Selected quad for the lemma: water_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
water_n	body_n	earth_n	element_n	7,308	5	10.1853	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A26259	Averroeana being a transcript of several letters from Averroes an Arabian philosopher at Corduba in Spain, to Metrodorus a young Grecian nobleman, student at Athens in the years 1149 and 1150 : also several letters from Pythagoras to the King of India, together with his reception at the Indian court, and an account of his discourse with the King, and his gymnosophists, and his rules and precepts : his account of the power and efficacy of numbers, and magical uses thereof : to which is prefixt, a Latin letter by Monsieur Grinau, one of the Messieurs du Port Royal in France, to the ingenius Monsieur Gramont, merchant at Amsterdam, concerning the subject of these papers, and how they came to his hands : the whole containing matters highly philosophical, physiological, Pythagorical and medicinal, the work having been long conceal'd is now put into English for the benefit of mankind, and the rectification of learned mistakes.; Correspondence. English. Selections	Averroës, 1126-1198.; Pythagoras. Correspondence. English. Selections.	1695 (1695)	Wing A4271; ESTC R1981	54,271	185

Spirit or Demon comes Love Pity Mercy Compassion c. as also Temperance Chastity Sobriety and Philosophy And from the third proceed mixed Thoughts various and wanton Discourses Laughters and Merriment and all that is called Phantastical They labour hard to make their Children understand the Nature and Operation of each of them that they may be sensible which hath the reigning and predominant power in them They call the second Spirit the good Demon and with great earnestness inculcate to their Children that they should be Governed by its Dictates and observe its Directions They teach them that it was from this good Angel that their Seers and Holy Men received the Law of Innocence They inform them that it is a great Blessing and a Token of being a particular Favourite of Heaven to avoid Violence and Oppression especially towards those Inferiour Creatures that cannot defend or help themselves That the greater part of Mankind are govern'd by the Counsels of the other Demons from whence proceed Wars Murder Destruction and all manner of Mischief From Three Years old to Seven they Instruct them in the Precepts of Moral●●● setting before them the Excellence o●●ertue and the Reason of their Duty Above all things they commend to them a strict and severe Justice which they never depart from for these Instructions are so early graffed in them and so plainly represented to ●●em that they become as it were incorporate and grow up along with them insomuch that they are no longer Moral Precepts but have in them the force of Nature They also very Vehemently and Pathetically set before them the Ugliness of an Idle Life Nay they say Idleness is inconsistent with Life for Life in the very Expression implies Activity and Motion They greatly commend to them moderate Labour and Exercise and frequently put them upon the Practice of the same even in their very tender Age. They are very Exact in teaching them the Art of Numbring and acquaint them with the Method of God's Works 〈…〉 Worlds viz. The Heavens Star● and Elements the Amazing Varieties 〈…〉 Vegetations and Minerals how they were all made and are wonderfully sustained by the Invincible Power of the Omnipotent Creator They teach them the Motions of the Celestial Bodies their Courses and Distances Postures and Configurations and Influences 〈…〉 they keep them continually 〈◊〉 in what either Employs their Understanding or Improves their Manners always accustoming them to the Exercise of Patience and the E●●●rance of Hardship Having therefore such an Early Education and continually before their Eyes the Examples of their Parents and Associates the Notions of these Truths do a● it were enter into their very Natures by repeated habits that nothing can remove them Having been Instructed that every word in their Law proceeds from God and at the same time having imbibed a true Apprehension of the Excellency and Justice of that ●eing they look upon it as his positive ●ommand and dare not disobey Thus a● Esteem of their Law is planted in them that no Avocations of Business nay nothing but invincible Necessity can exempt them from a punctual compliance with the same I shall here insert one passage of their nice exactness to the Rules of their Law It is held Sacred amongst them to keep themselves undefiled from any thing they think unclean and if such an Accident happen they a●● compell'd to repair to a certain pla●● of Purgation where they are to undergo all the Discipline of that Mystery before they must enter on their Bus●●ess Some of that Religion who were Factors came to Surat to Buy up a Commodity to be Transported into Persia The Europeans having notic● thereof and knowing the Obligation these People lay under one of their Merchants came near the Place where they sat and unawares took off one of his 〈◊〉 and touched them Immediately ●● great Cry was heard for the 〈◊〉 ●ound themselves polluted ●nd 〈◊〉 forced to leave their Business 〈…〉 to the Place of Purgation to the designed Satisfaction of the European Merchant If any of their Princes at any time desire their Daughters for Concubines they lo●e their Longing for they will submit to the Severest Tortures rather than break their Vow They are never to be Engaged in the Armies of their Kings for as much as they abominate all manner of Violence c. Nor can they ever be prevail'd with to become Servants being extreamly Jealous of their Original Liberty In all Revolutions of States they are free and enjoy under all Governments an undisturbed Exercise of their Religion on account of their Peaceable Deportment They abhor all strong Liquors their most customary Drink is Water They lye upon hard Quilts oftentimes on the bare Ground They neither Invade nor Covet any Man's Property they are tenacious of the Customs of their Ancestors and remain secure in the Satisfaction of their own Vertue and Integrity Dated Corduba 1150. Metrodorus THere is one thing more that will 〈◊〉 me with Matter for another Letter and that is Their Opinion of the Transmigration of Souls which shall be the last concerning these People that I shall trouble you with hoping that my over-forwardness in this matter shall be understood as an Evidence of my Willingness to embrace any Occasion of signifying the Respect I bear to a Person of your Character and ● Lover of Vertue All our Philosophers and Seers both Indians and others do firmly believe That God hath made Man in his own Image or Likeness which all acknowledge but few have so well considered it as they ought And that Man does contain the Principles and Properties of all things Corporeal and Incorporeal Also 〈◊〉 ●e is endued with an Elementa●● 〈◊〉 ●●pable Body which Body is 〈◊〉 enlivened or informed by an Et●●rial Spirit and so answers to the great Body of this World from whence the same is taken and therefore is an Abridgment or Epitomy thereof And as he does contain all the true Properties of the gross Elements viz. Earth Air and Water that nourish and sustain the Body He has also the Principle of Fire and Light that is an Immortal Soul and Spirit which gives Life and Motion to the Body of Flesh and answers to the Soul of the great World or that mighty Spirit which is the Moving and Vivifying and most wonderfully Creative and Conservative Power in this vast System of Things which we call the World and which does preserve and maintain every part thereof in Beauty Splendor and Harmony Now in this Illustrious Estate Man was Created and in him all Forms Qualities and Powers stood in equal Weight and Measure and if Man had continued in this 〈◊〉 then he would have imitated his 〈◊〉 in all well-doing and Governed all the Host of Heaven in Love and have been a Preserver and Guide to all inferiour Creatures which would have powerfully attracted not only the sweet and benevolent Influences of Heaven but also the Prayers and good Wishes of all the under-graduated

provided to preserve the Inferior Animals from the Injury of the Elements in their Old Age. For Charity and Kindness to innocent and helpless Creatures is the most acceptable Service to the good Powers attracting the benevolent Influence of all things The increasing Dew of the Celestials shall never be wanting where Love abounds VI. Whosoever shall Rescue or Buy any Beast Bird or other Creature from the Hands of the Slayer shall be blest in all he has does and be made partaker with the happy Communications of good Demons for Charity where there is no Interest and when the performing it is chargeable powerfully unites the Soul to all that is good and excellent and is most agreeable to the Fountain of Goodness it self VII Give Respect and Honour to all inferior Creatures because they bear in their several Natures the Stamp and Impress of thy Maker's Wisdom and Power as well as thy self especially to the Cow and Ox they deserve it at thy hands upon account of their serviceableness to thee They are Creatures of great Value and the holy Powers will not excuse if thou abuse and torment them VIII Touch no Dead Body for they are unclean and if it so happen that any do they shall be compelled ●o undergo a Hundred Days Purification and pay Ten Pieces of Money towards the Education of Poor Children c. IX Drink not out of the Cup nor Eat out of the Dish of those that Eat unclean Foods or Drink strong Drink if any he found so to do they shall suffer a Hundred Days Purification and pay Ten Pieces of Money for the uses above-mentioned X. No Strong Liquors Wine or the like shall be drunk only pure Water which is the Mother of all Liquid Fountains and moist Elements For all Strong Drinks are injurious to Nature and destroy the Health both of Body and Mind XI If any Steal from or Rob his Neighbour he shall restore Ten-fold either in Goods Money or Labour And when any Person is Condemned in this manner if any shall Jeer Deride or Reproach him with his Crime the Person so doing shall undergo the same Punishment for Justice is the end of the Law XII Every Fifth Day in the Year shall be a Fasting Day or a Day of Abstinence and the Master of each Family shall cast up his Account of Expences and what he has sav'd shall be given into the Publick Stock for Charitable Uses for the Gods are much Delighted with clean and unpolluted Minds and Charitable Souls XIII Let it be a Law That all Ancient Men dispose of their Estates to their Children and Kinsfolks and other good Uses reserving only a Competence for their Maintenance that as much as in them lies they may free their Minds from the Fatigues of this World in order to be the more fit to Communicate with the Gods and Heavenly Powers XIV Singing and Musick ought to be practised and is of great use especially at the time of going to Bed for it naturally composeth the Animal Spirits and prepares the Intellect for the Conversation of holy Demons for all Composition and Concord is begotten by its simile XV. No Man shall be the Husband of more than one Wife for many Women disturb and discompose the Harmony and Unity of the Mind and Strength of the Body and is often the Source and Foundation of Enmity in Families and States XVI You shall be obliged to Pray to the Celestial Powers three times a Day and after each Prayer Sing an Hymn of Thanksgiving to the Gods XVII If any have in their own Judgment offended in Eating or Drinking to Intemperance or in any other thing wherein their Consciences accuse them though it does not fall under a publick Censure They shall purge and cleanse themselves by Fasting and Prayer for one Day which will contribute to the Resettlement of the Mind and Strength of the Body XVIII You shall Eat and Drink twice a Day at Nine in the Morning and Four in the Afternoon which will be sufficient to supply the wants of Nature in that respect XIX No Woman shall Marry after she hath been the Wife of one Husband but remain a Widow and subjected to a retired and sedate Life and easie Imployment For Widows sooner become wanton than Maids and consequently more bold and forward And by this means their Husbands Off-spring shall be better secured in their Rights and the Descent or Division of Estates more equally preserved XX. Every Son shall be bred up in his Father's Trade for as much as they easily learn what they daily see and practice in their tender Years So that they will become not only more Curious in their Arts but put their Parents to little or no extraordinary Charge having learnt their Trade at the Age of Fourteen or Sixteen Years which is usually the time others are put out XXI Let Women accustom themselves to a quiet sedate Life especially during the time of their Impregnation Nothing is more hurtful to them than too much Talking and Passion Let them live temperately avoid sharp and soure Foods which will greatly conduce to the Health of themselves and the Child they are pregnant with XXII From Three Years of Age to Eight is the principal time for Teaching Children all Science and Art and all other things they are capable of handling Then Impressions take the deepest Root and the Mind then is least prepossessed with Passion and Prejudice It is inconceivable to imagine what Children may do if betimes they are rightly instituted I observe most lose great part of their time for not being early instructed in true and proper Methods For in this tender Age they are like Trees planted by the Hands of a Skilful Husbandman in their due and proper Season XXIII Let all the Food of Children be of a light and easie Concoction for they afford both a dry and moist Nourishment fit for their Age. XXIV If any Man Despise Undervalue Reproach or Backbite his Neighbour or the Poor he shall if his Circumstances allow it pay a Hundred Pieces of Money and be Excommunicate for a Hundred Days And when he hath made this Retaliation the Holy Bramen or Priest shall say unto him The Gods and Celestial Powers dispence the Influences of their Benefits to the Just and Unjust to all equally according to their Pleasure And if Man wou'd ever be united to the Good it is his Duty to imitate them For there is no Mark or Character of the Favour of the Gods but this which is the highest Number and compleatest Composition of the Soul XXV Let not Youth speak in the presence of the Elders not having first ask'd leave for it is contrary to all Harmony and Order And it shall be the Care of Parents not to suffer any unseemly and undecent word to be spoken in the Ears of their Children XXVI All Differences arising between Man and Man shall be referred to the Decision of Three Persons acquainted with the Matter Two of whom

what Discoveries we can make beyond the experience of former Adventurers They indeed as thou sayest affirm the Menstrum to be an Acid Juice in the Stomach which by Virtue of that quality only hath power of provoking Appetites and procuring Digestion How this Notion came to be generally embraced I cannot tell but to me there 's nothing in Nature appears more monstrous and ridiculous for were it at all so we should in some manner or other be made sensible of it For no sooner is your Meat or Drink descended into the Stomach but it must of necessity incorporate with this sharp Liquor whereby the whole would soon become sharp too which is indeed contrary to all experience for if a Man Vomits an hour or two after he has Dined what he brings up shall be sweet on the taste and the quality very little altered except what he has eaten and drank be of a soure Nature or his Stomach debauch'd and corrupted by sharp Juices For if the Stomach did naturally generate such a Liquor we should unavoidably discover it when we were hungry by its flux and reflux in the Mouth let this Menstrum be of what nature it will it must of necessity be abundantly increased by Fasting Besides if it be of an acid or soure quality how is it possible that our Food which consists of all natures and tastes should assimulate it self with this What a Confusion and Ataxy would be soon felt to the utter prejudice of the Tone of the Stomach and digestive Faculty The whole frame of Nature in the Microcosm would be disordered Acidity being an extream will admit but of very few things to accord and agree with it But this Consideration above all the rest doth more and more astonish me Is it not preposterous to assign that for the cause of any thing which of its own nature must necessarily work the quite contrary Effect It is agreed on all hands That whensoever sharp and soure Juices lodge in the Stomach they wound Nature in her digestive and attractive Faculties contract and harden the Food whereby it becomes more difficult of Separation and Concoction generate Crudities and consequently Obstruct the free Circulation of the Blood and Spirits inducing a general Heaviness and Indisposition over the whole Body Sharp Humours beget pricking Pains in the Breast Gripings in the Bowels sharpness of Urine Fluxes Gouts and an infinite Train of Distempers If the Complexion be Melancholick Obstructions and Opilations arise from whence Head-achs proceed and that Inimical Distemper called Vapours for which there is no Remedy in Physick the most available is Temperance and Order If the Complexion be Cholerick they give Feavers Rheumatisms c If Sanguine they cramp Nature in her very Radix by Convulsions Consumptions Loss of Appetite If Phlegmatick they beget abundance of Crudities and indigested Matter which by certain passages is conveyed from the Stomach to the Lungs and there becomes condensed into a white tough Substance that sticks to the Wind-pipe But when this slimy Matter is generated in great quantities 't is attended with excessive Coughs shortness and difficulty in Breathing and an unconceivable variety of Evils that make Life it self uneasie by affecting the whole Microcosm with an universal Dyscrasy Moreover I would fain know to what purpose Physicians so frequently prescribe Sweetning Medicines to their Patients Is it not to abate sharpness of Humours First in the Stomach Secondly in the Blood as Pearl Egg-shells Oyster-shells Crabs-eyes c. which in Operation are much alike viz. To rectifie the Stomach and purifie the Blood And our Apothecaries can tell you that they often use Pouder of Oyster-shells with as good success as that of Pearl I for my part know no reason against it Therefore I say if these and many other Medicines are given to temper and allay sharp and acid Humours must they not as oft as they are given have a very disastrous Effect upon the Menstrum If that be as they tell us an acid Juice Why then should sharpness and acidity be an Enemy to Nature For I do not see how there can be any natural quality in the Stomach that is an Enemy to it self but Experience teacheth that all extream qualities are abominable to Nature in her simple and undepraved state From all which Considerations it appears that the Liquor or Menstrum of the Stomach which Nature hath ordained for the Concoction and Separation of Meats and Drinks can neither be sharp nor soure sweet nor bitter nor salt nor astringent nor of any manifest taste or quality so long as it remains intire and undebauched and when any of the forementioned qualities are perceived it is to be taken for granted that the Stomach is out of Tone and entring into disorder as will more manifestly be apprehended when we have taught what the true nature of this Menstrum is Dated Corduba 1149. Metrodorus I Have already given my Reasons for your dislike of the common Notion of the Menstrum and having had a freer Communication with the Superiour Powers since I wrote whereby I believe the whole System of Nature as you call it was revealed to me I am unwilling to adventure the hazard of my Reputation in acquainting you with my Thoughts on the present Subject You know very well the Inconvenience we lye under on account of our Country men 'T is true some of our Predecessors have been acquainted with the Jewish History and there are those alive who think they have done Wonders both in their Translation and Remarks and as I am informed the Christians make use of it to good purpose But be that as it will I am sure I may assume a greater Liberty in Philosophy I am resolved now not to be bound to the Custom of the Schools not to tye my self up to Art and Figure but barely attend the Inspiration of our Prophet and his Angels in the Publication of that whereof I shall have the satisfaction and thou the Benefir The Menstrum or Liquor of the Stomach hath the nearest affinity and resemblance of Dew What Dew is to the Earth the same is this to the Body of Man There being as great a necessity of this moist Vapour or Menstrum for the service of the Body as there is of Dew or Rain to impregnate and assist the Earth in the productions of her Fruits And as the greater World influenced by the Wisdom of its Divine Creator and the Operation of the Elements and Celestial Bodies doth generate to it self a proper and suitable Menstrum viz. The Rains and Dews of Heaven whereby the whole System of Nature is maintained and made fruitful so it is with the Microcosm or little World Man also hath a power given him by the friendly Courtesie of his Maker to Concoct and Separate the Food in the Stomach by unconceivably fitting it for the Nourishment of the whole Body and as that Liquor or Menstrum of the greater World is of a mild simple Nature gentle in

Operation and of no apparent and remarkable Taste as is evident from Water it self which if it were sharp soure bitter or sweet c. could never be a Menstrum suitable to the Nature of Vegetables Fruits Grains Seeds c. whereof there is a wonderful Variety beyond the Limits of Humane Arithmetick And it is utterly impossible for a Menstrum wherein any Humour is predominate to assimulate it self to such a variety of Qualities The very same is likewise to be understood of the lesser World Man So Metrodorus you may perceive that in a sound healthy Constitution the proper Menstrum is in its own Nature an Insipid Liquor abounding in quantity as the Health and Strength of the Constitution abounds The principal Seat of its Generation is in the Mouth and Glandulous parts of the Head and increases accordingly proportionable to the free and undisturbed Circulations of the Blood and Spirits those whose passages are clear from Obstructions where the Blood and Spirits have a freer and quicker Motion beget great quantities of it and consequently enjoy a sharper Appetite and better Digestion are of sound healthy Complexions free from Drought and Heat Vivid Brisk and Lively On the other hand if there be any manifest or distinct quality discovered forthwith the Stomach and whole Body is out of order the Appetite becomes blunt and dull Indispositions and Diseases suddenly follow This is sufficiently observable in such who live Temperately that use to Fast a proper time after they have eaten till the Food be Concocted this Liquor in them becomes plentiful they can eat a good Meal without desiring Drink having sufficiency of this Natural Moisture to temper and dispose the Food for separation But Intemperance certainly depraves the Stomach and debauches the Appetite diminishes the Menstrum and converts it into a tough Nature or some or other of the forementioned qualities which all are Infallible Indictions of a disordered and irregular Constitution For it is a sure Rule where the Menstrum is disordered the whole Body is in danger You are to Note also that every Man after due Fasting hath the greatest quantity of this Liquor which as soon as he hath eaten doth much abate the Food as it were soaking and drinking it up by the heat of the Attractive Faculties especially if the Food be dry salt or solid it requires to be moistened and softened by another wherewith Water hath the nearest Affinity as appears in that it being drunk after any thing sweet soure and bitter or of whatsoever extream quality still retains its simple and natural Taste And Experience tells us those who us'd themselves to drink Water have the sharpest Appetites and best Digestion Besides we daily see those that have not this Liquor in such plenty cannot eat so fast nor swallow so thick as those that have especially if they eat Bread or dry Food as I said before but are continually sipping and drinking to drive it down From all which we see it is of manifest Advantage to Nature to have a liberal Flux thereof from the Mouth to the Stomach as being that which principally assists Nature in her other Functions and carries along with it unquestionable Symptoms of the state of the Body Thus I have in some measure Metrodorus discovered to you your desire and shall continue to illustrate it more fully in my next when I come to Answer an Objection of our Adversaries against us Farewel Dated Corduba 1149. Noble Metrodorus WEre Friendship like that of other Professions did it propose a private and personal Advantage in all its undertakings or did it at one view represent all the Difficulties a Man must engage in doing his Duty I had either not wrote to you at all or had desisted now But to make use of the hazard of my Reputation for a Testimony of my Affection I shall proceed to enlarge a little further on the Subject in hand As the best and truest Knowledge in the World is founded upon Experience if rightly understood so the strongest and most pernicious Errors are derived thence if Imperfect Essays and Accidental Events are mistaken for it The Foundation of our Adversaries Opinion is laid on this That generally when People Vomit though never so soon after eating or drinking what they bring up seems to have a taste and favour of another quality than what they received from whence they conclude and that rashly enough that the disgorged Matter derives its taste from the Menstrum or Liquor in the Stomach which has infected it and from that Consideration infer a more irrational Consequence viz. That the Menstrum or Juice of the Stomach must necessarily be of the same nature and quality that this Vomited Matter seems to be This is a meer mistake of Nature's Operations For be this voided Matter of what taste soever it ●annot derive its quality from the proper Menstrum and if it be ill and unpleasant it can argue no more than that it proceeds from a corrupted Stomach For the Stomach being before by ill habits depraved and now by the accession of unagreeable Food disturbed takes the opportunity to discharge it self as well as it can of both its troubles at once which is so far from giving us a true account of the Menstrum that it only argues a depravity in the Stomach chiefly arising from an undue lying of the Food in the Vessels for want of due Concoction and Conveyance by which means all the sweet and good qualities are drawn forth and almost nothing out Excrement remains for of what●oever quality that be that you make ●our Meal of if you Vomit strait after ●t what you deliver shall be sweet or ●etain the same taste or be very little ●ltered unless there be a manifest disorder in the Menstrum it self of which ●o Person can be ignorant The Business of the Menstrum as we have said before is to supply the Mouth and Stomach with moisture It being of a mild Nature and gentle Operation bows and applies it self to all sorts of Meats or Drinks that enter the Body tempering and incorporating it self with them and by the power of its pleasant moisture and the gentle heat of the Stomach which whatever some think is no hotter than our Blood melts and softens the Mass whereby the attractive Powers and Faculties of Nature from all the Parts and Members of the whole Body Extract all the sweet and wholesome Vertues of the Food every part drawing such proportion of the Juice and Nutriment as is sufficient to supply its wants but if there be too much Food taken in then the attractive Faculty is overcome by the Surplus and abundance of Juices and the Stomach becomes dull heavy and indisposed I am bold to say Metrodorus that nothing is more injurious to the health of the Body than too much Nourishment too Rich Foods and strong Drinks the most Simple are most Natural the great difficulty lyes in finding out the just measure and proportion in quantity and