so ignorantly Blind in this matter that there hath been but very few that have considered or as much as thought of it But to endeavour as much as lyes in me to satisfy your curiosity I shall set down some probable Guesses concerning them farther than which I do not pretend to go and they are reduced to the following Considerations 1. IN all Birds and Fowl that excellent Element the Air hath the ruling power to which their very Constitutions are subjected notwithstanding the variety of their Shapes Forms Natures and Dispositions as all Four Footed Beasts and other Animals of the Earth and Water have those Elements predominant in them And for this cause Birds do excel all other visible Creatures in the perfection of their Senses of Seeing Hearing Smelling Tasting and Feeling and that the Air has the principal government in them is very manifest first from their Voices Tones and Singing as that Element is known to be the very Life of all Tones and variety of Harmony wherein Birds exceed all other Sublunary Creatures Mankind alone excepted for which we may assign a reason in another place Secondly Their Flying and conveying their Bodies thro' the Air with a swift motion is a proof of it that being a Faculty that as far exceeds all the Inhabitants of this inferior World as Angels do them Thirdly They Build their Nests for the most part on Trees making the Heavens their Habitations wherein they mount aloft and with their speedy and swift motions can in a little while not only move themselves to great distances of places but at the same time behold the Earth creepers as I may term them grovelling in their heavy sluggish motions and herein have such exceeding advantages above even the rational part of this lower World that could a Man be but endued with this Flying Faculty as Birds enjoy it it cannot be thought he would be willing to lose or exchange such an Heavenly freedom and perfection for any Earthly Diadem or circumscribed dominion amongst us Fourthly Their manner of Subsistance for some parts of the year is in a manner unaccountable to us particularly in the Winter Season from about Christmas to the end of March which tho' subject to most pinching cold Winds Snow and Rainy Weather that never fail to cut off and destroy all Insects and Flies and that there is nothing visible to our Senses whereby such great numbers of Winged Creatures can be Sustained yet Birds of most sorts are then in the best case most Fat and so esteemed the best and most wholsom Food upon account of which Men double their diligence with Guns Snares and the like to destroy them without any consideration had either to their Innocency Harmonious Sounds and Voices or other Heavenly properties the Creator has endued them with above and in a far more excellent perfection than any other of the Sublunary Beings Now that these Creatures that are Corporeal and compounded of the same Elements and Qualities of Flesh and Blood as other Animals are should be able not only to support themselves from Starving but at such a time to grow Fat too when most other Creatures we know or communicate with sink and perish is very strange But as the Constitution and Composition of Birds are more Airy and Heavenly than other Creatures Inhabiting the dark cold lumpish Earth so their Support and Food must be more thin and Spirituous Fifthly Birds exceed all other Animals in their Love and Chastity and the Fidelity and Constancy of the Male and Female is admirable as I have set forth at large in my Complaint of the Birds which I know you have read with Satisfaction and as much may be said of them in respect to the Shortness Entireness and Intelligibility of their Language being well known to every one of the same Species and kind a Black-bird to be a Black-bird and so with the rest For Birds in their original Constitution are more Sublime than other inferiour Creatures or Beasts and still retain more of those excellent Branches entire than the most earthly since Mankind having had no commanding Power over them as over other Creatures besides Guns and Snares it must reasonably be supposed their Natures cannot be depraved as other Animals must needs be that are subject to the adulterated Methods of Men and this Preservation of theirs has been chiefly owing to that Noble and as it were heavenly Faculty of Flying in comparison whereof other Motions are dull heavy burthensom dark and melancholy seeming to be be but one degree behind that of Angels or the invisible Powers And this is most certain that the more entire any Creatures keep themselves from communicating with Mankind as has been just now hinted the more they keep or act within the Circle or Limits of their own original or first Love wherewith their Creator bound them so that is as the Fowls of the Air have a double Advantage over most if not all other Creatures for as by their first Constitution they are made more heavenly and Ethereal so by the Help and Assistance of these sublime Qualities they avoid those Evils and Adulterations of their natural constitutive Powers that other Creatures have been subjected to thro' the intollerable Burdens and Slaveries Men have imposed upon them for Mankind cannot but influence all the under-graduates whose Lives and Fortunes are at his Will and Pleasure with the same or the like Miseries and Depravities he has subjected himself unto which is plainly manifested by some of the winged Troops that are of grosser Compositions and familiar Dispositions such as Greese Hens Ducks Turkeys and others whose Bodies being gross in Quality and large in Quantity occasion them to lose most of their excellent Faculties and airy Qualifications and the like which they but very lamely perform in comparison of those that neither communicate with nor are fed by Men to say nothing of their being unhealthy liable to many Diseases and become short liv'd as all other Animals are which are governed by Mankind Sixthly As Birds and Fowls of the Air that do not converse with or are not fed by Men are much freer from Distempers than others so 't is to be observ'd that naturally there are but a few particular Diseases amongst them and that if they have any they are their own Physitians and 't is certain they have no sweeping or general Plagues amongst them so that they are not only healthy but long liv'd too and History tells us that some Birds have been observed to have lived three four or five hundred Years and yet appeared in youthful Dresses and undoubtedly their lives are very long and as unaccountable to us as their Diseases and more especially Deaths and Burial-places which few or none of the Ancient Historians or Philosophers have taken notice of and that we should remain I may say wholly ignorant hereof to this very day knowing nothing in what Climate Region or World those airy Beings make their Exit is as
wonderfully strange as it has been little enquired into by us For if we examine and enquire of Shepherds Cowherds Fowlers and all sorts of Field-men whose Business and Employments are in the Fields Woods Mountains Valleys about and upon both Fresh and Salt Waters they will tell you it is very rare that any sorts of Birds great or small are found dead unless wounded by some way or other Besides how is it likely any of them should die and their Feathers and Carcases not to be seen for Feathers are of such a hard tough Quality that the Elements cannot destroy or wear them out under a considerable time so that they must necessarily be found by one or other as all Birds that meet with Misfortunes are to which we may add that some Birds have large Bodies which dying and falling upon the Earth must infect the common Air with the evill Smells of the Carcase and be a sufficient Direction to find them out and is it possible that Dogs Swine and other Brutes would not seek them out to devour them which hereby as well as by the scattered Feathers could never be long concealed from Human Knowledge and Observation The like is be understood not only in our own but all other Countries of the World for if these Airy Creatures were found to die with particular Diseases or Epidemical Distempers in any other Climates or Regions of the Earth then we might have some reason to conclude that towards the approaching time of their Death they moved themselves accordingly as some say Swallows and many Birds do against Winter but to what Country Climate or Place they fly is yet to be decided that being in a manner as dark and unknown to Mankind as the place of their Exit which not having yet been determined by any I crave leave to thrust in a reasonable Conjecture viz. That they are buried or swallowed up in some superior Region or World wholly unknown to us as being most suited to their Natures wherein they very much excel all other terrestrial and watry Animals these being heavy dull and melancholy like the predominant Element in them and their Tones and Cries in like proportion while the Volatiles of the Air are quick full of Life and in their common Motion have a nearer Similitude to Incorporeal Beings whose blest Harmony above they do by their Singing in some degree imitate But to expatiate a little upon the Qualifications of these Airy Creatures in respect to other kinds the excellency thereof does arise from their original Composition of Air and fiery Sal Nitral Powers and Virtues which have the Ascendant or Predominancy in the Centre of their being whereas the contrary is to be understood of all other Creatures that Walk upon the Earth and Swim in the Water the Sal Nitral Properties of those grosser Elements having the governing Power in them and therefore they are like them I mean gross heavy and phlegmatick and their Food is accordingly and tho' all visible Creatures be made and compounded of the four Elements together with the four grand Qualities yet each Individual Creature or Thing is endued with Qualifications according to the Element that hath the Predominant Power whether it be Earth Water Air or Fire and each of them feed and preserve their own Children for which cause there is a wonderful variety and strange difference in the Nature and Complexion of the Creatures and Things appertaining to the Earthy Region and so of the other Elements that proceed from each Creatures Composition i. e. when the airy and fiery Elements have a large share in the Composition of any Terrestrials such are lively brisk and quick in Motion as tho' they had Wings to fly with and the same is to be understood in Vegetâ—… some Trees being tall and lofty and all others in proportion neither are the Creatures belonging to the watery and fiery Regions by no means to be excluded herefrom yea all the Inhabitants and Children of the four Elements do vary and differ in their Forms Shapes Figures Dispositions Inclinations Manners and Natures respectively according to their several Compositions degrees of each Element in them and the variety of the four grand Qualities together with the Sal Nitral Properties as is most manifest by the Off-spring and Children of each Element for what a vast and wonderful difference and how many degrees is there between the Mole whose Habitation is in the Earth and the high soaring Eagle and other Birds belonging to the airy Region Is not the same thing to be understood of the Phlegmatick Shoals or Scaley Inhabitants of the watry Element the Forms Figures and Natures of them all being in proportion to their various Compositions of the Elements and Sal Nitral Powers for which reason some are wonderfully large heavy and slow in Motion others swift c. but in all such wherein the watry Element is most Predominant and the other three are weak and impotent we see they can hardly live three minutes out of their own Element whereas some other Animals in whose Compositions the Elements of Earth and Air have a large share can both live in the Water and also out of it on the Earth for some time and the same is also to be understood of Creatures wherein the Earth and Air are most Predominant And give me leave farther to observe unto you that God's Creating and Preserving Power being in the very Centre of all Beings therefore each Element does not only midwife its Productions and wonderful variety of Beings into this visible World but at the same time gives Food and all Necessaries of Life too until each Creature or Thing has attained to its due Limits and then every Element receives her own Children again the Earth being the Grave of all Creatures wherein that lumpish Element did Predominant and so of the other three so that it may be fairly inferred that Birds upon the approach of their Death do withdraw themselves from Humane view to some Regions or Places not only unknown but invisible to us else why should not we find their Carcases upon the Earth as we do those that are tame and accustomed to our Company which undoubtedly were originally wild and as hard to come at as other Birds and Fowls of the Air It may be farther urged that all the Winged Troops are bounded and by Nature limited so as none of them can exceed in their Flights as all the Terrestrial Creatures many of which can run more Miles in a day than several sorts of Birds can fly and most Dogs could more easily catch Birds could they keep in sight and prevent them from resting on Trees and other places out of their reach nay many of them are so short of flight that Men and Boys can tire and catch them by ordinary running if they can but keep their Eyes on them and in short there is hardly any Bird that is able to Fly 100 or 150 Miles without resting divers
any perswade a Turk to become a Christian after 20 years of Age Or on the other side a Christian to be a Turk and so of all others by which this great Truth doth appear over all that Customs Examples and Living Precedents have far greater power and influence over Mankind than the Constellation any Person is Born under Besides the wonderful and amazing Varieties both of the Animal Vegetable and Mineral Kingdoms are such that the Births of all Created Beings are in one degree or other manifestly unlike many Men have been curious in this matter but no Man could ever find two things in all Circumstances alike or of one dimention or complexion And the original cause of this Wonder is hid from the Eyes and Understanding of the greatest number of Men the blindness ignorance and wickedness of Mankind is so great that the Sons of Wisdom are forbid discovering of this secret Wisdom for the Unlearned would not only trample Pearls under foot but also make an ill use of them no Man doubts but according to the old Maxim of Wisemen and Naturalists that Man in Soul Body and Spirit is a compleat Epitome or Image of the Great Immense Creator and Father of all Beings and therefore in him is contained the true nature and property of all material Things or Elements and he may be fitly and properly likened or compared with the Earth in which are the Seminary Seeds and powers of all Herbs Grains Fruits and Trees of which there is amazing variety even beyond Humane number only this difference is to be understood the Sal Nitral forms and four grand qualities stand in their several respective degrees in some things one form and quality is strong another weak which doth occasion the great difference of Earths which by the understanding Husbandman and his Cultivation can be made capable to bring forth all kinds of Herbage Corn Seeds Fruits and Trees by his encreasing and decreasing of qualitys which by his Dressing Dunging and Manuring he changeth the complexion of the Ground by his apt mixtures making weak qualities strong and strong properties weaker Now can any understanding Man imagine but that there will be the like great difference in the Humane Nature for Mens Employments together with their Communications are able to vary their Complexions abating and lessening their sanguine tractable Tempers and advancing their fierce invading Tempers which before their conversing with things of the like nature could hardly be seen or known so that there is nothing more true than that every particular Trade Employment or Practice doth incircle all such that enter into such Business having a Key that opens all the secret Doors and Gates and the Complexion or Nature of that thing is never satisfied till it hath found out its Similie which in a little time and practice doth strengthen and advance by which weak Dispositions and fainty Inclinations become strong and powerful and on the other side strong Inclinations and Dispositions are mightily weakned and grow languid and drooping as if they had a Consumption Now if every Man and Woman did not contain the true nature and property of the whole then this could not be done for every particular thing must have a Friend or a Confederate in the Humane Nature or else it could have no power to encrease decrease strengthen or weaken Forms Principles and Qualitys and mould them into their Natures by impressing their Dispositions and Inclinations in a great degree alter and chang them Now if this be true of Exercises and Employments which are but External and managed with the motion of the Members of the Body then what power and influence must Meats and Drinks have on the Soul Spirit and Body which are as it were the Original or Seminary Seeds and Substance of the Humane Nature whose Operations are all Internal from which are generated Blood Spirits Inclinations Words and Works either clean or unclean better or worse all according to the nature of the Foods If Mankind and those skill'd in the Astrological Science did understand and had Wisdom to distinguish these things they would be far more afraid of the malignant influences of the Stars and Constellations that rule in that part of the Globe called the Earth that is evil Education unclean Meats Drinks Exercises Trades Employments Communication Tradition wicked Customs and Examples than from the Male Configuration of the Heavenly Bodies not but Men do by their Uncleanness and Sinful Methods most powerfully attract and draw the venemous Nature and Dispositions out of all the Stars Elements and all Undergraduated things for as is mentioned before Man is like all things and all things like him and so he is rendred capable to influence all things and all things have power to influence him either for better or worse So wonderful hath our Blessed Creator made all Creatures and Beings enduing them with an influential Power and Energie and more particularly the Humane Nature for it is not to be doubted but that Mankind is endued with an innate Power and thereby is not only rendred as capable to move and influence the Starry Coelestial and all the powers of the Elements as they are to move and influence him to that or the other thing whether it be Virtue or the contrary for the Princes Governors Magistrates of all kinds together with the Priests Prophets and Advocates are the great Stars Planets and Constellations that Govern and under whose influence all Men and other Creatures and Things are subjected to in this Sublunary World there being nothing more true and manifest that they are the Lordâ—… of every Mans Ascendant for by the power and vertue of their Commands Laws Customs and Traditions they make all bow before them let them be of what Constitution Nature or under what Constellation soever all Configurations both good or ill must yield Obedience to their Methods as we have before shewed by the Memorials Laws Customs Traditions and Religions of all Nations for this cause that which is esteemed true Virtue and Religion in one Country is Evil or Vice in another Now can any Person that wears Eyes in his Head be so ignorant as to think or believe that the powers and influences of the Coelestial Bodies are the prime Cause and Promoters of those vast Variety and Difference there is in the Religions and Manners of Mankind no no the true Original of all this amazing variety of Sentiments and Methods are the Orâ—…cles Prophets and Gods each Country doth Observe Adore and Worship be they either good or evil all both the Wise and the Simple fall Victims to their power Would not Swearing as is mentioned before and all other evil Words be they of what nature soever be as unknown and altogether as hard and impossible as for Children to learn Hebrew Greek or any other Language they never heard any speak no the Coelestial Stars and great illuminated Bodies whose Orbs or Circles they move by our demonstrative Guesser The
or Virtue but being aptly joined and compounded wonderful things are performed by them so that all Sciences Arts Employments and whatever else is performed and brought to pass by Mankind are effected by a constant Repetition of the above-mentioned Nine Figures Seven Notes Seven Colours and Four and Twenty Letters so but more especially all Words Rhetorical Discourses Lofty and Elegant Speeches are nothing else but a constant Repetition of the said Four and Twenty Letters whereas in themselves and alone they are of no more Use than one Figure in the Mathematicks one Note in Musick or one Colour in Painting The like is to be understood in all inferior Arts and Occupations to instance only in Architecture wherein the Free Mason and Carpenter are limited to such a number of Fundamental Principles let their Building or Structure be great or small or of what Fashion and Ornament it will that any one that does but understand and distinguish them aright can at first sight imitate any Form or Ornament in that kind and if it be the Interest of the Artist or that the same be required of him he can readily Invent both Fashion and Ornameâ—… too whereas otherwise nothing can be performed but is it were by chance and hence it is that any Person or Persons in all Sciences Arts and Trades become more or less excellent in proportion to their Capacities and Inspection into the Fundamentals of Arts or their respective Occupations This being a sure and constant Rule that the Son is the Off-spring of the Father and an Epitome in all Particulars there being nothing more clear than that every thing must bow to its original Law and imitate that from whence it took its Birth It is moreover worth remarking that as Sulphur Mercury and Salt or the four grand Qualities before-mentioned are Predominant or Graduated in any thing accordingly it becomes better or worse and the Figures Tastes and Complexions of Matters are in proportion thereunto so the like is performed by the Use of certain Humane Numbers as has been instanced in the nine Figures seven Notes of Musick and four and Twenty Letters as 't is also in the Principles of all inferior Arts and Trades which do arise and take their original Birth from the said grand Principle which is God's Eternal Law and Method there being but one Text in the Practise of all Sciences Arts and Mysteries of Trades insomuch that there is acertain Concatenativs Power and Agreement between the original Principles and natural Powers and their respective Operations for as there is no Humane Numeration can comprehend the Stupendious variety of Nature in respect to the Things or Creatures Forms Complexions Virtues or Vices contained in the four Worlds or Elements so on the other hand it has never been known that any Man has attained to the utmost limits or highest pitch of any Science Art or Trade and therefore the most Skilful and Learnedst Person that ever was in the World had much more to learn than he had attained to so that as all the Heavenly Bodies glorious Constellations and admirable variety of Luminaries do constantly move within their own Circles or Orbs keeping time and place to a moment both in their Risings Settings and Configurations and that none of those numerous and distinct Powers do at any time exceed their Circles oâ—… prescribed Boundaries so all Science is not only performed by a constant Repetition of the same things but is also incircled within such Bounds Limits or Numbers as is before-mentioned which it is not in the power of the Artist to break thro' at any time insomuch that it is manifest that all things have a certain Ground or fundamental Principle whereon all the Superstructures do depend But tho' it be true that the inward Mystery and Law of God is the same as the outward and that on the other side the outward Mystery is understood by the inward yet so it is that there are rarely found any Eyes so quick-sighted as to penetrate into both which to understand and distinguish is the greatest Blessing Humane Nature is capable of as to be ignorant of the same must be the greatest Defection and Misery for otherwise a Person must act and practise every thing by Chance Custom and Tradition living according to dark evil fierce and unequal Principles the Consequence or rather Effect whereof can be no other than Ignorance Stupidity and Degeneration which gave rise to the Restrictive or Coercive Laws of Magistracy and without which Civil Society could not be long Supported nor Maintained But without proceeding any farther this way if the Intelligent Reader do but consider and weigh what has been already said I do not doubt but he will clearly see the Repetitions that fall out now and then in some parts of this Book are not barely so but serve to advance same other Notion which could not have been done without for suppose now a Man were to describe the Genuine Nature Qualifications Complexions and Operation of an hundred sorts of Herbs Fruits Seeds Trees Minerals or Animals now to effect this great Work must he not first necessarily consider the respective Gradations of the four grand Qualities how they stand in their Government whether equal or the contrary and which of them have the Dominion and Ascendency These I say are the Texts whereby he must describe the Natures Virtues and Vices of them all and within the Limits and Operations of these four Qualities he is bound and incircled and he that has obtained this Spring-head of Blessing to know God himself and the Nature and Operation of things cannot fail at sight to describe any Animal Vegetable or the like and to show their inward Virtues Vices and Complexions according to his Gift Circle or Orb he moves in But notwithstanding the Objection made concerning the Repetitions that are dispersed here and there in these my Letters the reason and necessity whereof I have fully set forth in the Premisses which are sufficient to satisfy the Scruples of the understanding Reader and which is all I care for yet I am to take notice that there are a great many things contained therein that are perfectly Novel for tho' there is nothing new under the Sun and that most of the Subjects have at one time or another been handled after a sort yet I dare avow it has been quite after a different Method and Form and no such Super-structure erected from fundamental Principles are herein set down all along It cannot be expected and it will be too tedious to enter now upon Particulars they will best appear in the Perusal of the Work it self and therefore as I cannot see any thing farther to be Objected against me than that I have been Prolix and have not confined my self within the just Limits of an Epistolary Method all that I say is that upon my Resolution to publish them as aforesaid I found it necessary in the Revising them to alter some to enlarge and
Extract of all Essences containing all their true Qualities or Principles that nothing might be defective he is endued with five wonderful Powers called Senses by which he is capable of judging between the good and evil Of all things the Senses are the chief carriers or conveyers of what is presented before them to the influential Principles or Magick Powers of the Soul and where they are kindled or stirred up out of their silent and quiet Magia into motion whence proceed all Inclinations Dispositions Words and Works hence they are midwifed into the World whereby all the deep hidden and silent powers become Corporal for who could tell whether he loved Musick or curious Consorts of Vocal and Instrumental Harmony if he had never been in the hearing of such things or what Child would ever speak any Language or Tongue if he had never heard it and so of all other things that are under the province of this Sense All the good and evil of words Speeches Sounds c. are conveyed to the understanding by the peculiar power of this without the intervention of any other Sense Now it must be understood that Words Sounds Tones c. are endued with all the Qualifications Virtues and Vices of the Intellectual Man only with this difference the Quality which is chiefly stirred up in the Magick Powers that stamp their Character on the Word or Sound whether good or evil It is also farther to be considered that the outward Senses are but the Instruments to convey the species of grosser things to the intellectual or silent powers principles or qualities by which means various Centers and Magick Fires are excited which before lay so occult and involved that a Man was not sensible of any such disposition to affect or dislike this or that thing residing in him 'T is by these Doors or Passages that Man becomes acquainted with himself and Foreign Objects understanding the forms of his own Composition in good and evil The multiplicity of the Senses does not at all prevent their perfection for tho' there are â—…ive in number yet each is compleat in its kind and oâ—…fice none interfering or intrenching upon the Province of another but all jointly conspiring to accomplish their own proper Work The Ear cannot judge of Colours nor the Sight of Sounds c. There is as great variety in Sounds as there is in Colours Shapes Forms or Figures oâ—… material Bodies both in their Internal and External Natures All Sounds Tones Noise or Words in Men Beasts Birds 〈◊〉 Elements do all arise from the two Grand Fountains of Gooâ—… and Evil in this visible World All words proceeding from thâ—… Meek Fountain of Gods Eternal Love are soft sweet and Melodious of a yielding Temper and penetrating to the very centeâ—… of the Magick Powers from whence the variety of inclination have their Birth But if these Harmonical Sounds c. find but a weak reception then they make but little impression on the Central Powers and Qualities and then do as it were retire not leaving any Ideas of their own forms as the old Proverb has it It goes in at one Ear and out at the other The same vice versa is to be understood of all Tones Sounds Words c. that do arise and take their Birth from the Dark Fountain of Evil c. For there is no greater evil under the Sun than for Mankind to speak Evil Words or hear lewd Discourses by this sort of Communication many Thousands of ignorant People have been utterly Ruined for if these Hostile Methods gain the Ascendant they awaken the sleeping Poisons that take such possession that they can never after be turned out of Upon this account a due regard ought to be had to Children taking care that they come within the hearing of no base words and filthy Communication because such Sounds by reason of the latent resemblance between the internal power and the outward Object stick closer to them and make such deep impressions to that degree that the Signatures can never be eradicated nor defaced neither by cultivation or any other endeavours Therefore such as would not be hurt by this Sense must shut the Gate of their Ears against all evil Sounds and Voices which will if admitted unlock the inmost Cabinets of Nature Now if Man would use the same Care and Art in managing and dressing the Humane Ground as the Husbandman or Farmer does in the Cultivation of his Common Field he would be very happy if the Seed he Sowes be good or defective his Crop is according so it is in the Humane Ground if he Sows Tares and Thistles will he expect Wheat and Barley it is preposterous and unnatural A multitude of incurable Disorders and Mischiefs arise for want of a due attendance to and understanding of these Truths the contrary is to be conceived if we admit the entrance of none but good melodious and delightful Sounds Speeches Words c. The Fabrication and Constitution of the Organs is also to be considered the form of it is wonderful and would naturally entertain none but sweet soft and Harmonious Sounds proceeding from the Fountain of Love and Goodness as is evident by experience for all harsh sudden violent fierce Noises are Ungrateful and Displeasing nay oftentimes Mischievous and Prejudicial to the Ear it self for which reason Men use to stuff their Ears with some soft Wooll or the like when they are going to Engage least the violent percussion of the Airs and Vibration should too fiercely incur upon the Organon and disturb the Timpanum by which means many have for ever lost the use of that Sense or Faculty The same Method is to be observed in all sudden and unusual Sounds as Thunder c. Now seeing what great advantage is to be made of this Noble Sense is it not a shame to go to the Coffee-house Taverns and other Publick places of resort and hardly Ten Words of serious Discourse tending to the Advancement of Virtue or Morality but all Banter Jesting Lying Scoffing c. Therefore it is fit Men should speak less or be wholly silent till they are capable of speaking better Sir I hope you will excuse the freedom I have assumed and accept these sudden and almost Extemporary Remarks upon the subject of your Contemplation as an Instance of real friendship from Yours T T. LETTER II. Of the Sense of Smelling SIR IN Return to your earnest Request of having me continue my design of Unfolding the Nature of the other Senses as I have done that of Hearing I have adventured to admit that discourse of Smelling to your Perusal as I intend also the remaining three withall Teaching you how to defend your self against ill Scents which you intimate are very prejudicial to your health THe Sense we are now to Treat of is the Image of all Qualities Powers and Principles both of Light and Darkness dwelling in the Centre of each thing and it is clean or unclean according to the
property that governs the Creature so that as soon as the Body of any thing is opened it may thereby be distinguished what Form or Principle ruled in the Center of Life and he that has the true Use of this Faculty may easily discern the Complexion of any Creature It is an invisible Power it s Body is the Air which in a very short time will convey the Scent to a considerable distance and is received into our Bodies by the Assistance and Mediation of the Air which is a thin Spiritual Body penetrating into all parts doing good or harm according to the respective Qualities that have the Ascendant incorporating with great Vigour with every thing it finds like its self upon which account gross stinking Foggs Scents and Vapours are unclean and extreamly hurtful to the Mind and Body being continually drawn into the Central parts and Wound the Health 〈◊〉 a Spiritual and Invisible manner The contrary is to be understood of good Smells and clean thin sweet Airs c. Now every Scent or Smell whether good or bad clean or unclean does by custom and continual communication beget and strengthen its Simile by which the grossest and most impure Airs become easie and familiar otherwise several stinking Trades and Employments would not be tolerable nor in any degree Healthful for as Gods Love is one and the same in all things so is his Handmaid Nature which uses all possible Endeavours to provide and Arm her self against the Assaults of her common Enemies Custom and Habit begetting their own properties and rendring those things easie which would otherwise never be endured Moreover such troublesom gross Smells are naturally more agreeable to some People than to others as being endued by their Constitutions with greater talents of suitable matter whereby they live as healthy as those who are accustomed to clean and finer Airs Nay some Mens Natures and Complexions are so agreeable to these gross Scents and thick Vapours that they find themselves Disordered when they come into more pure and subtile Airs as is evident in such who Live and are Born in Cities and great Towns A Consideration is also to be had to the Meats and Drinks any Person feeds on which prepare the Body to a better bearing of Scents or Smells whether clean or unclean for Food is the substance of each Mans Body and Spirit and for this cause London and some great Cities are as healthy and as few Dye in them as in the Country in proportion to the number of People notwithstanding the cleanness and goodness of the Air Besides the Foods in many Countries of England are grosser and worse prepared than in great Cities great part of them living on Hogs Flesh ill Ordered and Cooked eaten fresh or very little Salted also penning them up in close Sties during the time of their Fatning is very prejudicial to the Flesh which subjects the Eaters to a great number of unclean Diseases in their Bodies as Mangy Scabs Sores and Boils these things ought to be well considered because they do very much Affect the Body in order to the manner of its receiving the impressions of Airs Scents and Smells Again there is not the same likeness and affinity between the Countryman's Food and Air that he lives in as there is between the Citizens the Country Air being fine and full of Brisk Lively Spirits and the Cities the contrary neither is there the same Agreements in the Methods of living whereby the fineness of the Air is rendred of little value or benefit to them for what the one Builds up the other Destroys Now the Sense we are discoursing of is the common Officer that communicates these Airs and Scents to the whole Body whether they be good or evil and the Body nor the Mind cannot be hurt with them if this Sense will powerfully withstand and oppose them and not suffer them to enter for each Sense hath a Gate which it can open or shut as it pleases and therefore when any Person is among gross and unclean Smells he can hold his Nose But the best way is if he is forced to stay there any considerable time to draw the Air into his Mouth and expell it again the same way by keeping it open by this means a Man may in a great measure avoid the Injury which such Smells would otherwise do for neither the Taste Sight Hearing nor Feeling can be Afflicted with any evil or good Smell not communicate the evil of the bad nor the vertues of the good to the Central parts of the Body nor Affect the natural Spirits each must do its own Business they cannot Act for one another Nevertheless there are some Scents and Smells so highly graduated in the dark direful nature of sullen Saturn and fiery Mars which neither the Temper nor Constitution of Man or other Animals are able to sustain or endure They are of such a vehement subtle and resistless operation that they surprize and destroy all the Faculties and Powers of Life in a Moment Their Motion is so quick as admits no Guard or Prevention There are no Antidotes against their force neither in Foresight nor Physick Italy and Spain can give many fatal Demonstrations of this Truth who are so exquisite in the mixing preparing and compounding of Scents that they have dominion over the very Air to what Extent or Limit they please Nay they will force the Air to Conspire with their Black Designs and retain the Infection till their Mischiefs are Compleated Likewise there are several sorts of Minerals and Metals that in the Melting Refining and Separating send up such Mortal and Inimical Vapours that no Use or Custom in the World can ever render familiar and healthful the more crude and foul any Metal is the more gross and poysonous are its fumes when it passes the fluxes of the Fire as Quick-silver Lead and many other Metals On the other side the higher any Metal is in its Nature Refined and Purged the finer sweeter and more pleasant are the fumes it sends up from the Fire when Melted and Refined and consequently more healthy and agreeable to the Workman The very same is to be understood of the Fat of Beasts or other Animals 't is better or worse clean or unclean according to the Graduation or Birth of the Creature which is declared by their Shapes Forms and Figures to the distinguishing Eye also the Cries and Tones they send forth Likewise when the Flesh oâ—… Fat is Burned and the Centre of the Body opened the fume oâ—… smell informs you what property of Nature had the Principle Government in the Creature the scent of the Dung or Ordure of most Creatures will afford a manifest Discovery of their originaâ—… Qualities whether clean or unclean c. This is apparently evident let a Hog eat the same Grass Corn or Food as Sheep Oxen Cows c. yet the Swines Breath Urine and Dung will never have the same Scent or Smell with the other so that
and to distinguish between the two Grand Fountains of good and evil in themselves and to know from what root each Thought Word and Action takes its Birth and from whence each Invention Employment Art and Trade doth proceed and are Midwifed into the World then would this discourse be valuable unto the Sons of Men and they would without invitation repent themselves of their mistaken Conduct both in themselves and in the Education of their Children but if Men Act and Teach without either sight or true knowledge what can be expected nothing that proceeds from them can be more certain than the Judgment of Blind and Deaf Men in the distinction of Colours and delicate Airs of Musick as is mentioned before Seeing is a most wonderful Sense and the only power by which all the various Forms Figures and Shapes of things are represented and communicated to the intellectual or imaginative faculties and Man being an Epitome the whole Nature and forms of things by which there is a secret conveyance and each thing hath power to communicate and awaken the hidden or sleeping Magia of Nature by its own Key that can unlock all Gates and raise up awaken and strengthen its own property which by continual management of the strong Will and Desires such and such a form or quality comes by degrees to obtain the Ascendant getting the Government in the Mind which does in a short time betray the Judgment and becloud the Understanding and then all appears to be rational and though the Customs bâ—… ever so Inimical and Prejudicial to Nature and doth Diametrically oppose the Health and Well-being both of the Body and Mind nevertheless all goes down and many are so blinded with false Opinion and Tradition that no Pains Cost Labour or Trouble shall Deter them from being in the Fashion or to do what they see others do what a great charge and pains do too many Thousands take to maintain their Fantastical Dresses how frequently do they put themselves upon the Rack both of their Bodies Minds and Purses in a word what would not young People do that they may appear in the Fashion or be equal with those that are in the highest Mode will not they use all Wicked Methods of Life as Whoreing Robbing Stealing nay Murder it self and indeed what Wickedness is there that Youth and Children will not practice to get Money to consume on their Lusts and Invading Passions Now if Fathers Mothers and others did in any degree consider these things they would not so readily Teach Nourish and Permit these Devilish Spiteful Powers and Qualitys as they do neither would they be so easie and give Money to Dancing and Fencing-Masters nor would they suffer them to see Poppets and other foolish Plays and Games no no they would be as far from these things as the East from the West People never so much as once think of the evil that may ensue when their Children Servants and others go to Shows Fairs and playing in the Streets and at Neighbours Houses which doth wonderfully pollute them nay is it not frequent for many of our modest Dames both in Country and City to spend some part of their time when they are at Worship and Church in gazing looking and noting those Persons or Gallants that are most in the Mode or have gotten the newest Fashion or finest piece of Lace Point bravest or richest Silks Now seeing these fine things hath so deeply and so centrally awakened the imaginative and secret powers of the Mind that they can hardly eat their Dinner before they have informed their Husbands and Companions of the richness of such a Neighbours Gown and Head-dress of the newest Mode often undervaluing the Station Income or Estate of those Sparkish Madams The like is among the Proud young Sons and Daughters telling their Parents how brave rich and fashionable such and such a Neighbours Children are endeavouring to imitate and exceed them shewing their Discontents if they are not satisfied which frequently occasions great Disturbances in private Familys For Parents and Guardians foreseeing the Inconveniences that attend such things though it be too late in the day Therefore many do use all endeavours to Plant and Sow good Seed but the ground or humane earth is not capable to receive it being as it were choaked or over-run with pestiferous Weeds which the Parents have so early Planted that neither the Fear of God nor the Instructions and Threats of Fathers and Mothers can obliterate or root out having taken such deep footing in the imaginative and intellectual faculties of Nature the very Beauty of the Mind being so early sullyed by ill Methods and Managements And yet most People would have their Children Vertuous Sober Temperate and Modest fearing God whereas they have Sowed in their tender years the Seeds of Luxury Pride and Idleness which are the three Sons of the evil Daemons so that there is much more Mischief than Thousands imagine in the wrong use of this Sense But did your Offspring behold the beauty of Order Temperance Form proper Preparations of Meats and Drinks Cleanness Industry Silence good methods of Learning and Speaking or any other vertuous course of Life Children and young People would as readily imitate observe follow and practise theâ—… as now they do all kind of Viciousness and Evil the Divine Principle Holy Light and Love of God in Jesus Christ is as near to Mankind as the Evil Principles and the one is as ready to exert its power as the other as each is and shall be encouraged by the Primum Mobile the Will for into whatsoever the Will and Desires of Mankind do enter whether it be good or evil that power or principle is awakened and strengthened in the very Center of Life and will quickly obtain the Ascendant provided a contrary Will do not timely intervene so that many Thousands of ignorant People are deceived before they think or know any thing of it These are some of the Thoughts relating to your Question which at present occurr to Memory hoping that what is herein Inserted may give you satisfaction and be acceptable From your ready Friend T. T. LETTER V. Of the Sense of Feeling SIR IN Answer to yours touching that most wonderful Sense of Feeling I shall endeavour according to my Abilities to satisfy your earnest desire First Therefore you may observe that it is the Centre of Life and of all the other Senses for if this be wanting in the whole or in any particular Member the Melancholy House of Death immediately seizes but any of the other four may be lost or wanting and oftentimes two of them nay three and yet the Life continued in vigour Therefore the All-wise Creator hath placed them in particular Cells or Apartments in the Head that if any one two or three of them should be hurt distempered or lost the whole might not be in danger of sinking into Death though Nature is not compleat if any one be Lost or Disordered but
Mankind may assure himself that he is not more mistaken in any one thing than in this viz. To give such unnatural and almost monstrous Directions to his Off-spring or Children from one Generation to another to deny them the proper and true Use of their principal Members the Hands from whose Use proceeds most or all the principal Actions and Curiosities that Support not only the Life but Pleasure and Beauty too This selfish Ignorance of Teaching and Whipping Children principally to the Use of that which they are pleased to call the Right Hand doth at the same time disable the other Hand wrongfully called or rather nick-named the Left so that it doth not only dwindle and become weak but as it were useless in comparison what it would be if it were equally used with the other for each Member doth grow strong or weak more or less useful as they are Exercised in Action which is the Root of Strength and Agility for Nature is neâ—…r forgetful of Supporting and Supplying her Children with what is needful and proper for their Preservation and this is evident in all her Operations and Methods Are not all sorts of Cattel and Creatures that are used and accustomed to moderate Labour do not they grow strong and fit for the Labour or Exercise that they are put to as Horses is not their Strength encreased in general through their whole Bodies and also in particular Members if any one part be put to bear more Labour or Hardship than another doth not that Member or Part if not too much oppress'd grow in some proportion strong and thereby the abler to bear it The like is to be understood in all the Parts and Members of a Man he that uses any Labour wherein the Back is chiefly concerned in the performance thereof that Part grows thereby stronger than otherwise it would and he that uses to Digg as Gardeners Brick-makers and the like are not their Legs and Arms much stronger than other Mens and that Leg or Arm that is most used or that the Labour lyes hardest on provided it be not too great that grows strongest and the other seems to dwindle and becomes weak or impotent Now one Member Arm Hand or Leg is not made more strong or apt for the doing and performing any kind of Labour Art or Science than the other but it is only Use and Custom that makes all that for each Part or Member of Man's Body doth contain and is endued with the true Nature Properties and Humors of the whole and is thereby rendred capable when Assaulted or Oppressed with Labour to send for Aid and extract Virtue and Power from all the adjacent Members and Parts of the whole Body and according to the nature of the Labour or Employment Strength is by this means Communicated Every particular Thing or created Being is an Image and Likeness of the whole with only this difference the Qualities and Principles are in one thing strong and in another weak following each other in degrees which is the Original of that wonderful and amazing variety of Complexions the Members of the Body are like the various Seeds Sowed in the Earth each being compleat that is endued with the nature of the whole only the four Grand Qualities differ in their degrees of Strength Weakness and Government so that every Seed is thereby made capable to attract Virtue and a suitable Juice or Nourishment to strengthen and support its self against all unequal Operations and fierce Invasions of the Elements This secret or mystical Method the most wonderful Creator hath centrally given to all created Beings according to the degrees and nature of each Thing or Creature for this cause the unequal Use of the Members be it in what kind it will proves detrimental to the Body in general but more especially to particular Parts 〈◊〉 that Part or Member that is most used doth become strong by drawing Virtue and Strength from its neighbouring Part or Partner and so render one Part more useful and the other less which is nothing else but an addition of Inequality which takes its Original Birth from Ignorance and the Inequality of the Mind â—…nd Intellects which doth mightily hurt Mankind rendring him much more unapt in his Trade or Employment the Arms and Hands being the chief and principal Members that are employed in most or all Arts Trades and Employments How awkard is it for Ship-carpenters or others of that Trade to perform any part of their Work with the Left Hand though it lies never so fair for that Hand and as contrary to the Right so that not having an equal Use of the one as well as the other Men are pâ—…t to a Shift and are not only longer about it but perplexed too so that most or all Men are as it were Fetter'd by being accustomed to improper and unnatural Methods for nothing can make a Man's Business so easy and familiar as the equal Use of their Hands and Arms they being the head Springs and principal Engins in all or most Business Trades and Employments whatsoever Why is our Left Hand as we use it more weak and unskilful in the performance of every Action than the Right it is for no other reason than that it hath â—…ot been used properly or rather rightly God and his Handmaid Nature have endued them with a like or proportionable Strength and Parts there being no difference but what the Mother and Nurse have made whose whole Business is to make one Lame and the other Strong so that the Right may be thereby capable to do and perform the Business of both which Method doth diametrically oppose not only Nature but render half our Members useless and of little value and as Children are equally capable of learning and speaking of one Tongue or Language as well and readily as another by hearing it spoke even so they are in the Use of their Hands both in Writing and all other Arts and Employments The Errors that arise from this and other ill Managements are almost beyond number for as is said before the too much use of one Hand or Member and the too little of another doth powerfully strengthen the one and weaken the other for as is mentioned before that which is most used doth attract Strength and draw Vertue from the whole but more especially from its Partner or Brother Member by which many young People especially of the Female Sex grow Deformed whereas if they did use their Members equally such things for the most part would be prevented more especially if the other Methods taught in our Books were observed What an unthinking untoward unknowing unskilful unmindful unregenerate unfaithful Creature Man is become as blind and dark as Hell much to be Pitied knowing little or nothing of those Principles he is compounded of or operated by neither of his Body nor Mind though he do continually communicate with both but what can be said or who is able to mend this dark Age so
long as Ignorance Blindness Selfâ—…ood Pride Vain-glory Covetousness Envy Fierceness Violence Tradition and Customs govern Mankind Nothing better can be expected Sir This being what offers from Your ready Friend to command T. T. LETTER XXI Of CORPULENCY SIR I Have yours of September the 20th 1696 and take notice that you are troubled with and subject to Corpulency or Fatness and other Concomitant Diseases and that you would have a proper Medicine to give you some Relief and Ease You likewise say you have had the Advice of the most Learned in your parts and that all Prescriptions and Medicines have proved ineffectual and that your Disease encreaseth upon you I have no inclination to be dabbling with youâ—… Purse but shall give you a plain wholsom method of Life in Meats Drinks and Exercises which if you observe will with the Blessing of God make your Life tolerable if not wholly Cure you NO Fatness can be Cured except such Persons do withdraw the Fuel and forbear such things both in Meats Drinks and Exercises that maintain and support it being a Disease that seldom goes alone but is attended with a black train of other evils their natural heat is seldom potent enough to support and digest their Foods besides the Liquor or Menstruum of the Stomach is rarely free from Crudities so that great part of their Foods and Drinks are turned into gross impure Juices which for want of warm brisk and lively Spirits and thin Blood great store of Flegmy Fat is generated in all the Members and likewise in the Vessels and Passages so that the whole Body becomes glewy and as it were stagnated which prevents the thin Juices and Humors from their free passage and circulation for all the inwardmost or central parts of Mans Body are like Spunges or fine Strainers by which the fine Humors or Spirituous Vertues of our Food and Drink pass and repass which is called a free circulation of all the Juices that serve for Nourishment for there are no large Pipes or Currents for conveyance of Nutriment as some do imagine but all the parts are like Glass that lets in the Light by reason of its transparency The like is to be understood of the passing repassing and circulation of the Nutrimental Humors Juices Blood and Spirits through the whole Body the Bladder being as it were the Sink or Bag to receive all the thin Juices or Urine which a natural motion and secret attraction Drains viz. the Superfluous or Excrementitious moisture from all parts of the Body and notwithstanding the great quantities that fall into this Bag or Sink there is no Pipe Vessel or any thing like it that conveys or carries this Liquor or Urine but all is done in a Mystical or Wonderful Method viz. by the attractive Power of that part as being its Disposition and Office to draw the thin moisture from all parts of the Body and the Bladder being Spungious the Urine penetrates through all parts of it as by way of Pores much like Sweat that is occasioned by Labour and many other ways which by motion and agitation of the Natural heat do easily penetrate through all the parts and such as Sweat much do make so much the less Urine provided the Liquors taken into the Body be in proportion The like is to be understood of most of the conveyance of all Humors and Juices from one Member or part of the Body to another so that whensoever any Member or other part becomes as it were fixed and the porousness of any of them be stopt that the fine thin Juices Blood and Spirits cannot penetrate or freely repass then presently is felt a pain or some disorder and if the Obstruction be much then that Member or part swells and is full of pain or the Distemper called the Dead Palsie falls on that part or Member but more often this sort of Obstruction proves the Gout for the Airy Windy quality in the Body which does continually penetrate and with a quick and powerful circulation run through the whole as being the central Life of the Blood which if wounded penn'd up or its circular swift motion any way hindred or obstructed then great pain or swelling attends that Member The Obstructions of this thin light airy Spirit or Quality in the Body is the Original of a great number of cruel Diseases And it is farther to be understood that all salt strong hard gross Foods that generate thick or tough Juices thick Blood and impure Spirits do mightily stop the glassy transparent or porous Vessels which do not only occasion gross Flatulent Humors and Crude Juices to lodge in several remote Members and parts but penns up and stops the circulation of this Airy quality from whence springs the Gout and all other evil windy and gross Distempers which rarely any Medicine Cures Likewise it is to be noted that the Diseases arising from those evil Obstructions are various and of as different Kinds and Natures as Complexions and Constitutions are in one it gives the Gout in another the Stone and Gravel in another a gross Flegmatick Humor and Fatness all according to the Original Humors in each Man Also these Obstructions do in many People occasion Fumes and Vapours to fly into the Head and to perplex other parts of the Body likewise some others there be that from the ill Habits of their Constitutions even from their Birth as it were Born with Obstructed Natures which they derive from their Parents ill Habits Obstructed Natures and Ill Livings for no Man of Understanding doubts but that the Seed is a compleat Image of and doth contain the true Nature and Properties of Man so the Seed becomes better or worse all according to the good or ill Habits Temperance or Intemperance Order or Disorder of the Parents so that Wisdom Understanding Temperance and Order are not only the Spring-head of Blessings to Mankind but likewise to all their Children and Posterity which is of great moment and ought to be considered by all People that pretend to fear God and keep his Laws Now the Original of those hard tough Humors and mortiferous Diseases take their Birth from the Disorders Intemperanâ—…es Gross Heavy Unclean Foods and Strong Drinks for such as the Spirits and Juices of each thing are such Humors such Blood such Spirits such Flesh such Dispositions such Inclinations such Words and Works they Generate and Maintain together with the Airs they live in and Employments and Exercises they follow Therefore such as have a mind and would be Healthy Cured or lessen the Distempers that have already invaded them must observe an orderly regular Diet and the nature of the Food they eat whether gross clean or unclean simple innocent and the like as to their Employments and Airs or else none can obtain their lost Health or make their Lives in any degree easie for every thing tends to its Original and never sails to exert its own power on all occasions and considerations with that
any sort of Business or Employment one hour for some sorts and two hours for others and as near as you can make all their small Affairs Arts or other things they learn delightful and let them not be put on Business when they are sleepy or otherwise Indifposed Eighthly Above all observe the Rules of Temperance and Moderation both in the Quality and Quantity of their Foods also Times and Seasons for Eating viz. At eight in the morning some sorts of Spoon-meats again at twelve or one and at five or six in the evening the smallest Meal ought to be in the middle of the day let all your Meats and Drinks be simple and of a harmless Nature and Operation made of Vegetables and Fruits and Water for Drink let them eat nothing that cannot be procured without the Dying or Destruction of one of your fellow Creatures consider all things and what great Power and secret Energy Mercy Compassion and Innocency do carry with them and with what excellent Virtues they endue all those that live in and under their Government for in them is comprehended all the Good that Man is capable to obtain both in Time and Eternity I could say much more but having sometime since published a small Book called The New Method of Education to which I referr yâ—… where you will find some unvulgar Directions for the Bringing up of Children which please to Peruse Thus with my Love and Respects I remain Your Faithful Friend and Servant T. T. LETTER XXIV Of the Nature of SMELLS SIR I Have received yours of the 20th of July 1697 and shall endeavour to give you some satisfaction and likewise an account what Smells or Scents are good wholsom healthy and the contrary and in order thereunto we must first give you an account of the Five Senses and of their government and power in the Corporial and Visible World being the five Centinels that keep the Gates of the Microcosmical City so that no intelligence neither of good nor evil pass into the City but only by the Leave and License of these Centinels or Guards each having its peculiar Office viz. THe Sight is that noble and great Sense that lets in or conveys all Bodily Forms Figures and Species of all Corporial Objects to the invisible Mind or Intellectual of Man both in good and evil either to his Preservation or Destruction The like is to be understood of all the other Senses they do not Act one for another but each doth its own work appointed by the All-wise Creator as for Example no Objects Bodies Figures or Forms hurt or insnare the Mind or intellectual powers of Mankind if he doth not behold or see them The Smelling Tasting Hearing and Feeling have no power to convey the Objects or Forms of things to the Central Powers or invisible Man but only the Sight in whose Province it consists and stands The very same is to be understood in all the other Senses each is confined by the Eternal Law of the Creator to keep within the bounds of its own Circle and in all particulars to do its own work so wonderful and miraculous are all things made and compounded so that it is most clear and manifest that nothing hath power to wound or hurt the Mind and Soul of Mankind but only those things that these great Powers or Senses admit or suffer to enter in and through one or more of these five Gates and by the permission of those Centinels which doth verifie that old Proverb that is what the Eye never sees the Heart never â—…es which we have treated of more at large where we discourse of the Five Senses and their Uses therefore shall proceed to Particulars viz. Scents or Smells disagreeable and unhealthy are as followeth First all such as proceed from the putrifaction of Animals as Bloody Slaughter-houses Butchers-shops and all other places where are Sold the Dead Corps of the Creatures likewise Fish-Markets and Shops Tanners Yards Hog-styes and the like places Next to these are Houses of Easement close Chambers or Rooms where the Air hath not its free influences the Airs of such places are very pernicious and haueful also the Airs of Cities and great Towns where there is a Composition of evil Scents or Smells proceeding from Slaughter-houses Shambles Tallow Chandlers-shops and Melting-houses the breathings and fumes of all sorts of Flesh and Fish Cooks-shops and the Dressing or Cooking of all such things the reliques or putrifaction thereof running through the Streets which fumes and breathings do incorporate with the common Air all being mixed or compounded with the Smoaks proceeding from numerous Chimneys which doth stagnate and becloud the fine Spirits of the Air so that it becomes of a heavy dull Nature and Operation and is most injurious to young People and Children by reason of their tender fine Spirits which are much more hurt or wounded than those of greater Ages and Strength and likewise to such as are subject to Obstructed Natures The Cures for such are fine sweet pleasant Airs and clean thin Foods and small Drinks It is likewise to be noted that there is nothing more hurtful to all Peoples Healths but more especially to some than the Air of Houses both Publick and Private where many People are Congregated or met together where the refreshing Briezes of the common Air are prevented and where the variety of breathing from Distempered Natures are compounded and mixed with the Air and so is drawn into the Body again and again which ought to be remedyed on peril of your Health For the Air being the Life and consisting of a thin Spirituous substance it penetrates to the very Center of all Bodies and therefore when it is mixed or compounded with the putrifaction that ariseth from the Animal Kingdom and from things where the fine Spirits and sweet Vertues are destroyed and the Original Forms of Saturn and Mars do govern all such Forms do mightily infect and spoil the common Air with a violent poysonous Property or Disposition which doth powerfully beget their Similies every thing hath a Key in its self that can open all the secret doors of Natures Cabinets and wheresoever it finds its likeness there it confederates and exerts its own form and property so that Complexions are begotten and by degrees appear and become strong which in the Original were weak and impotent and on the other side that property that is powerful in any Persons Complexions may by degrees be made weak and faint by the use custom and practice of the other qualities if Nature and the varietys of Properties were not capable of being encreased and diminished evil Scents and pernicious offending Fumes could never be made familiar nor evil Company draw Men to Vitiousness it being the chief pastime delight and pleasure of all the wonderful variety of qualities and principles of Nature to encrease and confederate with that which in all things is most suitable and agreeable unto its Temper and Complexion And these
sort of Bread which is generally made for Sea is some of the sweetest And now Sir methinks I hear it objected and said that strong Fermented Liquors as Beer Ale Brandy Wine and the like are brave exhilerating Cordials and that therefore the Drinking of them must be highly Beneficial to Nature I grant it is true they are so if used as they ought to be but the contrary is practised as daily experience witnesseth for ever since Mans deep degree of Depravation and since all kinds of Intemperances and Disorders have obtained the Ascendency in his Mind and Heart he hath with all application and cunning inventions studied inequality and attracted to himself and violently desired all Meats and Drinks that have a proportionable Disposition and Similie with himself and consequently Inequality and Disorder hath been increased both in his Body and Mind beyond all due Bounds and Limits of Sobriety and Temperance for which reason it must be really conducive to his happiness to have all such strong heady Things and Liquors totally prohibited more especially since it has never yet been doubted that I know of by any Man but that Water was and is the only Drink ordained by the All-wise Creator both for Man and Beast which having no unequal nor turbulent motion therein begets none but its Operations and Influences are like it self and they that Drink it shall never want nor desire any other Drink this being the only Digesting Liquor keeping the Stomach or Subservient Vessels clean and causing a sharp and strong Appetite far beyond all Fermented Liquors who heat the Blood and are the causes of many Distempers as already noted Nay doth not experience tell us that the Natives oâ—… all those Countries that constantly Drink Water are not only Healthier but much stronger than others as in Guinea Turkey c. where their Labouring People will Travel and carry much heavier Burdens than our strong Beer Drinkers it being a commonthing for a Porter in Turkey to take upon his Shoulders one oâ—… our Pigs of Lead to the weight of 250 l. and sometimes more without any help and to carry it a good way which will make two of our Porters stagger and blow to carry it between them at a Poles end Nay it is usual for the Turkish Porters or Labourers to lift and carry Four or Five Hundred Weight and yet their Drink is all Water and Food very mean according to our estimation of it that is Bread and Grapes Bread and Herbs other Fruits they eating but a very small quantity of Flesh or Fishâ—… so that from hence it is manifest that strong Drinks and gross heavy Foods do as it were but cramp Nature in the very Bud and therefore it is that there are not near so many Die of immature Deaths in any Countries where the Natives Drink Water as in those where strong Drinks are in use and for this cause also the Natives in England Four Hundred Years ago were not only much Healthier and longer Liv'd bâ—…t much larger of Stature too so that upon the whole the use of strong Fermented Liquors is pernicious and destructive to Mankind and more particularly to those of the Female Sex to which without naming any more the terrible Vapours they themselves are subject to and the dreadful Convulsions in their Children are their Original and if there be any so temperate as to Drink little or none of these Liquors which is exceeding rare indeed yet if either of their Parents Father or Mother did frequently use them then it is Twenty to one but these Distempers are thereby conveyed and entailed on them and their Posterity Sir I could say much more upon this occasion did I think it proper for me or convenient for you but thinking there is no farther occasion for it I shall conclude with my humble Respects to you hoping you will so far oblige me as to let me have the result of your thoughts hereupon as opportunity shall offer and that you will do me the justice to believe the sincerity of my Sentiments and Intentions herein and that I am Sir Your very humble Servant T. T. POSTSCRIPT SIR I Desire you would give me leave to add a word more in this place upon the Subject matter of Fermentation as it comes just into my Head and that is the assimulation as I may say there is between all fierce and unequal Passions of the Mind and it for whether they be of Love or Hatred or the like I can conceive them to be nothing else but a stirring up the original Fires or a strong Fermented motion of the first Principles and a violation of their Law of Equity or Union and the quicker or fiercer this Ferment or turbulent Fiery motion is the more malignant are its influences and therefore in what Creature soever such a Fire is stirred up or awakened from its silent Magia or separated from the incorporating and sweet Embraces of the beloved Spouse called the Radical Humour whether the Disease be Corporal or Mental the Life is presently in danger for all such unequal motions and the continuance of them will sink Nature down to Death which is manifested in the case of Agues to go no farther wherein if the Cold Fit should continue it would quickly put a period to Life so would the Hot Fit do likewise nay the continuance of the very Sweating would do it Infallibly I might also subjoin the sad influences Fermented Liquors have to Ferment Mens Minds to the unspeakable Detriment of Human Race But to leave that I shall only farther add that what is said in Agues the like may be understood in Feavers as when a Feaver is constant and without Intermission the Life is then quickly in danger and there are rarely any Medicines found out that are capable to cure it the most Skilful Physitians then Administer at great Uncertainty but when intermitting the Danger is not so great nor the Physick so uncertain of giving Assistance The same may be also farther manifested by all the Operations of Nature and particularly in the Elements themselves whereof if any of them obtains the Ascendent the other three suffer Violence and the mischiefs are more or less according to the length of time it governs as when the Fire gets uppermost then all is Burnt up and Destroyed if the Watery part prevails the Body is Deluged and so of the other two according to their respective Natures and Properties And indeed if the Great and Adorable Creator had not set bounds and limited them by his Eternal and unalterable Law of Creation the whole System of Nature must very soon have sunk into its original Chaos or first Principles again But God hath Confined all Celestial Bodies Powers and Elements yea and the off-spring or various productions of them so as that they shall not by their fierce self-full operations and invading turbulent powers violate the Creative and Generative Method of his Law for so it is that in what thing or creature soever the Unity or Seminary Qualities are Wounded whether the same be done by the unequal operations of the Elements or by the Art and curious Fancies of Chymists or any other ways that thing is presently made uncapable to Generate or Multiply for the verity whereof the whole Creation and amazing varieties of Creatures therein are manifest Testimonies And could Mankind but understand this aright he should find upon the whole matter that the principal Business is so to Regulate the Actions of his Life that he may keep within the Bounds of Equality Unity and Concord or as near thereunto as possibly he can without which there can be neither Health of Body nor Mind in this World nor any true pleasure had in Time or Eternity Unity being the Eternal Bond of Peace in all Enjoyments Sir I Beg your Pardon heartily for my prolixity in the Postscript as well as Epistle and desire you to Believe that I am once more Your Humble Servant T. T. FINIS
every Creature is endued with a natural and unremoveable Power or Quality in Changing and Transmuting the Principles of the cleanest of Meats and Drinks into the substance of their own Nature Now the Sense of Smelling is placed in the Head as the most Intelligible part of Man for the five outward and five inward Senses are the Power that makes a Man a Rational and Intelligible Creature whereby he is able to distinguish the Power Vertue or Vice of all Visible and Invisible things This Sense is a Curious and Divine Power that is neither seen felt nor tasted which is placed in the front of the Face viz. in the small compass of the Nose that it may be always ready to perform its Office and Communicate the refreshing Airs and delicate Smells to the more Central parts of the Body by which the whole is preserved Now by the help of this Sense only as we have explained and described it any Intelligent Person may obtain the Gift of distinguishing Things and Qualities whether they be good or evil clean or unclean and know from what Fountain or Original each Scent or Smell takes its Birth and does proceed I have Enlarged the further in Discoursing upon this Sense because of the Importance and Usefulness of its being rightly understood Without a due Examination of these things and an intent Application of the Mind to them all our labour will be in vain We shall live only as the Beasts who blindly follow the Dictates of natural Instinct being utterly Incapable of Enquiring into the Differences and Distinctions of their own beings This is that Knowledge which Denominates us Rational and upon the right Use and Exercise of which our Welfare both here and hereafter does depend which that you may be fully endued with according to the Capacity of your understanding Is the hearty desire of SIR Yours T T. LETTER III. Of the Sense of Tasting SIR I Have received yours and shall endeavour to give yoâ—… satisfaction according to my Talent touching the great noble and useful Sense called Tasting which is a Sense moâ—… wonderful for its various Uses and manifold Benefits and in iâ—… is contained many Mysteries the true knowledge whereof do 〈◊〉 it were wholly depend on the four grand Qualities viz. thâ—… Astringent or Saltish the Bitter the Sweet the Sharp or Sourâ—… these four Properties or Qualities are the Original not only 〈◊〉 all Tasts but as it were of every Being and they are Material Mankind and-all Creatures are Compounded of and according to the Graduation Strength or Weakness these are in eacâ—… thing so the Creature is better or worse sometimes the Astringent or Saltish is most Potent at other times the Bitter Sweet the Sharp or Sour and the Thing or Creature has its Name and Complexion accordingly Now no Man ever did or can judge of the Nature Inclination Disposition and Operation of any Creature if he does not distinguish the Power and Government of each of the forementioned Qualities that have obtained the Ascendant Neither ought any Man to attribute unto himself the name of a Philosopher or a Knower of things that hath not learned the A B C or this grand or first Lesson viz. to know and distinguish the Forms and Qualities himself is Compounded of for all true Understanding and knowledge begins at home for in him is contained the true Nature and Properties of all visible and invisible Beings and Things Therefore it is in vain to judge of the Nature or Complexion of any thing when the Signature is not known nor distinguished all such Opinions are in the dark or by chance and because Mankind and likewise all other Animals should not be misled God hath endued them with five infallible Guides and Directors that no Action of Life should be done but with Advice and Understanding and not as is said before by chance The wonderful Creator hath Made and Created all things like himself for He and the whole Off-spring of Heaven and Earth are but One he is not divided from his Works but is in the very Center of them by which he does support and preserve them For this cause he hath given and centerally endued Mankind with five great and most Illuminating or Intelligible Powers called Senses by which he is rendred capable to judge and distinguish of the Nature Complexion Disposition and Inclination first of himself and then of every other Being four of which Senses are placed in the Head and therefore it is called the most Intelligible part of Man the other is through the whole Body in every part alike so wonderful hath our Creator made Man and so compleat that there is nothing wanting As the Sense of Hearing is the Judge of all Sounds Tones c. both of Man Beasts and Elements so the Sense of Smelling is the true Judge of all Airs Scents and Smells be they of what kind soever the Sense of Seeing is the Judge of all Forms Shapes Figures Signatures and Bodies both in the Animal Vegetable and Mineral Kingdoms likewise the Sense of Feeling is the Judge of Life in Animals and living Creatures also of Cold Heat Softness Courseness c. as being the Centre of all the other four as we shall treat more at large in the said Sense The like is to be understood of this great and noble Sense the Taste whose Office is to judge and distinguish the Vertues Vices and ruling Qualities of all Meats and Drinks not only of those sorts that are Simple and Innocent by Nature but likewise such as are made and compounded by the curious Arts of Coolts and Housewifes The common Eating and Drinking of such Compositions the most part of them being mixed with improper and disagreeable Ingredients and performed by chance and without understanding or distinguishing do not only prove injurious as being the very original and head Spring of many incurable and cruel Diseases intailing them on their Posterity but such Foods and Liquors do mightily spoil and adulterate this noble judge of Taste by which means Men do for the most part lose and as it were Obliterate the natural or entire distinguishing Property and Power of this Sense For every sort of Meat and Drink has a secret powerful Energy to beget encrease and exalt the Property or Quality that hath obtained the Government or that is Predominant in the Foods or Liquors So that since Compositions in Meats and Drinks have been so frequent and common to most or all or have where-withal the Pallate and Taste is not only adulterated and made incapable of proper judging or performing its Office but the Stomach is also depraved and likewise most or all the great Officers appointed by God and his Law for the preservation and conduct of Nature or the Microcosm Man So that most Men not understanding the true Uses and Benefits of those fore-mentioned noble Powers are in no better Condition than a Ship that hath neither Pilot nor Rudder and is thereby exposed to
the Rage and Fury of the Elements and violent fierce invading Powers of an Exorbitant or Adulterated Appetite Now it is likewise farther to be understood and considered that where the Sense of Seeing Feeling Hearing or the Sublime Sense of Smelling is short or not capable of discerning or judging the Innate Nature and Complexion of Animals by their Forms Shapes and Signatures This Sense of Tasting can readily open all the Doors and secret Gates of Nature's Cabinets and in a moments time find out and manifest all the hidden or central Mysteries of each thing This noble and great Sense is like Fire that has a Key in its self that can in a moments time unlock the hardest Coagulations of the Original Qualities and manifest what Principle or Property ruled in the Centre whether clean or unclean as is most manifest and clear in the Burning of various things Woollens Woods and the like the inward Power and Complexion thereof being very difficult to be understood and judged when such things remain entire This the Taste can do and therefore it may be justly stiled the Prince King or compleat Judge over Life and Death Wherefore the Creator and Preserver of all his Work hath placed this noble Officer in the principal Gate of the Microcosmical City viz. the Mouth that nothing might be suffered to pass into the Stomach or Nature's Magazin where all Foods and Drinks are promiscously Treasured up in order to sustain and support the whole Body besides the Creator hath ordained under the Conduct and Government of this Prince the Pallate several under-graduated Officers as Sentinels that are at all times ready to obey and execute the Orders and Commands of their Superior Prince viz. the Lips that can in a moment shut its Gates and withstand any thing that intrudes or is offensive the next is the Teeth which is a strong or powerful Officer or Centinel that can by its Innate power shut and keep out all the Enemies of the Body The next in order to the two former is the Attractive Power or mighty preserving Faculty of the Body for so soon as the Judge or Superior Power commands the Gates to be opened and the Teeth to macerate or break the Food to pieces but presently this third Officer the Attractive Faculty does with all power and vigour draw and Collect a fit and proper Menstruum or Moisture which doth render the Teeth Mouth and Tongue capable to Chew and Melt the Food into a soft pappy matter or substance fit for the Stomach and the better the Foods are Macerated or Chewed the easier they are of Digestion and the better Nourishment they afford unto the Body Likewise this Prince the Taste or Pallate hath another powerful Officer placed in this great Gate the Mouth or common Road that leads into the Metropolitan or Human City which is called the Expulsive Faculty by whose Innate power it can at the command of its Superiour Prince the Taste or Pallate immediately Expel or Spit forth and that with great vigour what Meat Drink or other thing is distasteful or unpleasing to the Pallate or Sense of Tasting so wonderfully hath our Creator guarded the Gate Road or common Passage that nothing might pass into the Body or Stomach but only what is proper and agreeable to sustain and preserve the Human Nature in a due regular Temperature and Union For if this Gate or common Passage be kept from being violated or forced upon by Adulterers and Thieves and that no unclean thing enters then all the whole Body and Mind is Sound Healthy and free from all cloudy Burthensom Diseases But on the other side if the Prince the Pallate or Superior Officer be adulterated and hath by intemperance and improper Meats and Drinks lost its intire and natural Taste or true distinguishing Power then presently all the under-graduated Officers and Centinels are thereby made heávy sleepy dull idle careless and impure and then this great or wonderful Gate or Road stands open to all Intruders and there is no Uncleanness nor Intemperance that is withstood but all Viciousness doth freely pass without any Examination of the said Officers or Centinels so that the Human City must needs be Defiled Wounded and Distempered For Meats and Drinks being the very Original and Substance both of the Body and Mind as we have largely discoursed elsewhere therefore the Lord hath placed so many powerful Officers and Watchmen in this Road or common Gate that thereby no unfit Meats nor Drinks might pass nor be admitted without a strict Examination of its Vertues Vices Cleanness or Uncleanness However all these Faculties and Officers must be Subservient to the higher Powers viz. the Will which is as we have said in some other Cases the Primum mobile of all the Actions of Life So that very often the Imaginative Powers being kindled or roused up by some Advice or Example either of Custom or the like that such and such things are good and profitable both for Heath and Physick whence arises and springs a potent Desire and strong Inclination and so commands the Pallate and all the Properties of the Mouth to send it into the Stomach and when it comes there your Will and Desire hath no power to call it back agree or disagree there it must abide till Nature can overcome and separate it and send the particular parts into all the Frontier Garrisons and Sally-ports where it oftentimes proves Oppressive And if the Power of the Expulsive Faculty did reside or any part of it in the Stomach as it doth in the Mouth many People would almost as frequently cast their Food up as they Eat it it being common for them to over-load their Stomachs with too large a quantity and of contrary qualities not but there is an Expulsive Faculty in the Stomach which doth as it were lye hid or sleeping and Nature doth very rarely call forth or rouse up this Property but only when she is sorely oppressed either with too great a quantity of Meats and Drinks or with things Hetrogenial or of contrary Qualities And whensoever this happens the Operations of the Stomach and all the Subservient Vessels thereof are in a meer Agonious or Tumultuous State and Condition by which it appears as clear as the Sun at Noon day that the Palate Taste and the Vessels or Servants thereunto belonging are the â—…roper and natural Judges of what is good and agreeable not only in quantity but also in quality If Order Temperance and Cleanness be observed in the use and custom of Simple Foods and natural Drinks otherwise the Taste or Palate is not a proper Judge For all the Senses and their under-graduated Officers are Servants to the Mind Will and Desire and to the Original Principles they arise and proceed from For this cause every Sense and other Quality and principle of the Body and also of the Judgment are subject to be adulterated and depraved And though there be many sorts of Meats and Drinks