Selected quad for the lemma: fire_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
fire_n	air_n	body_n	element_n	4,001	5	9.7677	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A29782	Nature's cabinet unlock'd wherein is discovered the natural causes of metals, stones, precious earths, juyces, humors, and spirits, the nature of plants in general, their affections, parts, and kinds in particular : together with a description of the individual parts and species of all animate bodies ... : with a compendious anatomy of the body of man, as also the manner of his formation in the womb / by Tho. Browne ...	Browne, Thomas, Sir, 1605-1682.	1657 (1657)	Wing B5065; ESTC R16043	87,410	340

call cogitativam and aestimativam For Madness Phrensie and Melancholy are Diseases that cannot hurt corporeal affections by themselves to wit simply alone but corporeal faculties also for they disturb the minde by accident because it is contained in that very house or situation where this distemper raigns and where the senses are used But Bruits suffer madness by reason of imagination or their estimative faculty not for their reason or understanding C It is common to all perfect animals to have blood and therefore without it they neither can be accounted perfect or produce any vital action for blood is after a manner another soul. D It is a thing common almost to the Universal Genus of fourfooted Beasts that their generation proceeds from the commixtion of the Masculine with the Feminine and they copulate either at certain times or seasons or promiscuously at any time And whereas they are void of reason especially when they have a sensual appetite thereunto at which time the Male is so furiously inflamed with such an irresistable light that it will furiously assail the Female and prosecute her even till his appetite be satisfied as we see often verified in Stags E All Serpents are referred to fourfooted Beasts because they have Blood Flesh Nerves and other internal Bowels of that Nature with them although not so perfect and also dissimilar from the members of those animals This animal is crafty and wise in the preservation of its life in seeking out a Den to lurk in and Food to live on F Volatiles do consist of all the elements but chiefly of water which we may read and prove by sacred writ where it is said That the waters brought forth both creeping things on the earth and flying things in the air where a question will arise why God produced flying things out of the water rather then the earth Because the greatest part of them do reside upon the earth For upon the earth they feed sleep pull off their feathers and altogether haunt the earth and not the water because according to Aristotle we are nourished by those things of which we consist Birds consist of earth rather then water therefore c. This argues that their substance is hard and dense which must needs differ much from the nature of water but little from earth But for the further solution we must know that there is no animal gotten or procreated in the fire or air but in the water and on the earth all Bodies are procreated and that of the commixtion of siccity with humidity but of the two other Elements they receive light temperaments and vertues therefore because Birds are wandring animals they ought to be framed of an Aery temperament that it may be consentaneous to their nature Now Birds are procreated from the water which comes nearest to the nature of air for it is made air extenuated by heat as we see the density of air to pass into water and therefore Birds are produced out of the water into the air as it were a proper Element for their nature G When in the definition we say Birds to be two-footed and winged this ought to be understood of perfect Birds for there are certain Birds found without feet called Apodes and also without feathers of which see Scaliger and it is called a Bird from Avia because it cuts an uncertain flight in the air For there are three things uncertain and past finding out the way of a Ship in the sea the way of a Bird in the air and the way of a Yongman on earth H Other divisions there are of Birds of which see Scaliger Exer. 227. and of the species of Birds see Freigeus his Physicks I By Fish I generally understand all water-animals that swim in water and all these are produced of the water which their natures doth demonstrate for if they be taken out of the waters they die and perish because they are robbed of their proper Nature or Womb but in water they grow and are nourished by reason of the similitude and cogination of their nature with the place which is cold and moist But how can Fish which seem to be constituted of a 〈◊〉 Matter and a mixed body be produced from water alone one simple Element and fluid I answer first the concretion of water in the producing of 〈◊〉 to be done forthwith by the voice and command of God insomuch that it is so constricted and firmly coagulated that the body of fish is solid and well compacted Again we do not deny but that other Elements concur to this aquatical constitution but water hath the dominion whose nature fish emulates because they are cold and moist where notwithstanding we must observe that this same watry constitution doth participate of heat and moisture in which the vital faculty or life doth consist K It is an old tossed question whether fishes that want a lung breathe Aristotle denies it but Plato and all the ancient Philosophers affirm it and these are their Reasons First what animals soever have not the organs of respiration so called cannot breath but fishes have neither lungs nor arteries which are the organs of respiration in all other animals therefore fish breath not Secondly if fish do breath it must either be by the mouth or fins and then they both receive and let out the spirit together but this cannot be because these motions are contrary in themselves and contraries cannot act together in the same therefore fishes do not breath Thirdly if Fishes that are destitute of attractive arteries and lungs breath then they must breath by the benefit of the belly but this is absurd therefore the consequence false The reason of the Minor is that if the belly of fish doth attract air then it would do so in other animals but it is not so therefore c. Fourthly In all those animals that inspire and exspire some part of their body may be discerned to move as in man when he breaths the brest is lifted up if he exspires it is pressed down but in fish there is no such motion to be seen therefore they breath not Fifthly when any breathing Creatures are suffocated in the water certain bubbles will arise if they be there detained till suffocation but if fish be never so long detained they cause no bubbles therefore they breath not neither do they receive any extrinsecal air Sixthly if fish did breath under the water it would follow then that men and other animals might breath also but the consequence is false therefore the antecedent Seventhly if fishes do breath in the water then it is so that they may attract air which they must do also without the water but they do not breath out of the water nor attract air Ergo c. if all animals do breath then insects also should breath which are animals but they breath not Ergo c. the assumption is confirmed for those animals that breath do breath whilst they live and when

this moveable But why doth Quicksilver like a drop of water in powder or dust and also upon a dry substance be globular and round The question is subtil and difficult Cardan renders this reason What things are dry do fly from touching or mixing with their contrary and therefore in hatred thereof is compelled into a globular form This opinion is refuted by Scaliger Exer. 105. 1. This happens not in a dry substance onely but in water which is moist 2. That it will gather it self in the dust of Lead and not fly from it because Lead is like to the nature of Quicksilver and therefore it doth not fly from its nature but rather desire it 3. A drop of water when it falls in the air is globular and round but doth not refuse the air which is moist therefore the flight from dryness will not be the cause of its globular form if it be the same in moistness But the truest reason is taken from the material cause to wit Quicksilver for its exquisite mixture of moist and dry to be forced into one and conglobulated for pure water alone cannot be convolved into a globular form but if there be any thing of earth exquisitely mixed with water then indeed it will be globular as we see in drops falling upon dust with which assoon as any dust is mingled it becomes round for from dryness it received a certain firmness to cause that roundness From which Example the substan●…e of Quicksilver may be easily understood because it hath the same form way or station in nature as water gathered in dust therefore Quicksilver according to the definition of Scaliger is nothing else then a watry earth or earthly water not without much air and I shall adde to these another cause of conglobulation both from the form and the end desumed For whatsoever they be they are always one but unity in its kinde is excellently preserved in a globular form because there is nothing different nothing absent no inequality and therefore Quicksilver that it might better conserve its unity it goes into a globular form C It is a Controversie to this day agitated whether Metalls are distinguished amongst themselves in specificall differences which do effect divers and incommunicable forms amongst themselves so that one kinde of metall cannot be changed or converted into another or rather do they differ in the manner of perfection and imperfection This last Tenent is defended by the Chymists to which Cardan and Danaeus subscribe The first the followers of Galen and Julius Scaliger defend Reas. 1. Metals have their divers Definitions divers Colours Strength Seats Weights and many such like differences between them 2. In Species what is imperfect cannot be reposed or exist in any Species for the Essence of every thing is indivisible but the Essence alone is perfection As Scaliger saith Exer. 106. sect 2. 3. Metalls between themselves are not changed therefore they have a proper and compleat Essence and do differ in specificall forms I confirm the proposition for either its nature must change or art But it doth not change its nature because its place is not outward as to operation then much less art which is an imitator of nature 4. Saith Scaliger there are both other Metalls appointed by nature that of them Gold should be made and other Animates that of them man may be made Therefore it is not true that Gold is the perfection of Metalls So Thomas Erastus his second Part of dispute against Paracelsus and Iacobus Albertus and Thomas More D In this place that long controversed Point whether Metalls live or produce vitall action as other Bodies do that are endowed with a vegetable soul Cardan De subtil lib. 5. pag. 150. doth affirm it and these are his reasons 1. Every thing that is nourished or generated doth live Every mingled Body is nourished or at least generated therefore it lives To this Scaliger answers by denying the Proposition The Tophus or Gravel-stone is generated yet it doth not live because it wants a soul therefore the name Generation is common to all things generable and corruptible as also to Inanimate and corporall Simples for this water is generated of the air without a living soul. The second reason which is judged the most valid is this Where there is heat there is a soul where a soul there is life In a Stone there is heat therefore also life and soul. The major is deniable for in fire there is heat which notwithstanding wants a soul the minor also is false for a stone is rather cold then hot 3. Attraction comes from the soul the Loadstone attracts Iron therfore it hath a soul or is animated Scaliger answers That all attraction not to be from the soul as is plain from fire which doth gather and attract its kinde neither is it animated 4. Metalls have Veins and Pores therefore the office and end of Veins the end is the passage of Aliment but Aliment is onely of the soul. Scaliger answers and denies the first That there is no true Veins in Metalls but rather certain Internalls by which the parts are distinguished and grant they were true Veins and necessary then they would be found in all Metalls which are not in the most precious Metalls as in Gold the Adamant and others therefore they are not true 5. Metalls do grow therefore they have a vegetable soul. I answer Metalls do grow and increase not by the benefit of a soul but rather by accretion or apposition of parts extrinsecally adhering no otherwise then as a stone in the bladder therefore a soul cannot rightly be attributed unto them 6. Metalls do suffer Diseases and old Age as Albertus doth attest which must necessarily proceed from life We answer That old Age and Diseases are metaphorically given to them when by much preservation we say they have lost their first goodness and vertue as Scaliger doth instance in the Adamant which never can be said to wax old E These properties are denoted of Gold First that it is of all Metalls the most softest and tenderest and therefore it may be dilated into a thin leaf insomuch that one ounce of Gold will cover eight of Silver 2. It wants fatness and therefore it doth not tincture not defile neither is it con●…umed with fire for Gold according to Aristotle of all Metalls loses nothing in the fire the oftner it is burnt the better it is 3. It is heavy considering the thickness of its substance because it is compacted well with heat 4. It hath a pleasant and excellent Sapour and Odour for it is temperately hot and dry whence it is said to exhilarate the heart of man and to corroborate the vitall Spirits Native Gold is found in the mountains about Arabia in Caverns and Ponds in Germany in Rivers at Tago and sometimes in the heads of Fishes it is also generated and mingled with other metalls F There is a great Controversie amongst latter Chymists and followers of

earth is necessary to the composition which doth afford matter for the unctuosity to astringe therefore stones are gotten of gross earth by the coalition of this humour which must be so understood not that the two other elements to wit the fire and the aire must be separated from their mixtion if so be the opinion of Philosophers be true that every mixed thing doth consist of four Elements The efficient causes of Metals or Minerals are two heat and cold heat persisting in the matter doth diduce moisture and unctuosity of ●…errene substance by certain tender parts and so doth coct and digest and perfectly mingle the portions of the several elements but especicially of water and earth and so purge them from all the excrementitious parts and at last doth prepare that matter rightly to produce the form of a stone and so cold at length doth condensate it with its astrictiveness expel all its superabundant humor and so indurate it into a stone But some may say that cold rather is the cause of corruption then generation I answer it is true in Animate bodies but in Inanimates to wit in meteors and metals coldness is the cause of generation Yet it may further be objected If stones do coalesce from coldness it follows by the same rule that they must melt by heat and so be resolved but that cannot be a●…●…erefore nor the former I an●…wer Stones cannot be melted by heat alone without the affusion of some other humor because there is in them such an exquisite natural commixture of moisture and dryness that they refuse liquation by their contraries neither are they to be reduced to the action of their external faculty without the sympathy of some familiar quality B According to the divers and various subtilty of the matter whether pure or impure crass viscous or the like Stones both pure and impure noble and ignoble are ingendred whence it is that there is so great variety of Stones and Gemms and here an objection will arise whether precious Stones may change the matter of the earths generation Gems because of their noble fulgor and transparency do not seem to persist of earth which is dusky and blackish an enemy to such pulchritude whence many are of this opinion that Gems are partakers equally of celestial fire and water and from them to receive their fulgor and christalline clearness But we must know that Gems also do consist of certain earthly matter but not obscure but subtil mixed with a watrish humidity well cocted and tempered for the matter according to Logicians doth vary the dignity of things but the propinquity of the sun cocts better and stronger the matter of stone in Oriental regions makes the Gems and Stones both more excellent and precious Another question will here arise whether Stones do differ in forms and species We maintain the affirmative with this one undeniable reason divers actions and vertues do arise from divers Forms but there are divers actions in divers Stones therefore c. The assumption is proved because one stone resists poyson another discusses swellings another draws iron which are indeed divers effects C Pliny relates of the generation of the Pumice that it is gotten of Fruits some of Bays some of Thyme beyond the Columns of Hereules which are transformed into the Pumice which if it be true it is not strang●… why the Pumice cast into the water doth swim when it is made of porous and rare matter and therefore it hath its levity from its matter and will not sink to the bottom of water but that for use is accounted the best which is candid light and very spungious The flower of it according to Theophrastus doth take away drunkenne●…s D A Gemm properly is the sprouting or bud of a Tree fair and round bunching out at the first out of bun●…s and chiefly of Vines and so those precious Stones which re●…mble this form are wont to be called Gems because they respond thereunto in figure and form But the vertues and the effects of Gems are wonderful if we may believe Cardan Some says he are effectual in prolonging life others available in love in obtaining riches some for divination others for consolation some for wisdom others for good fortune some work effects to make men dull others joyful some sad others fearful some do resist poyson others help the concoction of the ventricle and liver But concerning the vertues of Gems read Scaliger Exer. 106. But Heaven no doubt hath infused into Gems many admirable properties and vertues concerning which Hermes Trismegistus hath sufficiently treated E But why doth the Adamant preserve its substance whole against the weighty stroaks of the hammer and furious flames of of the fire yet suffer it self to be dissolved with the blood of a goat There are some of our later writers who will admit of no occult property at all but go about to manifest every thing by plain reason therefore they judge goats blood by reason of its analogy which is in the beginning common to pierce the Adamant But says Scaliger what other thing is that anology of its common principle then an occult property No doubt but it is a great miracle of nature and why it should pierce so hard a body no man well can demonstrate F The Carbuncle comes from the Eastern regions shining like to white clouds but because it hath golden spots it is reckoned by some amongst Gems G Of which there are three sorts First that which shines in the dark they call Pyropus secondly that which is put in a black vessel shining water being powred upon it thirdly that is the basest which glisters onely when the light shines H Achates is of so many various kindes that it will scarce be credited to be one stone for it is clear red yellowish cineritious green dark blue insomuch that this one answers to all the colours of other Gems I Albertus Magnus relates that he hath tryed this that if this stone be hung about the neck it roborates the strength of the whole body which is incredible for by its frigidity it constringes the spirits By the same reason it is related that if it be hung about the belly it hinders venery whereupon the Indians every-where preserve themselves K Whether chrystal be glass is a subtil controversie between Cardan and Scaliger He denies it upon this reason because glass is dissolved by the fire but chrystal not unless for several days it lie in the midst of a vehement fire and be continually blown therefore Chrystal can never be glass Scaliger answers glass that hath never obtained the hardness of a stone is as yet water and therefore easily dissolvable by fire because it is but congealed with a little cold but when it is concreted and congealed by a diuturnal cold insomuch that it hath obtained the perfect form and hardness of a stone it will not easily melt or not at all but it is generated oftentimes under the earth