some false Stitches I must let you understand it was huddl'd up in such hast out of a desire to have it joyned to my Booke of Poems as I took not so much time as to consider throughly For I writ it in lesse then three weekes and yet for all my hast it came a weeke too short of the Presse Besides my desire to have those Works Printed in England which I wrote in England before I leave England perswaded me to send it to the Presse without a further inlargement But I imagine my Readers will say that there is enough unless it were better I can only say I wish it were so good as to give satisfaction howsoever I pleased my selfe in the Study of it The Table OF Matter and Motion page 1. Of the Forme and the Minde 2. Of Eternall Matter 3. Of Infinite Matter 4. There is no proportion in Nature ib. Of one kinde of Matter 5. Of Infinite Knowledge ib. There is no Judge in Nature ib. Of Perfection 6. Of Inequalities ib. Of Unities 8. Of Thin and Thick Matter ib. Of Vacuum 9. The Unity of Nature ib Of Division 10 The order of Nature ib. Of War and no absolute power 11. Of Power ib. Similizing the Spirits or Innate Motion Of Operation 13. Of Natural or Sensitive War 14. Of Annihilation ib. Of Life 15. Of Change 20. Of Youth and Growth 21. Of Increasing 22. Of Decay 23. Of Dead and Death 24. Of locall Shapes 25. This visible Motions in Animals Vegetables and Minerals 26. Of the working of the severall Motions of Nature 27. Of the Minde 30. Of their severall Dances and Figures 31. The Sympathy and Antipathy of Spirits 33. The Sympathy of Sensitive and Rationall Spirits in one Figure 36. The Sympathy of the Rationall and Sensitive Spirits to the Figure they make and inhabit 37. Of Pleasure and Paine 38. Of the Minde ib. Of Thinking or the Minde and Thoughts 41. Of the motions of the Spirits 42. Of the Creation of the Animall Figure 45. Of the gathering of the Spirits 47. The moving of Innate Matter 49. Of Matter Motion and Knowledge or Understanding 52. Of the Animall Figure 54. What an Animall is 55. Of Sense and Reason exercis'd in their different Shapes 56. Of the dispersing of the Rationall Spirits 63. Of the Senses 64. Of motion that makes Light 65. Of Opticks ib. Of the flowing of the Spirits 66. Of Motion and Matter 67. Of the Braine 68. Of Darknesse ib. Of the Sun 69. Of the Clouds ib. Of the motion of the Planets 70. Of the motion of the Sea ib. I speak not here of Deiaticall Infinites but of grosse Infinites such as Philosophers call Chaos OF MATTER AND MOTION THERE is no first Matter nor first Motion for matter and motion are infinite and being infinite must consequently be Eternall and though but one matter yet there is no such thing as the whole matter that is as one should say All And though there is but one kinde of matter yet there are infinite degrees of matter as thinner and thicker softer and harder weightier and lighter and as there is but one matter so there is but one motion yet there are infinite degrees of motion as swifter and slower and infinite changes of motion And although there is but one matter yet there are infinite of parts in that matter and so infinites of Figures if infinite figures infinite sizes if infinite sizes infinite degrees of higness and infinite degrees of smalnesse infinite thicknesse infinite thinnesse infinite lightnesse infinite weightinesse if infinite degrees of motion infinite degrees of strengths if infinite degrees of strengths infinite degrees of power and infinite degrees of knowledge and infinite degrees of sense Of the Form and the Minde AS I sayd there is but one Matter thinner and thicker which is the Forme and the Minde that is Matter moving or Matter moved likewise there is but one motion though slower or swifter moving severall wayes but the slower or weaker motions are no lesse motion then the stronger or swifter So Matter that is thinnest or thickest softest or hardest yet it is but one Matter for if it were divided by degrees untill it came to an Atome that Atome would still be the same Matter as well as the greatest bulk But we cannot say smallest or biggest thickest or thinnest softest or hardest in Infinite Eternall Matter THat Matter which was solid and weighty from all Eternity may be so eternally and what was spungie and light from all Eternity may be so eternally and what had innate motion from Eternity may be so eternally and what was dull without innate motion from Eternity may be so eternally for if the degrees could change then there might be all thin and no thicke or all thicke and no thin all hard no soft and fluid or all fluid and no solidity For though contracting and dilating may bring and joyne parts together or separate parts asunder yet those parts shall not be any other wayes then by Nature they were Of Infinite matter INfinite Matter cannot have exact Forme or Figure because it hath no Limits but being divided by motion into severall parts those Parts may have perfect Figures so long as those Figures last yet these parts cannot be taken from the Infinite Body And though parts may be divided in the Body Infinite and joyned severall wayes yet Infinite can neither be added nor diminished yet division is as infinite as the Matter divided No proportion in Nature IN Nature there is no such thing as Number or Quantity for Number Quantity have only reference to division neither is there any such thing as Time in Eternity for Time hath no reference but to the Present if there be any such thing as Present Of one Kinde of Matter ALthough there may be infinite degrees of matter yet the Nature and kind of Matter is finite for Infinite of severall kindes of Matter would make a Confusion Of Infinite knowledge THere can be no absolute Knowledge if infinite degrees of Knowledge nor no absolute power if there be infinite degrees of strength nor present if infinite degrees of Motion No Judge in Nature NO Intreaty nor Petition can perswade Nature nor any Bribes an corrupt or alter the course of Nature Justly there can be no complaints made against Nature nor to Nature Nature can give no redresse There are no Appeales can be made nor Causes determined because Nature is Infinite and eternall for Infinite cannot be confined or prescribed setled or altered rul'd or dispos'd because the Effects are as infinite as the Causes and what is infinite hath no absolute power for what is absolute is finite Finite cannot tel how Infinite doth flow Nor how Infinite Matter moveth to and fro For Infinite of Knowledge cannot guess Of Infinite of Matter more or lesse Nor Infinite of Causes cannot finde The Infinite Effects of every Kinde Of Perfection IN Infinite can no Perfection be For why Perfection is in Unity
In Infinite no Union can combine For that has neither Number Point nor Line Though Infinite can have no Figure Yet not lye all confu'sd in Heaps together Of Inequalities IF Infinites have Infinite degrees And none a like to make Equalities As if a Haire be cut with curious Arts Innumerable but Unequall parts And that not any part alike shall be How shall we joyn to make them well agree If every one is like it selfe alone There cannot be unlesse three equal Ones If one and one make two and two and two make foure yet there must be two equall ones to make two and two equall twos to make foure And as two and one make three yet there must be two equall ones joyned to a single one to make three or three equall single ones to joyn in three The like is in Weight and Measure in Motion and Strength Of Unities IN Infinite if Infinite degrees Then those Degrees may meet in Unities And if one man should have the strength of foure Then foure to equal him will be no more As if one Line should be in four parts cut Shall equall the Same Lino together put So two and one though odd is three Yet three and three shall equall be Like those that equall spaces backwards go To those that 's forward equalls them we know Like Buckets in a Well if empty be As one descends the other ascends we see So Motions though they 'r crosse may well agree As oft in Musick make a Harmony There is no Vacuity IN Nature if Degrees may equall be All may be full and no Vacuity As Boxes small smaller may containe So bigger and bigger must there be again Infinite may run contracting dilating Still still by degrees without a separating Of Thin and Thick Matter THus may thin Matter into Solid run And by its motion make thick Matter turne In severall wayes and fashions as it will Although dull Matter of it selfe lye still T is not that Solid Matter moves in Thin For that is dull but thin which moves therein Like Marrow in the Bones or Bloud in Veines Or thinner Matter which the Bloud containes Like Heat in Fire the effect is strait to burne So Matter thin makes solid Matter run Of Vacuum IF Infinite Inequallity doth run Then must there be in Infinite Vacuum For what 's unequall cannot joyned be So close but there will be Vacuity The Unity of Nature NAture tends to Unity being but of a kinde of Matter but the degrees of this Matter being thinner and thicker softer and harder weightier and lighter makes it as it were of different kinde when t is but different degrees Like severall extractions as it were out of one and the same thing and when it comes to such an Extract it turnes to Spirits that is to have an Innate motion Of Division THe severall Degrees of Matter cause Division by different Motion making severall Figures erecting and dissolving them according as their Matter moves This makes Motion and Figure alwayes to be in War but not the Matter for it is the severall effects that disagree but not the Causes for the Eternall Matter is allwayes in Peace as being not subject to Change but Motion and Figure being subject to Change strive for Superiority which can never be because subject to Change The Order of Nature THe Reason that there is not a Confusion in Nature but an orderly Course therein is the Eternall Matter is allwayes One and the same for though there are Infinite degrees yet the Nature of that Matter never alters But all Variety is made according to the severall Degrees the severall Degrees do palliate and in some sense make an Equality in Infinite so as it is not the severall degrees of Matter that strive against each other but severall Motions drive them against one another Of War and no absolute Power THe Reason that all things make War upon one another is the severall (†) Degrees of Matter the contradiction of Motion and the Degrees and the Advantage of the shapes of (†) Figures alwayes striving Of Power THere is no absolute Power because Power is Infinite and the Infinitenesse hinders the absolutenesse for if there were an absolute power there would be no dispute but because there is no absolute power there would be no dispute but because there is no absolute power therefore there are Disputes and will be eternally for the severall Degrees of Matter Motion and Figure strive for Superiority making Faction by (†) Sympathy and Fraction by (†) Antipathy Similizing the Spirits or Innate Matter THe Spirits or Essences in Nature are like Quick-silver for say it be fluid it will part into little Sphaericall Bodyes running about though it be nere so small a Quantity and though they are Sphaericall yet those Figures they make by severall and subtle motion may differ variously and Infinitely This Innate Matter is a kind of God or Gods to the dull part of Matter having power to forme it as it please and why may not every degree of Innate Matter be as severall Gods and so a stronger Motion be a God to the weaker and so have an Infinite and Eternall Government As we will compare Motions to Officers or Magistrates The Constable rules the Parish the Mayor the Constable the King the Mayor and some Higher power the King thus Infinite powers rule Eternity Or againe thus the Constable rules the Hundred the Mayor rules the City the King the Kingdome and Caesar the World Thus may dull Matter over others rule According as 't is shap'd by Motions Tool So Innate Matter Governs by degree According as the stronger Motions be Of Operation ALL things in the World have an Operative power which Operation is made by Sympatheticall Motions and Antipatheticall Motions in severall Figures For the assisting Operation is caused by One the destructive Operation by another like Poyson and Cordialls the one Kills the other cures but Operations are as Infinite as Motions Naturall or Sensitive War ALL Naturall War is caused either by a Sympatheticall Motion or an Antipatheticall Motion For Naturall Warre and Peace proceed from Selfe-preservation which belongs only to the Figure for nothing is annihilated in Nature but the particular Prints or severall shapes that Motion makes of Matter which Motion in every Figure strives to maintaine what they have created for when some Figures destroy others it is for the maintenance or security of themselves and when the Destruction is for Food it is Sympatheticall Motion which makes a particular Appetite or nourishment from some Creatures to others but an Antipatheticall Motion that makes the Destruction Of Annihilation THere can be no Annihilation in Nature not particular Motions and Figures because the Matter remaines hat was the Cause of those Motions and Figures As for particular Figures although every part is separated that made such a Figure yet it is not Annihilated because Those parts remaine that
fills And on the Tongue they sit as Flowres sweet Sucking their Honey from delicious meat Then to the Nose like Birds they flye there pick Up sweet Perfumes in stead of Spices stick Of which within the Braine they build a Nest To which delight or else to take their rest But in the Porous skin they spread as Sheep And feeding Cattell which in Meadowes keep Of Motion and Matter WHY may not Vegetables have Light Sound Taste Touch as well as Animals if the same kind of motion moves the same kind of matter in them For who knowes but the Sappe in Vegetables may be of the same substance and degree of the Braine And why may not all the Senses be inherent in a Figure if the same Motion moves the same Matter within the Figure as such Motion without the Figure Of the Braine THe Braine in Animals is like Clouds which are sometimes swell'd full with Vapour and sometimes rarified with Heat and mov'd by the Sensitive Spirits to severall Objects as the Cloudes are mov'd by the Wind to severall places The Winds seem to be all Spirits because they are so agile and quick Of Darknesse TO prove that Darknesse hath particular Motions which make it as well as Motion makes Light is that when some have used to have a light by them while they sleep will as soon as the light goeth out awake for it Darknesse had no motion it would not strike upon the Optick Nerve But as an equall motion makes light and a perturb'd motion makes colour which is between Light Darknesse So Darknesse is an Opposite Motion to those Motions that make light for though Light is an equall Motion yet it is such a kind or sort of Motion Of the Sun WHY may not the Sun be of an higher Extract then the rationall Spirits and be like Glasse which is a high Extract in Chymistry and so become a (†) shining Body If so sure it hath a great Knowledge for the Sun seemes to be composed of purer Spirits without the mixture of dull Matter for the Motion is quick and subtle as wee may finde by the effect of the light and heat Of the Cloudes THE Cloudes seem to be of such spungy and porous Matter as the Raine and Aire like the Sensitive Spirits that form and move it and the Sun the Rationall Spirit to give them Knowledge And as moist Vapours from the Stomack rise and gathering in the Braine flow through the Eyes so do the Clouds send forth as from the Braine the Vapours which do rise in showres Of the Motion of the Planets THE Earth Sun Moon the rest of Planets all Are mov'd by that we Vitall Spirits call And like to Animals some move more slow And other some by quicker Motion go And as some Creatures by their shapes do flye Some swim some run some creep some riseth high So Planets by their shapes about do wind All being made like Circles round we find The Motion of the Sea THE Sea 's more quick then fresher Waters are The reason is more Vitall Spirits are there And as the Planets move still round about So Seas do ebb flow both in out As Arrowes flye up far as strength them lend And then for want of strength do back descend So do the Seas in ebbes-run back againe For want of strength their length for to maintaine But why they ebb and flow at certain times Is like the Lungs that draw and breath out wind Just so do Seas draw back and then do flow As constant as the Lungs do to and fro Alwaies in motion never lying still The empty place they leave turn back to fill We may as well inquire of Nature why Animals breath in such a space of Time as the Seas ebb and flow in such a space of Time I Could have inlarged my Booke with the Fancies of the severall Motions which makes the several Effects of the Sun Planets or the Suns I may say as the fixed Stars And whether they have not cast Knowledge and understanding by their various and quicke and subtle Motions and whether they do not order and dispose other Creatures by the power of their supreamer Motions What Motions make Civil Wars and whether the Aire causes it or not Whether the Stars and Planets work not upon the Disposition of severall Creatures and of severall Effects joyning as one way What Motion makes the Aire pestilent and how it comes to change into severall Diseases And whether Diseases are just alike and whether they differ as the Faces of Men do Why some Figures are apt to some Diseases and others not And why some kinde of Drugs or Cordialls will worke on some Diseases and not on others And why some Drugs have strong effects upon some Humours and not upon others And why Physicke should purge and how some Cordials will rectifie the disorderly Motion in a distemper'd Figure Why some Ground will beare some sorts of Seeds and not others Why same Food will nourish some Figures and destroy others How Naturall Affection is bred in the Wombe What makes a Naturall Aversion from some Creatures to others and what causes an unnaturalnsse to their owne kind and Breed What Motion makes Thunder Lightning VVinde Earthquakes Cold Ice Snow Haile Rain what Motions makes drought Heat Why the Sun should give light and not the other Planets What Motions make Fire Aire Water Earth What manner of Motions make Sense Why some have Haire some Wool some Feathers some Scales and some onely Skin And why some Vegetables beare some Leaves some none some Fruit some none And what Motion makes particular Taste Scent Colour Touch and why all do touch not taste alike and whether they be inherent or not and how they may be inherent in every Figure proper thereto and yet another Figure receive them in another Sense and how it comes that some Figures have more of some sense then others and what makes the Society of every kinde of Figure and what makes the War with others and amongst themselves And how such degrees of Matter with such kinde of Motions make the difference in Vegetables Minerals and Animals And why such Shapes must of necessity have such Properties and why some Shapes have power over other Shapes and why some Shapes have power over some Motions and some Motions over some Shapes and some Motions over other Motions and what the severall effects are of severall Shapes and severall Motions What makes that which is fulsome and nauceous pleasant and savory whether they are inherent or not whether they are in the Contained or the Containing or whether a Sympathy or likenesse from both and so of all the Senses whether the outward Motition cause the Sense or the inward Motion or whether the inward Motion moves to the inward Matter or with the outward Matter and inward Matter agreeing in the like Motions And what the reason may bee to make some Creatures agree in some Element and not
and so few wife didst make Good Nature move their braine another way And then as Beasts as Beasts perchance they may LOrd how the World delight to tell a Lye As if they thought they sav'd a Soule thereby More lyes they tell then they will Prayers say And run about to vent them every way Some bragging lyes and then he tells how free The Ladies were when he 's in Company Or else what such a Lord did say to him And so what answer he return'd to them Or any Action which great Fame hath won Then he saies streight t was by his counsell done When any Wit that comes abroad in print Then he sayes strait he had a finger in 't How he did rectifie and mend the same Or else he wrote it all or gav 't a Name Thus in the World thousands of lyes are told Which none but Fooles their words for truth will hold But in the World there are more Fooles then wise Which makes them passe for Truth when all are Lyes J Begun a Booke about three yeares since which I intend to name the Worlds Ollio and when I come into Flaunders where those Papers are I will if God give me live and health finish it and send it forth in Print I imagine all those that have read my former Books wil say that I have writ enough unless they were better but say what you will it pleaseth me and since my Delights are harmlesse I will satisfie my Humour For had my Braine as many Fancies in 't To fill the World would put them all in Print No matter whether they be well exprest My will is done and that please Woman best A Farewell to the MUSES FArewell my Muse thou gentle harmlesse Spirit That us'd to haunt me in the dead of Night And on my Pillow where my head I laid Thou sit'st close by and with my Fancies play'd Sometimes upon my Eyes you dancing skip Making a vision of some fine Land-skip Thus with your sportings kept me oft awake Not with your noise for nere a word you spake But with your Faiery dancing circling winde Upon a hill of thoughts within my minde When t was your sport to blow out every light Then I did rest and sleep out all the night GReat God from Thee all Infinites do flow And by thy power from thence effects do grow Thou order'dst all degrees of Matter just As t is thy will and pleasure move it must And by thy Knowledge orderd'st all the Best For in thy Knowledge doth thy Wisdome rest And wisdome cannot order things amisse For where disorder is no wisdome is Besides great God thy wil is just for why Thy will still on thy wisdome doth rely O pardon Lord for what I here now speak Upon a guesse my knowledge is but weak But thou hast made such Creatures as Man-kind And giv'st them something which we call a Minde Alwaies in Motion never quiet lyes Untill the Figure of his body dies His severall thoughts which severall Motions are Do raise up love hopes joyes doubts and feare As love doth raise up hope so feare doth doubt Which makes him seek to finde the great God out Selfe-love doth make him seek to finde if he Came from or shaell last to eternity But Motion being slow makes knowledge weake And then his thoughts 'gainst Ignorance doth beat As fluid waters 'gainst hard Rocks do flow Break their soft streames and so they backward go Just so do thoughts and then they backward slide Unto the place where first they did abide And there in gentle murmurs do complaine That all their care and labour is in vain But since none knowes the great Creator must Man seek no more but in his goodnesse trust FINIS Reason Thoughts I mean of Forme dull Matter Some think there was a Chaos a confused Heap The Readers may take either Opinion Severall Motions and severall Figures (†) Not the Matter but the Degrees (†) Not the Bigness of Figures but the manner of shapes which makes some shapes to have the Advantage over others much bigger as a Mouse will kill an Elephant (†) Which is in Likenesse (†) Unlikenesse One Shape hath power over another one Minde knowes more then another Either by Growth or Sense or Reason For when Matter comes to such a degree it quickens That it begins to move Motion is Life * I meane when I say Obstruct that it either turnes their motion another way or makes them move slower * I do not say that Bones are the solid'st matter in Nature †As the Figure of Man * All Motion is Life I mean the Figure of dul matter As a plentifull Crop or a great Brood These degrees are visible to us Dancing is a measur'd Motion †Scorching is when the Motion is too quick †That is when there come so many Spirits as they disagree pressing upon one another (†) Those Degrees that are neerest have the greatest Sympathy (†) Like Chess-men Table-men Nine-pins or the like * I say higher for expressions sake †Nothing can bee made or known absolute out of Infinite and Eternall †Though it may have other Motions yet not the Animall Motion †The Figure might bee without an Animall Motion but an Animall Motion cannot bee untill there is an Animall Figure (†) Which Food is when such Materialls are not proper for such a Figure †The greater the Number is the more variety of Motion is made which makes Figures in the braine (†) In Animall Shapes (†) A Pig of Lead (†) The Huske †To prove that it is the several Motion is that wee shall have the same sense in our sleep either to move Pleasure or feele Paine (†) Like Glass