the Rational Corporeal Motions 82 XI Of the Knowledg between the Sensitive Organs of a human Creature 83 XII Of human perception or defects of a human Creature 84 XIII Of Natural Fools 85 The Seventh Part. I. Of the Sensitive actions of Sleeping and Waking 89 II. Of Sleeping 91 III. Of human Dreams 92 IV. Of the actions of Dreams 93 V. Whether the interior parts of a human Creature do sleep 94 VI. Whether all the Creatures in Nature have sleeping and waking-actions 95 VII Of human Death 97 VIII Of the Heat of human Life and the Cold of human Death 98 IX Of the last act of human Life ibid. X. Whether a human Creature hath knowledg in death or not 99 XI Whether a Creature may be new formed after a general dissolution 100 XII Of Foreknowledg 102 The Eighth Part. I. Of the irregularity of Nature's parts 105 II. Of the human parts of a human Creature 106 III. Of human Humors 107 IV. Of Blood ibid. V. Of the Radical humors or parts 109 VI. Of expelling malignant disorders in a human Creature 110 VII Of human Digestions and Evacuations 111 VIII Of Diseases in general 112 IX Of the Fundamental Diseases 113 The Ninth Part. I. Of Sickness 115 II. Of Pain 117 III. Of Dizziness 118 IV. Of the Brain seeming to turn round in the head 119 V. Of Weakness 120 VI. Of Swooning ibid. VII Of Numb and Dead Palsies or Gangren's 122 VIII Of Madness 124 IX The Sensitive and Rational parts may be distinctly mad 125 X. The parts of the head are not only subject to madness but also the other parts of the body 126 XI The Rational and Sensitive parts of a human Creature are apt to disturb each other 127 XII Of Diseases produced by conceit 130 The Tenth Part. I. Of Fevers 131 II. Of the Plague 132 III. Of the Small-Pox and Measles 134 IV. Of the intermission of Fevers or Agues 143 V. Of Consumptions 137 VI. of Dropsies ibid. VII Of Sweating 138 VIII Of Coughs 139 IX Of Gangren's 143 X. Of Cancers and Fistula's 144 XI Of the Gout ib. XII Of the Stone 145 XII Of Apoplexies and Lethargies 146 XIII Of Epilepsies 147 XIV Of Convulsions and Cramps 148 XV. Of Cholicks ibid. XVI Of Shaking-Palsies 150 XVII Of the Muther Spleen and Scurvy 151 XVIII Of Food or Digestions ibid. XIX Of Surfeits 153 XX. Of natural Evacuations and Purgings 154 XXI Of Purging-Drugs 155 XXII Of the various humors of Drugs 156 XXIII Of Cordials 157 XXIV Of the different actions of the several Sensitive Parts of a human Creature 158 XXV Of the Antipathy of some human Creatures to some Forrein Objects 159 XXVI Of the Effects of Forrein Objects on the human Mind ib. XXVII Of Contemplation 160 XXVIII Of injecting the Blood of one Animal into the Veins of ather Animal 161 The Eleventh Part. I. Of the different Knowledges in different kinds and sorts of Creatures 163 II. Of the variety of self-actions in particular Creatures 165 III. Of the variety of Corporeal Motions of one and the same sort and kind of Motion 166 IV. Of the variety of particular Creatures ibid. V. Of dividing and rejoyning or altering exterior figurative Motions 167 VI. Of different figurative Motions in particular Creatures 168 VII Of the alterations of exterior and innate figurative Motions of several sorts of Creatures 169 VIII Of Local Motion 171 IX Of several manners or ways of Advantages or Disadvantages 172 X. Of the actions of some sorts of Creatures over others 173 XI Of Glassie-Bodies 174 XII Of Metamorphoses or Transformations of Animals and Vegetables 175 XIII Of the Life and Death of several Creatures 176 XIV Of Circles 178 XV. Human Creatures cannot so probably treat of other sorts of Creatures as of their own 179 The Twelfth Part. I. Of the equality of Elements 181 II. Of several Tempers 182 III. Of the change and rechange and of dividing of the parts of the Elements 185 IV. Of the innate figurative Motions of Earth 186 V. Of the figurative Motions of Air ibid. VI. Of the innate figurative Motions of Fire 188 VII Of the productions of Elemental Fire 189 VIII Of Flame 190 IX Of the two sorts of Fire most different ibid. X. Of Dead or Dull Fires 191 XI Of the occasional Actions of Fire 192 XII Fire hath not the property to change and rechange 193 XIII Of the innate figurative Motions of Water 194 XIV The nature or property of Water 195 XV. Of the alteration of the exterior figurative motion of Water 197 XVI Of Oyl of Vitriol ibid. XVII Of Mineral and Sulphurous Waters 198 XVIII The cause of the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea 199 XIX Of Overflows 201 XX. Of the Figure of Ice and Snow 203 XXI Of the change and rechange of Water 205 XXII Of Water quenching Fire and Fire evaporating Water 206 XXIII Of inflamable Liquors 207 XXIV Of Thunder 208 XXV Of Vapour Smoak Wind and Clouds 209 XXVI Of Wind 211 XXVII Of Light 212 XXVIII Of Darkness 213 XXIX Of Colours 214 XXX Of the Exterior Motions of the Planets 216 XXXI Of the Sun and Planets and Seasons 217 XXXII Of Air corrupting dead Bodies 218 The Thirteenth Part. I. Of the innate figurative Motions of Metal 221 II. Of the melting of Metals 222 III. Of Burning Melting Boyling and Evaporating 223 IV. Of Stone 224 V. Of the Loadstone 225 VI. Of Bodies apt to ascend or descend 226 VII Why heavy Bodies descend more forcibly than leight Bodies ascend 227 VIII Of several sorts of Densities and Rarities Gravities and Levities 228 IX Of Vegetables 229 X. Of the production of Vegetables 230 XI Of replanting Vegetables 232 APPENDIX The First Part. I. Whether there can be a Substance that is not a Body 237 II. Of an Immaterial 239 III. Whether an Immaterial be perceivable 240 IV. Of the Difference between GOD and Nature 241 V. All the Parts of Nature worship GOD ibid. VI. Whether GOD's Decrees are limited 242 VII Of GOD's Decrees concerning the particular Parts of Nature 243 VIII Of the Ten Commandments 244 IX Of several Religions 245 X. Of Rules and Prescriptions 246 XI Sins and Punishments are material 247 XII Of human Conscience 248 The Second Part. I. Whether it is possible there could be Worlds consisting only of the Rational parts and others only of the Sensitive parts 251 II. Of Irregular and Regular Worlds 254 III. Whether there be Egress and Regress between the Parts of several Worlds 255 IV. Whether the Parts of one and the same Society could after their dissolution meet and unite 256 V. Whether if a Creature being dissolved if it could unite again would be the same 257 VI. Of the Resurrection of Human-kind 259 VII Of the dissolution of a World 260 VIII Of a new Heaven and a new Earth 261 IX Whether there shall be a Material Heaven and Hell ibid. X. Concerning the Joys or Torments of the Blessed and Cursed after they are in Heaven or Hell 263
Monstrous Creature as having more Parts than was agreeable to the nature of his Kind The Major Part 's Opinion was That though the Society viz. The MAN would be a Society of greater Magnitude yet not any ways different from the Nature of his Kind CHAP. VI. Of the Resurrection of Human Kind THE Seventh Argument was Whether all the particular Parts of every Human Creature at the time of the Resurrection be to meet and joyn as being of one and the same Society The Minor Part 's Opinion was They shall not for if all those Parts that had been of the same Body and Mind of one Man from his first Production to the last of his Dissolution or from his Birth to the time of his Death supposing him to have liv'd long should meet and joyn as one Society that is as one Man that Man at the time of his Resurrection would be a Gyant and if so then old Men would be Gyants and young Children Dwarfs The Major Part 's Opinion was That if it was not so then every particular Human Society would be imperfect at the time of their Resurrection for if they should only rise with some of their Parts as for example when they were in the strength of their Age then all those Parts that had been either before or after that time would be unjustly dealt with especially if Man be the best Product in Nature Besides if a dead Child did rise a Man as at his most perfect Age it could not be said He rises according to a Natural Man having more Parts than by Nature he ever had and an old Man fewer Parts than naturally he hath had so what by Adding and Diminishing the Parts of particular Men it would not cause only Injustice but not any particular Human Creature would be the same he was CHAP. VII Of the Dissolution of a World THE Eighth Argument was That when all Human Creatures that were dissolved should rise Whether the World they were of should not be dissolved All the Parts of my Mind agreed That when all the Human Creatures that had been dissolved should rise the whole World besides themselves must also dissolve by reason they were Parts of the World for when all those numerous dissolved and dispersed Parts did meet and joyn the World wanting those Parts could not subsist for the Frame Form and Uniformity of the World consisted of Parts and those Parts that have been of the Human Kind are at several times of other kinds and sorts of Creatures as other sorts and kinds are of Human Kind and all the Sorts and Kinds are Parts of the World so that the World cannot subsist if any kind or sort of Creatures that had been from the first time of the Creation should be united I mean into one and the same sort or kind of Creatures as it would be if all those that are Quick and those that have been Dissolved that is have been dead should be alive at one time CHAP. VIII Of a New Heaven and a New Earth THE Ninth Argument was That if a World could be dissolved and that the Human Creatures should rise and reunite what World should they reside in All the Parts of my Thoughts generally agreed That the Omnipotent GOD would command the Parts of His Servant NATURE to compose other Worlds for them into which Worlds they should be separated the Good should go into a Blessed World the Bad into a Cursed World and the Sacred Scripture declares That there shall be a New Heaven and a New Earth which in their opinion was a Heaven and a Hell for the Blessed and Cursed Human Kind of this VVorld CHAP. IX Whether there shall be a Material Heaven and Hell THE Tenth Argument was Whether the Heaven and Hell that are to be produced for the Blessed and Cursed shall be Material The Minor Part 's Opinion was That they shall not be Material The Major Parts were of opinion They shall be Material by reason all those Creatures that did rise were Material and being Material could not be sensible either of Immaterial Blessings or Punishments neither could an Immaterial World be a fit or proper Residence for Material Bodies were those Bodies of the purest Substance But whether this Material Heaven and Hell shall be like other Material Worlds the Parts of my Mind could not agree and so not give their Judgment But in this they all agreed That the Material Heaven and Hell shall not have any other Animal Creatures than those that were of Human kind and those not produced but raised from Death But when they came to argue Whether there might be Elements Minerals and Vegetables they could not agree but some did argue and offer to make proof That there might be Mynes of Gold and Rocks of Diamonds Rubies and the like all which were Minerals Also some were of opinion there were Elements for Darkness and Light are Elemental Effects and if Hell was a World of Darkness and Heaven a World of Light it was probable there were Elements CHAP. X. Concerning the Ioys or Torments of the Blessed and Cursed after they are in Heaven or Hell AS for the Ioys of Heaven and the Torments of Hell all the Parts of my Mind agreed they could not conceive any more probably than those they had formerly conceived which former Conceptions they had occasioned the Sensitive Parts to declare and having been formerly divulged in the Book of my Orations their Opinion was That it would be a superfluous Work to cause them to be repeated in this Book But the Ground or Foundation of those Conceptions is That God may decree That both the Sensitive and Rational Parts of those that are restored to Life should move in variety of Perceptions or Conceptions without variety of Objects and that those Creatures viz. Human Creatures that are raised from Death to Life should subsist without any Forrein Matter but should be always the same in Body and Mind without any Traffick Egress or Regress of Forrein Parts And the proof that the Sensitive and Rational Parts of Human Creatures may make Perceptions or rather Conceptions without Forrein Objects is That many men in this world have had Conceptions both amongst the Rational and Sensitive which Man names Visions or Imaginations whereof some have been Pleasing and Delightful others Displeasing and Dreadful The Third Part. The PREAMBLE THE Parts of my Mind after some time of respite from Philosophical Arguments delighting in such harmless Pastimes did begin to argue about a Regular and Irregular World having formerly agreed there might be such Worlds in Nature and that the Regular Worlds were Happy Worlds the Irregular Miserable Worlds But there was some division amongst the Parts of my Mind concerning the choice of their Arguments as Whether to argue first of the particular Parts of the Regular or of the Irregular World But at last they agreed to argue first of the Regular World But pray mistake not these Arguments for they are not
Minerals nor Minerals like the Perceptions of Elements For though all these several kinds and sorts be perceptive yet not after one and the same way or manner of Perception but as there is infinite variety of Corporeal Motions so there are infinite varieties of Perceptions for Infinite Self-moving Matter hath infinite varieties of Actions But to return to the Discourse of the Productions and Dissolutions of Creatures The reason that some Creatures last longer than others is That some Forms or Frames of their Composition are of a more lasting Figure But this is to be observed That the Figures that are most solid are more lasting than those that are more slack and loose but mistake me not I say For the most part they are more lasting Also this is to be noted That some Compositions require more labour some more curiosity and some are more full of variety than others CHAP. XIV Of CIRCLES A Circle is a Round Figure without End which Figure can more easily and aptly alter the Exterior Form than any other Figure For example A Circular Line may be drawn many several ways into different and several sorts of Figures without breaking the Circle also it may be contracted or extended into a less or wider compass and drawn or formed into many several sorts of Figures or Works as into a Square or Triangle or Oval or Cylinder or like several sorts of Flowers and never dissolve the Circular Line But this is to be noted that there may be several sorts of Circular Lines as some Broad some Narrow some Round some Flat some Ragged or Twisted some Smooth some Pointed some Edged and numbers of the like and yet the compass be exactly round But some may say that When a Circle is drawn into several Works it is not a Circle As for example When a Circle is squared it is not a Circle but a Square I answer It is a Circle squar'd but not a Circle broken or divided for the Interior Nature is not dissolved although the Exterior Figure is altered it is a Natural Circle although it should be put into a Mathematical Square But to conclude this Chapter I say That all such sorts of Figures that are like Circular Lines of one piece may change and rechange their Exterior Figures or Shapes without any alterations of their Interior Properties CHAP. XV. Human Creatures cannot so probably treat of other sorts of Creatures as of their own TO treat of the Productions of Vegetables Minerals and Elements is not so easie a Task as to treat of Animals and amongst Animals the most easie Task is to treat of Human Productions by reason one Human Creature may more probably guess at the Nature of all Human Creatures being of the same Nature than he can of other kinds of other kinds of Creatures that are of another Nature But mistake me not I mean not of another Nature being not of the same kind of Creature but concerning Vegetables Minerals and Elements The Elements may more easily be treated of than the other Two kinds for though there be numerous sorts of them at least numerous several Particulars yet not so many several Sorts as of Vegetables and though Minerals are not as to my knowledg so numerous as Vegetables yet they are of more or at least of as many Sorts as Elements are But by reason I am unlearned I shall only give my Opinion of the Productions of some sorts in which I fear I shall rather discover my Ignorance than the Truth of their Productions But I hope my Readers will not find fault with my Endeavour though they may find fault with my little Experience and want of Learning The Twelfth Part. CHAP. I. Of the Equality of ELEMENTS AS for the Four Elements Fire Air Water and Earth they subsist as all other Creatures which subsist by each other but in my opinion there should be an Equality of the Four Elements to balance the World for if one sort should superabound it would occasion such an Irregularity that would cause a Dissolution of this World as when some particular Humour in Man's Body superabounds or there is a scarcity of some Humours it causes such Irregularities that do many times occasion his Destruction The same may be said of the Four Elements of the World as for example If there were not a sufficient quantity of Elemental Air the Elemental Fire would go out and if not a sufficient quantity of Elemental Fire the Air would corrupt also if there were not a sufficient quantity of Elemental Water the Elemental Fire would burn the Earth and if there were not a sufficient quantity of Earth there would not be a solid and firm Foundation for the Creatures of the Earth for if there were not Density as well as Rarity and Levity as well as Gravity Nature would run into Extreams CHAP. II. Of several TEMPERS HEAT doth not make Drought for there is a Temper of Hot and Moist Nor Cold doth not make Drought for there is a Temper of Cold and Moist Neither doth Heat make Moisture for there is a Temper of Hot and Dry. Nor doth Cold make Moisture for there is a Temper of Cold and Dry. But such or such sorts of Corporeal Figurative Motions make Hot Cold Moist Dry Hot and Dry Hot and Moist Cold and Dry Cold and Moist and as those Figurative Motions alter their Actions those Tempers are altered the like happens in all Creatures But this is to be observed That there is some opposite or contrary Tempers which have a likeness of Motion as for example A Moist Heat and a Moist Cold have a likeness or resemblance of Moistness and the same is in dry Heats and Cold but surely most sorts of Moistures are some sorts of dilative Motions and most Droughts are some sorts of Contractive Motions but there are several sorts of Dilatations Contractions Retentions Expulsions and the like for there are Cold Contractions Hot Contractions Cold Dilatations Hot Dilatations Hot Retentions Cold Retentions and so of Digestions Expulsions and the like But as I said Moist Heats and Moist Colds seem of a Dilative Nature as Dry of a Contractive Nature But all Cold and Heat or Dry and Moist may be made by one and the same Corporeal Motions for though the Actions may vary the Parts may be the same yea the like Actions may be in different Parts But no Part is bound to any particular Action having a free Liberty of Self-motion But concerning Hot and Cold and the like Actions I observe That Extream Heat and Extream Cold is of a like Power or Degree neither can I perceive the Hot Motions to be quicker than Cold for Water in little quantity shall as suddenly freeze as any leight Fewel or Straw burn and Animals will as soon freeze to death as be burned to death and Cold is as powerful at the Poles as Heat in the Torrid Zone And 't is to be observed That Freezing is as quick and sudden as Thawing but
should become Rational Parts that is that all their Parts should turn into such Parts as Thoughts which I name the Rational Parts But that Opinion is impossible for Nature cannot alter the nature of any Part nor can any Part alter its own Nature neither can the Rational Parts be divided from the Sensitive and Inanimate Parts by reason those Three sorts constitute but one Body as being Parts of one Body But put the case that the Rational Parts might divide and subsist without the Sensitive and Inanimate Parts yet as I said they must of necessity have the Properties and Nature of a Body which is to be divisible and capable to be united and so to be Parts for it is impossible for a Body were it the most pure to be indivisible CHAP. II. Of an IMMATERIAL I Cannot conceive how an Immaterial can be in Nature for first An Immaterial cannot in my opinion be naturally created nor can I conceive how an Immaterial can produce particular Immaterial Souls Spirits or the like Wherefore an Immaterial in my opinion must be some uncreated Being which can be no other than GOD alone Wherefore Created Spirits and Spiritual Souls are some other thing than an Immaterial for surely if there were any other Immaterial Beings besides the Omnipotent God those would be so near the Divine Essence of God as to be petty gods and numerous petty gods would almost make the Power of an Infinite God But God is Omnipotent and only God CHAP. III. Whether an Immaterial be Perceivable WHatsoever is Corporeal is Perceivable that is may be perceived in some manner or other by reason it hath a Corporeal Being but what Being an Immaterial hath no Corporeal can perceive Wherefore no Part in Nature can perceive an Immaterial because it is impossible to have a perception of that which is not to be perceived as not being an Object fit and proper for Corporeal Perception In truth an Immaterial is no Object because no Body But some may say that A Corporeal may have a Conception although not a Perception of an Immaterial I answer That surely there is an innate Notion of God in all the Parts of Nature but not a perfect knowledg for if there was there would not be so many several Opinions and Religions amongst one Kind or rather sort of Creatures as Mankind as there are insomuch that there are but few of one and the same Opinion or Religion but yet that Innate Notion of God being in all the Parts of Nature God is infinitely and eternally worshipped and adored although after several manners and ways yet all manners and ways are joyned in one VVorship because the Parts of Nature are joyned into one Body CHAP. IV. Of the Differences between God and Nature GOD is an Eternal Creator Nature his Eternal Creature GOD an Eternal Master Nature GOD's Eternal Servant GOD is an Infinite and Eternal Immaterial Being Nature an Infinite Corporeal Being GOD is Immovable and Immutable Nature Moving and Mutable GOD is Eternal Indivisible and of an Incompoundable Being Nature Eternally Divisible and Compoundable GOD Eternally Perfect Nature Eternally Imperfect GOD Eternally Inalterable Nature Eternally Alterable GOD without Error Nature full of Irregularities GOD knows exactly or perfectly Nature Nature doth not perfectly know GOD. GOD is Infinitely and Eternally worshipped Nature is the Eternal and Infinite Worshipper CHAP. V. All the Parts of Nature worship God ALL Creatures as I have said have an Innate Notion of GOD and as they have a Notion of God so they have a Notion to worship GOD but by reason Nature is composed of Parts so is the Infinite Worship to God and as several Parts are dividing and uniting after several kinds sorts manners and ways so is their Worship to GOD but the several manners and ways of Worship make not the Worship to GOD less for certainly all Creatures Worship and Adore GOD as we may perceive by the Holy Scripture where it says Let the Heavens Earth and all that therein is praise God But 't is probable that some of the Parts being Creatures of Nature may have a fuller Notion of GOD than others which may cause some Creatures to be more Pious and Devout than others but the Irregulalarity of Nature is the cause of Sin CHAP. VI. Whether GOD's Decrees are limited IN my opinion though God is Inalterable yet no ways bounded or limited for though GOD's Decrees are fixt yet they are not bound but as GOD hath an Infinite Knowledg He hath also an Infinite Fore-knowledg and so fore-knows Nature's Actions and what He will please to decree Nature to do so that GOD knows what Nature can act and what she will act as also what He will decree and this is the cause that some of the Creature 's or Parts of Nature especially Man do believe Predestination But surely GOD hath an Omnipotent Divine Power which is no ways limited for GOD being above the nature of Nature cannot have the Actions of Nature because GOD cannot make Himself no GOD neither can He make Himself more than what he is He being the All-powerful Omnipotent Infinite and Everlasting Being CHAP. VII Of GOD's Decrees concerning the particular Parts of Nature THough Nature's Parts have Free-will of Self-motion yet they have not Free-will to oppose GOD's Decrees for if some Parts cannot oppose other Parts being over-power'd it is probable that the Parts of Nature cannot oppose the All-powerful Decrees of GOD. But if it please the All-powerful GOD to permit the Parts of Nature to act as they please according to their own natural Will and upon condition if they act so they shall have such Rewards as Nature may be capable to receive or such Punishments as Nature is capable of then the Omnipotent GOD doth not predestinate those Rewards or Punishments any otherwise than the Parts of Nature do cause by their own Actions Thus all Corporeal Actions belong to Corporeal Parts but the Rewards and Punishments to GOD alone but what those Punishments and Blessings are no particular Creature is capable to know for though a particular Creature knows there is a GOD yet not what GOD is so although particular Creatures know there are Rewards and Punishments yet not what those Rewards and Punishments are But mistake me not for I mean the general Rewards and Punishments to all Creatures but 't is probable that GOD might decree Nature and her Parts to make other sorts of Worlds besides this World of which Worlds this may be as ignorant as a particular Human Creature is of GOD. And therefore it is not probable since we cannot possibly know all the Parts of Nature of which we are parts that we should know the Decrees of GOD or the manners and ways of Worship amongst all kinds and sorts of Creatures CHAP. VIII Of the Ten Commandments IN my opinion the Notions Man hath of GOD's Commands concerning their Behaviour and Actions to Himself and their Fellow-Creatures is the very same that Moses writ and
of Nature is in Variety and therefore Regular Sleeps were delightful The Minor was of opinion That Sleep was like Death and therefore it could not be Happy But at last they did conclude That Sleep being a soft and quiet Repose as being retired from all Actions concerning Forrein Parts and had only Actions at Home and of private Affairs and that all the Parts of Body and Mind were then most sociable amongst themselves that the Blessed Humans did sleep CHAP. VII Of the Animals and of the Food of the Humans of the Happy VVorld THE Ninth Argument was VVhether there were all sorts of Animals in the Regular VVorld All the Parts of my Mind agreed That if there were such Creatures as Human Creatures it was probable there was other Animal Creatures but by reason there was no Irregularities there could not be Cruel or Ravenous Animal Creatures for a Lyon Leopard or Wolf in that World would be as harmless as a Sheep in this and all Kites Hawks and the like ravenous Birds would be as harmless as those Birds that only feed on the Berries and Fruit of the Earth CHAP. VII Whether it is not Irregular for one Creature to feed on another THE Tenth Argument was Whether it was not Irregular for one Creature to feed on another Some were of opinion That it was natural for one Creature to subsist by another and to assist each other but not cruelly to destroy each other Upon this Argument the Parts of my Mind divided into a Minor and a Major part The Minor Part 's opinion was That since all the Creatures in Nature had Life then all Creatures that did feed did destroy each other's Life The Major Part 's Opinion was That they might be assisted by the Lives of other Creatures and not destroy their Lives for Life could not be destroyed though Lives might be occasionally alter'd but some Creatures may assist other Creatures without destruction or dissolution of their Society as for example The Fruits and Leaves of Vegetables are but the Humorous Parts of Vegetables because they are divisible and can encrease and decrease without any dissolution of their Society that is without the dissolution of the Plant. Also Milk of Animals is a superfluous Humor of Animals and to prove it to be a superfluous Humor I alledg That much of it oppresses an Animal The same I say of the Fruits and Leaves of many sorts of Vegetable Creatures Besides it is natural for such sorts of Creatures to have their Fruits and Leaves to divide from the Stock The Minor Part 's Opinion was That the Milk of Animals and the Fruits of Vegetables and the Herbs of the Earth had as much Life as their Producers The Major Part 's Opinion was That though they had as much Life as their Producers yet it was natural for such off-springs to change and alter their Lives by being united to other sorts of Creatures as for example An Animal eats Fruit and Herbs and those Fruits and Herbs convert themselves into the nature of those Animals that feed of them The same is of Milk Eggs and the like out of which a condition of Life is endeavoured for and for proof such sorts of Creatures account an Animal Life the best and therefore all such superfluous Parts of Creatures endeavour to unite into an Animal Society as we may perceive that Fruits and Herbs are apt to turn into Worms and Flies and some Parts of Milk as Cheese will turn into Maggots so that when Animals feed of such Meats they occasion those Parts they feed on to a more easie Transformation and not only such Creatures but Humans also desire a better Change for what Human would not be a glorious Sun or Starr After which Discourse all the Parts of my Mind agreed unanimously That Animals and so Human Creatures might feed on such sorts of Food as aforesaid but not on such Food as is an united Society for the Root and Foundation of any kind and sort of Creature ought not to be destroyed CHAP. IX Of the Continuance of Life in the Regular World THE Opinion of the Parts of my Mind was That it was probable that all Societies in the Regular World that is all such Parts of Nature as are united into particular Creatures are of long life by reason there are no Irregularities to destroy them before their natural time But then a Dispute was raised amongst the Parts of my Mind concerning the natural time that is the proper time of the Lives of those Creatures for all Creatures were not of the same time of Production nor after their Production of the same time of Continuance But the Parts of my Mind concluded That though they could not judg by observation of any Creature no not of their own Sort yet they did believe they could judg better of Human Creatures as being at that time of a Human Society than of any other but by reason they were of this World that is Irregular in part they did believe they might very much err in their Judgment concerning the continuance of Human Lives in the Happy World But after much debate they concluded That a Human Creature in the Regular World might last as long as the Productions did not oppress or burden that World for that would be irregular but how long a time that might be they could not possibly conceive or imagine CHAP. IX Of the Excellency and Happiness of the Creatures of the Regular World THE Parts of my Mind could not possibly being Parts of a Purgatory VVorld conceive the happy condition of all Creatures in the Regular VVorld but only conceiving there was no Irregularities they did also conceive that all Creatures there must be in perfection and that the Elemental Creatures were purer without drossie mixtures so that their Earth must needs be so fruitful that it produces all sorts of excellent Vegetables without the help of Art and their Minerals as pure as all sorts of Stone that are transparent and as hard as Diamonds the Gold and Silver more pure than that which is refined in our VVorld The truth is that in their Opinions the meanest sorts of Metal in the Regular VVorld were more pure than the richest sort in this VVorld so that then their richest Metal must be as far beyond ours as our Gold is beyond our Iron or Lead As for the Elemental VVaters in the Regular VVorld they must be extraordinary smooth clear flowing fresh and sweet and the Elemental Air only a most pure clear and glorious Light so that there could be no need of a Sun and by reason all the Air was a Light there could be no Darkness and so no need of a Moon or Starrs The Elemental Fire although it was Hot yet it was not Burning Also there could neither be scorching Heats nor freezing Colds Storms nor Tempest for all Excess is irregular Neither could there be Clouds because no Vapours But not to be tedious it was my Mind's Opinion That
own Parts and therefore might have that which we name Earth Air Water and Fire but for Sun-light Moon-light Starr-light and the like they are not parts of the World they appear to and are Worlds of themselves But there can be no such Appearances in the Irregular VVorld for the Irregularities do obstruct all such Appearances and the Elemental Parts if I may name them so are as irregular and therefore as horrid as can be so that it is probable that the Elemental Fire is not a bright shining Fire but a dull dead Fire which hath the Effects of a strong Corrosive Fire which never actually Heats but actually Burns so that some Creatures may both freeze and burn at once As for the Earth of that VVorld it is probable that it is like corrupted Sores by reason all Corruptions are produced by Irregular Motions from which Corruptions may proceed such stinking Foggs as may be as far beyond the scent of Brimstone or any the worst of Scents that are in this VVorld as Spanish or Roman Perfumes or Essences are beyond the scent of Carion or Assafoetida which causes all Creatures of Airy Substances that breathe to be so infected as to appear like Poysoned Bodies As for their Elemental VVater 't is probable that it is as black as Ink as bitter as Gaul as sharp as Aquafortis and as Salt as Brine mixt irregularly together by reason the VVaters there must needs be very troubled VVaters As for the Elemental Air I shall declare the Opinion of my Rational Parts in the following Chapter CHAP. VI. Of the Elemental Air and Light of the Irregular WORLD T IS probable that the Elemental Air of the Irregular VVorld is neither perfectly Dark nor perfectly Light for either would be in some part or kind a Perfection or Regularity but being irregular it must be a perturbed Air and being perturbed it is probable it produces several Colours But mistake me not I do not mean such Colours as are made by perturbed Light but such as are made by perturbed Air and through the Excess of Irregularities may be Horrid Colours and by reason of the AEtherial whirling Motions which are Circular Motions the Air may be of the colour of Blood a very horrid Colour to some sorts of Creatures but 't is probable this Bloody Colour is not of a pure Bloody Colour but of a corrupted Bloody Colour and so the Light of the Irregular VVorld may probably be of a corrupt Bloody Colour but by the several Irregular Motions it may be at several times of feveral corrupted Bloody Colours and by reason there are no intermissions of Air there can be no intermissions of this Light in the Irregular VVorld CHAP. VII Of Storms and Tempests in the Irregular World AS for Storms and Tempests and such irregular VVeather 't is probable there are continual VVinds and Thunders caused by the disturbance of the Air and those Storms and Tempests being irregular must needs be violent and therefore very horrid There may also be Lightnings but they are not such as those that are of a fiery colour but such as are like the colour of Fire and Blood mixt together As for Rain being occasioned by the Vapours from the Earth and VVaters it is according as those Vapours gather into Clouds but when there is Thunder it must needs be violent CHAP. VIII Of the several Seasons or rather of the several Tempers in the Irregular World AS for several Seasons there can be no constant Season because there is no Regularity but rather a great Irregularity and Violence in all Tempers and Seasons for there is no mean Degree and surely their Freezing is as sharp and corroding as their Corrosive-Burnings and it is probable that the Ice and Snow in that world are not as in this world viz. the Ice to be clear and the Snow white because there the water is a troubled and black water so that the Snow is black and the Ice also black not clear or like black polished Marble but 't is probable that the Snow is like black VVool and the Ice like unpolished black Stone not for Solidity but for Colour and Roughness CHAP. IX The Conclusion of the Irregular and Vnhappy or Cursed World I Have declared in my former Chapter concerning the Irregular World That there could not be any exact or perfect kind or sort because of the Irregularities not that there is not Animal Vegetable Mineral and Elemental Actions and so not such Creatures but by reason of the Irregularities they are strangely mixt and disordered so that every Particular seems to be of a different Kind or sort being not any ways like each other and yet may have the nature of such Kinds and Sorts by reason they are Natural Creatures although irregularly Natural but those irregular Natural Creatures cannot chuse by the former Descriptions but be Unhappy having in no sort or kind Pleasure or Ease and for such Creatures that have such Perceptions as are any way like ours they are most Miserable for by the Sense of Touch they freeze and burn by the sense of Tast they have Nauseousness and Hunger being not satisfied by the sense of Scent they are suffocated by reason of irregular Respiration by the sense of Hearing and sense of Seeing they have all the horrid Sounds and Sights that can be in Nature the Rational Parts are as if they were all distracted or mad and the Sensitive Parts tormented with Pains Aversisions Sicknesses and Deformities all which is caused through the Irregular Actions of the Parts of the Irregular World so that the Actions of all sorts of Creatures are Violent and Irregular But to conclude As all the Creatures of our World were made for the Benefit of Human Creatures so 't is probable all the Creatures of the Irregular World were produced for the Torment and Confusion of Human Creatures in that World The Fifth Part Being divided into FIFTEEN SECTIONS Concerning Restoring-Beds or Wombs I. AT the latter end of my Philosophical Conceptions the Parts of my Mind grew sad to think of the dissolving of their Society for the Parts of my Mind are so friendly that although they do often Dispute and Argue for Recreation and Delight-sake yet they were never so irregular as to divide into Parties like Factious Fellows or Unnatural Brethren which was the reason that they were sad to think their kind Society should dissolve and that their Parts should be dispersed and united to other Societies which might not be so friendly as they were And after many several Thoughts which are several Rational Discourses for Thoughts are the Language of the Mind they fell into a Discourse of Restoring Beds or Wombs viz. Whether there might not be Restoring Beds as well as Producing Beds or Breeding Beds And to argue the case they agreed to divide into Minor and Major Parts II. THE Major Parts of my Mind were of opinion That there are Beds or Wombs of Restoration as well as Beds of
subject to our Perception which proves That Light may be without Heat But whether the Light of the Sun which we name Natural Light is naturally hot may be a dispute for many times the Night is hotter than the Day CHAP. XXVIII Of DARKNESS THE Figurative Motions of Light and Darkness are quite opposite and the Figurative Motions of Colours are as a Mean between both being partly of the Nature of both but as the Figurative Motions of Light in my opinion are rare straight equal even smooth Figurative Motions those of Darkness are uneven ruff or rugged and more dense Indeed there is as much difference between Light and Darkness as between Earth and Water or rather between Water and Fire because each is an Enemy to other and being opposite they endeavour to out-power each other But this is to be noted That Darkness is as visible to Human Perception as Light although the Nature of Darkness is To obscure all other Objects besides it self but if Darkness could not be perceived the Optick Perception could not know when it is dark nay particular dark Figurative Motions are as visible in a general Light as any other Object which could not be if Darkness was only a privation of Light as the Opinions of many Learned Men are but as I said before Darkness is of a quite different Figurative Motion from Light so different that it is just opposite for as the property of Light is to divulge Objects so the property of Darkness is to obscure them but mistake me not I mean that Light and Darkness have such properties to our Perception but whether it is so to all Perceptions is more than I know or is as I believe known to any other Human Creature CHAP. XXIX Of COLOVRS AS for Colour it is the same with Body for surely there is no such thing in Nature as a Colourless Body were it as small as an Atom nor no such thing as a Figureless Body or such a thing as a Placeless Body so that Matter Colour Figure and Place is but one thing as one and the same Body but Matter being self-moving causes varieties of Figurative Actions by various changes As for Colours they are only several Corporeal Figurative Motions and as there are several sorts of Creatures so there are several sorts of Colours but as there are those Man names Artificial Creatures so there are Artificial Colours But though to describe the several Species of all the several sorts of Colours be impossible yet we may observe that there is more variety of Colours amongst Vegetables and Animals than amongst Minerals and Elements for though the Rain-bow is of many fine Colours yet the Rain-bow hath not so much Variety as many particular Vegetables or Animals have but every several Colour is a several Figurative Motion and the Brighter the Colours are the Smoother and Evener are the Figurative Motions And as for Shadows of Colours they are caused when one sort of Figurative Motions is as the Foundation for example If the Fundamental Figurative Motion be a deep Blew or Red or the like then all the variations of other Colours have a tincture But in short all Shadows have a ground of some sort of dark Figurative Motions But the Opinions of many Learned Men are That all Colours are made by the several Positions of Light and are not inherent in any Creature of which Opinion I am not For if that were so every Creature would be of many several Colours neither would any Creature produce after their own Species for a Parrot would not produce so fine a Bird as her self neither would any Creature appear of one and the same Colour but their Colour would change according to the Positions of Light and in a dark day in my opinion all fine coloured Birds would appear like Crows and fine coloured Flowers appear like the Herb named Night-shade which is not so I do not say That several Positions of Light may not cause Colours but I say The Position of Light is not the Maker of all Colours for Dyers cannot cause several Colours by the Positions of Light CHAP. XXX Of the Exterior Motions of the Planets BY the Exterior Motions of the Planets we may believe their Exterior Shape is Spherical for it is to be observed That all Exterior Actions are according to their Exterior Shape but by reason Vegetables and Minerals have not such sorts of Exterior Motions or Actions as Animals some Men are of opinion they have not Sensitive Life which opinion proceeds from a shallow consideration neither do they believe the Elements are sensible although they visibly perceive their Progressive Motions and yet believe all sorts of Animals to have sense only because they have Progressive Motions CHAP. XXXI Of the Sun and Planets and Seasons THE Sun Moon Planets and all those glittering Starrs we see are several sorts of that Man names Elemental Creatures but Man having not an infinite Perception cannot have an infinite perceptive knowledg for though the Rational Perception is more subtil than the Sensitive yet the particular Parts cannot perceive much further than the Exterior Parts of Objects but Human Sense and Reason cannot perceive what the Sun Moon and Starrs are as whether solid or rare or whether the Sun be a Body of Fire or the Moon a Body of Water or Earth or whether the Fixed Starrs be all several Suns or whether they be other kinds or sorts of Worlds But certainly all Creatures do subsist by each other because Nature seems to be an Infinite united Body without Vacuum As for the several Seasons of the Year they are divided into Four Parts but the several Changes and Tempers of the Four Seasons are so various altering every moment as it would be an endless work nay impossible for one Creature to perform for though the Almanack-makers pretend to fore-know all the variations of the Elements yet they can tell no more than just what is the constant and set-motions but not the variations of every Hour or Minute neither can they tell any thing more than their Exterior Motions CHAP. XXXII Of Air corrupting Dead Bodies SOME are of opinion That Air is a Corrupter and so a Dissolver of all dead Creatures and yet is the Preserver of all living Creatures If so Air hath an Infinite Power but all the reason I can perceive for this Opinion is That Man perceives that when any Raw or that we name Dead Flesh is kept from the air it will not stink or corrupt so soon as when it is in the air but yet it is well known that extream cold air will keep Flesh from corrupting Another Reason is That a Flye entomb'd in Amber being kept from air the Flye remains in her Exterior Shape as perfectly as if she were alive I answer The cause of that may be that the Figurative Motions of Amber may sympathize with the Exterior consistent Motions of the Fly which may cause the Exterior Shape of the Flye to
The Third Part. The Preamble 265 I. Of the Happy and Miserable Worlds 266 II. Whether there be such kinds and sorts of Creatures in the Happy and Blessed World as in this World 267 III. Of the Births and Deaths of the Heavenly World ibid. IV. Whether those Creatures could be named Blessed that are subject to dye 269 V. Of the Productions of the Creatures of the Regular World 270 VI. Whether the Creatures in the Blessed World do feed and evacuate 271 VII Of the Animals and of the food of the Humans of the Happy World 272 VIII Whether it is not irregular for one Creature to feed on another 273 IX Of the continuance of life in the Regular World 275 X. Of the Excellency and Happiness of the Creatures of the Regular World 276 XI Of Human Creatures in the Regular World 278 XII Of the happiness of human Creatures in the Material World ibid. The Fourth Part. I. Of the Irregular World 281 II. Of the Productions and Dissolutions of the Creatures of the irregular World 282 III. Of Animals and of Humans in the irregular World 283 IV. Of Objects and Perceptions 284 V. The Description of the Globe of the irregular World ibid. VI. Of the Elemental Air and Light of the irregular World 286 VII Of Storms and Tempests in the irregular World 287 VIII Of the several Seasons or rather of the several Tempers in the irregular World ibid. IX The Conclusion of the irregular and unhappy or cursed World 288 The Fifth Part. Fifteen Sections concerning Restoring-Beds or Wombs p. 291 to 308 The Conclusion 309 GROUNDS OF Natural Philosophy The First Part. CHAP. I. Of MATTER MATTER is that we name Body which Matter cannot be less or more than Body Yet some Learned Persons are of opinion That there are Substances that are not Material Bodies But how they can prove any sort of Substance to be no Body I cannot tell neither can any of Nature's Parts express it because a Corporeal Part cannot have an Incorporeal Perception But as for Matter there may be degrees as more pure or less pure but there cannot be any Substances in Nature that are between Body and no Body Also Matter cannot be figureless neither can Matter be without Parts Likewise there cannot be Matter without Place nor Place without Matter so that Matter Figure or Place is but one thing for it is as impossible for One Body to have Two Places as for One Place to have Two Bodies neither can there be Place without Body CHAP. II. Of MOTION THough Matter might be without Motion yet Motion cannot be without Matter for it is impossible in my opinion that there should be an Immaterial Motion in Nature and if Motion is corporeal then Matter Figure Place and Motion is but one thing viz. a corporeal figurative Motion As for a First Motion I cannot conceive how it can be or what that First Motion should be for an Immaterial cannot have a Material Motion or so strong a Motion as to set all the Material Parts in Nature or this World a-moving but in my opinion every particular part moves by its own Motion If so then all the Actions in Nature are self-corporeal figurative Motions But this is to be noted That as there is but one Matter so there is but one Motion and as there are several Parts of Matter so there are several Changes of Motion for as Matter of what degree soever it is or can be is but Matter so Motion although it make Infinite Changes can be but Motion CHAP. III. Of the degrees of MATTER THough Matter can be neither more nor less than Matter yet there may be degrees of Matter as more pure or less pure and yet the purest Parts are as much material in relation to the nature of Matter as the grossest Neither can there be more than two sorts of Matter namely that sort which is Self-moving and that which is not Self-moving Also there can be but two sorts of the Self-moving Parts as that sort that moves intirely without Burdens and that sort that moves with the Burdens of those Parts that are not Self-moving So that there can be but these three sorts Those parts that are not moving those that move free and those that move with those parts that are not moving of themselves Which degrees are in my opinion the Rational Parts the Sensitive Parts and the Inanimate Parts which three sorts of Parts are so join'd that they are but as one Body for it is impossible that those three sorts of Parts should subsist single by reason Nature is but one united material Body CHAP. IV. Of VACVVM IN my opinion there cannot possibly be any Vacuum for though Nature as being material is divisible and compoundable and having Self-motion is in perpetual action yet Nature cannot divide or compose from her self although she may move divide and compose in her self But were it possible Nature's Parts could wander and stray in and out of Vacuum there would be a Confusion for where Unity is not Order cannot be Wherefore by the Order and Method of Nature's corporeal Actions we may perceive there is no Vacuum For what needs a Vacuum when as Body and Place is but one thing and as the Body alters so doth the Place CHAP. V. The difference of the Two Self-moving Parts of Matter THE Self-moving Parts of Nature seem to be of two sorts or degrees one being purer and so more agil and free than the other which in my opinion are the Rational Parts of Nature The other sort is not so pure and are the Architectonical Parts which are the Labouring Parts bearing the grosser Materials about them which are the Inanimate Parts and this sort in my opinion are the Sensitive Parts of Nature which form build or compose themselves with the Inanimate Parts into all kinds and sorts of Creatures as Animals Vegetables Minerals Elements or what Creatures soever there are in Nature Whereas the Rational are so pure that they cannot be so strong Labourers as to move with Burdens of Inanimate Parts but move freely without Burdens for though the Rational and Sensitive with the Inanimate move together as one Body yet the Rational and Sensitive do not move as one 〈◊〉 Part as the sensitive doth with the Inanimate But pray mistake me not when I say the Inanimate Parts are grosser as if I meant they were like some densed Creature for those are but Effects and not Causes but I mean gross dull heavy Parts as that they are not Self-moving nor do I mean by Purity Rarity but Agility for Rare or Dense Parts are Effects and not Causes And therefore if any should ask Whether the Rational and Sensitive Parts were Rare or Dense I answer They may be Rare or Dense according as they contract or dilate their Parts for there is no such thing as a Single Part in Nature for Matter or Body cannot be so divided but that it will remain Matter which is divisible CHAP.