyness that witty Father Lactantius having already done that copiously for me And indeed it seems so pure a Fiction that were it not that the Hypothesis he took upon him to maintain could scarce afford him any less extravagant account of the Original of Animals The unsuitableness of this Romance to those excellent Notions with which he has enriched divers other parts of his Works would make me apt to suspect that when he writ this part of his Poem he was in one of the Fits of that Phrensie which some even of his Admirers suppose him to have been put into by a Philtre given him by his either Wife or Mrs Lucillia in the Intervals of which they say that he writ his Books And here let us further consider That as confidently as many Atomists and other Naturalists presume to know the true and genuine Causes of the Things they attempt to explicate yet very often the utmost they can attain to in their Explications is That the explicated Phaenomena May be produc'd after such a Manner as they deliver but not that they really Are so For as an Artificer can set all the Wheels of a Clock a going as well with Springs as with Weights and may with violence discharge a Bullet out of the Barrel of a Gun not onely by means of Gunpowder but of compress'd Air and even of a Spring So the same Effects may be produc'd by divers Causes different from one another and it will oftentimes be very difficult if not impossible for our dim Reasons to discern surely which of those several ways whereby it is possible for Nature to produce the same Phaenomena she has really made use of to exhibit them And sure he that in a skilful Watch-makers Shop shall observe how many several ways Watches and Clocks may be contriv'd and yet all of them shew the same things and shall consider how apt an ordinary Man that had never seen the inside but of one sort of Watches would be to think that all these are contriv'd after the same manner as that whose Fabrick he has already
according to his Principles the Man as well Soul as Body consisted onely of divers Particles of the Universal Matter by various Motions brought together and dispos'd after a certain manner And consequently he must ground his perswasion that 't is impossible to redintegrate the Engine once spoil'd by death upon this That as Chance cannot with the least probablity be presum'd to have produc'd such a strange Effect so according to him there can be no Cause assign'd knowing and powerful enough to rally and bring together again the disbanded and scattered parcels of Matter or substitute other equivalent ones that together with the remaining Carcase compos'd the dead Man so to reunite them to the rest and lastly so to place and put into Motion both the one and the other as were requisite to make a living Man once more result from them I know that this Example reaches not all the Circumstances of the Controversie we have been debating but yet if I mistake not it will serve the turn for which I propose it For not now to insist upon this inference from it That a considering Man may confidently reject a thing that is not absolutely impossible provided it be highly incredible not to insist on this I say the thing I aim at in the mention of it is onely to shew That such things may possibly be effected by Matter and Motion as no wise Man will believe to have been produc'd by a bare Agitation of the Particles of Matter not guided by the superintendency of a Powerful and Knowing Director Now that the Atoms or Particles of Matter of which the World consists made no agreement with each other to convene and settle in the manner requisite to constitute the Universe Lucretius does not so properly confess as affirm in that fore-cited Passage where he judiciously tells us That Certè neque consiliis Primordia rerum Ordine se quaeque atque sagaci mente locarunt Nec quos quaeque darent Motus pepigêre profecto And the thing it self is manifest enough from the Nature of Atoms confessedly inanimate and devoid of understanding So that although we should grant Pyrophilus the possible Emergency of the innumerable Effects we admire in the World from the various Properties and Coalitions of Atoms yet still you see the formerly mention'd difficulty touching the Resulting of All things from Matter left to it self would recur and it would as well be incredible that an innumerable multitude of insensible Particles as that a lesser number of bigger Parcels of Matter should either conspire to constitute or fortuitously justle themselves into so admirable and harmonious a Fabrick as the Universe or as the Body of Man and consequently it is not credible that they should constitute either unless as their motions were at least in order to their seminal Contextures and primary Coalitions regulated and guided by an intelligent Contriver and Orderer of things And I should so littte think it a Disparagement to have but so much said of any Hypothesis of mine that I suppose I may affirm it without offending either the most sober or the generality of the Atomical Philosophers to whom and to their Doctrine my Writings will manifest me to be no otherwise affected then I ought ESSAY V. Wherein the Discourse interrupted by the late Digression is resumed and concluded IT remains now Pyroph that we at length return into the way from whence the foregoing Digression has I fear too long diverted us and that to prosecute and finish our Discourse we take it up where we left it and were tempted to digress namely at the end of the III Essay betwixt which and the beginning of this V all that has been interpos'd may be look'd upon but as a long Parenthesis In the third place then I consider That whether or no it be true which our Antagonists suggest that there are some things in Nature which tempt Philosophers more then they doe the Vulgar to doubt or deny a God yet certainly there are divers things in Nature that do much conduce to the evincing of a Deity which Naturalists either alone discern or at least discern them better then other Men For besides the abstruse Properties of particular Bodies not discover'd by any but those that make particular Enquiries into those Bodies there are many things in Nature which to a superficial Observer seem to have no relation to one another whereas to a knowing Naturalist that is able to discern their secret Correspondencies and Alliances these things which seem to be altogether Irrelative each to other appear so Proportionate and so Harmonious both betwixt themselves and in reference to the Universe they are parts of that they represent to him a very differing and incomparably better Prospect then to another Man As he that looks upon a Picture made up of scatter'd and deform'd pieces beholding them united into one Face by a Cylindrical Looking-glass aptly plac'd discerns the skill of the Artist that drew it better then he that looks onely on the single parts of that Picture or upon the whole Picture without the uniting Cylinder Which brings into my minde That whereas in the Sacred Story of the Creation when mention is made of Gods having consider'd the Works of each of the first six Days at the end of it it is said of the Work of every Day That God saw that it was good except of the second Day because the separation of the Waters was but imperfectly made on that day and compleated in the next on which it is therefore twice said That God saw that it was good whereas I say when God look'd upon his Works in particular it is onely said That he saw that they were good when He is introduc'd at the close of the Creation as looking upon and surveying his Creatures in their Harmony and entire System it is emphatically said That he saw every thing that he had made and behold it was very good And if Aristotle be indeed the Author of the Book De Mundo ad Alexandrum which passes for his and is said to have been Written by him towards the end of his Life it would not be unworthy our Observation to take notice how he that in his other Writings is wont to talk of Gods Interest in the Creatures darkly and hesitantly enough is wrought upon by the Contemplation of the Universe as it is an orderly Aggregate or System of the Works of Nature to make Expressions of the Divine Architect which are not unworthy of Aristotle though being meerly humane they cannot be worthy of God Amongst many I shall single out some and I hope Pyrophilus you will excuse me if in this Essay and some of the precedent ones I do contrary to my custom employ pretty store of Passages taken out of other Authors For first the nature of my Design makes it requisite for me to shew what Opinion the Heathen Philosophers had of the Study of Physiology and what Power their Contemplation of Nature
this endeavour 65 That their Hypothesis is very full of mistakes 66 That these excluders of the Deity make but imperfect explications of the Phaenomena of Nature ib. And do not explaine the Scale of Causes to the last Cause 67 Instances of things wherein their account is not satisfactory 68. as 1. In the particulars the causes of which they assign Occult Qualities ib. 2. when they assign Natures abborrency of Vacuity to be the cause that Water doth ascend in Suction ib. whereas the contrary is proved in the Suction of Quick silver 69 3. When they assign the causes of the Purgationes Menstrnae 69 70 And when in other cases they ascribe to irrational Creatures such actions as in men are the production of Reason and Choice 70 The Author's conceit concerning God's Creation of the parts of the World and so placing them that they by the assistance of his ordinary concourse must needs exhibit these Phaenomena 71. Illustrated by the Clock at Strasburg ib. How far such borrowed Metaphorical Phrases which Custom hâ—s authorized may be used 72 Quick-silver being heavier then Stones they swim thereon yet sinck in lighter liquors 72 That the Instances of the Actions of divers Creatures resembling Reason commend the Wisedom of God 73 74 Defects in the Explication of Nature by the Epicureans who deny the concurrence of God 75 76 77 78 That the figures in Nitre Chrystal and divers Minerals are produced not by chance but by somewhat Analogous to seminal principles 79 That the Generation of Animals is much lesse to be accounted the production of Chance 80 That the Hypotheses of Philosophy only shew that an effect may be produced by such a cause not that it must 81 That to a perfect Knowledg there must not only appear the possible but the definite and real not only the general but the particular causes 82 Some defects in the waies of Reaoning used by the most eminent Atomists 83 84 85 The most plausible argument of the Opposers of a Deity considered 86 87 88 89 That there are some things in Nature which conduce much to the evincing of a Deity which are only known to Naturalists 91. Explain'd by the comparison of the Uniting scatter'd pieces of Paint into one face by a Cylindrical Looking Glass 92 The Testimony of the Author of the Book De Mundo ascribed to Aristotle introduced ib. Of the admirable contrivance of the Make of the Musculus Marsupialis 94. and of the parts of the Hand ib. The contrivance for the Circulation of the Bloud in a Foetus before the use of Respiration 95 Galen's Speech That his Books De Usu Partium were as Hymns to the Creator ib. The Fabrick of the Eye considered ib. Some Experimental Observations of the Eye and the use of its parts in order to Vision 96 The way to prepare the Eyes of Animals for the better making observations on them ib. Some particulars wherein the Eyes of white Rabbets are better then others for Observation 97 That it is dishonourable for the Soule to be unacquainted with the exquisite structure of the Body being its own Mansion 97. Proved out of Instances in the Psalmist and Galen ib. Why the anterior part of Fishes Eyes ought to be more Spherical then those of men 99 That God made Man not after the World's Image but his Own 100 That the Image of God on us should engage us to esteem our selves us belonging to God ib. Arguments from Authority and the Experience of all Ages That the Contemplation of the World has addicted Man to the Reverence of God 100 That those People who worship not God are not Naturalists but Barbarians and that their Atheisme doth continue for want of the Contemplation of the World 101 A comparison of the Image of God on the Creature to that of Phidias on Minerva's Shield 102 The noblest worship that has been paid to God from such who have not had particular Revelation of his will has arose from the speculation of God's Wisdom Power and Goodnesse in the fabrick of the Creature 103. The Testimonies of Galen Hermes Paracelsus L. Bacon 104. That Religion has other Arguments besides those drawn from the works of Nature enough to keep any considering man from Atheism 106 That the Difficulty of conceiving the Eternity Self-Existence and other Attributes of one God is less then to conceive infinite eternal self-existent and self-moving Atomes 108 As God is infinitely bettter then all his Creatures so the Knowledg of him is better then the Knowledg of his Creatures 110 The Imperfection and Disquiet that there is in humane Science 110 111 How the Favour of God conduces to promote mens Proficiency in the study of Nature 112 The Reason of the Authors so long Discourse on this Subject 114 Beasts inhabit and enjoy the World 't is Man's duty to Spiritualize it 115 That it being the prime Duty of Man to give God the Honour of his Creatures it is to be preferr'd before secondary Duties ib. That the different greatnesse in the Knowledg make a like difference in the Honour given to the Creator 117 God by becoming our Saviour has not laid aside the Relation of a Creator 117 That he who sacrificeth Praise honoureth God ib. The Conclusion 118 ERRATA in the First Part. Pag. 24. lin 22. lege contemplationem factum p. 62. l. 28. l. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 69. l. 7. l. his private Interests l. 28. of the Air against the Suckers chest p. 73. l. 32. have Reason l. 34. Souls And. p. 75. l. 3. of Animals p. 77. l. 5. principally in Extension p. 75. l. 4. any Centrum gravium p. 79. l. 24. are not unquestionably produced by chance but perhaps p. 81. l. 6. dele * l. 11. Animals the. p. 85 l. 15. Ratiocination By. l. 17. most p. 87. l. ult l. Things or their Motions p. 88. l. 15. Parts it p. 94. l. 32. Musculi perforati p. 98. l. 8. sunt omnino l. 33. Insertion of p. 99. l. 17. perfectly Spherical one as to the Anterior part which is obverted to the outward Objects p. 107. l. 15. Not onely OF THE VSEFVLNESSE OF Naturall Philosophy The Second Part. Of its Vsefulness to promote the Empire of Man over things CORPOREAL OXFORD Printed by HEN HALL Printer to the University for RIC DAVIS In the year of our Lord 1663. OF THE VSEFVLNESSE OF Naturall Philosophy The Second Part. The first SECTION Of it's Vsefulness to PHYSICK ESSAY I. Containing some Particulars tending to shew the Vsefulness of Natural Philosophy to the Physiolological part of Physick AFter having in the former part of this Treatise Pyrophilus thus largely endeavored to manifest to you the advantagiousness of Natural Philosophy to the minde of Man we shall now proceed to speak of its Usefulness both to his Body and Fortune For I must ingeniously confess to you Pyrophilus That I should not have neer so high a value as I now cherish for Physiology if I thought it