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
fit them to be Butchers and â—…ill Men with ease and without trouble or the least regret as Butchers Kill Beasts but to be â—…ble of being Commanders over the Sons of â—…ceness and Oppression viz. Soldiers also another part of 〈◊〉 Mâ—…n of Honour and Title are of High â—…roud Lofty Tempers 〈◊〉 Oppressors of the Poor being Gluttons Druâ—…ds general Waâ—…ters of God's Creatures which doth not only draw on them a multitude of cruel tormenting Diseases but disturbed Minds uneasy Beds and guilty Consciences too Now when these things are considered and the true Nature and Principles of them and whence those great and numerous Croud of Calamities proceed then such an one will not â—…rvel that most Mens Dying-beds are so burthensome and anxious both to the Body and Mind more especially when we consider the 〈◊〉 part or greatest number are cut off in their younger Age or Strength which makes our Separation from the material things of this World many degrees more burthensome â—…rrible and frighâ—…ful to all sorts and degrees of People Now this cutting off the Life so early even in Childhood and in Youth or Strength of our Yâ—…s is undoubtedly occasioned by the Intemperances Uncleannesses and Disorders of our Fore-fâ—…thers with the addition this present Age makes doth cut off the greatest number of Maâ—…ind which doth mâ—…re cleâ—…ly appear when we consider the amazing variety and 〈◊〉 â—…fspring of the four Woâ—…ds or Elements viz. The underâ—…duated Creatures do not things in the Mineral Kingdom arrive to Maturity as Metals Stones and any other things belonging to the Element of Earth and do not Vegetables do the same whose variety in Nature are beyond Humane Number great part whereof doth sustain the Life of Man The like is to be understood of the inferior Animals or Beasts do not the greatest number live to old Age or the highest Limit of their Circle or Law except some who are subject to the Drudgery and Tyranny of Man as Horses and the like for should these great numbers and variety of Creatures be liable and subject to but half the Disorders Intemperances Uncleanness Depravity and Diseases Mankind is what an addition of Misery would it multiply on Man or how could he Subsist or be Supported and his Life preserved by them for should the greatest part of Fruits Grains and Herbage be Cut off or Blasted in the Bud or the Off-spring or Young ones of Cows Horses and other inferiour Ranks of Creatures be Cut off or subject to Distempers what a great Perplexity would it be on the Humane Race for nothing has kept them from being invaded by various Casualties and Sicknesses and preserving them in living to their highest Limits but only their continuation within the Circle of their Law that God and Nature have subjected them to and under which if they had at any time disobeyed or broken then the very same Flood-gate of Evil and Misery would immediately have fallen on them 〈◊〉 it hath done on Man Therefore it is most evident that the great numbers of unclean cruel Diseases short Lives and immature Deaths and 〈◊〉 thousand other Evils come in upon him as soon as he disobeyed his Creator and the undefiled Law of Nature the obeying and living within the Limits thereof is the â—…ond and Preservation of all the Under-graduates and the contrary is the melancholy House of Death and Misery as appears by the many Troubles and Perplexities that 〈◊〉 the Humane Race for should Mankind be divided 〈◊〉 Ten parts more than Nine of them Dies and are Cut off either 〈◊〉 Childhood or in the Prime of their Strength and Age many do thereby leave poor helpless miserable Wives and Children behind them who are exposed to all kinds of Violences Oppressions and Wants and are under no better Circumstances than a Ship without either Pilot or Rudder Now my Friend I do not doubt but when you have considered the fore-mentioned Particulars you will be satisfied wherefore Mankind are so deeply concerned in and do so much fear and dread Death Likewise there are several material causes in the common meâ—… of Mens Lives that â—…ing melancholly imaginations and troubles to the Dying Person besides what we have before mentioned viz. in Parents giving precedents and educating their Off-spring in all or most of the grand Vices our Great Prophet â—…sus Christ hath strictly forbidden on peril of his high Displeasure The first thing they teach their Children is the 3 grand Vices Gluttony Pride and Idleness which are the common roads and inlets to all other Evils as Passion Violence and Uncleanness which do diametrically oppose Justice Mercy and that great and Universal Sacrament Charity for which Holy Vertue Our Lord and Saviour justified and saved the Sheep on his Right Hand commanding them to enter in and inherit the Eternal Paradice whose Gates alway stands open to the Children of Wisdom and Obedience Is not Fighting and Oppression become the honourablest Employment and are not our Children trained up in the use of Arms and Violence to kill and oppress not only those of our Kind but spread their Venom also over all the undergraduated Inhabitants of Heaven and Earth who all become Victims to their fierceness and cruelties being altogether as it were dispossessed of common Humanity for which Practises all the Goats on the Left Hand were Condemned for â—…he Salvation and Preservation both in Time and Eternity is intailed not only on Christians but also on all other Nations and Religions on no other condition than to observe and live in the â—…ower and practice oâ—… Gods Commands the particulars of which our Divine Patron and Principles of Wisdom do command and enjoyn all his Disciples unto and all that act contrary thereto â—…doubtedly 〈◊〉 his displeasure Do not most Men that are endued with plentiful Talents and Blessings of this World live â—…th themselves and Off-spring in one degree of Luxury or other and is it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for â—…ple of all sortâ—… and Religions to break that great and important Coâ—…dment that is to 〈◊〉 and give the beâ—… and câ—…oicest 〈◊〉 and Drinks to 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 in no need 〈◊〉 kind of 〈◊〉 and that are able to 〈◊〉 and Feastâ—… 〈◊〉 whiâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…ly one of the greatest Eâ—…ls but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inconâ—… to each Party preventing them from doing such deeds oâ—… Charity which otherwise they would be capable of How willing are thousands to Treat themselves and Friends â—…th Bottleâ—… of Wine and with costly Dishes of Meat and at the same time are unwilling to give one Shilling to relieve their necessitous and wanting Neighbour and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 other things and agreeable practiâ—…es to this most that have wherewithall do subject themseâ—… 〈◊〉 and as to 〈◊〉 Talkative or Discouâ—… part it producâ—… that great and 〈◊〉 effect of Folly Laughter which the Tutoâ—… of such 〈◊〉 Methods call pleasure and a sort of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aâ—… 〈◊〉 Mankind could not 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 than exposing it to Sale as it were by Inch
Mathematicians do tell us that the Orb or Circle of each Planet is far greater than the whole Globe of Earth and Water which hitherto no Man in the general hath doubted what they have found true by the Observations of the most Learned and Ingenious of all Ages for some thousands of years and if so what morâ—…l Man can guess the wonderful Creatures and Inhabitants that may possibly dwell and inhabit those Spacious Airy Plains for so they seem to us and who can tell but that the Globe of Earth and Water may appear to the Creatures of those Worlds as they do to us and consequently that the Mathematicians and Astrologers of those unknown Worlds may make as great ado about the influences of our Planets Stars and Constellations as we do of theirs and give us the same Titles and Names as we do them but we have never ravelled in their Regions nor conversed with the People and World of the Moon and therefore shall submit and be silent in this guessing Philosophy It is further to be considered that the good and evil Successes or Fortunes to the Ascendants Planets and Significators that as Astrologers say are showered down upon Mankind by the benevolent and malignant influences of those great Luminaries and Coelestial Bodies which are various and strange if all be true as Philosophers say Now the Evils and Misfortunes are as it were beyond Humane number in comparison of the Good and whatsoever Misfortune or Evil doth happen or befall Mankind is by many of those cunning Men attributed to the Configurations and Directions of Planets and Significators or some one of them to Saturn they say when ill lignified he powerfully inclines his Sons and Daughters to Oppression Violence Killing Covetousness Back-biting Envy Strife and all kinds of evil Words and Works And the like is to be understood of the other Six Planets whereas it is as clear as the Sun Beams at Noon-day that all the Intemperances Evils and Outrages Mankind doth commit against God and his Neighbour are generated and midwifed into the World by Customs Presidents evil Communications and Examples as appears by the foregoing and if this be true how angry then will those great Illuminated Powers of Heaven be with Man for laying the Cause and Foundation of those great Evils upon them as when the fair Sex are vain proud wanton and foolish to say that Venus that great and wonderful Illuminated Body and Queen of Love is the cause that inclines them to such Wickedness or when a young Man is ingenious sharp and witty and turns all into Cheating to attribute it to Mercury and when any Person is vain wanton and unconstant to lay the cause on the Moon and her Influences or when a Man is fierce devilish hard-hearted cruel and subject to Wrath Passion and Violence to lay the cause on Mars and when false in Religion to attribute it to an unfortunate Iupiter and when proud and subject to Vain-glory and boasting to fix it on the Sun when in Truth the Original cause of most or all Evils and Sins take their first birth in the center of a Mans self and the People he Lives amongst and communicates with so that Mankind doth mightily add to his evil Course of Life by laying the cause where he should not and belying those innocent Powers which wicked Trade he hath followed ever since he transgressed Gods Holy Law and Commandment putting the evil from himself and laying the cause on some other thing of which its said that our Mother Eve was the first Precedent or Example Now what Mankind have to say for themselves when they shall be brought to the Test I cannot imagine for it seems impossible for Astrologers that they should pass their Accompt without making retalliation or satisfaction so that the Wisemen have made but poor work of their Studies It is likewise further to be Noted that no Creatures or Sublunary Bodies are subject or compelled to obey the Influences of the Heavenly Bodies but only such as have kept and Lived under the Law of God and observed and not broken the limits of their Natural Orbe or Circle in which each specifick Body or Creature was Originally Created and brought forth as we have hinted before for all the wonderful and most amazing of the Heavenly Luminaries called Stars Planets and Signs and though their number be far beyond all Humane Numeration nevertheless each of them doth keep within the limits and bounds of their Orbs and Original Circles and doth alway move with an exact and regular motion keeping and obeying the Voice and great Law of their Creator And for this cause all Corporeal Beings that live and move within the Limits of their first Law and have not at any time broken nor in any degree exceeded its bounds are all subject to the Laws Orders and Methods of Heaven and to all the Influences of those great Powers vulgarly called Stars Planets and Constellations and they do with the highest diligence endeavour to observe and imitate their Superior Powers every Creature observing both time and season so that all things are done and brought forth in an exact and wonderful Method and Order which is strangely amazing and surprizing to any considerate Person Do not all the numerous Off-springs of the Earth obey the Motions Influences and Voice of the Heavenly Bodi or Constellations And are not the Children or Fruits of our Mother Earth better or worse strong or weak vertuous or the contrary all according to the Benevolent or Malevolent Influences or Configurations of the Stars Constellations and Elements The like is to be understood of the Sensitive Creatures called Beasts of which there is an unaccountable variety nevertheless each doth in a most wonderful manner and curious method observe and constantly obey the Original Law God stamped on them and their Young Ones or Children learn and observe the same without the invading fierce Rods of School-Masters or Tutors and as the Heavenly Bodies and Governing Powers of the Great Creator do all work move and govern in a most exact and regular Order and Method The like is to be understood of all the Children or Off-spring of the Elements who keep their first Law and therefore they do all as exactly keep and observe their times and seasons alway moving within the compass and bounds of their own Circles or Orbs they were Created in and their whole business both of Motion Inclination and all the Actions of Life is to imitate and observe the Laws and Commands of their Superiors viz. the Heavenly Bodies But the contrary is to be understood of the Humane Race who have defaced their noble Image by breaking the Law of their Creator and thereby have destroyed the Orbs and Limits of their own Circle so that they are as it were blind and know little or nothing of the wonderful Operations of their own Heaven nor are they in any degree sensible of their own Natures or the Principles they are compounded
exemplify others and to add divers things in divers parts of them by way of Illustration which made them spin out to such a length as you see them and was wholly designed for the Reader 's Benefit and Satisfaction but if I have been so Unhappy as to fall short of my intended Aim I am sorry for it both upon his and my own account and heartily beg his Pardon who am His highly Oblig'd and Very humble Servant Thomas Tryon THE CONTENTS LEtter 1. Of the noble Sense of Hearing with the various Uses and great Benefits thereof Letter 2. Of the Sense of Smelling with its proper Seat Nature and Uses Letter 3. Of the Sense of Tasting and wherein also the great Mysteries thereof are set forth Letter 4. Of the Sense of Seeing and of its various Uses and Benefits Letter 5. Of the Sense of Feeling with its universal Benefits and Influences over the rest Letter 6. Of Fires and the best way to make Grates whereby a less quantity of Fuel is required and yet that rendreâ—… more useful and expeditious in the Preparation of Foods and upon other occasions than our common Fires Letter 7. Of the best Methods for Tempering of Clay Making of Mortar Tyles Flooring and Bricks together with an Account of different sorts of Earths and what Herbage Fruits Seeds Grains and Trees each is applicable to Letter 8. Of Religion with the Nature and Practice thereof and that the Knowledge of God and a Man's Self is the first step to all true and undefiled Religion Letter 9. Of Dropsies and the Nature of them with some Account of what Diet and Exercises such should use as also how to Retrench Expences by a Frugal Method of Living Letter 10. Of various Opinions in Religion and the Original Cause of those great Differences Oppressions and Violences proceeding therefrom with Remedies proposed for prevention thereof Letter 11. Of the Humanity of Christ shewing the Grounds from whence the great Differences concerning it do arise how it is to be understood and the great Benefits that accrew unto Mankind from it Letter 12. Of an Afflicted Mind and shewing how it may be prevented with some other Remarks Letter 13. Of Faith Hope and Charity with the Excellency and Benefit of each and how Mankind by practising the last imitates his Creator and renders himself capable of being United to all that is Good Letter 14. Of that part of Scripture wherein God commanded or rather permitted Beasts to be Killed and Eaten with the great Error of Mankind in misinterpreting the same and how they are rightly to be understood Letter 15. Of a Soldier 's Life shewing from what Principle that Bloody Employment takes its Birth how contradictory it is to the Divine Law and destructive to the Unity and Well-being of Mankind and that all other Creatures have an equal share in those Calamities Letter 16. Of the Fountain of Darkness with the Actions Employments and Inclinations arising therefrom and how they Govern in every particular Creature when evil Principles obtain the Ascendant Letter 17. Of the Fountain of Love and Light and what Actions Inclinations Dispositions Words and Works proceed therefrom and how they Govern in each particular Creature Letter 18. Of Cleanness with the Benefits thereof and the Mischief of the contrary as also what Foods in their Nature are clean and unclean Letter 19. Of Flesh Broaths and Potages and those made of Herbs Seeds and Grains with an Account of which is most clean and affords the best Nourishment Letter 20. Of the Right and Left Hands with the great Error of Peoples teaching their Children to distinguish them by such Terms Letter 21. Of the Corpulency of the Body with the Cause thereof and how to prevent and abate it Letter 22. Of the Nature and Causes of Fevers and how in some measure to prevent them Letter 23. Of Education wherein is set forth the right true and natural way of Bringing up Children Letter 24. Of the Nature of Smells and what Scents in their Original are Clean Good and Beneficial or the contrary Letter 25. Of Predestination and how it ought to be understood Letter 26. Of Death and why all Creatures especially Mankind are unwilling to Die Letter 27. Of the Science of Astrology wherein are shewed the Causes in Nature why Persons Born at one and the same minute and under the like Constellations are of different Shapes and Forms and of various Fortunes Letter 28. Of the Perpetual Motion wherein is shewed the Impossibility of the Humane Nature's being capable of it as being Diametrically opposite to all God's Methods and Laws Letter 29. Of the noble Science of Musick with the Defects of the best Teachers of it and Methods proposed for the speediest and certainest way to attain to the highest Perfection therein to which is added somewhat concerning the Art of right Speaking and Reading Letter 30. Of Languages and the easiest way for a Person in Years to attain to the true Pronunciatiâ—… of any Foreign Tongue Letter 31. Of the Times of Eating wherein in shewed that about 8 in the Morning and 3 or 4 in the Afternoon is the most proper Season with the Reason thereof Letter 32. To a Planter of Sugar concerning the Premoting of the Cotton Manufactury in our Plantation Letter 33. To a Gentleman in Barbadoes concerniâ—… the first Settlement Growth and Decay of our Sugâ—… Plantations and the necessity they lye under of Planâ—… ing other Vegetations c. Letter 34. To a Planter touching the Manufactuâ—… of Cotton wherein the Necessity and Advantagâ—… thereof is amply considered Letter 35. Of the Making of Sugar wherein the Myâ—… stery of it from the very first Planting of the Caâ—… to its highest pitch of Refining is Explicated wiâ—… the vast Benefits that do accrew therefrom to Engâ—… land where also the Art of Distilling is handled Letter 36. Of the Burial of Birds how unaccountaâ—… it is and the Author's Conceptions thereupon Letter 37. Of Fermentation with the Nature and Oâ—… riginal Invention thereof wherein is also shewed hâ—… Pernicious and Destructive Fermented Liquors 〈◊〉 to Mankind Twenty Seven Philosophical Letters UPON Several Occasions LETTER I. Of the Sense of Hearing SIR I Perceive by your Letter that you have been mightily affected with a Consideration of the Senses in admiring the wonderful Composition of the Organs and the nice and exquisite manner of their Operation for your encouragement to proceed in so commendable and useful Speculation I shall endeavour to Suggest some hints of Meditation to you which perhaps you have not yet thought of I Shall begin with the Ear that noble and brave Sense of Hearing and descant a little upon its Use and Benefits and the great disadvantages Mankind is subjected to through the want of it it is placed in the most Intelligible part of Man It has its residence in the Head and is therefore capable to distinguish between the good and evil qualities of Sounds For Man being a compleat Image or
of God to the continual disturbance of the Publick Peace of all Nations all the total destruction and ruin of Man himself First The Grand Reason of this difference has been and 〈◊〉 is the Ignorance and Blindness of the Priests Prophets and Teachers of the People not distinguishing between the two Grand Fountains of God's Love and Light Darkness and Evil from whence all things proceed and take their Birth for 〈◊〉 that Worships without distinguishing the Good from the Evil opposes and destroys those every Principles he endeavour to support and preserve himself by Secondly they invent new fangled Methods and whimsieâ—… Circumstances of Worship which have no foundation in Nature nor any agreeableness to the Law of God and stamp then with the Venerable Name of Religion and impose and exact the Observance of them with severe Penalties This is a certâ—… sign of their Blindness Ignorance and self Conceit For God is one his Law is one and Religion is but one from whence 〈◊〉 appears that these fierce Contentions and Brutal Outrages which Men exercise against one another are undeniable signs of Man's wretched Degeneracy from his first pure State of Union always groping in the Dark and making Inferences and Conclusions with no better certainty than a Blind Man would Judge of Colours or a Deaf Man of Sounds who if they happen to Judge sometimes right it is to be attributed to meer casualty and accident and not to any certain knowledge Now as Ignorance and Blindness is the root of Disunion so Agreement and Concord arises from the Understanding for Men never differ about things wherein they have Judgement and of which they know the particular parts and Qualifications For Example take Twenty Musitians and they will all readily agree that the seven Notes or distances are the Ground and Foundation of all Musical Harmony and equally know when their Instruments are in Tune The same is to be understood of all other demonstrative Arts and Sciences as in Musick which tho it be not the most useful it is confessedly the most Inspired Branch of all the parts of the Mathematicks for by the secâ—… Virtue of its Mellodious Sounds it irresistibly penetrates to the very Center of Union as we have largely Discoursed of in our way to Health So Twenty or Thirty Carpenters that are Workmen and Artists shall in the Discourse of their Trade unanimously agree and accord in the Fundamentals and Reasons of their Art and tho the Fashion and Form of the Houses they Build may differ yet the Principle and Rule by which they Work is still the same a Turkish Carpenter can Build a House in England and an English one in Turkey because they both agree in one Principle and Foundation The like is to be conceived in Religion as there is but One only God so there is but One Law and One Religion and all the Differences and Controversies about Worship proceed also from Ignorance Partiallity Pride Covetousness and Impurity Now the Principles and Materials of True Religion are these First to believe and acknowledge this Only God to be the eternal Fountain of all Beings nay very Being its self for all other things are said to be or exist only in a Derivative and Metaphorical Sense that he is the Creator of all Creatures and the Preserver of his Off-spring Secondly to observe the rules of Justice Mercy Clemency and Charity which he has prescribed and commanded to be just and faithful Stewards of all things put under our Government as much as in us lies to avoid all Violence Cruelty Uncleanness Intemperance and Disorder and to do to all Gods Creatures as we would be done unto knowing that we must be accountable for all these things to the Grand and Chief Possessor and Lord. This is undoubtedly the Summ of true Religion which all or most Nations agree in and consent to The first step is the knowledge of God in Mans self for he that doth not understand the principles and qualitys he is compounded of cannot be a true Worshipper nor direct others in the paths of Unity nor apprehend any thing aright The Soul of Man is fitly compared to a Field whose Earth contains all principles and qualitys but produces nothing of value till the wise Husbandman doth Manure and Cultivate it so it is with the Human Ground do not all Children when they are to learn any Art Science or Trade begin wrong which arises only from their ignorance Thus it is with Religion all is done by chance where there is no intrinsick understanding of the parts of the thing they are to judge or practice be they what they will Sir This is a true tho' short account of the grand reason of Mens Differences and Religious Contentions which be pleased to excuse and accept for an Answer from Your entire Friend T. T. LETTER XII Of the Humanity of Christ. SIR I received yours on the Twenty Sixth and follow all the directions you prescribed in reference to the business concerning the settling of your Estate in Lincolnshire but the Theological Question in your Postscript did at first somewhat startle me the Quaery it self being of so nice and difficult a Complexion and withall knowing you your self to be of a disposition that seldom cares to busy its self with matters of a speculative Nature However I shall endeavour according to my small Ability to give you some answer always professing not to be dogmatical and positive when any more rational account shall be offered me YOU would know how the Humanity of Christ or the Divine Fountain of Gods Love Mercy and Holy Light is to be understood and what use it may be of to Mankind seeing there hath been so many Disputes and Contentions among Christians about it The original occasion of all this is their not truly distinguishing the forms qualitys principles and powers of God his Law and universal nature but confounding and heaping all together they so live and act only in the knowledge of good and evil whereby they fall under the dominion of the divided forms and spiteful powers whence proceeds Pride Envy Violence and all hot Disputes and Controversies in Religion even to so high degree and ferment that they oppress kill and destroy the Peace and Well-being of each other Now our great and illuminated Apostle Paul tell us that great is the Mystery of Godliness and Christ's Manifestation in the flesh which seemed to be as great a mystery to the Primitive Christians as at this day viz. they did not then neither do we now distinguish the Grand Fountains of Gods eternal Love Light and Mercy from the Eternal Fountain of Darkness Fierceness and Evil but as is said they mingled them together for Man cannot avoid that power that leads him to Destruction nor observe nor follow that principle or quality that will preserve him if he be ignorant or do not believe it has power no error or evil can be avoided or amendeâ—… till it be known to
hath to preserve his Body though intolerable Pains are always about it is a sufficient Evidence of this Truth The same thing is Essential to Brutes who dread the Shock of Violence and tremble at the Instruments of their Dissolution which proceeds from the Spirits and not from the Body and Desire of Life Wherefore it must be the highest Will to violate the Unity by puting a Period to the Lives either of ones own kind or the other Creatures being the most spiteful Opposition to the Laws of God Nature and Eternity But what can be said or who can convince the great Ignorance and Blindness of Mankind This Evil is the effect of Man's Fall in the abuse of that noble Faculty the free unbounded Will of Man given him alone by his Creator which he should have used to the Glory of God the Preservation of himself and the whole Creation But he forthwith introduced this Will into Self-hood broke the Unity and destroyed the Concord of his own Composition which was the true Image of God and an Epitome of the whole Creation Here came in that Noxious Opinion of Predestination that never could have found a room in Man but by his falling from the Unity into Discord the Operations of the divided Forms Qualities and Principles which is the true Birth of Reprobation and Predestination as is now held and maintained by some among us But 't is evident that God hath given Man a free Will or his Reason by which he surmounts Brutes had been of no use to him 't is this noble Faculty by which he is capable of knowing God and all his Greatures and preserve it from Error God hath given his Law in Nature and revealed Will whereby he is made capable of discerning whenever his Desires and Powers may exceed their Limits Had God before the Creation absolutely Predestinated Mankind he could not have varied from it but have stood in that Law even as the Beasts and all other under-Graduates do for they cannot break that Law as is very plain for did they know their Powers it were impossible for Man to Rule and Guide them and much less being so Impotent for him to Oppress and Destroy them so many ways as he doth Hence it is evident that Man is Free Will by which he Transcends all other Visible Creatures is become his greatest Curse having thereby broke the Unity and defaced the beautiful Image of the Great God by suffering his Will to enter into Discord and his Election depends on himself being accountable for all his Evils and Misfortunes For the Eternal Father of all things is always ready with open Arms to receive all that are willing to hear and observe the Laws and Dictates of the Voice of Wisdom Are not all the Works of the Creator like himself and we his Children endued with Principles Qualifications and Dispositions from himself We indeed vary by and through the Self-hood but God is eternally equal in all his Methods causing the Glorious Eye of the World the Sun and all the Fructifying Dews of Heaven with the sweet Influence of the Caelestial Bodies to fall proportionately on all One Man's Field is not Predestinated to the continual scorching Beams of the Sun and at the same time his Neighbour's to be Drown'd with Floods and Inundations of Water No the Eternal Fountain of Beings hands forth his Spiritual and Temporal Blessings without respect of Persons having equal regard to the meanest and most Noble of his Creatures none having any Character or defending Power beyond another to protect him from the wrath of the Elements Sickness or Death which made the Wise King Solomon say that one Event happened to the Wise man and the Fool. Now had the Almighty Being like some unequal Tyrant or unrighteous Prince made and appointed some of his Sons and Daughters to Eternal Misery after this Life and others to all imaginable Happiness he would never have given Laws whereby Man might govern his Will and all Preaching and Teaching had been vain and as ineffectual as to Beasts who live in their limits that is set them and as they do not particularly call any thing their property so they freely possess and use what Nature sets before them Nothing is more impious and contradictory to God than this Opinion and wicked Imagination making the most Merciful Righteous and Just God the Maker and Preserver of all things the Original cause of Evil. Every Man becomes predestinated to good or evil in this World and the World to come as he introduceth his Will or Desires into good or evil it being in the power of each Principle and Quality to predestinate and lead all those that are entred into it according to its power either into good or evil For Instance the Son Disobeys his Father and Mother takes to the High-way to Kill Rob c. and continuing in this Method the wrathful fierce Principle and Quality rules over him anâ—… will most assuredly predestinate him to Destruction Therefore my Friend turn the Eye of your Understanding inwards all the Wonders and Mysteries of God's Nature are within you you are the Thing your Self and if with Fervor and Devotion you wait at Wisdoms Altar you will quickly feel the Grace and Holy Power the Glorious Light of the Son of God arising in you and teaching you such harmless innocent Methods of Life and Love that will lead you into the Unity and convince you that as God is One and undivided having equal respect to all the Sons and Daughters of Men and whensoever the Harmony is broken it proceeds from our selves and not from God's Predestinating us and this take to be a sufficient Answer and I hope it may be as aparent to you as it is evident to Your Faithful Friend T. T. LETTER XXVI Of DEATH SIR 〈◊〉 â—…ceived yours and take notice of the Contents and in particulâ—… 〈◊〉 of your unvulgar Philosophical Question viz. You desire to know 〈◊〉 Original Cause and Grand Reason wherefore every Sensitive 〈◊〉 under Heaven doth with great earnestness desire to Live for Ever 〈◊〉 on the other side fear and dread nothing so much as any kind of 〈◊〉 or Violence that may tend towards the putting a Period to the â—…fe MY Friend all the wonderful and amazing varieties of created Beings and Creatures in this Visible World which are beyond all Humane Numbers have all proceeded and sprung from an Eternal Original and are an Epitome or Image of the 〈◊〉 and Incorporeal Worlds and Principles and these manifested Powers do contain the true Nature and Property of the Internal Worlds oâ—… Spiritual Beings for every particular or speâ—… Body or Thing doth in its Signature and Complexion carry that Eternal Stamp or Character it was Sealed with from Eternity or before it was separated from the Great Fountain of 〈◊〉 Unity Now it is to be noted and considered that the great and 〈◊〉 Powers and variety of the invisible Spiritual Beings did do and ever will long
of Candle which doth make a Sick and Dying Bed still more uneasy and burthensom more especially when the Sick Person shall think and consider of the Methods of his Life great Agonies do arise and spring up in the Soul feeling its self almost naked or uncloathed of all the Pleasures of Life most of which Perplexities are Originalliy occasioned by the vain Educations and wicked Customs of Natons more especially among the Christians What vain empty frivolous Discourses do all Mothers Nurses and Maids use to their Children the first 6 or 7 years of their Age always discoursing between Jest and Earnest great part thereof Childish Banter with a hundred odd Tricks and Postures which doth take such deep root awakening their Similies so that those Vices become essential that neither Time nor Correction is ever able to obliterate them Is it not common where 5 or 6 Children are with a Mother Nurse and Maid the whole House is filled with a great noisom Crying others Laughing their Governesses Whipping and Threatning of them and it is but little amended when they come to 18 or 20 years of Age when 6 or 8 of these meet what a strange variety of Notes are heard as loud Obesence Laughter Jesting Lying and Jeering one another each endeavouring in vain talking to move that vain and ridiculous posture of Laughing nay our Gray-Hair'd Senators are not free from these Vanities it being common for ancient People to please and delight themselves in telling long Stories of their Youthful Wickedness and Follies and that too in the hearing of young People and in the presence of their own Children for Histories tell us that Christ never Laughed whilst he was Cloathed with the Humane Nature and to this day it is esteemed a very odd thing for any Person to Laugh in the Eastern Countreys Nowthese things considered no marvel that most Men on Dying Beds are under such perplexity and horror of Mind which doth occasion thousands to make Solemn promises to the Lord to amend and redeem their times if he pleases to continue their Lives for a very little season longer which very few do perform for those grafted evil Methods do quickly get head and there the evil Powers become strong and potent which doth verify that Proverb That which is bred in the Bone will never out of the Flesh Few or none ever consider that those Childish Evils or Venoms most suck in their Childhood and Youth do naturally improve in riper years even to old-Age as all Trades Sciences and other Learning do so that most or all Man's days are worse than trifled away The truth of this appears by the general Conversation of Mankind go amongst a hundred sorts of People of all Pretences and Religions and observe their Converse and Discourse their Nature and Tendency and upon the whole a Man shall not hear one word among many that is edifying useful and proper or that tends to the benefit of Mankind neither in the observation of that which makes them Men and is the support of the Body Soul and Spirit or the knowledge of God first in our selves and then in all other Creatures or how Mankind may render himself capable of discharging that great duty to his Maker viz. to govern himself and all the undergraduated Creatures in Good-will Love and Harmony which is the true method of doing unto all Gods Creatures as a Man would be done unto no no not a word of any such necessary Truths but most or all frothy vain and fantastick Now if Mankind spends all his Childhood in sucking in and learning Vanity and their strength of years in the practice of those Evils and Intemperances which often cuts Man off betimes when these things are considered it is then no marvel that the Dying or Sick Bed becomes so uneasy there being hardly any sort of People in the World that their Disciples do Dye with that great trouble or pain of the Mind and Body as the Christians more especially that part called the Reformed which comes to pass for the reasons before mentioned The Eastern People in General Live and Dye peaceably and easy more especially the People called Bannians who perhaps are some of the strictest Observers of Gods Law viz. doing unto those of their own kind and to all inferior Animals and Creatures as they would be done unto having a severe and particular regard to maintain Unity and Humanity that they may in the Resurrection or next World when New Bodies shall be given them arise in Humane Forms and Shapes for it is their undoubted Faith that if Man lives in Gods Law and leads an innocent harmless Life shewing Mercy Love and Compassion to all the sensible Creation that then they shall not only obtain an Angelical form of Body but have an Eternal Blessed Unity to live with God and his Holy Angels in the spangled Regions of Eternity But on the contrary those that live in the practice of Violence Oppression and Killing whose Minds Spirits and Souls are precipitated into those furious fierce Principles they shall be Cloathed in Eternity with suitable Bodies for without the Unity or Holy City of Innocency are Dogs Bears Lyons and the like Beasts of Prey saith St. Iohn in the Revelations there being nothing more true and certain he that breaks the Unity both in himself and in all other Creatures doth immediately divide himself from God and breaks forth into Discord Perplexity and Trouble let his Religion Custom and Laws of his Countrey be what it will And on the other side that Person that keeps the Unity in himself unviolated by living in innocent harmless methods has Peace both in his Living and Dying It is a Proverb amongst the Eastern Philosophers and Bannians that nothing makes the Life of Man pleasurable and the Dying-bed easy but an innocent Life and to imitate God who is the Creator of all Beings and the Preserver of all his Works This they say is the true Worship of God and joins them to the Fountain of Benignity Innocency hurts nothing nor nothing that those Eastern Sages or Philosophers have great Veneration for Silence is one of the most necessary and useful Vertues because most Men know but very little and therefore they ought to talk or discourse in proportion to their Understanding for this cause where there is much talk there is a like proportion of Ignorance and Folly uttered as the Wiseman saith A Fool is known by his much talking Therefore Pythagoras and many other Eastern Philosophers taught their Disciples and Scholars Silence as the first and principlest Precepts which the People of those Countreys do observe to this day time and practice hath made it easy and natural to them so that amongst them when several Ages are together viz. Children Young Men and Women middle Age and Old Age there is not any noise as talking altogether but all stand silent and sedate each Age speaking in their turn according to their Degrees which doth not
Stars and Configurations of the Heavens and yet all you say are of various Fortunes Shapes Figures Inclinations and Dispositions I answer now all that you take notice and affirm is a grand Truth and yet we must tell you that this doth not at all invalid or make void Judicial Astrology but that it is most evident that the Planets and Heavenly Bodies have an innate and powerful influence on all Suâ—…lunary Bodies or Things for it is most evident that by the circular Motions Configurations and Influences of those mighty Powers of God or Heavenly Bodies all material things are influenced altered and changed out of one thing or quality into another all the Elements bow before those great Powers and never fail to yield their Obedience and therefore as they retreat towards the Chambers of the South our fruitful Season ceases and the reviving Beams of the Great Eye of the World forsakes our Horrizon we are attended with cold Winds short Days long Nights Rainy Cloudy dark Weather with an intermixture of Frost and Snow which doth during the absence of the Sun and other ruling Constellations strip the Vegetable World of all its Ornaments so that Nature becomes like Old-Age and lies Bed-ridden till the return of this Glorious Body whose presence gives as it were a new Life Vigor and Strength unto all the Undergraduates and Off-spring of this World and for this cause no Man can or dare deny their influences conduct and power in and over visible things but as to the Forms Shapes Manners Strength Weakness Riches Poverty Honour Dishonour Healthiness and the contrary which variously do attend Persons in all Places and Countreys Born at one and the same time and under the same Stars and Constellations which as is said before doth not invalidate the Astrological Science or Influence of the Heavens on Mankind for the causes and reasons following viz. First every Seed produces or generates a Body and Spirit in some proportionable degree according to its Qualifications and Nature never failing to bring forth some new Essence that did not manifestly appear in the old Stock or Parents and although a thousand Persons should be Born at the rising of the same Constellation and under the same Elevation and Configuration of Heaven nevertheless each of these Persons will wonderfully and strangely vary both in their Shapes Forms Inclinations and Fortunes The reason is plain and as it were bare-fac'd for is there not a strange variety in the Foods Drinks Inclinations Dispositions Labours Communications Customs and Educations As for Example suppose that in one City or Town there are ten Persons have ten Sons Born at one and the same minute and they Educate and bring them up in ten several Arts and Trades every one of these Persons shall by the secret power of their Employment be influenced and subjected to the Method and Manners of those that are of the Employment Is not this clearly seen in all sorts of Business and the same is to be understood in Communication Now if those External Conversations as they may properly be termed are endued with such a mighty Energie and Power to seek out their Similies and thereby impose their propertys on the Humane Nature as in a great degree to encrease and change the Inclinations Dispositions Words and Works What then must Meats and Drinks do which are the very Essences and Substances of the Humane Nature every Son and Daughter is endued with all the Qualifications of their Parents and the Seed is made and generated from all the Qualifications of the Father and Mother First from the quality and quantity of their Meats and Drinks clean or unclean well or ill prepared proper or improper Mixtures Likewise it is influenced and as it were inspired by each Persons Employment Communication Words and Works for every Variation not only in Meats and Drinks but also in all other things or manners of Life do beget and produce variety of Shapes Forms Dispositions and Inclinations This is wonderfully manifested in the Husbandman's Art do not the mixtures of various Earths together alter and change the Vegetables for the better or worse stronger or weaker and every sort of Dung or Earth according to its quality and quantity is thereby rendred capable and do bring a newOff-spring of Vegetables called Weeds or Herbs that were never seen to appear in that spot of Land for the mixtures of Earths that are of differing qualities do alter and change the complexion of such Land or Earth by which secret power of Qualities that property that was strong becomes weak and that quality that was in the complexion weak and did as it were disappear becomes most powerful and manifest The very same is to be understood in the Art of Representation doth not a skilful Painter by an apt commixture of various Earths and Drugs most curiously represent all the wonderful variety of the Colours both of the Animal Vegetable and Mineral Worlds which is all done by the Sympathetical Power and Secret Operation of the mixtures and compounding the four grand qualities the Heavens and the Elements do continually sow and shower down Seeds of Varietys As for Example cast up Gravel or Clay that to all appearance is destitute of all the Sal Nitral or Seminary qualities of Vegetation nevertheless being for some time exposed to the Sun and common influences of the Elements such Gravel or Clay will become covered with various sorts of Herbage likewise it is farther to be observed that the Religion Customs and Manners of each Place or Countrey do powerfully alter and change the Complexions of Mankind either for the better or worse Virtue or Vice as suppose there should be a scrutiny made viz. a thousand Male Children of the most roughest fiercest cholerick Complexions should be sent to be Nursed and Educated in a Bannian Countrey where there is no Fighting Quarrelling not Killing either of Men or Beasts or of any Living Creature but all their Methods and Manners are sedate and calm where these young cholerick Sparks have nor do not see any other Precedent or Example but Clemency Mercy and an humble Deportment of their Elders to Men and Beasts esteeming it one of the greatest Sins or Crimes that Man is capable to commit against God and the whole Creation to oppress hurt or kill either Man or any Living Creature and let these Youths remain amongst them till they be 20 or 25 years of Age in which time they will be throughly grounded and fixed in their Religion and Customary Methods not letting them know from whence they came nor from what Parents they proceeded and then you may be assured that he that is fiercest by Complexion all the Rhetorick and profits or interest in the World will not be able to perswade such a one either to Kill Oppress be Drunk or go freely into the Armies of Princes to destroy those they never saw nor had no occasion of Quarrel The like is to be understood in all Religions can
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
under his Father's and Mothers Conduct from four or five years old and upwards whereby as a farther conveniency they have not only the Education of their own Children but do prevent and save the great Charges we Europeans are at to put them Apprentices to others where we cannot overlook their Actions as they can but expose them to the Governance of Strangers many of whom take them more for the Money they have with them than for any real benefit they design them And here tho' it be digressive give me leave to observe Is it not a Paradox that when a Father and Mother have through their foolish Conduct Sown Seeds of Disobedience in their Children insomuch that they cannot rule nor keep them in order for them to imagine that others will take that off their Hands for a little Money and that Strangers should do more for their Children than they are willing to do themselves especially when the Seeds of mismanagement are sprouted up and grown too sturdy and strong whereas the Parents had the Fore-Horse by the Bridle and might have nipp'd Vice in the Bud. But to return to our purpose what the Blacks in the East Indies do in the Manufacturing of Cotton the like is perform'd by the Europeans in the management of their Flax and Wool â—…or the first of which we need only cast our Eye upon our Neighbour Nations in Flanders Holland Germany and France where the Thread which is made into sundry sorts of Laces Holland and Cambrick could never have been brought to that curious fineness had they not taught their Children very early to Spin it And as for the other which is the Manufactury of England let me observe that whereas our Woollen Cloath about an Hundred and Fifty years since was all very course and came short of our common Prizes now so that there is as much difference between the Cloath now and then as there is between the Fustian we now make for Hammocks and Stockings and East India Callicoes As soon as Navigation Trade and Rack-renting came on all Trade was encouraged and ever since the Natives have made it an Employment to get Money and their Bread thereby The management of all our Growth hath every Year and Age been advanced in more excellent performances which have been wonderfully increased within these Fifty or Sixty Years more especially as to the above mentioned Woollen Manufactury and England perhaps now as much exceeds in the Spinning and Weaving of Woollen Cloth as Flanders France Holland and the East Indies do in their Linnen and Callicoes and it is worth our noting and makes much for your Argument that we have attained to this Excellency since many hundreds of poor Families have thro' necessity trained up their Children in Spinning Carding and other Works about the said Cloathing Trade from Five or Six years of Age so that we find by experience they can now draw almost as fine a Thread as in Silk or Linnen from whence it is manifest that early cultivation and sowing Seed in due Season is greatly necessary to bring the same to perfection Children are like white Paper at first before it be sullied or ill Customs and Characâ—…s stamped upon them so that you may Sow what Seed you please and according to each Childs Genius they will arrive to a happy Maturity Now Sir that the West Indian Colonies are able to cope with the East Indies in the Manufactury of Cotton may be made to appear from many Considerations but more particularly First your Young Children can get more than their Bread as well as theirs do before they are able to perform any of the Servile Work that belongs to the making of Sugar Secondly Meat Drink and Cloathing is as cheap with you as in the East Indies or at leastwise might be so if you did but pursue the Methods laid down for you in my former Letter Thirdly the Commodity made is of more value than in the East Indies Goodness for Goodness Fourthly what is proposed is an easy and a soft Employment that neither hinders Growth nor wastes Strength Fifthly it preserves more especially the Females as well as their Off-spring from many cruel Diseases that hard Field Labour subjects them unto which have and do prove no small detriment to your Sugar Plantations they being by nature not of so robust a Constitution as the Males besides they are naturally subject to an Hundred Weaknesses that Men are not which is the reason that all Nations by their Laws and Customs more especially those that have had regard to the Health and flourishing state of their Posterity have allotted the easiest and finest Employments to their share And give mâ—… leave to tell you Sir nothing has been more hurtful and injurious to your Plantations than the unkind Usage and hard Labour you put your Black Women to whose preservation health and strength you ought to have made your main Study But you on the contrary have doubled their Burdens and what you unwarily design for their preservation manifestly leads to their Destruction for tho' after those intollerable Works and Fatigues you give them Rum which at present is a little refreshing yet you cannot but know it is destructive to Nature wasting the Vitals and an Enemy to Propagation So much of it in respect to the Women Kind I am loath to be particular with you Sir in respect to the Negro Men and your plying of them with this destructive Liquor and that upon Sundays too to very bad purpose And tho' your Intention herein be to perpetuate their Servetude c. the very Methods you take to do it by such indulging of them in this excess of Drinking at the same time proves very frequently your Disappointment and their Death And as you cannot but be convinced of the truth hereof so I appeal to your own experience whether your allowing of Polygamy or plurality of Wives to your Black Slaves doth any ways answer your end in the multiplication of Servants thereby I very much doubt the contrary and that 't is the ready way to lose both Root and Branch nothing being more destructive to Humane Nature than the immoderate use of Venery which upon the persecuting of a fresh Object c. is usually provoked beyond all due bounds to the manifest enervation and decay of the Man from whom no vigorous Issue can be expected and if any at all seldom or never comes to Maturity Many things might be said upon this Head as to the practice both of former and latter Ages but not to multiply Instances its remarkable to consider the difference between the Turkish Empire and the other Kingdoms and States of Europe that whereas the first allows of Polygamy in the utmost extent thereof and notwithstanding the greatest part of the Turks Dominions is in it self exceeding rich and fertile and was anciently full of Populous Cities and Inhabitants it s now so thin of People that in many places for Thirty or Forty Miles
than that which they leave or reject Now the Stomach cannot make so easy a Digestion thereof as it can of Foods made of Vegetations if properly managed in the Preparation which is the reason why some have refrained Eating of Animals whereby they have obtained an higher degree of Health and Pleasure than they had before Now it is to be noted that as Fermentation in Vegetables breaks and destroys the Rest of that thing so Drinks that have passed thro' these fiery Operations are changed for the worse that is the original Unity by this Motion is disturbed and there is an unequal working struggling and dividing Power between tâ—…em each Quality endeavouring to be Lord over the other whereby the whole sinks into its original Form and all such Liquors in a short time become sharp harsh or flat so that both the Water and the Juices of the Fruits become divested of their natural Bodies which as long as any thing remains entire incircles all the spiritual Powers or original Principles and preserves them in the Unity wherein they were Created wherefore all Fermented Drinks and more especially those that are strong never fail to operate like themselves so that as the original Forms are by this Art divided in a self-ful domineering Operation the very same they do in the Stomach wherefore the common drinking of such Liquors are Experimentally found baneful to Mankind by the great number of cruel Diseases that more particularly of latter years have been introduc'd amongst us especially Gravel Stone Gout and the like Evils which the Natives of all such Countries who constantly drink Water know nothing of tho' it is not such Liquors alone that are thus destructive to Humane Nature for since sensible Creatures I mean Flesh and Fish are become our principal Food Mankind not only inherits all the Disorders and Diseases such Creatures as he Eats are subject to he having little or no regard to Cleanness Uncleanness Season of the year and of Generation but the worst of all is these cruel Distempers are convey'd down and entailed upon our Children and Posterity and therefore grow more and more upon us and there are no Medicines found out that will Cure them for the Stomach cannot draw any proper Aliment from things that have passed thro' the fierce unequal Operations of Fermentation because Inequality cannot administer Equality each thing operating like it self and for this cause if Mens Foods were to be managed after the manner of Drinks they would in a short time destroy Mens Health and sink the Body into Death and hence it is and I presume with very good reason too that I have given Water the Preheminence before all Liquors as in respect to Food I have done to Herbs Seeds Grains and Fruits whatever the unthinking World may imagine to the contrary and since we find there can be no greater Character of the Virtues of Meats and Drinks than their long keeping sound and good and that Fruits Grains and Seeds together with Water do so much longer than Flesh Fish or Fermented Liquors one should think there could be no difficulty made in the choice of them seeing the Almighty hath provided such amazing varieties of Vegetables for us and much easier to be got than either Fish or Flesh. But to return to the Art of Fermentation as to the Original thereof it was first found out and promoted by the Egyptians or Eastern Philosophers and Physicians for as soon as Man had depraved and separated himself from his Original state of Unity all the Original Qualities and Principles in him were terribly stirred up by his longing free Will after all Intemperances and Evils to which he was continually tossed to and fro so that many destructive dark Inventions have and do still take their rise from thence which did and ever since have filled the whole Earth with Violence and as such Inventions and evil Customs have been admitted and incouraged so have our Diseases proportionably encreased which has occasioned the more prudent and sober part of former Ages to think of and invent equivalent Medicines or Antidotes and so went to work raking as it were into the Center of all Elemental Things and Creatures and more especially into the three Grand Kingdoms of Nature viz. the Animal Vegetable and Mineral to find out an Universal Medicine that might be able to cope with or Cure Universal Distempers concluding there was no Vice so great but there was a Virtue as great which if obtained might be effectual to that end But herein the most Learned and Ingenuous of all Ages have found themselves grosly mistaken as experience witnesseth yet for all their continued Failures every Age and Country are still pestered with a great number of those Philosophical Heads that tell Lies in the face of the Sun and magnify what they can do in this kind especially on Minerals It s true they have been able by the power of their Calcinary Fires to Flux and Refine Metals into a much higher degree of purity and fineness which has proved very beneficial to Mankind as being thereby fitted for various profitable uses But all this while they found no such thing as the Seeds of Metals nor yet any Ferment that was capable to divide the Original Forms or to bring them into a working boyling active power or strifeful opposite motion which Qualifications and Operations do appear in all things that are capable of Fermentation as we see in Vegetables but instead of extracting or obtaining such Seed or Ferment they procured all the opposite qualities for their fierce Fires did in a moment destroy all the Seminary or Living powers of such Metals of what kind or nature soever they were and totally obliterated the Characters and Powers of Multiplication The very same thing happens in the Vegetative Kingdoms for if you offer any Seed or Grain to the heat of common Fires a little will kill all the Spermatick or Seminary Quality which that moment puts a final stop both to the progression and multiplication of the said Seed or Grain and no better can surely be expected from such fiery Tryals in the Animal Kingdom Will any Person of common understanding believe you should you tell him that by Killing of Beasts and refining their Flesh and Blood with harsh and strong Fires you can obtain the Seed and that by the virtue and efficacy thereof with the help of some Menstruum you can multiply the same Species of Creatures from Tenfold to Ten Thousand as some of the Learned in the Art of Refining are apt to talk and boast of But so far it is from being in Mans power to effect this that we see if two Beasts of different kinds couple together the Creature that proceeds from such is rendred uncapable of Generation so fruitless have most of our Spagyrick Philosophers in all Ages been mostly both in their fiery Operations on Minerals and Animals and all they have done has been but to draw a circle of Darkness
about themselves wherein many Thousands have not only been accessary to their own Destruction by the venemous fumes of their own Fires but inticed others into the same Mischiefs by their Lying Volumes left behind them which have had no small influence on many very Ingenuous Persons whose Inclinations prompted them to those curious Studies together with the hopes of Gain and to become Richer than the Princes of the Earth and who tho' they have been endued with much Wit and other ingenuous Faculties yet they are void of any spark of true light or distinguishing understanding in the wonderful Operations of Nature Gods Eternal Power and fixed Methods of his Law But admit we should suppose they could attain to a proper Ferment both in the Mineral and Animal Kingdoms and Seminary Qualities whereby they could Ferment all Minerals as also the Flesh and Blood of Animals yet they shall not be able thereby to obtain the multiplying quality of Nature let their Menstruum be what it will because Fermentation wheresoever it is effected does in a moment destroy the unity of that thing and all its Seminary Qualities from whence multiplication proceeds by this fierce motion awakening the Central Principles out of their rest as already mentioned Further I say if this Fermentation could have been effected in the Mineral and Animal Kingdoms these Gentlemen would be as far off an Universal Medicine as ever neither would they be able ever to have made better Work or Medicines than there are made of Vegetations in the method of Fermentation and Distillation nor probably so good because Minerals are harder crude and harsher by much than Herbs Fruits Grains and Seeds having as it were no proportionable assimilation with the Humane Nature to which they are great Strangers and so rendred not capable of being made Homogeneal insomuch that Metals this way could be of no real benefit to Mankind but rather increase our Evils and Intemperances and our Operators instead of preparing Universal Medicines would have made Universally destructive Liquors or Spirits which no Art could ever make agreeable to Humane Nature and must be much worse than the Spirits or Brandies made of Vegetables are Again whatever could that way be drawn or extracted from the Bestial Nature of Animals must of necessity be gross and unclean in proportion to the Original from whence it proceeds for Nature never lies but is constant and true in all her Operations I will not take upon me in this place to say that the Arts of Fermentation and Distillation in any kind had been better lost than found in the World tho' it is most certain that Fermentation in the strictest and best Sense is no other than a certain vegetative and insensible Delirium or Madness and therefore all its Operations when the Fermented Liquor is strong and spirituous are in proportion and the same as I may say being Disbanded from under the Government of its Superior Officers so soon as a quantity of it is introduced into Mans Body it plunders Nature of all its sweet Virtues by drying and parching them up and at the same time breaks the Government of the Sentes turning Reason and Wisdom adrift so that the Body is in no better condition than a Ship without either Pilot or Rudder and penetrating into all parts and corners awakens and stirs up the Original Fires and by confederating with the same the whole Man becomes Mad and like one out of his Wits For which cause the Egyptians and Eastern Countries where the Art is supposed to have been invented foreseeing the Evils that would necessarily ensue did both by Laws and customs prohibit the Drinking thereof confining the said Liquors to the circle of Medicines I might take upon me were it necessary to ennumerate here the many kinds of Evils and Distempers the Drinking of such Liquors has introduced into the World but to wave that as being well known and but too sensibly felt I shall touch a little upon the other Inconveniences that do attend Fermentation and Distilling Are not most of our noble Fruits Grains and Seeds very much wasted and destroyed hereby which if otherwise managed would be considerable Preservatives For Example one Bushel of good Barley made into Malt Ground Fermented and Distilled into what they call Common Proof-Spirit makes but about Five Quarts thereof which in weight is not above Eight Pounds and an Half whereas the Barley before it was so ordered as aforesaid weighed about Forty Five Pounds and would have made Bread enough to sustain Six or Seven Persons for a whole Week with some other Foods or if the said Bushel of Malt had been Brewed into Beer or Small Ale it would have made Twenty or Four and Twenty Gallons of good Drink And tho' this last be of much less value to Mankind than the said Corn made into Bread yet it far exceeds the Five Quarts of Brandy both in quality and in all its Uses The like is to be understood in most of our other Grains and Fruits In a word Fermentation and Distillation have Midwifed into the World all the enticing Drinks and Liquors that are Drunk and tho' these Arts may be allowed to advance some particular things to an higher degree of usefulness yet they are but few and might well enough be spared Indeed Bread and Flour of Corn being of a ponderous close glewy Body Fermentation doth advance and better accommodate it to our Stomachs making it of an easier Digestion tho' at the same time this virtue of putting Ferment into our common Bread the supposed advantages thereof proceed chiefly from custom for the Ancients whose Health and long Life far surpassed ours in these latter days according to the Testimony of History used neither Ferment nor Salt in their Cakes and many of the Eastern People do follow that custom to this day And it is also remarkable that among the Iews and other Religions too after some of them came to allow Drinking Wine and Fermented Liquors yet they would not admit of Bread that was Fermented either with Leven or Lees of Wine to be eaten in their Religious Rites or Worship esteeming the same unclean in comparison to that which had no Ferment or Leaven therein and this they called clean or unleavened Bread Neither is this also to be omitted concerning our common Bread that if the Yeast be too much in quantity such Bread becomes in a very short time dry and harsh losing its sweet pleasant taste and moisture And by the by I may add in like manner that Salt is a certain and sure Enemy to Bread not only by causing it to corrupt in a short time but also it takes away and doth as it were destroy the natural pleasant sweetness thereof and indeed there is no manner of thing to be urged but custom for putting it in and 't is well known that Bread which is designed to be kept for a considerable while must have neither Salt Ferment nor Yeast in it and this
of which makes them utter Strangers to themselves and to all the wonderful Mysteries of Gods Law and for this cause Mankind ever since he hath transgressed the Holy Laws of God and exceeded the limits and bounds of the innocent Methods and Operations of Nature hath been as it were forced and compelled to make strict and severe Laws against the wicked Enormities and Violences he committed against his own Kind and likewise to all the innocent Inhabitants of Heaven and Earth and had not some of the more Wise fixed on Mankind those Laws of retalliation viz. of Rewards and Punishments Man would quickly have destroyed the whole Creation and have raced himself off the Earth so that it is as clear as the Sun at Noon-day that if Mankind had not Dishonoured his Creation and defaced his noble Image by suffering that great and wonderful power the free and unbounded Will to enter into evil Principles and consequently Practices by vertue whereof he was Superior to all the visible Creatures of this World then we say if this had not been done Mankind would not have had any more occasion to have made Laws with promises of Rewards and Punishments than the Undergraduated Creatures of the Field have for so soon as Man had entered into Cruelty and Revenge and so broke himself off from the Commands and Laws of God and of the Heavens that he instantly became his own Law-maker and was thereby subjected to all the Influences Laws and Customs of the Sublunary Planets Stars and Constellations and is principally governed by them in all Nations and therefore as Mankind is departed from the simple Methods of Gods Law into evil Principles and Methods of Life by which means he hath rendred himself uncapable of the benevolent Influences and Powers of Gods Law and also of the sweet and fructifying Dews of the Heavenly Bodies but on the other side by his cruel and unnatural Methods of Life he is only capable to attract or draw unto himself the Venom and weak Influences out of all things Elements and Constellations for all things of this great Being or visible World are compounded of the two Grand Principles of Good and Evil and into what Man doth enter with his free unbounded Will that same Principle obtains the Government and becomes his Ascendant or Governing Constellation whether it be Good or Evil and this Grand Truth every sensible Man must grant that each principle or quality hath a Key in its own Bosom both in the Evil and in the Good to penetrate the depth of all things and to influence and to be influenced by its Similie the Good searcheth the whole Globe of the Heavens and Earth and wheresoever it findeth its Similie there it rejoyceth and is thereby strengthened The like is to be understood of the evil Genius every Star Sign and Planet hath great influence and power in his own Orb or Circle for in them all Learned in the Astral or Mathematical Science each Planet or Constellation delights and hath a Similie with its own Nature but when those great Luminaries are out of their Orbs or meet with contrary Natures then they are said to be weak and impotent and their Influences are in proportion from whence the Notion of Strength and Weakness of the Planets proceed every particulaâ—… thing both in the Heaven and in the Earth is best pleased and delighted in that which is nearest and most like it self this every one doth know more or less and therefore if Mankind would have the benevolent and sweet Influences both of the Heaven and of the Earth and of those of his own Kind too then let him with his Will enter into Temperance Patience Order and into all vertuous courses of Life and then he will quickly obtain that Blessed Magnet that will attract and influence the good in the Earth and in the Heavens and the good likewise in the whole Universe will naturally and powerfully influence him all the great Governing Stars and Constellations will befriend him with their vertuous Influences The contrary is to be understood of him who suffers his Will and Desire to enter into the Methods and Principles of evil and violent courses of Life such a one draws unto himself the Evils and Venoms out of all things both of Heaven and Earth Others object and say viz. if each Mans good and ill Fortune Health and Sickness Death and Life Honour and Dishonour Riches and the contrary do depend on the time of Birth the Ascendant Governing Stars and Constellations together with the Friendly Aspects and Configurations the Heavenly Bodies have with each other they say if this be true how comes this to pass that a Hundred Thousand Men come into the Field of Mars Fifty Thousand on a side and within the compass of one day or twelve hours time there are Slain Sixty or Seventy thousand on both sides this doth startle and amuse all Men that are ignorant of the Government and Powers of the Heaven and Earth making conclusions and measuring all things according to their narrow Capacities and Sensuality knowing nothing of Gods Law themselves nor the Simpathetical Methods of Nature for as we have mentioned before Mankind having by Disobedience and Fraud broken the Laws of God and consequently of the Heavens and the great ruling Powers thereof and therefore he is not now in the common Capacity of those Creatures that have kept their first Law and Station they were Created in so that now by the power of his free Will he is rendred capable to Create Chuse and Ordain Earthly Stars Constellations Governors and Princes in this Sublunary World or dark Earthly Globe and thereby he is become a compleat Citizen of the Earthly Regions and consequently as subject to the Influences of those Earthy Gods Governors and Princes as those Creatures are to the Heavenly Constellations and Governors that have not broken their Law but kept their first Station and as these most wonderful and amazing Luminaries Stars and Constellations do by their circular Motions Configurations and Simpathetical Operations govern and rule their Subjects or inferior Creatures that have not broken their first bounds and limits of Gods Law and a regular exact Method and Order as is most clear and manifest by every days Experience to the Vulgar The like is to be understood of the Degraded Legions or Creatures called Men who have as is mentioned before broken their Original or Heavenly Laws and so are no more subject to the Laws Orders and Methods of the Heavens and ruling Princes of their own making for so soon as Man had Degraded himself and fallen from and out of the power of the Heavenly Government and so become depraved then immediately from the same ignorant blind and wicked Principle as by Similie he did and doth to this day chuse and advance proportionable Governors and Princes to rule over them and do therethereby oblige themselves under the Penalties of cruel and severe Laws and so becomes subject to