be an upright and just Judg of her self and so not of any of her Parts because every particular part is a part of her self Besides as she is Self-moving she is Self-changeing and so she is alterable Wherefore nothing can be a perfect and a just Judg but something that is Individable and Unalterable which is the Infinite GOD who is Unmoving Immutable and so Unalterable who is the Judg of the Infinite Corporeal Actions of his Servant Nature And this is the reason that all Nature's Parts appeal to God as being the only Judg. CHAP. XIV Nature Poyses or Balances her Actions ALthough Nature be Infinite yet all her Actions seem to be poysed or balanced by Opposition as for example As Nature hath dividing so composing actions Also as Nature hath regular so irregular actions as Nature hath dilating so contracting actions In short we may perceive amongst the Creatures or Parts of this World slow swift thick thin heavy leight rare dense little big low high broad narrow light dark hot cold productions dissolutions peace warr mirth sadness and that we name Life and Death and infinite the like as also infinite varieties in every several kind and sort of actions but the infinite varieties are made by the Self-moving parts of Nature which are the Corporeal Figurative Motions of Nature CHAP. XV. Whether there be Degrees of Corporeal Strength AS I have declared there are in my Opinion Two sorts of Self-moving Parts the one Sensitive the other Rational The Rational parts of my Mind moving in the manner of Conception or Inspection did occasion some Disputes or Arguments amongst those parts of my Mind The Arguments were these Whether there were degrees of Strength as there was of Purity between their own sort as the Rational and the Sensitive The Major part of the Argument was That Self-motion could be but Self-motion for not any part of Nature could move beyond its power of Self-motion But the Minor part argued That the Self-motion of the Rational might be stronger than the Self-motion of the Sensitive But the Major part was of the opinion That there could be no degrees of the Power of Nature or the Nature of Nature for Matter which was Nature could be but Self-moving or not Self-moving or partly Self-moving or not Self-moving But the Minor argued That it was not against the nature of Matter to have degrees of Corporeal Strength as well as degrees of Purity for though there could not be degrees of Purity amongst the Parts of the same sort as amongst the Parts of the Rational or amongst the Parts of the Sensitive yet if there were degrees of the Rational and Sensitive Parts there might be degrees of Strength The Major part said That if there were degrees of Strength it would make a Confusion by reason there would be no Agreement for the Strongest would be Tyrants to the Weakest in so much as they would never suffer those Parts to act methodically or regularly But the Minor part said that they had observed That there was degrees of Strength amongst the Sensitive Parts The Major part argued That they had not degrees of Strength by Nature but that the greater Number of Parts were stronger than a less Number of Parts Also there were some sorts of Actions that had advantage of other sorts Also some sorts of Compositions are stronger than other not through the degrees of innate Strength nor through the number of Parts but through the manner and form of their Compositions or Productions Thus my Thoughts argued but after many Debates and Disputes at last my Rational Parts agreed That If there were degrees of Strength it could not be between the Parts of the same degree or sort but between the Rational and Sensitive and if so the Sensitive was Stronger being less pure and the Rational was more Agil being more pure CHAP. XVI Of Effects and Cause TO treat of Infinite Effects produced from an an Infinite Cause is an endless Work and impossible to be performed or effected only this may be said That the Effects though Infinite are so united to the material Cause as that not any single effect can be nor no Effect can be annihilated by reason all Effects are in the power of the Cause But this is to be noted That some Effects producing other Effects are in some sort or manner a Cause CHAP. XVII Of INFLVENCE AN Influence is this When as the Corporeal Figurative Motions in different kinds and sorts of Creatures or in one and the same sorts or kinds move sympathetically And though there be antipathetical Motions as well as sympathetical yet all the Infinite parts of Matter are agreeable in their nature as being all Material and Self-moving and by reason there is no Vacuum there must of necessity be an Influence amongst all the Parts of Nature CHAP. XVIII Of FORTVNE and CHANCE FOrtune is only various Corporeal Motions of several Creatures design'd to one Creature or more Creatures either to that Creature or those Creatures Advantage or Disadvantage If Advantage Man names it Good Fortune if Disadvantage Man names it Ill Fortune As for Chance it is the visible Effects of some hidden Cause and Fortune a sufficient Cause to produce such Effects for the conjunction of sufficient Causes doth produce such or such Effects which Effects could not be produced if any of those Causes were wanting So that Chances are but the Effects of Fortune CHAP. XIX Of TIME and ETERNITY TIME is not a Thing by it self nor is Time Immaterial for Time is only the variations of Corporeal Motions but Eternity depends not on Motion but of a Being without Beginning or Ending The Second Part. CHAP. I. Of CREATVRES ALL Creatures are Composed-Figures by the consent of Associating Parts by which Association they joyn into such or such a figured Creature And though every Corporeal Motion or Self-moving Part hath its own motion yet by their Association they all agree in proper actions as actions proper to their Compositions and if every particular Part hath not a perception of all the Parts of their Association yet every Part knows its own Work CHAP. II. Of Knowledg and Perception of different kinds and sorts of Creatures THere is not any Creature in Nature that is not composed of Self-moving Parts viz. both of Rational and Sensitive as also of the Inanimate Parts which are Self-knowing so that all Creatures being composed of these sorts of Parts must have a Sensitive and Rational Knowledg and Perception as Animals Vegetables Minerals Elements or what else there is in Nature But several kinds and several sorts in these kinds of Creatures being composed after different manners and ways must needs have different Lives Knowledges and Perceptions and not only every several kind and sort have such differences but every particular Creature through the variations of their Self-moving Parts have varieties of Lives Knowledges Perceptions Conceptions and the like and not only so but every particular part of one and
To all the UNIVERSITIES IN EUROPE Most Learned Societies ALL Books without exception being undoubtedly under your Iurisdiction it is very strange that some Authors of good note are not asham'd to repine at it and the more forward they are in judging others the less liberty they will allow to be judg'd themselves But if there was not a necessity yet I would make it my choice To submit willingly to your Censures these Grounds of Natural Philosophy in hopes that you will not condemn them because they want Art if they be found fraught with Sense and Reason You are the Starrs of the First Magnitude whose Influence governs the World of Learning and it is my confidence That you will be propitious to the Birth of this beloved Child of my Brain whom I take the boldness to recommend to your Patronage and as if you vouchsafe to look on it favourably I shall be extreamly obliged to your Goodness for its everlasting Life So if you resolve to Frown upon it I beg the favour That it be not buried in the hard and Rocky Grave of your Displeasure but be suffer'd by your gentle silence to lye still in the soft and easie Bed of Oblivion which is incomparably the less Punishment of the Two It is so commonly the error of indulgent Parents to spoil their Children out of Fondness that I may be forgiven for spoiling This in never putting it to suck at the Breast of some Learned Nurse whom I might have got from among your Students to have assisted me but would obstinately suckle it my self and bring it up alone without the help of any Scholar Which having caused in the First Edition which was published under the name of Philosophical and Physical Opinions many Imperfections I have endeavoured in this Second by many Alterations and Additions which have forc'd me to give it another Name to correct them whereby I fear my Faults are rather changed and encreased than amended If you expect fair Proportions in the Parts and a Beautiful Symmetry in the Whole having never been taught at all and having read but little I acknowledg my self too illiterate to afford it and too impatient to labour much for Method But if you will be contented with pure Wit and the Effects of meer Contemplation I hope that somewhat of that kind may be found in this Book and in my other Philosophical Poetical and Oratorical Works All which I leave and this especially to your kind Protection and am Your most humble Servant and Admirer MARGARET NEWCASTLE A TABLE of the CONTENTS The First Part. Chap. Pag. I. OF Matter 1 II. Of Motion 2 III. Of the Degrees of Matter 3 IV. Of Vacuum 4 V. The difference of the two Self-moving Parts of Matter 4 VI. Of dividing and uniting of Parts 6 VII Of Life and Knowledg 6 VIII Of Nature's Knowledg and Perception 7 IX Of Perception in general 8 X. Of double Perception 9 XI Whether the Triumphant Parts can be perceived distinctly from each other 9 XII Whether Nature can know her self or have an absolute Power of her self or have an exact Figure 10 XIII Nature cannot judg herself 12 XIV Nature poyses or balances her Actions 12 XV. Whether there be degrees of Corporal Strength 13 XVI Of Effects and Cause 15 XVII Of Influence 15 XVIII Of Fortune and Chance 16 XIX Of Time and Eternity 16 The Second Part. I. Of Creatures 17 II. Of Knowledg and Perception of different kinds and sorts of Creatures 18 III. Of Perception of Parts and united Perception 19 IV. Whether the Rational and Sensitive Parts have a Perception of each other 20 V. Of Thoughts and the whole Mind of a Creature 21 VI. Whether the Mind of one Creature can perceive the Mind of another Creature 22 VII Of Perception and Conception 23 VIII Of Human Supposition 24 IX Of Information between several Creatures 24 X. The reason of several kinds and sorts of Creatures 25 XI Of the several Properties of several kinds and sorts of Creatures 26 The Third Part. Chap. 1. to 7. Of Productions in general pag. 27 to 35 VIII Productions must partake of some parts of their Producers 36 IX Of Resemblances of several Off-springs or Producers 37 X. Of the several appearances of the Exterior parts of one Creature 38 The Fourth Part. I. Of Animal Productions and of the difference between Productions and Transformations 39 II. Of different Figurative Motions in Man's production 40 III. Of the Quickning of a Child or any other sort of Animal Creatures 41 IV. Of the Birth of a Child 41 V. Of Mischances or Miscarriages of Breeding-Creatures 42 VI. Of the encrease of Growth and Strength of Mankind or such like Creatures 43 VII Of the several properties of the several exterior shapes of several sorts of Animals 44 VIII Of the Dividing and Uniting parts of a particular Creature 44 The Fifth Part. I. Of Man 47 II. Of the variety of Man's Natural Motions 48 III. Of Man's Shape and Speech 49 IV. Of the several Figurative Parts of human Creatures 50 V. Of the several perceptions a-amongst the several parts of Man 51 VI. Of divided and composed Perceptions 52 VII Of the ignorances of the several perceptive Organs 53 VIII Of the particular and general perceptions of the exterior parts of human Creatures 54 IX Of the exterior Sensitive Organs of human Creatures 55 X. Of the Rational parts of the human Organs 57 XI Of the difference between the human Conception and Perception 57 XII Of the several varieties of Actions of human Creatures 58 XIII Of the manner of information between the Rational and Sensitive parts 59 XIV Of irregularities and regularities of the Restoring-parts of human Creatures 60 XV. Of the agreeing and disagreeing of the Sensitive and Rational parts of human Creatures 61 XVI Of the power of the Rational or rather of the indulgency of the Sensitive 62 XVII Of human Appetites and Passions 63 XVIII Of the Rational actions of the Head and Heart of human Creatures 65 XIX Of Passions and Imaginations 65 XX. That Associations Divisions and Alterations cause several Effects 66 XXI Of the differences between Self-love and Passionate love 68 The Sixth Part. I. Of the Motions of some parts of the Mind and of Forrein Objects 69 II. Of the Motions of some parts of the Mind 70 III. Of the Motions of human Passions and Appetites as also of the Motions of the Rational and Sensitive parts towards Forrein Objects 71 IV. Of the Repetitions of the Sensitive and Rational actions 73 V. Of the passionate Love and sympathetical Endeavours amongst the Associate parts of a human Creature 75 VI. Of Acquaintance 77 VII Of the Effects of Forrein Objects of the Sensitive Body and of the Rational Mind of a human Creature 78 VIII Of the advantage and disadvantage of the Encounters of several Creatures 80 IX That all human Creatures have the like kind and sorts of properties 81 X. Of the singularity of the Sensitive and of
The Third Part. The Preamble 265 I. Of the Happy and Miserable Worlds 266 II. Whether there be such kinds and sorts of Creatures in the Happy and Blessed World as in this World 267 III. Of the Births and Deaths of the Heavenly World ibid. IV. Whether those Creatures could be named Blessed that are subject to dye 269 V. Of the Productions of the Creatures of the Regular World 270 VI. Whether the Creatures in the Blessed World do feed and evacuate 271 VII Of the Animals and of the food of the Humans of the Happy World 272 VIII Whether it is not irregular for one Creature to feed on another 273 IX Of the continuance of life in the Regular World 275 X. Of the Excellency and Happiness of the Creatures of the Regular World 276 XI Of Human Creatures in the Regular World 278 XII Of the happiness of human Creatures in the Material World ibid. The Fourth Part. I. Of the Irregular World 281 II. Of the Productions and Dissolutions of the Creatures of the irregular World 282 III. Of Animals and of Humans in the irregular World 283 IV. Of Objects and Perceptions 284 V. The Description of the Globe of the irregular World ibid. VI. Of the Elemental Air and Light of the irregular World 286 VII Of Storms and Tempests in the irregular World 287 VIII Of the several Seasons or rather of the several Tempers in the irregular World ibid. IX The Conclusion of the irregular and unhappy or cursed World 288 The Fifth Part. Fifteen Sections concerning Restoring-Beds or Wombs p. 291 to 308 The Conclusion 309 GROUNDS OF Natural Philosophy The First Part. CHAP. I. Of MATTER MATTER is that we name Body which Matter cannot be less or more than Body Yet some Learned Persons are of opinion That there are Substances that are not Material Bodies But how they can prove any sort of Substance to be no Body I cannot tell neither can any of Nature's Parts express it because a Corporeal Part cannot have an Incorporeal Perception But as for Matter there may be degrees as more pure or less pure but there cannot be any Substances in Nature that are between Body and no Body Also Matter cannot be figureless neither can Matter be without Parts Likewise there cannot be Matter without Place nor Place without Matter so that Matter Figure or Place is but one thing for it is as impossible for One Body to have Two Places as for One Place to have Two Bodies neither can there be Place without Body CHAP. II. Of MOTION THough Matter might be without Motion yet Motion cannot be without Matter for it is impossible in my opinion that there should be an Immaterial Motion in Nature and if Motion is corporeal then Matter Figure Place and Motion is but one thing viz. a corporeal figurative Motion As for a First Motion I cannot conceive how it can be or what that First Motion should be for an Immaterial cannot have a Material Motion or so strong a Motion as to set all the Material Parts in Nature or this World a-moving but in my opinion every particular part moves by its own Motion If so then all the Actions in Nature are self-corporeal figurative Motions But this is to be noted That as there is but one Matter so there is but one Motion and as there are several Parts of Matter so there are several Changes of Motion for as Matter of what degree soever it is or can be is but Matter so Motion although it make Infinite Changes can be but Motion CHAP. III. Of the degrees of MATTER THough Matter can be neither more nor less than Matter yet there may be degrees of Matter as more pure or less pure and yet the purest Parts are as much material in relation to the nature of Matter as the grossest Neither can there be more than two sorts of Matter namely that sort which is Self-moving and that which is not Self-moving Also there can be but two sorts of the Self-moving Parts as that sort that moves intirely without Burdens and that sort that moves with the Burdens of those Parts that are not Self-moving So that there can be but these three sorts Those parts that are not moving those that move free and those that move with those parts that are not moving of themselves Which degrees are in my opinion the Rational Parts the Sensitive Parts and the Inanimate Parts which three sorts of Parts are so join'd that they are but as one Body for it is impossible that those three sorts of Parts should subsist single by reason Nature is but one united material Body CHAP. IV. Of VACVVM IN my opinion there cannot possibly be any Vacuum for though Nature as being material is divisible and compoundable and having Self-motion is in perpetual action yet Nature cannot divide or compose from her self although she may move divide and compose in her self But were it possible Nature's Parts could wander and stray in and out of Vacuum there would be a Confusion for where Unity is not Order cannot be Wherefore by the Order and Method of Nature's corporeal Actions we may perceive there is no Vacuum For what needs a Vacuum when as Body and Place is but one thing and as the Body alters so doth the Place CHAP. V. The difference of the Two Self-moving Parts of Matter THE Self-moving Parts of Nature seem to be of two sorts or degrees one being purer and so more agil and free than the other which in my opinion are the Rational Parts of Nature The other sort is not so pure and are the Architectonical Parts which are the Labouring Parts bearing the grosser Materials about them which are the Inanimate Parts and this sort in my opinion are the Sensitive Parts of Nature which form build or compose themselves with the Inanimate Parts into all kinds and sorts of Creatures as Animals Vegetables Minerals Elements or what Creatures soever there are in Nature Whereas the Rational are so pure that they cannot be so strong Labourers as to move with Burdens of Inanimate Parts but move freely without Burdens for though the Rational and Sensitive with the Inanimate move together as one Body yet the Rational and Sensitive do not move as one 〈◊〉 Part as the sensitive doth with the Inanimate But pray mistake me not when I say the Inanimate Parts are grosser as if I meant they were like some densed Creature for those are but Effects and not Causes but I mean gross dull heavy Parts as that they are not Self-moving nor do I mean by Purity Rarity but Agility for Rare or Dense Parts are Effects and not Causes And therefore if any should ask Whether the Rational and Sensitive Parts were Rare or Dense I answer They may be Rare or Dense according as they contract or dilate their Parts for there is no such thing as a Single Part in Nature for Matter or Body cannot be so divided but that it will remain Matter which is divisible CHAP.
the Sensitive is rather an Agreement than a Constraint for in many cases the Sensitive will not agree and so not obey also in many cases the Rational submits to the Sensitive also the Rational sometimes will be irregular and on the other side sometimes the Sensitive will be irregular and the Rational regular and sometimes both irregular CHAP. XVII Of Human Appetites and Passions THE Sensitive Appetites and the Rational Passions do so resemble each other as they would puzzle the most wise Philosopher to distinguish them and there is not only a Resemblance but for the most part a sympathetical Agreement between the Appetites and the Passions which strong conjunction doth often occasion disturbances to the whole life of Man with endless Desires unsatiable Appetites violent Passions unquiet Humors Grief Pain Sadness Sickness and the like through which Man seems to be more restless than any other Creature but whether the cause be in the Manner or Form of Man's Composition or occasioned by some Irregularities I will leave to those who are wiser than I to judg But this is to be noted That the more Changes and Alterations the Rational and Sensitive Motions make the more variety of Passions and Appetites the Man hath also the quicker the Motions are the sharper Appetite and the quicker Wit Man hath But as all the Human Senses are not bound to one Organ so all Knowledges are not bound to one Sense no more than all the Parts of Matter to the composition of one particular Creature but by some of the Rational and Sensitive actions we may perceive the difference of some of the Sensitive and Rational actions as Sensitive Pain Rational Grief Sensitive Pleasure Rational delight Sensitive Appetite Rational Desire which are sympathetical actions of the Rational and Sensitive Parts Also through sympathy Rational Passions will occasion Sensitive Appetites and Appetites the like Passions CHAP. XVIII Of the Rational Actions of the Head and Heart of Human Creatures AS I formerly said In every Figurative Part of a Human Creature the Actions are different according to the Property of their different Composers so that the Motions of the Heart are different to the Motions of the Head and of the other several Parts but as for the Motions of the Head they are in my Opinion more after the manner of Emboss'd Figures and those of the Heart more after the manner of Flat Figures like Painting Printing Engraving c. For if we observe the Thoughts in our Heads are different from the Thoughts in our Hearts I only name these two Parts by reason they seem to sympathize or to agree more particularly to each other's actions than some of the other Parts of Human Creatures CHAP. XIX Of Passions and Imaginations SOme sorts of Passions seem to be in the Heart as Love Hate Grief Joy Fear and the like and all Imaginations Fancies Opinions Inventions c. in the Head But mistake me not I do not say that none of the other Parts of a Man have not Passions and Conceptions but I say they are not after the same manner or way as in the Heart or Head as for example Every Part of a Man's Body is sensible yet not after one and the same manner for every Part of a Man's Body hath different perceptions as I have formerly declared and yet may agree in general actions but unless the several composed Parts of a Human Creature had not several perceptive actions it were impossible to make a general perception either amongst the several Parts of their own Society or of Foreign Objects But it is impossible for me to describe the different manners and ways of the particular Parts or the different actions of any one Part for what Man can describe the different perceptive actions of that composed Part the Eye and so of the rest of the Parts CHAP. XX. That Associations Divisions and Alterations cause several Effects THE Rational and Sensitive Corporeal Motions are the perceptive Parts of Nature and that which causes acquaintance amongst some parts is their Uniting and Association That which loses acquaintance of other Parts is their Divisions and Alterations for as Self-compositions cause particular Knowledges or Acquaintances So Self-divisions cause particular Ignorances or Forgetfulnesses for as all kinds and sorts of Creatures are produced nourished and encreased by the Association of Parts so are all kinds and sorts of Perceptions and according as their Associations or their Compositions do last so doth their Acquaintance which is the cause that the Observations and Experiences of several and particular Creatures such as Men in several and particular Ages joyned as into one Man or Age causes strong and long-liv'd Opinions subtile and ingenious Inventions happy and profitable Advantages as also probable Conjectures and many Truths of many Causes and Effects Whereas the Divisions of particular Societies causes what we name Death Ignorance Forgetfulness Obscurity of particular Creatures and of perceptive Knowledges so that as particular perceptive Knowledges do alter and change so do particular Creatures for though the Kinds and Sorts last yet the Particulars do not CHAP. XXI Of the Differences between Self-Love and Passionate Love SElf-love is like Self-knowledg which is an innate Nature and therefore is not that Love Man names Passionate Love for Passionate Love belongs to several Parts so that the several parts of one Society as one Creature have both Passionate Love and Self-love as being sympathetically united in one Society Also not only the Parts of one and the same Society may have Passionate Love to each other but between several Societies and not only several Societies of one Sort but of different Sorts The Sixth Part. CHAP. I. Of the Motions of some parts of the Mind and of Forrein Objects NOtions Imaginations Conceptions and the like are such Actions of the Mind as concern not Forrein Objects and some Notions Imaginations or Conceptions of one man may be like to another man or many men Also the Mind of one man may move in the like Figurative Actions as the Sensitive Actions of other sorts of Creatures and that Man names Vnderstanding and if those Conceptions be afterwards produced Man names them Prudence or Fore-sight but if those Parts move in such Inventions as are capable to be put into Arts Man names that Ingenuity but if not capable to be put into the practice of Arts Man names it Sciences if those Motions be so subtile that the Sensitive cannot imitate them Man names them Fancies but when those Rational Parts move promiscuously as partly after their own inventions and partly after the manner of Forrein or outward Objects Man names them Conjectures or Probabilities and when there are very many several Figurative Rational Motions then Man says The Mind is full of Thoughts when those Rational Figurative Motions are of many and different Objects Man names them Experiences or Learning but when there are but few different sorts of such Figurative Motions Man names them Ignorances CHAP.
rarifying after a breathing manner also expelling of those rarified parts through the pores Other sorts of Motions of the Humours are like Boyling motions viz. Bubling motions which occasion steaming or watry vapours to ascend to the Head which vapours are apt to cloud the perception of Sight Other sorts of sick Motions are Circular and those cause a swimming or a dizzie motion in the Head and sometimes a staggering motion in the Leggs Other sorts of sick Motions are occasioned through tough and clammy Humours the motion of which Humours is a winding or turning in such a manner that it removes not from its Center and until such time as that Turning or Winding Motions alter or the Humour is cast out of the Stomack the Patient finds little or no ease CHAP. II. Of PAIN AS I said No Part is subject to be sick but the Stomack but every several Part of a Human Creature is subject to Pain and not only so but every particular Part is subject to several sorts of Pain and every several sort of Pain hath a several Figurative Motion but to know the different Figurative Motions will require a subtile Observation for though those painful Parts know their own Figurarative Motions yet the whole Creature suppose Man doth not know them But it may be observed Whether they are caused by Irregular Contractions or Attractions Dilatations or Retentions Expulsions or Irregular Pressures and Re-actions or Irregular Transformations or the like and by those Observations one may apply or endeavour to apply proper Remedies but all Pain proceeds from Irregular and perturbed Motions CHAP. III. Of DIZZINESS I Cannot say Dizziness belongs only to the Head of an Animal Creature because we may observe by irregular Drinkers that sometimes the Leggs will seem more drunk than their Heads and sometimes all the Parts of their Body will seem to be temperate as being Regular but only the Tongue seems to be drunk for staggering of the Leggs and a staggering of the Tongue or the like in a drunken Distemper is a sort of Dizziness although not such a sort as that which belongs to the Head so that when a man is dead-drunk we may say that every part of the Body is Dizzily drunk But mistake me not for I do not mean that all sorts of dizzinesses proceed from drinking I only bring Drunkenness for an Example but the Effects of dizziness of the Head and other parts of the Body proceed from different Causes for some proceed from Wind not Wine others from Vapour some from the perception of some Forrein Object and numbers of the like Examples may be found But this is to be noted That all such sorts of Swimming and Dizziness in the Head are produced from Circular Figurative Motions Also it is to be noted That many times the Rational Corporeal Motions are Irregular with the Sensitive but not always for sometimes in these and the like Distempers the Sensitive will be Irregular and the Rational Regular but for the most part the Rational is so compliant with the Sensitive as to be Regular or Irregular as the Sensitive is CHAP. IV. Of the Brain seeming to turn round in the Head WHen the Human Brain seems to turn round the cause is that some Vapours do move in a Circular Figure which causes the Head to be dizzy as when a man turns round not only his Head will be dizzy but all the Exterior Parts of his Body insomuch that some by often turning round will fall down but if before they fall they turn the contrary way they will be free from that dizziness The reason of which is That by turning the contrary way the Body is brought to the same posture it was before as when a man hath travell'd some way and returns the same way back he returns to the place where first he began his Journey CHAP. V. Of WEAKNESS THere are many sorts of Weakness some Weakness proceeds from Age others through want of Food others are occasioned by Oppression others by Disorders and Irregularities and so many other sorts that it would be too tedious to repeat them could I know them But such sorts of Weakness as Human Creatures are subject to after some Disease or Sickness are somewhat like Weariness after a Laborious or over-hard Action as when a Man hath run fast or laboured hard he fetches his breath short and thick and as most of the Sensitive Actions are by degrees so is a Returning to Health after Sickness but all Irregularities are Laborious CHAP. VI. Of SWOVNDING THE cause why a Man in Swound is for a time as if he were dead is an Irregularity amongst some of the Interior Corporeal Motions which causes an Irregularity of the Exterior Corporeal Motions and so a general Irregularity which is the cause that a Man appears as if he were dead But some may say A Man in a Swound is void of all Motion I answer That cannot be for if the Man was really dead yet his Parts are moving though they move not according to the property or nature of a living Man but if the Body had not consistent Motions and the Parts did not hold together it would be dissolved in a moment and when the Parts do divide they must divide by Self-motion but in a Man in a Swound some of his Corporeal Motions are only altered from the property and nature of a living Man I say some of his Corporeal Motions not all Neither do those Motions quite alter from the nature of a living Man so as the alterations of the Fundamental Motions do but they are so alter'd as Language may be alter'd viz. From Hebrew to Greek Latin French Spanish English and many others and although they are all but Languages yet they are several Languages or Speeches so the alteration of the Corporeal Motions of a Man in a Swound is but as the altering of one sort of Language to another as put the case English were the Natural Language or Speech then all other Languages were unknown to him that knows no other than his Natural So a Man in a Swound is ignorant of those Motions in the Swound but when those Motions return to the Nature of a living Man he hath the same knowledg he had before Thus Human Ignorance and Human Knowledg may be occasioned by the alterations of the Corporeal Motions The truth is that Swounding and Reviving is like Forgetfulness and Remembrance that is Alteration and Repetition or Exchange of the same Actions CHAP. VII Of Numb and Dead Palsies or Gangren's AS for Numb and Dead Palsies they proceed not only from disordered and Irregular Motions but from such Figurative Motions as are quite different from the nature of the Creature for though it be natural for a Man to dye yet the Figurative Motions of Death are quite different from the Figurative Motions of Life so in respect to that which Man names Life that which Man names Death is unnatural but as there are several sorts of that
do digest the Food although they may be an occasion through their own Regularities or Irregularities to cause good or bad digestions but the Parts of the Food do digest themselves that is alter their actions to the Property and Nature of a Human Body so that Digestive Parts are only Additional Parts and if those Nourishing Motions be Regular they distribute their several Parts and joyn their several Parts to those several Parts of the Body that require Addition Also the Digestive Motions are according to the Nature or Property of each several Part of the Human Body As for example Those Digestive Parts alter into Blood Flesh Fat Marrow Brains Humors and so into any other Figurative Parts of the Sensitive Body The same may be said of the Rational Parts of the Mind but if those Digestive Parts be Irregular they will cause a Disorder in a well-ordered Body and if the Parts of the Body be Irregular they will occasion a Disorder amongst the Digestive Parts but according to the Regularities and Irregularities of the Digestive Parts is the Body more or less nourished But this is to be noted That according to the Superfluity or Scarcity of those Digestive Parts the Body is opprest or starved CHAP. XIX Of SVRFEITS SVrfeits are occasioned after different manners for though many Surfeits proceed from those Parts that are received into the Body yet some are occasioned through often repetitions of one and the same actions As for example The Eyes may surfeit with too often viewing one Object the Ears with often hearing one Sound the Nose with smelling one Sent the Tongue with one Tast. The same is to be said of the Rational Actions which Surfeits occasion an aversion to such or such Particulars but for those Surfeits that proceed from the Parts that are received into the Body they are either through the quantity that oppresses the Nature of the Body or through the quality of those Parts being not agreeable to the Nature of the Body or through their Irregularities that occasion the like Irregularities in the Body and sometimes the fault is through the Irregularities of the Body that hinder those received Parts or obstruct their Regular Digestions and sometimes the fault is both of the Parts of the Body and those of the Food but the Surfeits of those Parts that receive not Food are caused through the often repetition of one and the same Action CHAP. XX. Of Natural Evacuations or Purgings THere are many sorts and several ways or means of Purging actions whereof some we name Natural which purge the Excremental Parts and such Natural Purgings are only of such Parts as are no ways useful to the Body or of those that are not willing to convert themselves into the Nature and Property of the Substantial Parts There must of necessity be Purging actions as well as Digestive actions because no Creature can subsist singly of it self but all Creatures subsist each by other so that there must be Dividing actions as well as Uniting actions only several sorts of Creatures have several sorts of Nourishments and Evacuations But this is to be noted in the Human Nourishments and Evacuations that through their Irregularities some Men may nourish too much and others purge too much and some may nourish too little and some may purge too little The Irregularities concerning Nourishments are amongst the adjoining Parts the Errors concerning Purging are amongst the Dividing Parts CHAP. XXI Of PVRGING DRVGGS THere are many sorts of Druggs whereof some are beneficial by assisting those particular Parts of the Body that are oppressed and offended either by Superfluous Humours or Malignant Humours but there are some sorts of Druggs that are as malicious to the Human Life as the Assistant Druggs are friendly Several sorts of Druggs have several sorts of Actions which causes several Effects as some Druggs work by Siege others by Urine some by Vomit others by Spitting others by Sweating some cause sleep some are hot others are cold some dry others moist But this is to be noted That 't is not the Motions of the Druggs but the Motion of the Humours which the Druggs occasion to flow and not only to flow but to flow after such or such a manner and way The Actions of Druggs are like the Actions of Hounds or Hawks that flye at a particular Bird or run after a particular beast of their own kind although of a different sort The only difference is That Druggs are not only of a different sort but of a different Kind from Animal Kind at least from Human Sort. CHAP. XXII Of the Various Humours of Druggs THE reason one and the same Quantity or Dose of one and the same sort of Purging-Druggs or Medicine will often work differently in several Human Bodies as also differently in one and the same Body at several times of taking the same sorts of Medicines is That several Parts of one and the same sort may be differently humoured as some to be duller and slower than others and some to be more active than others Also some Parts may be ill-natured and cause Factions amongst the Parts of the Body whereas others will endeavour to rectifie Disorders or Factions And sometimes both the Druggs and the Body falls out and then there is a dangerous strife the Body striving to expel the Physick and the Physick endeavouring to stay in the Body to do the Body some mischief Also some Parts of one and the same sort may be so Irregular as to hunt not only the superfluous Humours or the Malignant Humors but all sorts of flowing Parts which may cause so great and general Disorder as may endanger Human Life CHAP. XXIII Of CORDIALS THere are many sorts of Cordials for I take every Beneficial Remedy to be a Cordial but many of the Vulgar believe That there is no Cordial but Brandy or such like Strong-waters at least they believe all such Remedies that are virtually Hot to be Cordials but when they take too much of such Cordials either in Sickness or Health they will in some time find them as bad as Poyson But all such Applications as are named Cordials are not hot for some are cool at least of a temperate degree And as there are Regular and Irregular Corporeal Motions so there are Sympathetical and Antipathetical Motions and yet both sorts may be Regular Also there is a Neutral sort that has neither Sympathy nor Antipathy but is Indifferent But in Disputes between Two different Parties a Third may come in to the assistance of one Side more out of hate to the Opposite than love to the Assisted The same may Cordials or such like Applications do when the Corporeal Motions of Human Life are in disorder and at variance for oftentimes there is as great a Mutiny and Disorder amongst the Corporeal Motions both in the Mind and Body of a Man as in a Publick State in time of Rebellion but all Assistant Cordials endeavour to assist the Regular Parts of
sometimes nay very often Cold and Hot Motions will dispute for Power and some sorts of Hot with other sorts The like Disputes are amongst several sorts of Cold Motions Dry with Moist Dry with Dry Moist with Moist And the like Disputes are also often amongst all Creatures As for Density it doth not make Gravity for there may be Dense Bodies that are not Grave as for example Feathers and Snow Neither doth Gravity make Density for a quantity of Air hath some weight and yet is not dense But mistake me not for I mean by Grave Heavy and not for the Effects of Ascending and Descending for Feathers though Dense are more apt to ascend than descend and Snow to descend Also all sorts of Fluidity do not cause Moist Liquid or Wet nor all Extenuations cause Light but they are such and such sorts of Fluidities and Extenuations that cause such and such Effects And so for Heats Colds Droughts Moistures Rarities The same for Gravities Levities and the like So that Creatures are Rare Fluid Moist Wet Dry Dense Hard Soft Leight Heavy and the like according to their Figurative Motions CHAP. III. Of the Change and Rechange and of Dividing and Ioyning of the Parts of the Elements OF all Creatures subject to Human Perception the Elements are most apt to Transform viz. to Change and Rechange also to Divide and Ioyn their Parts without altering their Innate Nature and Property The reason is because the Innate Figurative Motions of Elements are not so different as those of Animals and Vegetables whose Compositions are of many different Figurative Motions in so much that dis-joining any Part of Animals or Vegetables they cannot be joined again as they were before at least it is not commonly done but the Nature and Property of the Elements is That every Part and Particle are of one innate Figurative Motion so that the least grain of Dust or the least drop of Water or the least spark of Fire is of the same Innate Nature Property and Figurative Motions as the whole Element when as of Animals and Vegetables almost every Part and Particle is of a different Figurative Motion CHAP. IV. Of the Innate Figurative Motions of Earth THere are many sorts of Earth yet all sorts are of the same kind that is they are all Earth but in my opinion the prime Figurative Motions of Earth are Circles but not dilated Circles but contracted Circles neither are those Circles smooth but rugged which is the cause that Earth is dull or dim and is easily divided into dusty Parts for all or at least most Bodies that are smooth are more apt to joyn than divide and have a Glassie Hew or Complexion which is occasioned by the smoothness and the smoothness occasioned by the evenness of Parts being without Intervals but according as these sorts of Circular Motions are more or less contracted and more or less rugged they cause several sorts of Earth CHAP. V. Of the Figurative Motions of Air. THere are many sorts of Airs as there is of other Creatures of one and the same kind but for Elemental Air is composed of very Rare Figurative Motions and the Innate Motions I conceive to be somewhat of the Nature of Water viz. Circular Figurative Motions only of a more Dilating Property which causes Air not to be Wet but extraordinary Rare which again causes it to be somewhat of the nature of Light for the Rarity occasions Air to be very searching and penetrating also dividable and compoundable but the Rarity of Air is the cause that it is not subject to some sorts of Human Perception but yet not so Rare as not to be subject to Human Respirations which is one sort of Human Perception for all Parts of all Creatures are perceptive one way or another but as I said there are many sorts of Air as some Cold some Hot some Dry some Moist some Sharp some Corrupt some Pure some Gross and numbers more but many of these sorts are rather Metamorphosed Vapours and Waters than pure Elemental Air for the pure Elemental Air is in my opinion more searching and penetrating than Light by reason Light may be more easily eclipsed or stopt when as Air will search every Pore and every Creature to get entrance CHAP. VI. Of the Innate Figurative Motion of Fire THE Innate Figurative Motions of Elemental Fire seem the most difficult to Human Perception and Conception for by the Agilness it seems to be more pure than the other sorts of Elements yet by the Light or Visibleness it seems more gross than Air but by the dilating Property it seems to be more rare than air at least as rare as Air. By the Glassie or Shining Property it seems to be of Smooth and Even Parts also by the piercing and wounding Property Fire seems to be composed of sharp-pointed Figurative Motions Wherefore the Innate Figurative Motions of Fire are Pure Rare Smooth Sharp Points which can move in Circles Squares Triangles Parallels or any other sorts of Exterior Figures without an alteration of its Interior Nature as may be observed by many sorts of Fuels as also it can contract and dilate its Parts without any alteration of its Innate Property CHAP. VII Of the Productions of Elemental Fire IT is to be observed That Points of Fire are more numerous and more suddenly propagating than any other Element or any other Creature that is subject to Human Perception But Sparks of Fire resemble the Seeds of Vegetables in this That as Vegetables will not encrease in all sorts of Soyles alike neither will the Points of Fire in all sorts of Fuel alike And as Vegetables produce different Effects in several Soyls so doth Fire on several Fuels As for example The Seeds of Vegetables do not work the same Effect in a Birds Crop as in the Earth for there they encrease the Bird by digestion but in the ground they encrease their own Issue as I may say So Fire in some Fuels doth destroy it self and occasions the Fuel to be more consumed when as in other sorts of Fuel Fire encreases extreamly But Fire as all other Creatures cannot subsist single of it self but must have Food and Respiration which proves Fire is not an Immaterial Motion Also Fire hath Enemies as well as Friends and some are deadly namely Water or Watry Liquors Also Fire is forced to comply with the Figurative Motions of those Creatures it is joyned to for all Fuels will not burn or alter alike CHAP. VIII Of FLAME FLAME is the Rarest Part of Fire and though the Fuel of Flame be of a vaporous and smoaky Substance yet surely there are pure Flames which are perfect Fires and for proof we may observe That Flame will dilate and run as it were to catch Smoak but when the Smoak is above the Flame if it be higher than the Flame can extend it contracts back to the Fiery Body But Flame doth somewhat resemble that we name Natural Light but yet in my opinion