equality or inequality of the Earth or Ground it is Sowed in and the Cultivation of the Husband-man whether managed with Prudence or the contrary And as it is with the Beasts and Vegetables even so it goes and the very same is to be understood in the Humane Ground a strong thing cannot arise and proceed from a weak one nor an equal from an unequal or a healthy from a sickly every Seed Fruit or Son carries in its central Bosome all the Qualifications Degrees and Temperaments of the original Stock or Father this being the very Ground and principal Cause why so many cruel Diseases that attend Mankind cannot be Cured neither by Medicines nor wholsome temperate Methods of Life Now if this Ground or true Foundation of Wisdom and Philosophy were well understood the Physician would be capable of giving good Advice and Precedents of Life and likewise others would be careful cautious and temperate both in the quality and quantity of their Meats and Drinks being sensible that from the Body and Spirits of each of them our Bodies and Spirits are continually Made Created and Generated and according to the degrees of Equality and Inequality Temperance or Intemperance such is the Humors such is the Blood such are the Spirits such Imaginations Dispositions Words and Works every thing according to its original Constitution and whatsoever Form hath obtained the Dominion in the central Fire always is generating and creating its own Species or Son who does in all particulars contain all the Properties Principles and Powers of the Father as is hinted before so that the Essences of each thing we Eat and Drink in order to support and continue our Bodies and Spirits do never depart but advance and confederate with their Similies and Likenesses and according to their goodness grossness cleanness and uncleanness such a Man is created generated or made This being the eternal and unalterable Law of the Great Father of all Powers and Creator of all Beings which no Man can withstand or obliterate therefore Equality Cleanness Order and Temperance are as it were the Originals of a Sound Healthy Body Harmonious Mind and a Pious Sober Clean temperate Off-spring For all things in the Good and Evil observe their Original Law every thing in its own way according to its Dignification in Evil or Good Equality or Inequality such a Child Son or Fruit it Brings or Widwifes into the World for this Cause Cleanness Temperance and Order have been so highly celebrated and commended by all the Seeing and Distinguishing Men both of former and latter Ages so that it is plain and manifest that most of those cruel and incurable Diseases that now reign in the Microcosmical World have been conveyed and entailed by their Progenitors or Parents and if Mankind should now take up and live on simple innocent Meats and harmless Drinks and free himself from Violence Uncleanness and Opression it would be two or three Ages before Man would be Healthy and Sound either in their Bodies or Minds so deeply are they wounded Which miserable and melancholy State or Error can never be mended neither in the Stock Branch Fruit nor Son till it be seen and known to be so and that the Eye of Wisdom be opened in Man's Mind by which he sees understands and distinguishes between the Intrinsick and Extrinsick Virtues Vices Cleanness and Uncleanness of their Food and Drink and all other things they join or communicate with Now as Fevers are more tolerable or violent according to the Form or Power that Operates Agitates or Invades the natural or central Fires for Fire is the root of motion and the true Strength and Pleasure of Life when it burns gently and calmly but when it is agitated or too violently awakened or stirred up then presently as with a rapid and turbulent motion it seizes the radical moisture and sweet Oil which is the true Life and Original being of the Fire but Burning too violently it consumes this Oily Body and violently attracts the thin Spirituous Airy Qualities or Powers unto it self for all heat or fire of what kind soever naturally and with great Ardency attracts or draws unto it self the Air it being its Life for without it it can neither burn nor subsist The Air thus drawn doth always carry in its Bosom the watry Spirit or Element which gives unto the Fire its bright clear shining Lustre but the Central Fires being thus agitated or awakened do in a moment destroy and consume both the radical Oily Body and also the Airy and Watry Spirits and Natural Powers which do presently as it were stagnate and prevent all the circular Motions and in a great measure stop the Vessels and Parts both Internally and Externally so that the Blood becomes thick gross hot and frothy and the Pores of the outward Members and Parts becomes hot narrow or stopt which doth prevent the Penetration Ingress Egress and Regress of the fine thin Spirituous Vapours of the Air from without So that if the fiery Spirit be violently awakened it breaks and destroys all the Circulations and Correspondence of the whole Body all the inward faculties being in an Agony or a tumultuous State and Operation and thereby the Life is sunk or destroyed as it were in a moment if some powerful Food or Medicine does not timely prevent by opening the doors and porous passages and to advance the Circulation of the Blood Spirits and all the Airy Motions and Faculties for should the healthiest and strongest Person 's External Pores be stopt but one Quarter of an Hour such a one would be seized with a Fever immediately For the fine thin Spirituous Vapours of the Air that do penetrate the Body on all sides and by the attractive qualities are sucked or drawn in by way of Pores which do refresh uphold increase and support all the natural Motions and Circulations of the Blood and Spirits and their fine thin Spirituous powers of the Air do never fail to carry and convey the transparent thin moist Vapours or Spirits of the Element of Water for as the Fire cannot burn nor subsist without the Airy Spirit so neither ean the Air continue its brisk lively motion without the support of the Fire which incorporates its self and dwells in the moist Vapour or Spirituous quality of the Water which Watry Spirit gives Life both to the Air and the bright shining light of the Fire one cannot subsist without the other For this cause if any Person is employed abroad in moist wet Weather and in or about Waters or Rivers sides such People have for the most part stronger and sharper Appetites than in dryer Seasons and Places for the Air being in moist Seasons provided there be not too much wet Weather filled or impregnated with the fine moist Spirits of the Water which doth give such a powerful life to the Air that both becomes rarified by which it more powerfully penetrates the whole Body through all parts and Members to the very
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
but the consideration thereof wiâ—… afford you some Benefit LETTER IV. Of the Sense of Seeing SIR BY the Receipt of yours I find you have a great desire to have my Iudgement of that most Stupendious and Wonderful Sense of Seeing in Answer whereunto I shall according to my Talent endeavour to Explicate the Variousness Virtues and Powers of that most amazing and admirable Faculty NOW as that wonderful Eye of Heaven the Sun is the very Centre of Light of all the numberless numbers of Creatures being the Foundation and Well being of them all who by its illuminating Beams Communicates Life and Light to all the Host of Heaven and Earth without which all would be a dark Chaos of Misery and Confusion Words are too short to set forth the Uses and Excellencies of this Sun of God in which the Preserving and Divine Power is understood and manifested And as this high illuminating Spirit and Power is the Eye which doth enlighten and preserve every Member and Part of the Great World being its Soul or Centre The like is to be understood of the Sense of Seeing in us for as the Sun is the Eye of the Macrocosm so is the Sense of Seeing the Light of the Microcosm which doth enlighten every Member and Part thereof for Man is a compleat Image of God and his Handmaid Nature and doth contain the true Nature and Properties of the whole and therefore is called a Little World or an Extract from the Great and as this high and mighty Power the Sun doth enlighten direct and conduct all and by whose Power and illuminating Beams all this wonderful variety of Beings and Creatures are understood and distinguished And as the World would be a miserable Chaos if the glorious Eye of Heaven were withdrawn but one moment even so it would be with Man for this Sense of Seeing is both in the Great and the Little World the true Guide of all Action and Motion and in this Sense or Light is contained the Secret or Central Fire which by Motion and continual Circulation of contrary Qualities becomes manifest warming and preserving the whole being the Root and Original of Vegetation and the true Father of the Light for Fire and Light are inseparable they dwell eternally together for this cause where the Light is weak or but little there the Fire is as impotent as is most manifest in all the Northern parts of the World most part of the Year being terrible-Cold Frosty Weather the Elements being Congealed for want of Heat The contrary is to be understood in the Southern parts of the World where there is Light Heat is always at hand and in what thing soever the Central Fires are potent there the Light is also strong powerful and lasting there being always a proportionable Nature between the Light Fire or Central Heat of each thing both in Animals Vegetables and Minerals for this cause Children and all Young People have a clearer and more penetrating Sense of Seeing than those of Age because their Light burns clearer and all their Humours are clean vigorous and free from dull cloudy Vapours the Elements of Water and Fire being thin and more pure do rarify each other by which the Oil of Life or Salnitral Vertues are clean and free from gross obstructing Matter from whence the Fire hath its bright clear shining Quality so that in Youth all the Operations of the Elements are more brisk lively and powerful than in Age as appears not only in the Sight but in all the Actions of Life For as the Natural and Central Fires decay the Light equally grows weak some sooner some later according to the degrees of the Decay or Weakness sometimes this decrease of natural Heat is Universal and when this happens the whole Body doth quickly dwindle and fall into Death but very often this Decay of the Natural Heat happens in the Intelligible part the Head by some accident of Obstruction the Vessels or Optick Nerves becoming stiff or as it were glewy the Porous Parts or Vessels being narrowed or small which does prevent the free Ingress Egress and Regress of the fine thin rarified Spirits that are generated thro' the whole Body which every moment doth ascend by certain Circular Motions into the Head or most Intelligible Part which if at any time the whole Road or common Passage of those fine thin rarified Spirits be stopt or obstructed the Person so Afflicted immediately falls and nothing but Death follows and that in a moments time this being the Original occasion of sudden Death so that many Sound Healthy Persons by such like Obstructions fall into Death who otherwise might have Lived many Years as being free from Diseases For this cause Temperance and Cleanness both in Quality and Quantity of Meats and Drinks are as it were the Spring-head of Health and the Generater of fine clean nutriment good Blood pure Spirits noble Dispositions and Inclinations whatever Cormorants and unclean Belly-gods may Dream to the contrary Nature and God's Law is always true and cannot lie Every thing under the Government of the glorious Eye of Heaven doth arise proceed and follow its first Matter and carries in its Bosom or Centre a Key that can readily join and unlock all the secret Doors of Nature's Cabinet and finding out and incorporating with its Simile encreasing and strengthening the same which is the highest Joy and Solace of all Corporal and Incorporal Beings For this cause as any Persons Meat Drink Employment and Communications are either from the dark cloudy Root clean or unclean so the Humours Blood Dispositions Inclinations Words and Works all proceed and go on in a streight Line or Method therefore to be either too much in the Sun or Shade begets Complexions for Meats and Drinks are the Centre and Substance of our Lives and in them are contained the true Nature and Property of all Qualities Principles and Dispositions enduing the Eater with their Qualifications If this were not true Man could not Subsist or have his Life continued whatever the unthinking do or may imagine to the contrary every thing knows its own Voice and Cries after its own Dam or Mother and the Senses are the Officers Carriers or Conveyers of all things to the Central parts and Understanding so that all the hidden Powers and Qualities are awakened each Quality having its peculiar Appetite do direct and draw unto its self both Corporally and Spiritually not intermeddling with the Business of its Neighbour So this wonderful penetrating Sense is the only Guide of the Body and capable Power to present unto the Understanding and Judgement the Forms and Signatures of all things in the Animal Vegitable and Mineral Worlds by which an enlightened Philosophical Mind can in some degree by the Form and Signature understand the Complexion of each and consequently their Uses It is this Sense that doth likewise present unto the Intellectual part of Man all delightful and pleasant Prospects serene Airs and agreeable clean
or other parts of the Body It is likewise to be noted that the more powerful the Original Forms in any Body are the stronger is the Coagulation and that Body or Thing produces a more powerful Salniter for this cause Chalk will not make so good Lime as hard Stones or Flints for a weak thing cannot produce a strong which appears fatal to many fine Structures in London Built with Lime made of Chalk for the Original Forms viz. The Astringency which is from Saturn that gives a Shell Skin or Covering to all Bodies both in the Animal Vegitable and Mineral Kingdoms and is as it were the House where the other Forms dwell and is the Original of all Coagulating Attracting or Indrawing Powers which preserves and keeps the Volatile Salnitral Spirits from Evaporation If it were not so no Creature or Thing could obtain its highest Limit or Perfection and therefore whensoever this hard tart or severe Astringency is broken or wounded the Salnitral Oils or Sweet Virtues suffer Violence and sink into Death without an application of a powerful Medicine or agreeable Remedy Now Chalk doth manifest by its colour and its soft mealy weakness that the forms and principles of Saturn and Martial Fires aâ—…e weak and impotent and that Venus and Mercury have the Dominion or Government thereof who always produce more Nice and Weak Sal Nitral Virtues The powers of Venus are further manifested by its white colour which in its own nature is innocent and yielding and as it were wanting of toughness and fire which the Saturnine and Martial quality always endues their Children with and according as the degrees of those original Forms are placed and qualified in each thing or Body so that thing or Body is harder softer bigger lesser stronger or weaker and their Virtues and Use are accordingly for this cause all Herbs that are harsh astringent hot or bitter afford not only greater Quantities of Sal Niter but more powerful sharp and penetrating as Wormwood and others that are under the Regiment of Saturn and Mars The like is to be understood of all sorts of Earth and Stones for where the Original or Saturnine quality is strong in the Sal Niter such Stones are contracted and drawn into the most compleat consistency or hardness when in Earth then such Earth is of a glewey sticking nature as Clay and all Earth that has Affinity therewith the Sal Nitral Virtues thereof in such Earth lies so hid in the tough Saturnine Body that it will not bring forth Vegitation without being Manured by Earth that has passed through a Ferment or some Digestion wherein the Martial Salt and Venereal propertys are strong from whence such Bodies have their brittle mealy or yeilding quality as Lime Chalk Ashes and Dung for in this sort of Earth the Martial Fires from whence bitterness has its Original are as it were wholly captivated in the Astringent Chamber of Saturn It is also to be noted that this Earth wants the assisting Qualities of Sol Iupiter and Venus for in what thing soever any one Original Form is powerful the Unity thereof is thereby destroyed and that thing may be good for particular Uses but for general it cannot As for Example If the Saturnine Power have the chief Government in any Thing or Creature that Thing or Creature becomes Hard Cold Constringent Melancholy and Pensive as is farther manifested in all Earths wherein Mars hath the chief Government and Dominion such Earths are endued with great Heat are Short Gravelly and Sandy full of small Stones so that in all hot dry Seasons the Vegitations proceeding therefrom are subject to Scorching and Withering It is likewise to be noted that this Martial or bitter Quality is strong in Trees and such Trees are Hard full of Knots and not tall in Stature but when the Taciturn or Astringent Form of Saturn is joined in any Tree or other thing with the Martial or bitter Quality then such Trees or Bodies are tall smooth hard and very dâ—…rable as Oaks and the like in which those Forms are powerful But if Sol or Venus or the sweet Quality have the chief Government in any Earth or other thing such Earth is mellow easy to be wrought and worked up especially if the Form of Iupiter be joined in Government then it is more deep mellow fit for Herbage Tillage and the best of Corn its colour is yellowish and very good for Wheat and not so apt to be Blasted by unseasonable Weather as other Herbage and Grain are where extream Qualities Govern for the nearer the Union the four grand Qualities stand in any Thing or Ceature the more useful and beneficial that thing becomes and its Shape and Form is the more beautiful for every Original principal Quality and Form is endued with peculiar Sal nitral Virtues which is the Original ground from whence arises the great variety of Complexions Forms and Figures Usefulness and the contrary though this be a Digression I don't doubt but it will be useful to the Understanding Reader Note The same Method that has been described about making of Bricks will do for Tyles Note A Wall or House may be made with unburned Bricks first let your Earth be high and well Tempered smooth and well Moulded as is mentioned before this must be done in the hottest Season then dried and turned after the manâ—…er of Brickmâ—…king only it must be longer exposed to the Sun and Elements till they become hard and tough with these Bricks you may make firm substantial Walls for a House after this manner Take Loam or a Brick Earth and mix therewith some good Lime Temper them very high till they become tough smooth and glewey let the Wall of your House be two Bricks or two Bricks and a half thick your unburn'd Bricks being laid in this well Tempered Mortar they will cement and become one hard solid body as if the whole were but one Brick or Stone when you have raised your Wall 4 or 5 Foot high from the Foundation then let it dry 2 or 3 days before you proceed farther then Build thereon 4 or 5 Foot more making the like pause as before and so proceed till your Wall is finished then Temper some of the same Earth the Wall was made of with a little more Lime than you used for the Wall which you must be sure to Temper very well and with this Mortar Plaster all your Wall well on the outside which will keep off the Weather for nothing injures this Wall but wet and moisture which this Coat will defend and if you would have it more beautiful it is only putting more Lime to it and less Loam and when this is dry you may Colour and Paint it with Red Blue or any other Colour that pleases you best Floors the best of them are made thus Take two thirds of Lime and one third of Coal-Ashes well sifted with a small quantity of Loamy Clay mix the whole quantity that you intend to use
from selfish Evil morose and wicked Principles as every days woful Experience doth confirm as for Example As Men and Women pass in the Street or elsewhere if any Accidents of hurt be it little or much from one to another though unawares or against their wills nevertheless they send forth fierce wrathful Words all tending to promote Violence as if the Centre of Hell was open which evil Speeches do with a rapid motion join Forces and raise up by Simile the like Properties in them to whom they are directed by this and the like a Man may see without a Prospective Glass what Principles most or all Men live in and are govern'd by viz. Disunity and Deformity are most or all of our Children and Young People Educated under and such like wicked Methods are their Precedents and Examples and these evil Seeds being Sown so early they take such deep root that in most Constitutions these evil Dispositions and voracious Inclinations can never be obliterated by all the Precepts in the World For this Cause the People in general of most or all Nations continue as Wicked and as void of true Knowledge Temperance Sobriety and Piety as ever nay every Age makes an addition of new and as it were unheard of Violences Oppressions and Blasphemies 〈◊〉 the former notwithstanding the Laws of Magistrates to correct evil Manners and the Admonition and Preaching of the Gospel the Truth of this all Historys for many hundred years past confirm therefore this Degeneration of Man into all kinds of Evil cannot be remedied or cured by any of the Ways or Methods formerly or at this day practised but by another Method of Life viz. We must begin at the Root that is with that which makes Men or is the Substance and Essentials of our Bodies and Spirits clean innocent Foods and harmless Drinks that our Children may proceed from an innocent Root and be brought up in all harmless and innocent Methods of Life and above all that they see nor communicate with nothing that is unclean or contrary to Virtue Sobriety and Unity which will not only preserve Mankind from those gross Violences and Oppressions but will lay a true and lasting Foundation for their Posterity for Virtue Temperance Order and Innocency as also the Knowledge of God which are like Arts Trades and Sciences best and surest planted in the young and tender Age of Children that may easily be done then which cannot be at riper years as we have largely demonstrated in our Book entitled A New Method of Educating of Children therefore in the Eastern Countries the great Zealous Pilgrims and as it were unheard of Votaries in Religion as well in false as true Notions are all taught and impressed in Child-hood and by the constant Precedents and Examples of their Elders together with the Traditions of their Fore-fathers and Custom of the Country they live in Now upon the whole Matter it doth appear as clear as the Sun at Noon-day that most of the Methods and Actions of our Lives do diametrically oppose the eternal creating and preserving Power of our Great Creator and his Law of Innocency and Unity this being Matter of Fact how then is it possible for Mankind to be contented or satisfied on a Dying-bed when the Soul must be separated not only from its Habitation but also from all Coverings Shelters and all that is near and dear to it besides there are several other great Evils that do mightily encrease the Anxiety and Trouble of a Dying Man more especially to all sober Persons one of the most principal is that they are obliged to leave their loving Wives and young tender Children and Relations to be exposed to the infinite Hazzards Calamities and Miseries of the wicked ungodly unthinking blind and ignorant World and that their Posterity must plunge themselves into the bâ—…se gross unclean fierce oppressive Customs Traditions Methods and depraved Ways and Principles Mankind hath immersed himself into The consideration of this to any Thinking or Pious Person must needs make a considerable Figure of Trouble not only to a Dying Person but also to those that enjoy perfect Health if a Man doth take a view of their particular Actions and Methods of Life and then divide them into ten parts there will certainly be found nine of them most miserable in this World in one degree or another whose mischievious intemperate unclean violent Life doth also threaten them with eternal Trouble and Disquietness it is that â—…me when they read they may at first sight marvel that we talk or discourse after this manner but if they will but give themselves leasure to think consider and look and examine all the various Actions Methods Practises and Employments Mankind subjects himself unto then he will find it true first consider the great numbers that follow Drums and Trumpets in the Wars of Princes and the violent Employments that depends thereon and this great number are aâ—… it were the Heart of a Nation viz. The Youth in the Prime or fâ—…l Strength next to these the Sons of Violence and Oppression are the Mobb or common People which are as great in number as wicked and hardly one degree lower graduated in all Acts of Intemperance Uncleanness Violence and Discord than the former they want no Furniture to compleat them in the Acts of Mischief but in the Word of Command or Power as is clearly manifested when Changes or Accidents in the Government of Cities Nations and Countries are not the great Multitâ—…e in a moment fitted and prepared for all â—…apin and Spoil as though they had been trained up and taught the Arts of Violence from their Childhood which doth sufficiently demonstrate what Principles and Methods of Life they are Educated in and what Matter Seed and Ground they proceed from the next sort are the middle People and how many of them are of violent oppressive Principles Unjust and Unmerciful without true natural Affection and Pitty horridly Covetous Unclean and Intemperate loadeâ—… with procured Distempers and various other great Evils Likewise considerable numbers of this Rank do fall into Poverty by Extravagancy and want of Conduct in Trading and other Misfortunes fourthly the next to these are such as are called Gentlemen which are of various Degrees and Ranks the greatest numbers of these are endued with these following Talents viz. Their chief Care and Industry is to Educate their Children in all or most of the Grand Evils which do oppose and contradict God's eternal Law of Unity and his preserving Power and that there may be no degree of Evil and Depravation â—…ing they first very industrously teach and educate them in Gluttony Pride and Idleness next the vain Compliments and use of Aâ—…ms even in their young and tender years as the Killing Hunting and Oppressing all the innocent Inhabitants of Heaven and Earth next to these Feats of Arms or Martial Discipline that they may be endued with the high and domineering Spirit of Violence which doth not only
are all circumscribed to certain Bounds Limits and Periods in their Motions Generation and Growth and that is most clear and it is witnessed by innumerable living Testimonies that for any person to pretend to do or attain to that which God his Law and the whole course and method of all Created Beings forbids on the peril of Gods high Displeasure It is true Mankind by Industry and Art hath found out many curious and useful things as that of Clocks and Watches which of late have been mightily improved and it is not to be doubted but that it will be still farther advanced in all Motions and Curiosities thereunto belonging but still Gods Eternal Law and his Handmaid Nature puts Bounds and Limits so that they cannot exceed their Circles all Arts Trades and Sciences take their Birth in Nature and the better Workman or more curious any Person is the more nearer he comes to Nature but however it is but an imitation of her for all Arts and Sciences Trades and whatsoever is done and performed by Mankind the Excellency thereof doth chiefly depend on the degrees of each Persons Judgment and their distinguishing that principle form quality and nature of the thing or materials they work on and according to the degrees of each Mans Judgment and distinguishing power such a Workman he becomes either better or worse the Original Principles of all Sciences Arts and Trades are the same for ever but the Superstructures or Building thereon do strangely and wonderfully vary either for the better or worse all according to the judgment and the degrees of distinguishing in the Workman for Nature hath bounded every Man in his Gifts and Talents for Arts and Sciences are beyond all Humane Number and Capacities however there are very few if any that attain to their highest limit in either Arts Trades Sciences Health or length of Days which have come to pass by the depraved and unnatural Methods Mankind have from one Generation to another embraced For this cause the more ignorant any Person is the more he values the Works of his Hand that is the Commodity he works on or makes up and indeed no Artist is so apt to bragg or be proud of his Work as he that wants a sound Judgment and a distinguishing Understanding such a Persons Hands goes as far as his Judgment he values that which one that has Understanding and doth distinguish the principal parts of such a peice cannot but that Person that hath a sound Judgment and doth distinguish the principles and parts of the matter or thing he works on such a one is rarely proud or conceited of his Art in himself whatever he may pretend to others for the sake of Gain or his Interest because his Judgment and Understanding went before or is greater than his Hands can perform by which Eye of Distinction he sees plainly that the peice of Work be it what it will may be better performed so that such a one is less apt to boast For this cause ordinary Workmen or such as are called Bunglers are more apt to boast and to be pleased than better Artists and if the curious Workmanship of some others of the same Trade did not clip the Wings of such Persons they would be exceeding proud of what they can do Now as is hinted before there are but few People in this Nation that ever do attain to the highest limit or number or become so curious in Arts Sciences and Trades as their Genious is capable of the Original or grand causes thereof are viz. First most or all Youth are too Old before they are amongst or communicate with such People that are of the same Trade Art or Science they are put to as we have more largely Discoursed in our new Method of Education for the younger and greener Children are the more capable they are of receiving all Characters and Impressions and for this cause if little Children were but accustomed to be amongst and constantly communicate some part of each day with hard working Tradesmen and though they were not able to do or perform any part of such Labour with their Hands nevertheless their Judgments and distinguishing Faculties of Nature will as it were unknown to themselves be improved and such when they come to be put to that Trade or Art shall obtain it in a shorter time and be more curious and better Workmen Secondly There is wanting a true natural method and form in the learning and doing of most things and the well ordering of Young People both in Meats Drinks and Communications for Temperance and Order are the Spring-heads that renders Mankind capable to attain to the highest limits of his natural Genius And on the other side for want of conduct and a proper management of the Humane Earth and of the Sowing in each sort of Land the most agreeable Seeds and that too in its due Season is the chief occasion that the greatest number are so deeply Depraved Insipid Ignorant Foolish and Intemperate knowing little or nothing either of God themselves not of the wonderful Works of their Maker for to be Ignorant is the greatest Evil in the World because it puts Mankind on a thousand Projections that have no principles nor ground in Nature some in one thing some in others which do ensnare and entangle the most ingenious Persons whose Gifts and Talents would have brought Honour to God and have been serviceable unto Men but for want of Prudence and a distinguishing mind all their Toil Labour and Industry hath chiefly served to Inslave themselves both in Body and Mind and to lead their ignorant Neighbours into the same Mischiefs and Inconveniences Therefore my Friend lay aside all natural Propensity to this Study and the Reading of Authors that treat of this matter and also consider what we have here presented you with and mind your Health which is deeply wounded or invaded on all sides which is the true method and means under God to preserve your own Motions and Health both of your Body and Mind to the highest degree that God and his Handmaid Nature have allotted you I am your Friend and Servant T. T. LETTER XXIX Of MUSICK SIR YOURS of the 26th of Iuly 1698 lies before me and having seriously considered the Contents thereof importing your desire to know whether there be any better or shorter Method for Children and Young People to learn Musick than our Musicians and Masters of that Science do usually teach I do readily agree with you that their Methods are not only Intricate Laborious Chargeable and Tedious but farther when all is done amounts to little or no purpose or assurance of time whereby many Lovers of that excellent Art have been discouraged from learning themselves or having their Children instructed therein and consequently the improvement of so inspired a Branch of Mathematicks is obstructed to which the pride and insolency of many of the Masters especially such as are endued with any excellency therein has not also a
so ignorantly Blind in this matter that there hath been but very few that have considered or as much as thought of it But to endeavour as much as lyes in me to satisfy your curiosity I shall set down some probable Guesses concerning them farther than which I do not pretend to go and they are reduced to the following Considerations 1. IN all Birds and Fowl that excellent Element the Air hath the ruling power to which their very Constitutions are subjected notwithstanding the variety of their Shapes Forms Natures and Dispositions as all Four Footed Beasts and other Animals of the Earth and Water have those Elements predominant in them And for this cause Birds do excel all other visible Creatures in the perfection of their Senses of Seeing Hearing Smelling Tasting and Feeling and that the Air has the principal government in them is very manifest first from their Voices Tones and Singing as that Element is known to be the very Life of all Tones and variety of Harmony wherein Birds exceed all other Sublunary Creatures Mankind alone excepted for which we may assign a reason in another place Secondly Their Flying and conveying their Bodies thro' the Air with a swift motion is a proof of it that being a Faculty that as far exceeds all the Inhabitants of this inferior World as Angels do them Thirdly They Build their Nests for the most part on Trees making the Heavens their Habitations wherein they mount aloft and with their speedy and swift motions can in a little while not only move themselves to great distances of places but at the same time behold the Earth creepers as I may term them grovelling in their heavy sluggish motions and herein have such exceeding advantages above even the rational part of this lower World that could a Man be but endued with this Flying Faculty as Birds enjoy it it cannot be thought he would be willing to lose or exchange such an Heavenly freedom and perfection for any Earthly Diadem or circumscribed dominion amongst us Fourthly Their manner of Subsistance for some parts of the year is in a manner unaccountable to us particularly in the Winter Season from about Christmas to the end of March which tho' subject to most pinching cold Winds Snow and Rainy Weather that never fail to cut off and destroy all Insects and Flies and that there is nothing visible to our Senses whereby such great numbers of Winged Creatures can be Sustained yet Birds of most sorts are then in the best case most Fat and so esteemed the best and most wholsom Food upon account of which Men double their diligence with Guns Snares and the like to destroy them without any consideration had either to their Innocency Harmonious Sounds and Voices or other Heavenly properties the Creator has endued them with above and in a far more excellent perfection than any other of the Sublunary Beings Now that these Creatures that are Corporeal and compounded of the same Elements and Qualities of Flesh and Blood as other Animals are should be able not only to support themselves from Starving but at such a time to grow Fat too when most other Creatures we know or communicate with sink and perish is very strange But as the Constitution and Composition of Birds are more Airy and Heavenly than other Creatures Inhabiting the dark cold lumpish Earth so their Support and Food must be more thin and Spirituous Fifthly Birds exceed all other Animals in their Love and Chastity and the Fidelity and Constancy of the Male and Female is admirable as I have set forth at large in my Complaint of the Birds which I know you have read with Satisfaction and as much may be said of them in respect to the Shortness Entireness and Intelligibility of their Language being well known to every one of the same Species and kind a Black-bird to be a Black-bird and so with the rest For Birds in their original Constitution are more Sublime than other inferiour Creatures or Beasts and still retain more of those excellent Branches entire than the most earthly since Mankind having had no commanding Power over them as over other Creatures besides Guns and Snares it must reasonably be supposed their Natures cannot be depraved as other Animals must needs be that are subject to the adulterated Methods of Men and this Preservation of theirs has been chiefly owing to that Noble and as it were heavenly Faculty of Flying in comparison whereof other Motions are dull heavy burthensom dark and melancholy seeming to be be but one degree behind that of Angels or the invisible Powers And this is most certain that the more entire any Creatures keep themselves from communicating with Mankind as has been just now hinted the more they keep or act within the Circle or Limits of their own original or first Love wherewith their Creator bound them so that is as the Fowls of the Air have a double Advantage over most if not all other Creatures for as by their first Constitution they are made more heavenly and Ethereal so by the Help and Assistance of these sublime Qualities they avoid those Evils and Adulterations of their natural constitutive Powers that other Creatures have been subjected to thro' the intollerable Burdens and Slaveries Men have imposed upon them for Mankind cannot but influence all the under-graduates whose Lives and Fortunes are at his Will and Pleasure with the same or the like Miseries and Depravities he has subjected himself unto which is plainly manifested by some of the winged Troops that are of grosser Compositions and familiar Dispositions such as Greese Hens Ducks Turkeys and others whose Bodies being gross in Quality and large in Quantity occasion them to lose most of their excellent Faculties and airy Qualifications and the like which they but very lamely perform in comparison of those that neither communicate with nor are fed by Men to say nothing of their being unhealthy liable to many Diseases and become short liv'd as all other Animals are which are governed by Mankind Sixthly As Birds and Fowls of the Air that do not converse with or are not fed by Men are much freer from Distempers than others so 't is to be observ'd that naturally there are but a few particular Diseases amongst them and that if they have any they are their own Physitians and 't is certain they have no sweeping or general Plagues amongst them so that they are not only healthy but long liv'd too and History tells us that some Birds have been observed to have lived three four or five hundred Years and yet appeared in youthful Dresses and undoubtedly their lives are very long and as unaccountable to us as their Diseases and more especially Deaths and Burial-places which few or none of the Ancient Historians or Philosophers have taken notice of and that we should remain I may say wholly ignorant hereof to this very day knowing nothing in what Climate Region or World those airy Beings make their Exit is as
wonderfully strange as it has been little enquired into by us For if we examine and enquire of Shepherds Cowherds Fowlers and all sorts of Field-men whose Business and Employments are in the Fields Woods Mountains Valleys about and upon both Fresh and Salt Waters they will tell you it is very rare that any sorts of Birds great or small are found dead unless wounded by some way or other Besides how is it likely any of them should die and their Feathers and Carcases not to be seen for Feathers are of such a hard tough Quality that the Elements cannot destroy or wear them out under a considerable time so that they must necessarily be found by one or other as all Birds that meet with Misfortunes are to which we may add that some Birds have large Bodies which dying and falling upon the Earth must infect the common Air with the evill Smells of the Carcase and be a sufficient Direction to find them out and is it possible that Dogs Swine and other Brutes would not seek them out to devour them which hereby as well as by the scattered Feathers could never be long concealed from Human Knowledge and Observation The like is be understood not only in our own but all other Countries of the World for if these Airy Creatures were found to die with particular Diseases or Epidemical Distempers in any other Climates or Regions of the Earth then we might have some reason to conclude that towards the approaching time of their Death they moved themselves accordingly as some say Swallows and many Birds do against Winter but to what Country Climate or Place they fly is yet to be decided that being in a manner as dark and unknown to Mankind as the place of their Exit which not having yet been determined by any I crave leave to thrust in a reasonable Conjecture viz. That they are buried or swallowed up in some superior Region or World wholly unknown to us as being most suited to their Natures wherein they very much excel all other terrestrial and watry Animals these being heavy dull and melancholy like the predominant Element in them and their Tones and Cries in like proportion while the Volatiles of the Air are quick full of Life and in their common Motion have a nearer Similitude to Incorporeal Beings whose blest Harmony above they do by their Singing in some degree imitate But to expatiate a little upon the Qualifications of these Airy Creatures in respect to other kinds the excellency thereof does arise from their original Composition of Air and fiery Sal Nitral Powers and Virtues which have the Ascendant or Predominancy in the Centre of their being whereas the contrary is to be understood of all other Creatures that Walk upon the Earth and Swim in the Water the Sal Nitral Properties of those grosser Elements having the governing Power in them and therefore they are like them I mean gross heavy and phlegmatick and their Food is accordingly and tho' all visible Creatures be made and compounded of the four Elements together with the four grand Qualities yet each Individual Creature or Thing is endued with Qualifications according to the Element that hath the Predominant Power whether it be Earth Water Air or Fire and each of them feed and preserve their own Children for which cause there is a wonderful variety and strange difference in the Nature and Complexion of the Creatures and Things appertaining to the Earthy Region and so of the other Elements that proceed from each Creatures Composition i. e. when the airy and fiery Elements have a large share in the Composition of any Terrestrials such are lively brisk and quick in Motion as tho' they had Wings to fly with and the same is to be understood in Vegetâ—… some Trees being tall and lofty and all others in proportion neither are the Creatures belonging to the watery and fiery Regions by no means to be excluded herefrom yea all the Inhabitants and Children of the four Elements do vary and differ in their Forms Shapes Figures Dispositions Inclinations Manners and Natures respectively according to their several Compositions degrees of each Element in them and the variety of the four grand Qualities together with the Sal Nitral Properties as is most manifest by the Off-spring and Children of each Element for what a vast and wonderful difference and how many degrees is there between the Mole whose Habitation is in the Earth and the high soaring Eagle and other Birds belonging to the airy Region Is not the same thing to be understood of the Phlegmatick Shoals or Scaley Inhabitants of the watry Element the Forms Figures and Natures of them all being in proportion to their various Compositions of the Elements and Sal Nitral Powers for which reason some are wonderfully large heavy and slow in Motion others swift c. but in all such wherein the watry Element is most Predominant and the other three are weak and impotent we see they can hardly live three minutes out of their own Element whereas some other Animals in whose Compositions the Elements of Earth and Air have a large share can both live in the Water and also out of it on the Earth for some time and the same is also to be understood of Creatures wherein the Earth and Air are most Predominant And give me leave farther to observe unto you that God's Creating and Preserving Power being in the very Centre of all Beings therefore each Element does not only midwife its Productions and wonderful variety of Beings into this visible World but at the same time gives Food and all Necessaries of Life too until each Creature or Thing has attained to its due Limits and then every Element receives her own Children again the Earth being the Grave of all Creatures wherein that lumpish Element did Predominant and so of the other three so that it may be fairly inferred that Birds upon the approach of their Death do withdraw themselves from Humane view to some Regions or Places not only unknown but invisible to us else why should not we find their Carcases upon the Earth as we do those that are tame and accustomed to our Company which undoubtedly were originally wild and as hard to come at as other Birds and Fowls of the Air It may be farther urged that all the Winged Troops are bounded and by Nature limited so as none of them can exceed in their Flights as all the Terrestrial Creatures many of which can run more Miles in a day than several sorts of Birds can fly and most Dogs could more easily catch Birds could they keep in sight and prevent them from resting on Trees and other places out of their reach nay many of them are so short of flight that Men and Boys can tire and catch them by ordinary running if they can but keep their Eyes on them and in short there is hardly any Bird that is able to Fly 100 or 150 Miles without resting divers
little contributed in as much as what from the one and the other cause we do experimentally find there is not one of Thirty or Forty that ever attains to any competency of knowledge in this Art or to perform a Part at Sight so that their Time Labour and Money spent therein is much worse and redounds more to their damage than if so much had been given clearly away for the Tree is not only lost but even the Season for Planting and Sowing also Wherefore upon the whole matter it must necessarily follow that if shorter easier and quicker Methods be not gone upon for the obtaining a competent stock of Knowledge and assurance in it than is now generally taught it will be the part of every considerate Person to desist from the pursuit of it and to engage and advise others as much as he can to the contrary But Sir your longing and earnest desire after Wisdom and true Knowledge having penetrated into the very Center of my Magia or Magick Powers as I may call them has generated many thoughts and true Mathematical Notions in my Head concerning thisScience ofMusick which I shall make bold toMidwife into the World in due Season whether with or without the leave of our Musical Gentlemen but first communicate them unto you for your approbation and satisfaction and having premised that I have already shewed in my Book Entituled A way to Health the Excellency of Musick in General and particularly the principles and Birth as Sounds and Harmony to which I referr you I shall endeavour in this place to lay down a short and easy way and method for Learners to obtain a competent Knowledge of this noble Science The first thing then that you are to teach your Children whom you design for Musick is to read and know the proper Names and the Notes and the Gamut and to distinguish them in their several places and distances Secondly you are to teach them the time and length of each Note by expressing them with the Voice and motion of the Foot if it be Instrumentals but if Vocal then with the motion of the Hand and this any Musical Child will readily learn and perform in less than four Months if they be kept to the practice thereof but two or three hours in a day When that is done then teach them to strike the Notes with the Bow or Finger according to what Musick it is and be sure to make them keep and constantly beat the time of each Note with the foot and never suffer them to neglect the motion of it or of the Hand and as soon as they can strike the Strings any thing clear and firm then proceed to some easy Lesson not to strike one Note or Bar without measuring of them with the motion of the foot and Voice too and tho' the Child cannot Sing them yet in Speaking of them in time together with the fore-mentioned motion of the foot will not only confirm them in the dividing of the time but also beget a natural motion and habit both in the Members of the Body and Intellect or Mind too Or else you may teach Children to strike the Strings then make them to do it in time always using the motion of the Foot or Hand and so proceed never suffering them to neglect the said motion of the Foot and Speaking or Voice which is a double confirmation and will give the Learner assurance making them to understand the dividing of time much sooner Now by either of these Methods you may learn any Child of Six Seven or Eight years of Age to play any indifferent Lesson Base or Division at sight within the space of one year which I caused one to do in less than Ten Months and when he could do that learned to Sing and take out all indifferent Songs without a Master in four Months space for the greatest difficulty in learning of this noble Science consists chiefly in understanding of the Time since by the wonderful and secret Art of dividing it all Musical Harmony is performed and without it there is none either in Man or Birds but only a Voice Tone or Noise undistinguishable and therefore Musical Harmony is nothing else but a proper and most natural method of Talking in Tune or a kind of a Simpathetical agreement between Words Tones and Sounds divided into longer or shorter Sentences which can never be nicely or properly performed either in Vocal or Instrumental Musick but only by the motion of the Members of the Body as well as the Intellectual part of Man For all Arts Sciences and Trades whatsoever are learnt by a three-fold Method or Birth the first whereof is done by opening the hidden or Magick powers in us vulgarly called Thoughts or Imaginations the second is when those Thoughts or Desires are formed into Words or Sentences and the third Birth is the putting of these two into Motion and Action whereby Thoughts and Words become in a kind Essential Substantial or Material which so long as the Art or Science remains in the Magia only could never obtain Essentiality but continued as an Ideal power and as it were unknown easily cut off lost or forgot But when the Thoughts or Magick Powers are formed into Words they then become more External and do thereby obtain as I may say a Sidaereal or Airy Body which is much more difficult to be obliterated than that which is retained in the Thoughts or Magia of the Mind but still Words being no more than a composition of the Airy Powers can by no means become really substantial but only by being put into Action which is clearly demonstrated and understood in the learning of all Arts Sciences Trades and Employments not but that the Five Senses may be made capable of great Distinguishings and Understandings by being accustomed to hear Musical Harmony but they can never perform or do any thing except such do midwife the Magick Powers of Hearing into Words Motion and Action which Crowns the whole with Essentiallity and gives it an existence and therefore it s almost impossible for any Person to be a compleat Artist in any common Trade Art or Science by the use of the Sense only except such things be performed by the Motions and Actions of the Body and Members thereof for while any Art remains in the Magia only of Thoughts or Words it can never be performed from that very reason or constitution of such Bodies if I may call them so which are invisible and as it were Aethereal and cannot be incircled or made Essential so that our Thoughts and Imaginations pass and repass leaving no Precedent or Foot-steps behind them that any thing can be learned thereby and tho' Words may be said to approach nearer unto a Corporiety than Thoughts yet they being too slender and their Airy Bodies invisible they cannot make such a deep impression nor become so substantial and significant as the Motions or the Members of the Body and for this cause
all Men cannot but be sensible that no Thoughts or Words are so valuable or so substantial as Actions seeing Motion and Action may be called the Royal Bodies wherein all the Intellectual and Magical Powers are incircled and thereby become known and through the same Circle the said Powers Thoughts and Words become substantial and real so that upon the whole its manifest that all the curious Arts Sciences Trades and Occupations that have or ever will have a Being in this World must be midwifed in thro' Motion and Action according to the Great Apostle of the Gentiles who says the visible things do shew and declare the invisible Powers of the Great Creator Hence it is all Men agree that Practice is the Life in Learning of all Sciences as it brings forth and manifests the hidden Magical Thoughts and Powers unto us making them substantial which could never have appeared or had a Being any other way Now Sir upon your understanding aright what we have herein Demonstrated it s not to be doubted but you will be of my Opinion that the Masters of Musick ought to teach their Scholars the dividing of Time by certain movements or motions of the Body before they suffer the Sounds of the Instruments to enter into their Ears and Intellects or at least to teach them to divide their Time by the motion of the Body at the same time but the first Method is the best and soonest Learned for the Sounds of all Instruments and Voices are invisible and being Cloathed with a thin Aaereal Body they easily penetrate into the very Center of our Intellectual Powers as it were by an assimulating quality whereby an Airy Body or Habit is quickly begotten which Habit is as it were Incorporeal Unfixed moving to and fro with a rapid or unbounded Motion so that if the Musician teaches his Scholar long by Ear without the motion and action of the Members of the Body then that habit of Hearing and of the Incorporeal Powers will grow so strong and the Airy Fancy so moveable quick and as it were unbounded that it will be a difficult piece of work and require much time to bring such a one to Play Time or to have any assurance the motion and action of the Members of the Body being not easily to be brought to move in any degree of Uniformity with the motions of the said prevalent unbounded Fancy whereas all Motions ought in Musical Harmony and dividing of Time to keep an equal pace with each other and the reason thereof is because the motions of the Intellect and Airy Roving Fancy cannot be any way fixed or brought into an equal motion but only by being made Corporeal that is by being put into action or motion of the Members of our Bodies which in the beginning of any Persons Learning is easily performed because the motion of the Body or Members thereof correct those flying unbounded ones of the Aerial Fancy and Imaginative Powers and at the same time the Airy or Intellectual motions of the Fancy inspire the heavy dull melancholly Corporeal motions of the Body so that there is by a little custom and practice a concatenation or agreement between both so they keep equal and go Hand in Hand together and the Person so Learning is as it were unperceived by himself made capable to do more in one year and to better purpose than generally is done the common way within the compass of Seven so horrid and mischievous are Unnatural Methods in the Learning of any Trades Arts or Sciences All Songs Lessons and Divisions are hard troublesom laborious and intricate to all that cannot divide or play the Time with assurance and though there be many that by beginning in their Youth and force of practice attain to great and swift Hands yet its observable if they give over practising but for a little while they quickly forget and 't is certain that their want of Time and assurance to play off Hand at sight as they call it makes them often when the Eyes of Parents and Tutors leave them give it quite off and indeed there is a great deal of reason for their so doing seeing in every new Lesson Division or Song they must not only puzzle their Fancies and Intellectuals but still be under the Tutorage of a Master which is tedious and burdensom to the most industrious besides the Learning and Playing the same Lesson over and over again tires and dulls the Ears and all the Airy Intellectual Powers belonging to that noble Sense of Hearing But altogether the contrary is to be understood on the other side with the Person that has obtained the assurance of Time who can readily Play at sight and consequently in Consorr which is the highest Pleasure and the Fancy and airy Motions of the Mind are always united and pleased and such a Person never can forget by neglect but whensoever he pleases all his Powers and Faculties are ready and a small practise will bring him in again so great are the advantages of a proper and right Method of learning this noble Science Now the proper Age or Time for sowing the Seeds of Arts and Sciences and of all Trades also except such as are hard and robustick and so of this Science in particular is early while the Plants are young green and tender of which God and his Hand-maid Nature gives us a Precedent in all Vegetables and therefore such as would have their Children to be excellent Proficients in any Art or Science let them begin early with them And for all such as are fitted by Nature for Musical Harmony the best time for them to begin is at four or five years of Age their Youthfulness giving them great command of Hand and they will draw forth curious mellow graceful Sounds far beyond such as begin at ten or twelve years of Age And the like is to be understood of several other Branches of the Mathematicks as Writing Drawing and Reading the last whereof we have set forth in several of our Tracts so that it is possible by such a proper Method and constant Practice to advance Musical Harmony still to a far higher degree than it is at this day tho' I must confess there are great things done in this Science but being the numbers are but small that clips the Wings of its higher flight for no Sciences Arts Trades or Employments do in any Place or Country arrive to their pitch or utmost bounds of Perfection but in such alone where they have not only numerous Practisers but also necessitous ones too Necessity according to the verity of the Proverb being the Mother of Invention but as long as our Masters of Musick or such as pretend to the teaching of that Science go on in their own common blind selfish and ignorant Road or Method I 'll engage they never will have occasion to Petition the Parliament for a Charter to Prohibit such as are not qualified from Teaching for their Methods of Learning do