stiffly cohaerent particles and 〈◊〉 from a most solid into an oyly substance not so much by 〈…〉 â—ymbolisme or Affinity of nature that Salt Nitre and Sulphur whicâ—â—eing added to Sand Flints and many Metals promote the solution 〈…〉 fire have yet no accelerating but a retarding energy upoâ— Turpentine Balsome Myrrh c. in the extraction of their Oyls or 〈◊〉 that all Waters or Spirits extracted from Saâ—ine and Metalline nature are most convenient Menstruaes for the solution of Metals Minerals not 〈◊〉 much in respect of their Corrosion as similitude of pores and particles and consequently that every Concretion requires to its dissolution some 〈◊〉 dissolvent that holds some respondency or analogy to its contexture 〈◊〉 yet have we no reason therefore to abandon our Assumption that 〈◊〉 dissolution of one body by the subingression or insinuation 〈…〉 another must arise from the greater subtility of particles 〈…〉 until it be commonstrated to us that a Body whose 〈…〉 can penetrate another Body whose Pores are more 〈…〉 whereto is demonstrated to us by the frequent Experimentâ— of 〈◊〉 And therefore the Reason Why Oyle Olive doth pervade some Bodies which yet are impenetrable even by spirit of Wine by â—aimundus Lullius and after him by Libavius and Quercetan accounted the true Sulphur and Mercury of Hermetical Philosophers extracted from a Vegetable for the solution of Gold into a Potable substance and the Confection of the Great Elixir and as General a Dissolvent as that admired but hardly understood Liquor Alkahest of Paracelsus if not the same can be no other but this that in the substance of Oyle are some Particles much more subtile and penetrative than any contained in the substance of Wine though those subtile particles are thinly interspersed among a far greater number of Hamous or Hooked particles which retard their penetration Thus also in that affrighting and Atheist-converting Meteor Lightning seem to be contained many particles much more exile and searching than those of our Culinary Fires because it sometimes dissolves the hardest of Metals in a moment which preserveâ— its integrity for some hours in our fiercest reverberatory furnaces Which Lucretius well expresseth in this Tetrastich Dicere enim possis caelestem Fulminis ignem Subtilem magis e parvis constare Figuris Atque ideo transire foramina quae nequit ignis Noster hic elignis ortus taedaque creatus Secondly the Qualities Consequent to Figure are SMOOTHNESSE and its contrary ASPERITY Not that if we appeal to the judgement of the sense the superfice of a Body may not be smooth though it consist of angulouâ— Atoms or rough though composed of plain and polite Atoms for all Atoms as well as their Figures are so Exile as that many of them that are angular may cohaere into a mass without any inequality in the superfice deprehensible by the sense and on the contrary many of those that are plane and polite may be convened and concreted into such masses as to make angles edges and other inequalities sufficiently sensible But that if we refer the matter partly to the judicature of Reason partly to the evidence of our senses in General we cannot but determine it to arise from the Figuration of Atoms alone First to the judicature of Reason for as the mind admits nothing to be perfectly continued besides an Atom so can it admit nothing to be exquisitely smooth besides either the whole superfice of an Atom â—f the same be orbicular oval or of the like Figure or som parts of it if the same be tetrahedical hexahedrical or of some such poligone figure Because look by what reason the mind doth conclude the superfice of no Concretion in nature to be perfectly continued by the same reason doth 〈◊〉 â—â—nclude the superfice of every thing seemingly most equal and polite to be â—â—râ—â—usly interrupted with asperities or eminent and deprest particles and 〈…〉 refers immediately and soleâ—y to many small masses of Atoms in 〈◊〉 Contexture coadunated like as it referrs the interruptions in the superfice of a piece of Lawne or Cambrique which to the eye and touch appears most smooth and united to the small masses of Filaments interwoven in the webb And here the Experiment of a Microscope is opportune for when a man looks through it upon a â—heet of the finest and â—mooâ—hest Venice Paper which seems to the naked eye and most exquisite touch to be equal and â—erse in all parts of it superfice He shall discern it to be so full of Eminences and Cavities or small Hills and Valleys as the most praegnant and praepared Imagination cannot suppose any thing more unequal and impolite Seâ—ondly to the Evidence of our senses in General because the very Afâ—â—ction of Pleasure or Pain arising to the sensory from the contact of the sâ—â—â—ible object doth sufficiently demonstrate that smoothness is a Quality 〈◊〉 either from such Atoms or such small masses of Atoms contexed as 〈◊〉 smooth and pleasant to the sense by reason of their correspondence 〈◊〉 â—he pores and particles of the Organ and contrariwise that â—sperity is a â—uality resulting either from such single Atoms or such most minute masses of Atoms concreted as dilacerate or exasperate the sense by reason of 〈◊〉 incongruity or Disproportion to the Contexture of the Organ as w◠〈◊〉 even to redundancy Exemplified in the Grateful and Ungrateful 〈◊〉 of each sense CHAP. XI OF THE Motive Vertue Habit Gravity and Levity OF CONCRETIONS SECT I. THe Third Propriety of the Universal Matter Atoms is Mobility or Gravity and from that fountain is it that all Concretions derive their Virtue Motive For though our deceptable sense inform us that the minute Particles of Bodies are fixt in the act of their Coadunation wedged up together and as it were fast bound to the peace by reciprocal concatenation and revinction yet from the Dâ—ssolution of all Compound natures in process oâ— time caused by the intestine Commotions of their Elementary Principles without the hostility of any External Contraries may our more judicious Reason well inferr that Atoms are never totally deprived of that their essential Faculty Mobility but are anceâ—santly agitated thereby even in the centrals of Concretions the most soâ—id and compact some tending one way others another in a perpetual 〈◊〉 of Eruption and when the Major part of them chance to â—ffect 〈…〉 the same way of emancipation then is their united force determimined â—o one part of the Concretion and motion likewise determined to one region respecting that Part. That same MOTIVE VIRTUE thereâ—ore wherewith every Compound Bodie is naturally endowed must owe â—ts â—rigine to the innate and co-essential Mobility oâ— its component particles being really the same thing with their Gravity or Impetus which yet receives its determinate manner and degree from their mutual Combination In respect whereof it necessarily comes to paâ—s that when Atoms mutually adhâ—ering vnto 〈…〉 other caâ—â—ot obey the â—mpuâ—â—e of 〈◊〉 â—â—ndency singly they are not
order in the mutual contact of its insensible particles the empty spaces formerly intercepted betwixt them being replenished with the exhalations of the tapor when the orifice is deobturated there sensibly succeeds a gradual expiration of the atoms of Fire as the most agile volatile and prepared for motion and then the aer impelled by its own native Fluxibility re-expands or dilates it self by degrees But since the narrowness of the Evaporatory or oriâ—ice prohibits the so speedy reflexion or return of the compressed particles of the aer to their naturall contexture or open order as the renitency of their fluxibility requireth so long as there remain any of the atoms of Fire in possession of their Vacuities as long continues the reexpansion of the Aer and that reexpansion pressing upon the sides of the water causeth it to ascend and continue elevated And no longer for so soon as the aer is returned to its native contexture the water by degrees subsideth to the bottom as before the accension of the Tapor and so that motion commonly called a Suction in avoidance of Vacuity is more properly a Protrusion caused by the expanding particles of aer compressed If any praecipitous Curiosity shall recur to this Sanctuary that in the Substance of the Aer is contained Aliquid Combustibile some combustible matter which the hungry activity of the flame of the Tapor doth prey upon consume and adnihilate He runs upon a double absurdity 1 That in Nature is a substance which upon the accidental admotion of Fire is subject to absolute Adnihilation which to suppose smels of so great a wildness of Imagination as must justifie their sentence who shall consign the Author of it to seven years diet on the roots of White Hellebor nor durst any man but that Elias Artium Helmont adventure on the publique Patronage of it 2 That the Aer is the Pabulum or Fewel of Fire which though no private opinion but passant even among the otherwise venerable Sectators of Aristotle who unjustly refer the Extinction of flame imprisoned to the Defection of Aer as intimating that the destruction of Fire like that of Animals doth proceed from the destitution of Aliment is yet openly inconsistent to Reason and Experiment To Reason because the Aer considered sincerely as Aer without the admixture of vapours and exhalations is a pure simple and Homogeneous substance whose parts are consimilar not a composition of heterogeneous and dissimilar whereof some should submit to the consumptive energie of Fire and other some of the invincible temper of Salamandes Wool or Muscovy Glass conâ—erve their originary integrity inviolable in the highest fury of the flames Again Themselves unanimously approve that Definition of Galen lib. 1. de Element cap. 1. Elementa sunt natura prima simplicissima corpora quaeque in alia non amplius dissolvi queant that it is one of the essential Proprieties of an Element as to be ingenerable so also Indissoluble and as unanimously constitute the Aer to be an Element To Experiment because had the Fire found and yet it is exceedingly inquisitive especially when directed by Appetite according to their supposition any part of the Aer iâ—flamable the whole Element of aer had been long since kindled into an univeâ—sal and inextinguable conflagration upon the accension of the first focal â—â—re nor could a flash of Lightning or Gunpowder be so soon extinct if the flame found any maintenance or sustentaculum in the Aer but would enlarge it self into a Combustion more prodigious and destructive then that caused by the wild ambition of Phaeton Most true it is that Fire deprived of aer doth suffer immediate extinction yet not in respect of Aliment denyed for Nutrition and Vitality are ever convertible but of the want of room sufficient to contain its igneous and fuliginous Exhalations which therefore recoiling back upon the flame coarctate suffocate and so extinguish it For upon the excessive and impetuous suddain afflation of aer Flame doth instantly perish though not imprisoned in a glass the cause is that the flame not with tenacity sufficient adhaering to the body of the tapor or lamp is easily blown off and being thus dislodged hath no longer subsistence in the aer And Heat beating upon the outside or convex part of a Glass seems sensibly to dilate the Aer imprisoned within as is manifest upon the testimonie of all Thermometres or Weather-Glasses those only which contain Chrysulca or Aqua Fortis in stead of Water at least if the experiment be true excepted but Fire in the Concave or inside of the Glass violently compresseth the aer by reason of its fuliginous Emissions which wanting vacuities enough in the aer for their reception recoil and suffocate the fire The Fourth this Being in an intense frost at Droitwich in Worcestershire and feeding my Curiosity with enquiring into the Mechanick operations of the Wallers so the Salt-boylers are there called I occasionally took notice of Yce of considerable thickness in a hole of the earth at the mouth of a Furnace very great and charged with a Reverberatory fire or Ignis rotae Consulting with my Phylosophy how so firm a congelation of Water could be made by Cold at the very nose of so great a fire I could light on no determination wherein my reason thought it safe to acquiesce but this That the ambient Aer surcharged with too great a cloud of exhalations from the fire was forced to a violent recession or retreat and a fresh supply of aer as violently came on to give place to the receding and maintain the reception of fresh exhalations and so a third fourth and continued relief succeeded and that by this continued and impetuous afflux or stream of new aer loaden with cold Atoms the activity of the cold could not but be by so much the more intense at the mouth of the furnace then abroad in the open aer by how much the more violent the stream of cold aer was there then elsewhere To complete and assure the Experiment I caused two dishes of equal capacity to be filled with river Water placed one at the mouth of the furnace the other sub Dio and found that near the furnace so nimbly creamed over with Yce as if that visibly-freezing Tramontane Wind which the Italian calls Chirocco had blown there and much sooner perfectly frozen then the other And this I conceive to be also the reason of that impetuous suction of a stream of aer and with it other light and spongy bodies through the holes or pipes made in many Chimneys to praevent the repercursion of smoke From these observations equitably perpended and collated our meditations adventured to infer 1 That the Aer as to its principal and most universal Destination was created to be the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or common RECEPTARY of Exhalations and that for the satisfaction of this End it doth of necessity contain a Vacuum Desseminatum in those minute
Because though the Tube be made of Brass Steel or any other Metal whose conteâ—ture is so close as to exclude the subtlest aer yet shall the Experiment hold the same in all Apparences and particularly in this of the deflux of the Quicksilver to the altitude of 27 digits 2 Because if the desert Cavity were replete with aer the incumbent aer could not rush in to the Tube at the eduction of its lower end D out of the restagnant Mercury and Water with such violence since no other cause can be assigned for its impetuous rushing into the Tube but the regression of the compressed parts of the ambient aer to their natural laxity and to the repletion of the violent or forced Vacuity Since if the whole Space in the Tube were possessed i. e. if there were as many particles of Body as Space therein doubtless no part of place could remain for the reception of the irruent aer Secondly As for that most subtile and generally penetatrive substance AETHER or pure Elementary Fire which some have imagined universally diffused through the vast Body of Nature principally for the maintenance of a Continuity betwixt the parts thereof and so the avoidance of any Vacuity though ne're so exile and minute we do not find our selves any way obliged to admit that the Desert Space in the Tube is repleted with the same untill the Propugnators of that opinion shall have abandoned their Fallacy Petitio principii a praecarious assumption of what remains dubious and worthy a serious dispute viz. That Nature dâ—th irreconcileably abhor all vacuity per se. For until they have evinced beyond controversie that Nature doth not endure any Emptiness or solution of Continuity quatenus an Emptiness and not meerly ex Accidenti upon some other sinister and remote respect their Position that she provided that subtile substance Aether chiefly to prevent any Emptiness is rashly and boldly anticipated and depends on the favour of Credulity for a toleration Nor is it so soon demonstrated as affirmed that all Vacuity is repugnant to the fundamental constitution of Nature Naturam abhorrere Vacuum is indeed a maxim and a true one but not to be understood in any other then a metaphorical sense For as every Animal by the instinct of self-conservation abhors the solution of Continuity in his skin caused by any puncture wound or laceration though it be no offence to him to have his skin pinkt or perforated all over with insensible pores so also by the indulgence of a Metaphor may Nature be said to abhor any great or sensible vacuity or solution of Continuity such as is imagined in the Desert Space of the Tube though it be familiar nay useful and grateful to her to admit those insensible inanities or minute porosities which constitute a Vacuum Disseminatum We say by the indulgence of a Metaphor because we import a kind of sense in Nature analogous to that of Animals And tollerating this Metaphorical Speech that Nature hath a kind of sense like that of Animals yet if we allow for the vastity of her Body can it be conceived no greater trouble or offence to her to admit such a solution of Continuity or Emptiness as this supposed in the Desert space of the Tube then to an Animal to have any one pore in his skin more then ordinarily relaxed and expanded for the transudation of a drop of sweat This perpended it can seem no Antiaxiomatisme to affirm that nature doth not abhor Vacuity per se but onely ex Accidenti i. e. upon this respect that in Nature is somewhat for whose sake she doth not without some reluctany admit a Coacervate or sensible Vacuity Now that somewhat existent in Nature per se in relation to which she seems to oppose and decline any sensible Vacuity can be no other then the Fluxility of her Atomical Particles especially those of Fire Air and Water And for ought we poor Haggard Mortals do or can by the Light of Nature know to the contrary all those vast spaces from the margent of the Atmosphere whose altitude exceeds not 40 miles according to Mersennus and Cassendus perpendicular up to the Region of the fixed Stars are not only Fluid but Inane abating only those points which are pervaded by the rayes of the Sun and other Celestial Bodies But why should we lead the thoughts of our Reader up to remote objects whose sublimity proclaims their incertitude when from hence only that the Aer is a Fluid substance it is a manifest direct and unstrained consequence that the immediate cause of its avoidance of any sensible or coacervate Vacuity is the Confluxibility of its Atomical particles which being in their natural contexture contiguous in some though not all points of their superficies must of necessity press or bear each upon other and so mutually compel each other that no one particle can be removed out of its place but instantly another succeeds and possesses it and so there can be no place left empty as hath been frequently explained by the simile of a heap of Sand Now if the Confluxibility of the insensible particles of the aer be the immediate and per se Cause of its avoidance of any aggregate sensible solution of Continuity we need no farther justification of our position that Nature doth oppose vacuity sensible not per se but only in order to the affection of Confluxibility i. e. ex Accidenti Again should we swallow this praecarious supposition of the Aether with no less pertinacity then ingenuity asserted by many Moderns but professedly by Natalis in both his Treatises Physica Vetus Nova Plenum experimentis novis confirmatum and admit that Nature provided that most tenuious and fluid substance chiefly to praevent Vacuity yet cannot the Appetite of our Curiosity be satisfied that the Desert space in the tube is replenished with the same prenetrating through the glass untill they have solved that Apparence of the violent irruption of the ambient Aer into the orifice of the tube so soon as it is educed out of the subjacent liquors the Quicksilver and Water by the same Hypothesis Which whether they have done so as to demonstrate that the sole cause of the Aers impetuous rushing into the canale of the Tube and prodigiously elevating the ponderous bodies of Quicksilver and Water residuous therein is not the Reflux of the incumbent aer by the ascention of the restagnant Quicksilver in the vessel compressed to too deep and diffused a subingression of its insensible Particles to recover its natural laxity by regaining those spaces from which it was expelled and secluded and to supply the defect of this reason by substituting some other syntaxical to their hypothesis of the Aether which shall be more verisimilous and plausible this we ought to refer to the judgment of those who have attentively and aequitably perused their Writings Lastly as for the third thing supposed to replenish the Desert space
some latitude and liberty of sense they may be conceded Elements or Principles of the Universe yet doth it not naturally follow that therefore they must be equal Principles or Elements of Generables since Atoms only fulfill that title the Inane Space affording only Place and Discrimination Nor is it probable that those who had defined Vacuity by Incorporiety should lapse into so manifest a Contradiction as to allow it to be any Cause of Corporiety or to constitute one moiety of Bodies Besides neither can Epicurus in any of those Fragments of his redeemed from the jaws of oblivion by Laertius Cicero Empiricus Plutarch c. nor his faithful Disciple and Paraphrast Lucretius in all his Physiology be found to have affirmed the Contexture of any Concretion from Inanity but of all things simply and solely from Atoms And for Democritus him doth even Aristotle himself wholly acquit of this Error for in 1. Phys. enumerating the several opinions of the Ancients concerning the Principles or Elements of all things He saith of him Fecit principiorum Genus unicum Figuras verò differentes All therefore that lyeth against them in this case is only that they asserted the interspersion or dissemination of Inanity among the incontingent particles of Bodies concrete as of absolute necessity to their peculiar Contemperation which we conceive our selves obliged to embrace and defend untill it shall be proved unto us by more then paralogistical arguments that there is any one Concretion in the world so perfectly solid as to contain nothing of the Inane Space intermixt which till it can be demonstrated that a Concretion may be so solid as to be Indissoluble we have no cause to expect Secondly That the Patrons of Atoms do not as the malice of some and incogitancy of others hath praetended to cast disparagement upon their Theory deny the Existence of those four Elements admitted by most Philosophers but allow them to be Elementa Secundaria Elements Elementated i. e. consisting of Atoms as their First and Highest Principles Thus much we may certifie from that of Lucretius 2. lib. treating of Atoms Unde mare Terrae possent augescere unde Adpareret spatium Coeli domus altaque tecta Tolleret a terris procul consurgeret Aer c. Nor can the most subtle of their Adversaries make this their Tenet bear an action of trespass against right Reason especially when their Advocate shall urge the great Dissent of the Ancients concerning both the Number and Original of Elements the insufficiency of any one Element to the Production of Compound Natures and that the four vulgar Elements cannot justly be honoured with the Attributes of the First Matter 1 The Dissent of the Ancients about the number of Elements cannot be unknown to any who hath revolved their monuments and taken a list of their several opinions their own or their Scholiasts volumes lying open to record that of those who fixt upon the four Vulgar Elements Fire Aer Earth Water for the universal Principles some constituted only one single first Principle from which by Consideration and Rarefaction the other three did proceed and from them all Elementated Concretions among which are Heraclitus who selected Fire Anaximenes who pitched upon Aer Thales Milesius who praeferred Water and Pherecydes who was for Earth Others supposed only Two primary from which likewise by Condensation and Rarefaction the other two secondary were produced as Xenophanes would have Earth and Water Parmenides contended for Fire and Earth Oenopides Chius for Fire and Aer and Hippo Rheginus for Fire and Water Others advanced one step higher and there acquiesced in Three as Onomacritus and his Proselytes affirmed Fire Water and Earth And some made out the Quaternian and superadded also Aer the Principal of which was Empedocles Now to him who remembers that there can be but one Truth and thereupon justly inferrs that of many disagreeing opinions concerning one and the same subject either all or all except one must be false and that it is not easie which to prefer when they are all made equally plausible by a parity of specious Arguments it cannot appear either a defect of judgment or an affectation of singularity in Democritus and Epicurus to have suspected them all of incertitude and founded their Physiology on an Hypothesis of one single Principle Atoms from the various transposition configuration motion and quiescence of whose insensible Particles all the four generally admitted Elements may be derived and into which they may at the term of Exsolubility revert without the least hazard of Absurdity or Impossibility as will fall to our ample enunciation in our subsequent Enquiries into the Originals of Qualities and the Causes of Generation and Corruption 2 That one of the four Elements cannot singly suffice to the production of any Compound Nature needs no other eviction but that Argument of Hippocrates de Natur. Hominis Quo pacto cùm unum existat generabit aliquid nisi cùm aliquo misceatur Instance we in Heraclitus Proto-Element Fire from which nothing but Fire can be educed though it run through all the degrees of those fertile Modifications of Densescence and Rarescence 2 To suppose Rarefaction and Condensation without the more or less of Inanity intercepted as they do is to usurp the concession of an Impossibility 3 T is absurd to conceive Fire transformable by Extinction into any other Element because a simple substance cannot be subject to essential transmutation So that if after its extinction any thing of Fire remain as must till Adnihilation be admitted its surviving part must be the Common Matter such as Atoms which according to the various and respective addition detraction transposition agitation or quiet of them now put on the form of Fire then of Aer anon of Water and lastly of Earth since in their original simplicity they have no actual but a potential Determination to the forms of all indiscriminately And what is here urged to evince the impossibility of Fires being the sole Catholique Element carrieth the same proportion of reason and evidence the two pathognomick characters of Verity to subvert the supposition of any of the other three for the substantial Principle of the rest 3 That though the four vulgar Elements may be the Father yet can they not be the Grandfather Principle to all Concretions is evidencible from hence 1 They are Contrary each to other and so not only Asymbolical or Disharmonious but perfectly Destructive among themselves at least uncapable of that mutual correspondence requisite to peaceful and durable Coalescence 2 They are praesumed to coalesce and their Concretions to consist without Inanity interspersed among their incontiguous particles which is impossible 3 Their Defendants themselves concede a degree of Dissolution beyond them and consequently that they know a Principle Senior 4 Their Patrons must grant either that they by a praevious deperdition of their own nature are changed into Concretions which by mutation
Calcined Lead and Water are actually Cold and no third Nature is admixt and nothing more can be said to be in them when commixt that was in them during their state of separation whence can we deduce that intense Heat that so powerfully affecteth indeed misaffecteth the sense of Touching Quaestionless only from this our triple fountain i. e. from hence that upon the accession of humidity the acute or pointed particle of the spirit of Vinegre whereby the fixed salt of the Lead was by potential Calcination dissolved and the Sulphur liquated change their order and situation and after various convolutions or the motions of Fermentations obvert their points unto and penetrate the skin and so cause a dolorous Compunction or discover themselves to the Organ of Touching in that species of Quality which men call Heat The reason of this Phaenomenon is clearly the same with that of a heap of Needles which when confused in oblique transverse c. irregular positions on every side prick the hand that graspeth them but if disposed into uniform order like sticks in a Fagot they may be laterally handled without any asperity or puncture or that of the Bristles of an Urchine which when depressed or ported may be stroked from head to tayle without offence to the hand but when erected or advanced become intractable By the same reason also may we comprehend why Aqua Fortis whose Ingredients in their simple natures are all gentle and innoxious is so fiery and almost invincible a poyson to all that take it why the Spirit of Vitriol freshly extracted kindles into a fire if confused with the Salt of Tartar why the Filings of Steel when irrigated with Spirit of Salt suffer an aestuation ebullition and dissolution into a kind of Gelly or Paste with all other mutations sensible observed by Apothecaries and Chymists in their Compositions of Dissimilar natures from which some third or neutral Quality doth result Secondly that in the parts of an Apple whose one half is rotten the other sound what strange disparity there is in the points of Colour Odour Sapour Softness c. Qualities The sound half is sweet in taste fresh and fragrant in smell white in Colour and hard to the touch the Corrupt bitter earthy or cadaverous duskish or inclinining to black and soft Now to what Cause can we adscribe this manifest dissimilitude but only this that the Particles of the Putrid half by occasion either of Contusion or Corrosion as the Procatarctick Cause have suffered a change of position among themselves and admitted almost a Contrary Contexture so as to exhibite themselves to the several Organs of Sense in the species of Qualities almost contrary to those resulting from the sound half which upon a farther incroachment of putrefaction must also be deturbed from their natural Order and Situations in like manner and consequently put on the same Apparences or Qualities For can it be admitted that the sound moâ—ty when it shall have undergone Corruption doth consist of other Particles then before if it be answered that some particles thereof are exhaled and others of the aer succeeded into their rooms our assertion will be rather ratified then impugned because it praesumes that from the egression of some particles the subingression of others of aer and the total transposition of the remaining Corruption is introduced thereupon and thereby that general change of Qualities mentioned These Instances and the insufficiency of any other Dihoties to the rational explanation of them with due attention and impartiality perpended we cannot but highly applaud the perspicacity of Epicurus who constantly held 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the Motion of Mutation was a species of Local Transition and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Concretum quod secundum Quâ—litatem mutatur omnino mutatur Locali transitivo motu eorum corporum ratione intelligibilium quae in ipsum concreverint Which Empiricus 2. advers Phys. descanting upon saith thus Exempli caussâ ut ex dulci fiat aliquid amarum aut ex albo nigrum oportet moleculas seu Corpuscula quae ipsum constituunt transponi alium vice alterius ordinem suscipere Hoc autem non contigerit nisi ipsae moleculae motione transitus moveantur Et rursus ut ex molli fiat quid Durum ex duro molle oportet eas quae illud constituunt particulas secundum locum moveri quippe earum extensione mollitur coitione verò condensatione durescit c. All which is most adaequately exemplified in a rotten Apple And this we conceive may suffice in the General for our Enquiry into the possible Origine of sensible Qualities CHAP. II. That Species Visible are SUBSTANTIAL EMANATIONS SECT I. SEnsus non suscipere SUBSTANTIAS though the constant assertion of Aristotle and admitted into his Definition of Sense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sensus est id quod est capax sensibilium specierum sine materia lib. 2. de Anima cap. ultim and swallowed as an Axiome by most of his Commentators is yet so far from being indisputable that an intent examination of it by reason may not only suspect but convict it of manifest absurdity Witness only one and the noblest of Senses the SIGHT which discerns the exterior Forms of Objects by the reception either of certain Substantial or Corporeal Emanations by the sollicitation of Light incident upon and reflected from them as it were Direpted from their superficial parts and trajected through a diaphanous Medium in a direct line to the eye or of Light it self proceeding in streight lines from Lucid bodies or in reflex from opace in such contextures as exactly respond in order and position of parts to the superficial Figure of the object obverted to the eye For the FIRST of these Positions Epicurus hath left us so rational â— Ground that deserves besides our admiration of His Perspicacity if not our plenary Adhaerence yet at least our calm Allowance of its Verisimility and due praelation to that jejune and frothy Doctrine of the Schools that Species Visible are Forms without Matter and immaterial not only in their admission into the Retina Tunica or proper and immediate Organ of sight but even in their Trajection through the Medium interjacent betwixt the object and the eye Which Argument since too weighty to be entrusted to the support of a Gratis or simple Affirmation we shall endeavour to prop up with more then one solid Reason And this that we may with method requisite to perspicuity effect we are to begin at the faithful recital of Epicurus Text and then proceed to the Explanation and Examination of it Reputandum est esse in mundo quasdam Effigies ad Visionem inservienteis quae corporibus solidis delineatione consimiles superant longè sua tenuitate quicquid est rerum conspicabilium Neque enim formari repugnat etiam in medio aere circumfusove spatio hujusmodi quasdam Contexturas uti neque repugnat esse
Auctority is an unpardonable Profanation of Reason and high treason against the state of Learning CHAP. IV. THE NATURE OF COLOVRS SECT I. THe Rabbins whenever they encounter any Problem that seems too strong for their Reason to excuse their despair of conquering it they instantly recurr to that proverbial Sanctuary Reservatur in adventum Eliae it belongs to the Catalogue of secrets that are reâ—erved for the revealment of Eliaâ— And ingenously if any Abstrusâ—â—y in Nature be so impervestigable as to justifie our open profession of Incapacity and necessitate our opprest Understanding to retreat to the same common Refuge it must be this of the NATURE OF COLOURS to the consideration whereof the Clue of our Method hath now brought us For though all Philosophers unanimously embrace as an indubitable verity that the object of Sight in General is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Visible whatever is deprehensible by that Sensâ— and that in Particular the Proper and Adequate object thereof is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Colour because nothing is visible but under the gloss or vernish of Colour nor doth Light it self submit to the dâ—scernment of the eye quateâ—us Lux in the capacity ofits Form or meerly as Light but instar Albedinis 〈◊〉 it retains to Whiteness all which Mersennus opticâ—e part 2. theorem 1. hath judiciously contracted into this one Theorem â—bjectuâ— visus praecipuum est Lux Color vel Lux colorata aut Color incidus we say notwithstanding this their Ground-work be laid in the rock of manifest Certitude yet when they attempt to erect thereon an establisht and permanent Theory of the Essence of Colours either in their sâ—â—ple and first Natures or complex and secondary Removes they find the eye of their Curiosity so obnubilated with dense and impervious Difficulties that all of certainty they can discover is only this that their most subtle indagations were no more but anxious Gropings in the dark after that whose Existence is evidenced only by and Essence consisteth chiefly in Light But this Infelicity of our Intellectuals will be more fully commonstrated by our abridged rehearsal of the most memorable Opinions of others and the declarement of our own concerning this Magnale The Despot of the Schools in lib. de sensu sensili cap. 3. defines Colour to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Extremity of a Diaphanum or transparent body terminated subjoining that Colour appertains to all things ratione Perspicuitatis and consequently that the extremity of a perspicuous body terminated is the Subject of Colour Which that we may clearly understand let us consult the great Scaliger who in Exercit. 325. thus concisely Comments thereupon If the Perspicuum saith He suffer condensation so far as to the amission of its Transparency and so prohibit the trajection of the Visible Species it instantly becomes Colorate and ought to be accounted Terminate because it bounds or limits the Visive rayes Wherefore the law of Consequence injoineth that we explore the Essence of Colours in the Gradual Termination of the Diaphanum and derive that Termination 1 from meer Condensation without the admixture of any other thing to the Diaphanum as may be instanced in the Starrs for they become visible though of a Lucid nature only because they are of a Compact or Dense contexture 2 From the Admission of an Opace with a Translucid body as is exemplified in our Culunary Fire which though in the simplicity of its most perspicuous doth yet appear Red because commixt and in some degree obnubilated with fuliginous Exhalations from the pabulum or Fewel thereof or compound body in combustion The same likewise is to be understood of Aer and Water for those three Elements are all perspicuous though in divers degrees Fire being most perspicuous Aer possessing the next degree and Water coming behind them both as seeming to be a Medium betwixt Perspicuity and Opacity And therefore from the admission of the parts of that Opace Element Earth to any other of the three Diaphanous one or other Colour among the many must arise But the Perspicuum passeth first into Whiteness and therefore is it that Perspicuity Light and Whiteness are of the same nature cozen Germans once removed and discriminate only by Degrees as on the contrary an Opacum Darkness and Blackness are also cognate â—his being the original of the Two Father or Ground Colours it can be no Difficulty to attain the specifical Causes of all others since they are only Intermediate i. e. they arise from the various Complexion or Contemperation of the two Extrems And this is the sense of Aristotles Text if we admit the interpretation of Scaliger Plato being either unable or unwilling to erase out of the table of his mind some of the ingravements of Democritus understands Colour to be Flammula quaedam sive Fulgor è singulis corporibus emicans partes habens visui accommodatas in Timaeo For having held as Diogenes Laertius lib. 3. hath well observed and we may easily collect from that discourse of his in the name of Timaeus Locrus that the world consisteth of the four Elements of Fire as it is Visible of Earth as Tangible of Aer and Water ut proportione non vacet lest he should apostate from his Fundamentals He affirmed Corpora videri propter Ignem propter Terram tangi that the Visibility of all things was radicated in their participation of Fire and their Tangibility in their share of Earth and consequently that the Colour of bodies was nothing but an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Emicancy of their internal Fulgor and the variety of its Species dependent meerly on the various degrees or more or less of that inhaerent luster As for the Pythagorean and Stoick the Former with inexcusable incogitancy confounded the Tinctures of things with their Extrems allowing no real difference betwixt the Superfice and the Colour it bears Pythagorâ—s Colorem eâ—le extimam corporis superficiem censuit hanc ob Caussam quod Color Sectilem naturam habet non tamen sit Corpus aut Linea as Plutarch de Placit Philosoph and out of him Bernhard Caesius de Mineral lib. 2. cap. 3. Sect. 2. art 12. The Later with unsatisfactory subtility as if indeed He meant rather to blanch over the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or incomprehensibility of the Subject with ambiguous and Sophistical Terms than confess or remove it makes Colour to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a certain Efflorescence arising from a determinate Figuration of the First Matter as we have collected from the memorials of Plutarch lib. 1. de Placit Philosoph cap. 15. Lastly the illuminated Sons of Hermes who boast to have if not attained to the bottom of the mystery yet out done the endeavours of all other Sects of Philosophers in profounding it confidently lead our curiosity to their general Asylum the three Universal Principles Sal Sulphur and Mercury and tell us that the Elemental Salts carry the
Dissolve the compage of the Metal or Ice and Dissociate all the particles thereof for so long as the Heat is continued so long do the Ice and Metal remain Dissolved and Fluid This considered what shall we say to Aristotle who makes it the Essential Attribute of Heat Congregare Homogenea to Congregate Homogeneous Bodies Truly rather then openly convict so great a Votary to truth of so palpable an Error we should gladly become his Compurgator and palliate his mistake with an indulgent comment that in his Definition of Heat to be a Quality genuinely Congregative of Homogeneous natures He had his eye not upon the General Effect of Heat which He could not but observe to Disgregate the particles of all things aswel Homogeneous as Heterogeneous but upon some special Effect of it upon some particular Concretions such as are Compounded of parts of Divers natures as Wood and all Combustible bodies Concerning which indeed His Assertion is thus far justifiable that the whole Bodie is so dissolved by fire as that the Dissimilar parts of it are perfectly sequestred each from other and every one attains it proper place the Aereal part ascending and associating with the Aer the Aqueous evaporating the Igneous discovering themselves in Flame and the earthy remaining behind in the forme of Ashes But alas this favourable Conjecture cannot excuse nor gild over his Incogitancy for the Congregation of the Homogenous particles of a Body dissolved by Fire in the place most convenient to their particular Nature ariseth immediately from their own Tendency thither or that we may speak more like our selves i. e. the Disciples of Epicurus from their respective proportions of Gravity the more Heavy extruding and so impelling upward the less heavy and only Accidentally from Heat or as it hath dissolved the caement and so the Continuity of the Concretion wherein they were confusedly and promiscuously blended together So that Truth will not dispense with our Connivence at so dangerous a Lapse though in one of Her choicest Favorites chiefly because it hath already deluded so many of Her seekers under the glorious title of a Fundamental Axiome but strictly enjoynes Us to Conclude that Heat per se or of its own nature is alwayes a Disgregative Quality and that it is of of meer Accident that upon the sequestration of Heterogeneities Homogeneous Natures are associated rather than è contra that it is of meer Accident that while Heat Congregates Homogeneous it should Disgregate Heterogeneous Natures as Aristotle most inconsiderately affirmed and taught SECT II. AS in the Course so in the Discourse of Nature having done with the principle of Life Heat we must immediately come to the principle of Death COLD whose Essence we cannot seasonably explain before we have proved that it hath an Essence since many have hotly though with but cold Arguments contended that it hath none at all but is a meer Privation or Nothing That Cold therefore is a Real Ens and hath a Positive Nature of its own may be thus demonstrated 1. Such are the proper Effects of Cold as cannot without open absurdity be ascribed to a simple Privation since a Privation is incapable of Action for Cold compingeth all Bodies that are capable of its efficacy and congealeth Water into Ice which is more than ever any man durst assigne to a privation And when a man thrusts his hand into cold Water the Cold He then feels cannot be sayd to be a meer privation of the Heat of his hand since his hand remains as Hot if not hotter than before the Calorifick Atoms of his hand being more united by the circumobsistence of the Cold. 2. All Heat doth Concentre and unite it self upon the Antiperistasis of Cold not from fear of a privation because Heat is destitute of a sense of its owne being and so of fear to lose that being and if not yet Nothing can have no Contrariety nor Activity but from Repulsion as we have formerly delivered 3. Though many bodies are observed to become Cold upon the absence or Expiration of Heat yet is it the intromission of the Quality contrary to Heat that makes them so for if External Cold be not introduced into their pores they cannot be so properly sayd Frigescere to wax Cold as Decalescere to wax less Hot. Thus a stone which is not Hot nor Cold unless by Accident being admoved to the fire is made Hot and removed from the fire you cannot unless the ambient Aer intromit its Cold into it so justly say that it growes Cold as that it grows Less hot or returnes to its native state of indifferency 4. When Water vulgarly though untruely praesumed to be naturally or essentially cold is congealed into Ice by the Cold of the aer it would be most shamefully absurd to affirm that the Cold of the Ice ariseth meerly from the Absence of Heat in the water because it is the essential part of the supposition that the Water had no Heat before 5. Privation knowes no Degrees for the Word imports the totall Destitution or Absence of somewhat formerly had otherwise in rigid truth it can be no Privation and therefore our common Distinction of a Partial and Total privation hath lived thus long meerly upon indulgence and tolleration but Cold hath its various Degrees for Water is colder to the touch than Earth Ice than Water c. therefore Cold is no Privative but a Positive Quality The Reality of Cold being thus clearly evicted we may with more advantage undertake the consideration of its Formality and explore the roots of those Attributes commonly imputed thereunto First therefore we observe that though Cold be Scholastically defined by that passion caused in the organs of the sense of touching upon the contact of a Cold object yet doth not that special Notion sufficiently express its Nature because there is a more General Effect by which it falls under our cognizance and that is the Congregation and Compaction of the parts of bodies For since Cold is the Antagonist to Heat whose proper vertue it is to Discuss and Disgregate therefore must the proper and immediate virtue of Cold be to Congregate and Compinge and consequently ought we to form to our selves a notion of the Essence of Cold according to that general Effect rather than that special one produced in the sense of Touching which doth adumbrate only a Relative part of it Secondly that by Cold we understand not any Immaterial Quality as Aristotle and the Schools after him but a Substantial one i. e. certain particles of Matter or Atoms whose determinate Magnitude and Figure adapt or empower them to congregate and compinge bodies or to produce all those Effects observed to arise immediately from Cold. And as the Atoms which are comparated to the Causation of such Effects may rightly be termed the Atoms of Cold or Frigorifick Atoms so may those Concretions which harbour such Atoms and are capable of Emitting them be named Cold Concretions
of small bodies or minute masses of Atoms and that the Form thereof doth consist in the Congeries Concretion complexion and determinate Disposition of them all as also that the Fire or Flame issuing from â—t in combustion is a thing likewise consisting of various sorts of particles contained in the Wood and which being separated and again consocâ—ated according to the Consimilarity or likeness of their natures and concreted among themselves obtain another Disposition and Forme and so exhibite the species of a New body SECT II. FRom Generation â—s in the Method of Nature so in our disquisitions concerning Her we pass to CORRUPTION which is no more but the Dissolution of the Forme i. e. the determinate Modification of the matter of a thing so that it is thereby totally devested of the right of its former Denomenation For since it is most certain that in Generation there doth arise no such New substantial Forme as Aristotle dreamt of and most men have ever since disquieted their heads withal it can be no less certain that neither in Corruption can any such Form as ever was substantial perish or be annihilated Which verily that we may most commodiously enforce resuming our late Instance of the Generation of Fire Flame Smok c. from the combustion of wood we shall to our praecedent remarks there thereupon superad this observation that when wood perisheth by Fire and so is resolved into divers other Bodies it is not resolved into any other but those very same things which were really praeexistent and contained therein and consequently that nothing thereof perisheth but only that determinate Connexion and situation of its parts or that special manner of their existence you may call it Forme Quality Species Accident or Event in respect whereof it was wood and was so denominated A strange Assertion you 'l say that there is really existent in wood Fire that there is Flame that there is Salt that there are all those divers things into which it is resoluble by corruption And yet the Truth much transcends the strangeness of it the difficulty at which you are startled consisting only in Name not in the Thing it self For if by Fire you understand burning Coales or Flame actually ardent and lucent and if by Salt you conceive a Body sapid really and sensibly corrading the tongue then indeed we shall confess that there is no such Fire nor Flame no such Salt existing actually in wood But if you bâ— the names of Fire and Salt understand as the tenour of our Dissectation both directeth and obligeth you to understand the seeds or small masses or first Concretions of Fire and Salt such which arâ— so exile as that each of them singly accepted is very much beneath the perception and discernment of the most acute of senses but yeâ— when multituâ—es of them are sequestred from the whole mass and are again congregated and freshly complicated together the seeds oâ— Fire by themselves those of Salt by themselves then do these actually burn and shine and those actually make a Sapour sharply affecting and corrading the tongue we see no reason why you should wonder at our tenent that both Fire and Salt viz. that very Fire which burns and shines in the wood that very Salt which may be extracted from the Ashes thereof were praeexistent in the wood Certainly you cannot but admit as highly consentaneous to reason that in a vapour to what rate soever attenuated there are contained the seeds of Water or the first concretions of Aqueous Atoms which though singly existent they are wholly imperceptible yet nevertheless are they really particles of water for as much as they want only the convention and coalition of many of them together to the discovery of their nature in sensible masses for of many of them condensed are made very small drops of water of those drops assembled together arise greater drops of those rain is generated from that rain arise whole streams and many of those streams meeting together swell into great and impeâ—uous torrents And if this be so easily why should that be so hardly admittible But to desert this Example and address to another so competent and illustrious that it takes off all obscurity as well as difficulty from our conception it is well known that silver is capable of such exact permâ—stion with Gold as that though there be but one single ounce of Silver admixt by confusion to 1000 ounces of Gold yet in the whole mass there shall be no sensible part wherein somewhat of that small proportion of silver is not contained Now you cannot expect that each single molecula or seed of silver should appear to the sense so as to distinguish it self by its proper colour from the small masses of Gold because each molecula of silver is surrounded with and immersed among 1000 particles or small masses of Gold Nor can you believe that the silver is wholly unsilvered or Changed into Gold as Aristotle affirmed that a drop of Wine infused into a great quantity of Water is changed into Water because the skilful Metallist will soon contradict you in that by an ocular demonstration For by Aqua Fortis poured upon the whole mass He will so separate the silver from that so excessive proportion of Gold as that there shall not be left inhaerent therein so much as one the smallest particle thereof and in the superfice you may plainly discern multitudes of very small holes like punctures in wax made by the point of the smallest needle in which the moleculae or small masses of the silver were resident before its sequestration from Gold Why therefore according to the same reason should it not be equally probable that the seeds or particles of Fire are so scatteringly diffused through the substance of wood as that being surrounded and overwhelmed with myriads of particles of other sorrts they cannot therefore put on the apparence proper to their nature and discover themselves to be what really they are until being by the force of the external fire invading and dissolving the compage of the wood set at liberty and disengaged from their former oppression they issue forth in swarms and by their coemergency and consimilarity in bulk figure and motion being again congregated they display themselves to the sense in the illustrious Forme of Fire and Flame and proportionately diminish the quantity of the wood which thereupon is first reduced to Coals and aâ—terward the separation and avolation of more and more particles successively being continued to Ashes which containing no more igneous particles can maintain the combustion no longer The like may be said also of the Salt diffusedly concealed in Wood. For insomuch as each single particle of Salt ambuscadoed therein is blended among and as it were immured by myriads of other particles it is impossible they should exhibite themselves in their genuine Forme while they remain in that state of separation or singular existence which they must do till the
compage of the whole mass or Concretion be dissolved And would you be beyond all pretext of doubt convinced that they yet retain their proper nature amidst such multitudes of other particles be pleased only to make this easie Experiment Take two pieces of the same Wood of equal weight and steep one in water for two or three days and keep the other from all moysture then by fire reduce each of them apart to Ashes and by Water aâ—â—used thereunto and boyled to a lee extract the Salt from the Ashes of each this done you shall find the Ashes of the drie piece to have yeelded a quantity of Salt proportionate to its bulk but those of the wet one very little or none at all And the Reason is only this that the water in which the one piece was macerated hath exhausted most part if not all of the Salt that was contained therein Now this Example we alledge to praevent your falling upon that vulgar conceit that the Salt of Ashes is produced only by the Exustion of the Wood since according to that supposition the macerated piece of wood would yeeld as much of Salt as the Drie This considered it remains a firm and illustrious truth that all the particles of the Fire Salt Smoke c. educible from wood were really praeexistent therein though so variously commixt one among another as that notwithstanding each of them constantly retained its proper nature entire yâ—t could they not discover themselves in their own colours proprieties and species till many of each sort were dis-engaged from the Concretion at once and assembled together again Now such are the Advantages of this Theory above that of Aristotle that besides the full sufâ—ragation of it to the Common Notions of Generation and Corruption of substance Forme c. it assists us in the exposition of Three General Axiomes which though drawn into rules by Aristotle himself are partly inconsistent with partly unintelligible from his doctrine The First is si aliquid corrumpitur ultimum abire in primam Materiam That when any thing is corrupted it is at last reduced to the First matter which doth expresly contradict His grand thesis that the Forme of a thing is a substance which begins to be in Generation and ceaseth to be or is annihilated in Corruptâ—â—n for had He spoken conformably thereto He must have said that when the Compositum is dissolved by Corruption it is partly reduced to mattâ—r partly to Nothing But if the Form be not substantial and that what is Corrupted is composed of no other substantial parts but those whâ—ch are material as we have assumed then indeed doth the Axiome hold good and we may with good reason say that when any thing is Corrupted it is reduced to matter or the material parts of which it was composed as wood dissolved by fire is reduced to Fire Smoke Soot Ashes c. of which it did consist And forasmuch as by that Adverb Ultimum Finally He gives us the occasion of Enquiring An in Corruptione detur resolutio adusque materiam Primam Whether or no in Corruption there be a Resolution even to the First matter we cannot but observe that the manner of that ultimate resolution may be much more easily comprehended according to our assumption than according to His own Because Our First matter is Atoms and the second matter certain small masses of Atomâ— or the first Concretions which we therefore observing the phrase of â—picurus and Lucretius call Semina Rerum the seeâ—s of Things such 〈◊〉 those whereof Fire silver Gold and the like Concretions are composed and so if the Resolution proceed to extremity i. e. to Atoms or inâ—â—soluble particles as in some cases it doth then may it well be said that the resolution is made to the First Matter but if it go no farther then those â—â—all masses of Atoms as most commonly it doth not then can we justâ—â— say no more than that the resolution is made only to the second matter The Second is Corruptionem Unius esse Generationem alâ—erius that the Corruption of one thing is the Generation of another which cannot consist with truth if understood in any other sense but that of our supposition· For since Corruption is nothing else but a separation and exsolution of the paâ—ts of which a thing was composed we may conceive how those parts so separated and exsolved may be variously convened and commixt again afterward as to constitute New Concretions put on other new Forms Not that they were not formerly existent as to all their substantial parts but only that they were not formerly existent in a state of separation from others nor coadunated again in the same compage and after the same manner The Third Id quod semel Corruptum est non posse idem numero naturae viribus râ—stituâ— that what is once Corrupted cannot by Natures power be again restored numerically the same which is to be understood in this sense As a Watch or other Artificial machine composed of many several parts may be taken in pieces anâ— easily râ—â—omposed again into the very same numerical Engine both as to matter and Forme the Artificer recollecting the divided parts thereof and so disposing them as that each possesseth the sâ—â—e plâ—ce and position as before its dissolution so likewise might the same Nâ—tural Compâ—situm V. G. a piece of Wood be after the separation and eâ—soâ—ution of all its component parts again recomposed numerically the very same both as to mâ—tter and Forme in case all those dissolved parts couâ—â— be recollected reunited and each of them restored to its former plâ—ce and position But though all the various parts thereof remain yet are they so scattered abroad into so many and so various places and commixt perchance with so many several things that there is no Natural Power thâ—t can recollect and restore them to the same places and positions which they held before their disunion and dissolution And therefore if any man shall say that such or such a thing dissolved by Corruption is capable of being restored again the same in specie we ought tâ— understand him no otherwiâ—e than thus that some of the parts of that thing may so return as that being conjoyned to others not numerically the same but like unto those to which they were formerly conjoyned they may make up a body exâ—ctly like the former in specie or of the same Denomination as when the Câ—rcase of an Horse is corrupted some parts thereof are converted into Eaâ—th some of that Earth is converted into Grass some of that Grass eâ—tâ—n by another Horse is again converted into Seed whereof a third Horâ—e is generated And thus are we to conceive the endless Circulation of Forms As for the Principal CAUSES of Corruption omitting the consideration of such as are External or invading from without in respect they are innumerabâ—e and of that Internal one also the intestine war of Elements in every
almost Apodictical that Gravity is the Effect of the Earths Attraction ibid. SECT III. ARTIC 1 LEvity nothing but less Gravity 290 2 Aristotles Sphere of Fire extinguisht 291 3 That Fire doth not Asâ—ned spontaneously but Violently i. e. is impell'd upward by the Aer ibid. CHAP. XII Of Heat and Cold. p. 293. SECT I. ARTIC 1 THe Connection of this to the immediately precedent Chapter ibid. 2 Why the Author deduceth the 4 First Qualities not from the 4 vulgar Elements but from the 3 Proprieties of Atoms ibid 3 The Nature of Heat is to be conceived from its General Effect viz. the Penetration Discussion and Dissolution of the Bodies concrete ibid. 4 Heat defined as no Immaterial but a Substantial Quality 294 5 Why such Atoms as are comparated to produce Heat are to be Named the Atoms of Heat and such Concretions as harbor them are to be called Hot either Actually or Potentially ibid. 6 The 3 necessary Proprieties of the Atoms of Heat ibid. 7 That the Atoms of Heat are capable of Expedition or deliverance from Concretions Two ways viz. by Evocation and Motion 296 8 An Unctuous matter the chief Seminary of the Atoms of Heat and why 297 9 Among Vnctuous Concretions Why some are more easily inflammable than others 298 10 A CONSECTARâ— That Rarefactiâ—n is the proper Effect of Heat ibid 11 PROBLEM 1. Why the bottom of a Caldron wherein Water iâ— boyling may be touched by the hand of a man without burning it Sol. 299 12 PROBLEM 2. Why Lime becomes ardent upon the affusion of 〈◊〉 Sol. 300 13 PROBLEM 3 Why the Heat of Lime burning is more vehement than the Heat of any Flame whatever Sol. ibid. 14 PROBLEM 4. Why boyling Oyl scalds more vehemently then boyling Water Sol. 301 15 PROBLEM 5. Why Metals melted or made red hod burn more violent than the Fire that melteth or heateth them Sol. ibid. 16 CONSECTARY That as the degrees of Heat so those of 〈◊〉 are innumerably various ibid. 17 That to the Calefaction Combustion or Inflammation of a body by fire is required a certain space of time and that the space is greater or less according to the paucity or abundance of the igneous Atoms invading the body objected and more or less of aptitude in the contexture thereof to admit them 30â— 18 Flame more or less Durable for various respects 303 19 CONSECTARY 3. That the immediate and genuine Effect of Heat is the Disgregation of all bodies as well Homogeneous as Heterogeneous and that the Congregation of Homogeneous Natures is onely an Accidental Effect of Heat contrary to Aristotle 305 SECT II. ARTIC 1 THe Link connecting this Section to the former 306 2 That Cold is no Privation of Heat but a Real and Positive Quality demonstrated ibid. 3 That the adaequate Notion of Cold ought to be desumeâ— from its General Effect viz. the Congregâ—tion and Compaction of bodies 307 4 Cold no Immaterial but a Substantial Quality ibid. 5 Gassendus conjectural Assignation of a Tetrahedical Figure to the Atoms of cold asserted by sundry weighty considerations ibid 6 Cold not Essential to Earth Water nor Aer 309 7 But to some Special Concretions for the most part consisting of Frigorifick Atoms 312 8 Water the chief Antagonist to Fire not in respect of its Accidental Frigidity but Essential Humidity and that the Aer hath a juster title to the Principality of Cold than either Water or Earth 313 9 PROBLEM Why the breath of a man doth Warm when expired with the mouth wide open and Cool when efflated with the mouth contracted ibid. 10 Three CONSECTARIES from the premises 314 CHAP. XIII Fluidity Stability Humidity Siccity p. 316. SECT I. ARTIC 1 WHy Fluidity and Firmness are here considered before Humidity and Siccity ibid. 2 The Latin Terms Humidum and Siccum too narrow to comprehend the full sense of Aristotle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibid. 2 The Latin Terms Humidum and Siccum too narrow to comprehend the full sense of Aristotle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibid. 3 Aristotles Definition of a Humid substance not praecise enough but in common also to a Fluid and his Definition of a Dry accommodable to a Firme 317 4 Fluidity defined 318 5 Wherein the Formal Reason thereof doth consist ibid. 6 The same farther illustrated by the twofold Fluidity of Metals and the peculiar reason of each 319 7 Firmness defined 320 8 And derived from either of 3 Causes ibid. SECT II. ARTIC 1 HUmidity defined 321 2 Siccity defined 322 3 Siccity rather Comparative than Absolute ibid 4 All moisture either Aqueous or Oleaginous ibid. 5 PROBLEM â— Why pure water cannot wash out oyl from a Cloth which yet water wherein Ashes have been decocted or soap dissolved easily doth Solut. 323 6 PROBLEM 2. Why stains of Ink are not to be taken out of cloaths but with some Acid Liquor Solut. ibid. CHAP. XIV Softness Hardness Flexility Tractility Ductility c. p. 325. SECT I. ARTIC 1 THe Illation of the Chapter ibid. 2 Hard and Soft defined ibid. 3 The Difference betwixt a Soft and Fluid 326 4 Solidity of Atoms the Fundament of Hardness and Inanity intercepted among them the fundament of Softness in all Concretions ibid. 5 Hardness and Softness no Absolute but meerly Comparative Qualities as adscriptive to Concretions contrary to Aristotle 327 6 Softness in Firme things deduced from the same cause as Fluidity in Fluid ones ibid. 7 The General Reason of the Mollification of Hard and Induration of Soft bodies ibid. 8 The special manners of the Mâ—llification of Hard and Induration of Soft bodies 328 9 PROBLEM Why Iron is Hardned by being immersed red-hot into Cold Water and its SOLVTION ibid. 10 The Formal Reasons of Softness and Hardness 329 11 The ground of Aristotles Distinction betwixt Formatilia and Pressilia ibid. 12 Two Axioms concerning and illustrating the nature of Softness 330 SECT II. ARTIC 1 FLexility Tractility Ductility c. derived from Softness and Rigidity from Hardness 3â—1 2 PROBLEM What is the Cause of the motion of Restoration in Flexiles and the Solut. ibid. 3 Two Obstructions expeded 332 4 Why Flexile bodies grow weak by overmuch and over frequent Bending 333 5 The Reason of the frequent Vibrations or Diadroms of Lutestrings and othâ—r Tractile Bodies declared to be the same with that of the Restorative Motion of Flexiles and demonstrated ibid. 6 PROBLEM Why the Vibrations or Diodroms of a Chord distended and percussed are Aequitemperaneous though not Aequispatial and the SOLVT 335 7 PROBLEM VVy doth a Chord of a duple length perform its diadroms in a proportion of time duple to a Chord of a single length both being distended by equal force and yet if the Chord of the duple length be distended by a duple force or weight it doth not perform its Diadroms in a proportion of time duple to that of the other but onely if the Force or weight distending it be quadruple to the First supposed and its SOLVT
a Vacuum desumed from the necessity of motion SECT II. AS the nature of Motion considered in the General hath afforded us our First Argument for the comprobation of a Vacuity Disseminate so likewise doth the nature of Rarefaction and Condensation which is a species of Local Motion speculated in particular readily furnish us with a Second Examine we therefore with requisite scrutiny some of the most eminent Apparences belonging to the Expansion and Compression of Aer and Water that so we may explore whether they can be salved more fully by our hypothesis of a Disseminate Vacuity then by any other relating to an Universal Plenitude Take we a Pneumatique or Wind-Gun and let that part of the Tube wherein the Aer to be compressed is included be four inches long the diameter of the bore or Cavity being supposed proportionate now if among the particles of that aer contained in the four inched space of the Tube there be no empty Intervals or minute Inanities then of necessity must the mass of Aer included be exactly adaequate to the capacity or space of four inches so as there cannot be the least particle of place wherein is not a particle of aer aequal in dimensions to it i. e. the number of the particles of aer is equal to the number of the particles of the Cavity Suppose we then the number of particles common to both to be 10000. This done let the aer by the Rammer artificially intruded be compressed to the half of the space not that the compression may not exceed that rate for Mersennus in praef ad Hydraulicam Pneumaticam Artem hath by a most ingenious demonstration taught that Aer is capable of Compression even to the tenth part of that space which it possessed in the natural disposition or open order of its insensible particles and then we demand how that half space viz. two inches can receive the double proportion of Aer since the particles of that half space are but 5000. Either we must grant that before compression each single particle of Aer possessed two particles of space which is manifestly absurd or that after Compression each single particle of space doth contain two of aer which is also absurd since two bodies cannot at once possess the same place or else that there were various Intervals Inane disseminate among the particles of Aer and then solve the Phaenomenon thus As the Grains of Corn or Granules of Sand being powred into a vessel up to the brim seem wholly to fill it and yet by succussion of the vessel or depression of the grains upon the imposition of a great weight may be reduced into a far less space because from a more laâ— and rare they are brought to a more close and constipate congeries or because they are reduced from an open to a close order their points and sides being more adapted for reciprocal contact quoad totas superficies nor leaving such large Intervals betwixt them as before succussion or depression So likewise are the particles of aer included in the four-inched space of the Tube by Compression or Coangustation reduced downe to the impletion of onely the halâ— of that space because from a more lax or rare Contexture they are contracted into a more dense or close their angles and sidâ—â— being by that force more disposed for reciprocal Contingence and leaving less Intervals or empty spaces betwixt them then before Our Second Experiment is that familiar one of an Aeolipile which having one half of its Concavity replete with Water and the other with Aer and placed in a right position near the fire if you will not allow any of â—he spaces within it to be empty pray when the Water by incalescenâ—â— rarefied into vapours issues out with thundering impetuosity through the slender perforation or exile outlet of its rostrum successively for many hours together how can the same Capacity still remain full For if before incalefaction the particles of Water and Aer were equal to the number of the particles of space contained therein Pray when so many parts both of Water and Aer consociated in the form of a vapour are evacuated through the Orifice must not each of their remaining parts possess more parts of the capacity and so be in many places at once If not so were there not before the incalescence many parts of Water and Aer crouded into one and the same part of space and so a manifest penetration of real dimensions Remains it not therefore more verisimilous that as an heap of dust dispersed by the Wâ—nd is rarefied into a kind of cloud and possesseth a far larger space then before its dispersion because the disgregated Granules of Dust intercept wider spaces of the ambient aer so the remaining parts of Water and Aer in the cavity of the Aeolipile possess all those Spaces left by the exhaled parts because they intercept more ample empty Spaces being disposed into a more lax and open contexture And that this is caused by the particles of Fire which intruding into and with rapid impetuosity agitated every way betwixt the sides of the Aeolipile suffer not the parts of Aer and Water to quiesce but disperse and impel them variously so that the whole space seems constantly full by reason of the rapidity of the Motion The Third Mechanick Experiment which may justifie the submission of our assent to this Paradox is this Having praepared a short Tapor of Wax and Sulphur grosly powdered light and suspend it by a small Wier in a Glass Vial of proportionate reception wherein is clean Fountain Water sufficient to possess a fifth part or thereabout of its capacity and then with a Cork fitted exactly to the Orifice stop the mouth of the Vial so closely that the eruption of the most subtle Atom may be prevented On this you shall perceive the flame and fume of the Sulphur and Wax instantly to diffuse and in a manner totally possess the room of the Aer and so the fire to be extinguished yet not that there doth succeed either any diminution of the Aer since that is imprisoned and all possibility of evasion praecluded or any ascent of the Water by an obscure motion in vulgar Physiology called Suction since here is required no suction to supply a vacuity upon the destitution of aer But if you open the orifice and enlarge the imprisoned Aer you shall then indeed manifestly observe a kind of obscure suction and thereupon a gradual ascention of the Water not that the flame doth immediately elevate the water as well because it is extinct and the water doth continue elevated for many hours after its extinction as that if the flame were continued can it be imagined that it would with so much tenacity adhaere to the tapor as is requisite to the elevation of so great a weight of water but rather that upon the Coangustation or compression of the aer reduced to a very close
praetium foret aliquam muscam admodum vegetam robustam v. c. Crabronem aut Vespam in tubo includere priusquam Mercurio impleretur ut post depletionem ad altitudinem 27 digit proximè videretur nâ—m in eo Vacuo aut si mavis aethere viveret ambularet volaret num Bombus à volante produceretur 3 Deducting the possibility of both these there yet remains a Third substance which may well be conceived to praevent a Coacervate Vacuity in the forsaken space of the Tube and that 's the MAGNETICAL EFFLUX of the Earth For 1 that the Terraqueous Globe is one great Magnet from all points of whose superfice are uncessantly deradiated continued Threads or beams of subtle insensible Aporrhaea's by the intercession whereof all Bodies whose Descent is commonly adscribed to Gravity are attracted towards its Centre in like manner as there are continually expired from the body of the Loadstone invisible Chains by the intercession whereof Iron is nimbly allected unto it is so generally conceded a position among the Moderns and with so solid reasons evicted by Gilbert Kircher Cartesius Gassendus and others who have professedly made disquisitions and discourses on that subject that we need not here retard our course by insisting on the probation thereof 2 That as the Magnetical expirations of the Loadstone are so subtle and penetrative as in an instant to transfix and shoot through the most solid and compact bodies as Marble Iron c. without impediment as is demonstrable to sense the interposition of what solid body soever situate within the orb of energy in no wise impeding the vertical or polory impregnation of a steel Needle by a Magnet loricated or armed so also the Magnetical Effluvias of the Globe of Earth do pervade and pass through the mass of Quicksilver contained both in the Tube and the Vessel beneath it and fixing their Uncinulae or hamous points on the Ansulae or Fastnings of the Quicksilver therein attract it downward perpendicularly toward the Centre is deduceable from hence that if any Bubbles of aer chance to be admitted into the Tube together with the Quicksilver that aer doth not ascend to the top of the Tube but remains incumbent immediately upon the summity of the Quicksilver as being in respect of its cognation to the Earth attracted and as it were chained down by the Magnetical Emanations of the Earth transmitted through al interjacent bodies and hooked upon it For we shall not incur the attribute of arrogance if we dare any man to assign the incumbence of the aer upon the Mercury to any more probable Cause It being therefore most Verisimilous that the Earth doth perpetually exhale insensible bodies from all points of its surface which tending upward in direct lines penetrate all bodies situate within the region of vapors or Atmosphere without resistence and particularly the masses of Quicksilver in the Tube and subjacent vessel we can discover no shelf that can disswade us from casting anchor in this serene Haven That the magnetical Exhalations of the Earth do possess the Desert space in the Tube so as to exclude a sensible Vacuity We said so as to exclude a sensible Vacuity thereby intimating that it is no part of our conception that either the Rayes of Light or the Atoms of Heat and Cold or the Magnetical Effluviaâ—s of the Earth or all combined together do so enter and possess the Desert â—pace as to cause an absolute Plenitude therein For doubtless were all those subtle Effluxions coadunated into one dense and solid mass it would not arise to a magnitude equal so much as to the 10th nay the 40th part of the capacity abandoned by the delapsed Mercury But fill it to that proportion as to leave only a Vacuity Disseminate such as is introduced into an Aeolipile when by the Atoms of fire entered into and variously discurrent through its Concavity the insensible Particles of Aer and Water therein contained are reduced to a more lax and open order and so the inane Incontiguities betwixt them ampliated And this we judge sufficient concerning the solution of the First Difficulty SECT III. The Second Capital Difficulty WHat is the immediate Remora or Impediment whereby the Aer which in respect of the natural Confluxibility of its insensible particles so strongly and expeditely praeventeth any excessive vacuity in all other cases is forced to suffer it in this of the Experiment The Solution Insomuch as the Fluidity or Confluxibility of the Atomical or insensible particles of the Aer is the proxime and sole Cause of Natures abhorrence of all sensible Vacuity as hath been proved in the praecedent Section Manifest it is that whosoever will admit a Vacuity excessive or against the rite of Nature must in order to the introduction or Creation thereof admit also two distinct Bodies 1 One which being moved out of its place must propel the contiguous aer forward 2 Another which interposed must hinder the parts of the circumstant aer propulsed by the parts of the aer impelled by the first movent from obeying the Confluxibility of their Figure and succeeding into the place deserted by the body first moved Which is the very scope that the profound Galilaeo proposed to himself when He invented a wooden Cylindre as an Embolus or Sucker to be intruded into another concave Cylindre of Brass imperviously stopped below that by the force of weights appended to the outward extreme or handle thereof the sucker might be gradually retracted from the bottom of the Concave and so leave all that space which it forsaketh an entire and coacervate Vacuum Upon which design Torricellius long after meditating and casting about for other means more conveniently satisfactory to the same intention He most happily lighted upon the praesent Experiment wherein the Quicksilver became an accommodate substitute to Galilaeo's wooden sucker and the Glass Tube to the Brass concave Cylindre The remaining part of the Difficulty therefore is only this relative Scruple How the Aer can be propelled by the wooden sucker downward or by the restagnant Quicksilver in the Vessel upward when externally there is provided no void space for its reception For indeed in the ordinary Translation of bodies through the aer it is no wonder that the adjacent aer is propelled by them since they leave as much room behind them as the aer propelled before them formerly possessed whereinto it may and doth recur but in this case of the Experiment the condition is far otherwise there being we confess a place left behind but such as the aer propelled before cannot retreat into it in regard of the interposition of another dense solid impervious body Upon which consideration we formerly and pertinently reflected when reciting some of those Experiments vulgarly objected to a Vacuum Disseminatum we insisted particularly upon that of a Garden Irrigatory shewing that the Reason of the Waters subsistence or pendency therein so
to their Exhalation Thus is Water much sooner evaporated then Oyl and Lead then Silver 3 Anti-Atomist If Atoms be unequal in their superfice and have angular and hamous processes then are they capable of having their rugosities planed by detrition and their hooks and points taken off by amputation contrary to their principle propriety Indivisibility Atomist the hooks angles asperities and processes of Atoms are as insecable and infrangible as the residue of their bodies in respect an equal solidity belongs to them by reason of their defect of Inanity interspersed the intermixture of Inanity being the Cause of all Divisibility Haec quae sunt rerum primordia nulla potest vis Stringere nam solido vincunt ea corpore demum 4 Anti-Atomist That Bodies of small circumscription such as grains of sand may be amassed from a syndrome and coagmentation of Atoms seems indeed to stand in some proportion to probability but to conceive a possibility that so vast a Bulk as the adspectable World bears may arise out of things but one degree above nothing such insensible materials convened and conglobated is a symptome of such madness as Melancholy adust cannot excuse and for which Physitians are yet to study a cure Atomist To doubt the possibility nay dispute the probability of it is certainly the greater madness For since a small stone may be made up of a Coagmentation of grains of Sand a multitude of small stones by coacervation make up a Rock many Rocks by aggregation make a Mountain many Mountains by coaptation make up the Globe of Earth since the Sun the Heavens nay the World may arise from the conjunction of parts of dimensions equal to the Terrestrial Globe what impossibility doth he incurr who conceives the Universe to be amassed out of Atoms Doubtless no Bulk can be imagined of such immense Dimensions as that the greatest parts thereof may not be divided into less and those again be subdivided into less so that by a successive degradation down the scale of Magnitude we may not at last arrive at the foot thereof which cannot be conceived other then Atoms Should it appear unconceivable to any that a Pismire may perform a perambulation round the terrestrial Globe we advise him to institute this Climax of Dimensions and consider first that the ambite of the Earth is defined by miles that miles are commensurated by paces paces consist of feet feet of digits digits of grains c. and then He may soon be convinced that the step of a Pismire holds no great disproportion to a grain and that a grain holds a manifest proportion to a digit a digit to a foot a foot to a pace a pace to a perch a perch to a furlong a furlong to a mile and so to the circumference of the whole Earth yea by multiplication to the convexity of the whole World If any expect a further illustration of this point it can cost him no more but the pains of reading the 45. page of our Treatise against Atheism and of Archimeds book de Arenarum Numero 5 Anti-Atomist If all peices of Nature derived their origine from Individual Particles then would there be no need of Seminalities to specifie each production but every thing would arise indiscriminately from Atoms accidentally concurring and cohaering so that Vegetables might spring up without the praeactivity of seeds without the assistance of moysture without the fructifying influence of the Sun without the nutrication of the Earth and all Animals be generated spontaneously or without the prolification of distinct sexes Atomist This inference is ingenuine because unnecessary since all Atoms are not Consimilar or of one sort nor have they an equal aptitude to the Conformation of all Bodies Hence comes it that of them are first composed certain Moleculae small masses of various figures which are the seminaries of various productions and then from those determinate seminaries do all specifical Generations receive their contexture and Constitution so praecisely that they cannot owe their Configuration to any others And therefore since the Earth impraegnated with Fertility by the sacred Magick of the Creators Benediction contains the seeds of all Vegetables they cannot arise but from the Earth nor subsist or augment without roots by the mediation of which other small consimilar Masses of Atoms are continually allected for their nutrition nor without moysture by the benefit of which those minute masses are diluted and so adapted for transportation and final assimilation nor without the influence of the Sun by vertue whereof their vegetative Faculty is conserved cherished and promoted in its operations Which Reason is aequivalent also to the Generation Nutrition and Increment of Animals 6 Anti-Atomist If your Proto-Element Atoms be the Principle of our 4 common Elements according to the various Configurations of it into Moleculae or small masses and that those are the Seminaries of all things then may it be thence inferred that the Seeds of Fire are invisibly contained in Flints nay more in a Sphaerical Glass of Water exposed to the directly incident rayes of the Sun our sense convincing that Fire is usually kindled either way Atomist Allowing the legality of your Illation we affirm that in a Flint are concealed not only the Atoms but Moleculae or Seeds of Fire which wanting only retection or liberty of Exsilition to their apparence in the forme of fire acquire it by excussion and pursuing their own rapid motion undiquaque discover themselves both by affecting the sight and accension of any easily combustible matter on which they shall pitch and into whose pores they shall with exceeding Celerity penetrate Nor can any man solve this eminent Phaenomenon so well as by conceiving that the body of a Flint being composed of many igneous i. e. most exile sphaerical and agile Atoms wedged in among others of different dimensions and figures which contexture is the Cause of its Hardness Rigidity and Friability upon percussion by some other body conveniently hard the insensible Particles thereof suffering extraordinary stress and violence in regard it hath but little and few Vacuola or empty spaces intermixt and so wanting room to recede and disperse are conglomorated and agitated among themselves with such impetuositie as determinately causeth the constitution of Fire It being manifest that violent motion generateth Heat and confessed even by Aristotle 1. Meteor 3. that Fire is nothing but the Hyperbole or last degree of Heat Secondly That the seeds of Fire are not contained either in the sphaerical Glass or the the Water included therein but in the Beams of the Sun whose Composition is altogether of Igneous Atoms which being deradiated in dispersed lines want only Concurse and Coition to their investment in the visible form of Fire and that the Figure of the Glass naturally induceth it being the nature of either a Convex or Concave Glass to transmit many Beams variously incident towards one and the same point which the virtue of Union advanceth to the force of
Regions allowable therein the one Upward from whence without any terminus à quo Atoms flowed the other Dowâ—ward toward which without any terminus ad quem in a direct line they tended So that according to this wild dream any coast from whence Atoms stream may be called Above and any to which they direct their course Below insomuch as He conceited the superfice of the Earth on which our feet find the Centre of Gravity in standing or progression to be one continued plane and the whole Horizon above it likewise a continued plane running on in extent not only to the Firmament but the intire immensity of the Infinite Space According to which Dâ—lirament if several weights should fall down from the firmament one upon Europe another upon Asia a third upon Africa a fourth upon America and their motion be supposed to continue beyond the exteriors of the terrestrial Globe they could not meet in the Centre thereof but would transfix the four quarters in lines exquisitely parallel and still descend at equal distance each from other untill the determination of their motion in the infinite Space by the occurse and resistence of other greater Weighâ—â— For the Declinatory Motion we observe that Epicurus was by a kind of seeming necessity constrained to the Fiction thereof since otherwise He had left his fundamental Hypothesis manifestly imperfect his Principles destitute of a Cause for their Convention Conflictation Cohaerence and consequently no possibility of the emergency of Concretions from them And therefore to what Cicero in â— de fin objects against him viz. that he acquiesced in a supposition meerly praecarious since he could assign no Cause for this motion of Declination but usurped the indecent liberty of endowing his Atoms with what Faculties he thought advantagious to the explanation of Natures Phaenomena in Generation and Corruption we may modestly respond by way of excuse not justification that such is the â—â—becillity of Human understanding as that every Author of a physiological â—abrick or mundane Systeme is no less obnoxious to the same objection of praesuming to consign Provinces for the phrase of Cicero is dare provincias principiis to his Principles then Epicurus For in Concretionâ— or Complex Natures to determine on a reason for this or that sensible Affection is no desperate difficulty since the condition of praeassumed Principles may afford it but concerning the originary Causes of those Affections inhaerent in and congenial to the Principles of those Concretions all we can say to decline a downright confession of our ignorance is no more then this that such is the necessity of their peculiar Nature the proper and germane 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 remaining in the dark to us and so our Curiosity put to the shift of simple Conjecture unless we level our thoughts above Principles and acknowledge no term of acquiescence And even the acute and perspicacious Cicero notwithstanding his reprehension of it in Epicurus is forced to avow the inevitability of this Exigent in express words thus Ne omnes à Physicis irrideamur si dicamus quicquam fieri siâ—e Causa distinguendum est ita dicenaum ipsius Individui hanc esse naturam iâ— pondere gravitate moveatur eamque ipsam esse Caussam cur ita feratur c. Nor is this Crime of consigning provinces to his Principles proper only to Epicurus but common also to the Stoick Peripatetick c. since none of them hath adventured upon a reason of the Heat of Fire the Cold of Water the Gravity of Earth c. Doubtless had Cicero been interrogated Why all the Starrs are not carried on in a motion parallel to the Aequator but some steer their course obliquely why all the Planets travel not through the Ecliptick or at least in a motion parallel thereto but some approach it obliquely the best answer He could have thought upon must have been only this ita Natuâ—ae leges â—erehant which how much beseeming the perspicacity of a Physiologist more then to have excogitated Fundamentals of his own endowed with inhaerent Faculties to cause those diverse tendencies we referr to the easie arbitration of our Reader Concerning the Accidental or Reflex Motâ—on all that is worthy our serious notice is only this that when Epicurus subdivideth this Genus into two species namely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex plaga and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex concussione and affirmeth that all those Atoms which are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 moved upward pursue both sorts of this Reflex tendency we are not to understand him in this sense that both these kinds of Reflex motion are opposite to the Perpendicular since it is obvious to every man that Atoms respective to their Direct or Oblique incidence in the different points of their superfice may make or rather suffer or direct or oblique resilitions and Epicurus expresly distinguisheth the Motion from Collision or Arietation into that which pointeth upward and that which pointeth sidewayes but in this that he might constitute a certain Generical Difference whereby both the species of Reflex motion might be known from both the species of the Perpendicular For the further illustration of this obscure Distinction and to praevent that considerable Demand which is consequent thereto viz. Whether all the possible sorts of Reâ—â—ex Motion are only two the one directly Upward the other directly Lateral we advertise that Epicurus seems to have alluded to the most sensible of simple Differences in the Pulse of Animals For as Physitians when the Pulsifick Faculty distends the Artery so amply and allows so great a space to the performance of both those successive contrary motions the Diastole and Systole as that the touch doth apprehend each stroke fully and distinctly denominate that kind of Pulse 〈◊〉 and on the contrary when the vibrations of the Artery are contracted into a very little space as well of the ambient as of time so as they are narrow and confusedly praesented to the touch they call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so likewise Epicurus terms that kind of Rebound or Resilition which by a strong and direct incurse and arietation of one Atom against another is made to a considerable distance or continued through a notable interval of space 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and on the contrary that which is terminated in a short or narrow interval which comes to pass when the resilient Atom soon falls foul upon a second and is thereby reviberated upon a third which repercusseth it upon a fourth whereby it is again bandied against a fifth and so successively agitated until it endure a perfect Palpitation he styles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Upon this our Master Galen may be thought to have cast an eye when he said lib. de facult nat it was the opinion of Epicurus Omnes attractiones per resilitiones atque implexiones Atomorum fieri that all Attractions were caused by the Resilitions and Implexions of Atoms Which eminent passage in Galen not only
possesseth those spaces which would therefore remain absolutely Empty in case the sociable Aer did not instantly succeed in possession of them so since the parts of the matter of Water are Expansed or Dissociated after the same manner as are the Hairs of Wool and after the same manner Contracted or United and certain small Loculaments are likewise intercepted betwixt the particles of that matter in which nothing of Water can be contained during the state of Rarifaction and which no other substance can be proved to possess it must thence follow that those deserted small spaces or Loculaments remain absolutely Empty And more than that our similitude is not concerned to impart But that we may make some farther advantage thereof we observe that as when a Fleece of Wooll is expansed it is of a greater circumference and so includes a greater Capacity therein than when it is compressed not that the single Hairs thereof take up a greater space in that capacity for no Haire can possess more space than its proper bulk requires but because the inane spaces or Loculaments intercepted betwixt their divisions are enlarged exactly so when the same Matter is now Rarified into Aer anon Condensed into Water the Circumference thereof becomes greater and less and the Capacity included in that circumference is augmented and diminished accordingly not that the single Particles of the Matter possess a greater part of that capacity in the state of Rarifaction thâ—â— in that of Condensation because no particle can possess more of space than what is adaequate to its dimensions but only because the Inane spaces intercepted betwixt their divisions are more ample in one case than in the other And hence it is purely consequent that the matter of a Body Rarified can not be justly affirmed to possess more of true or proper Place than the matter of the same body Condensed though when we speak according to the customary Dialect of the Vulgar we say that a Body Rarified doth possess more of space than when Condensed insomuch as under the terme Place is comprehended all that Capacity circumscribed by the extremes or superfice of a Body and to the Matter or Body it self are attributed not onely the small spaces possessed by the particles thereof but also all those inane spaces interjacent among them just as by the word City every man understands not only the dwelling Houses Churches Castles and other aedifices but also all the streets Piazzaes Church-yards Gardens and other void places contained within the Walls of it And in this sense onely are our praecedent Definitions of a Rare and Dense Body to be accepted The Reasons of Rarity and Density thus evidently Commonstrated the pleasantness of Contemplation would invite us to advance to the examination of the several Proportions of Gravity and Levity among Bodies respective to their particular Differences in Density and Rarity the several ways of Rarifying and Condensing Aer and Water and the means of attaining the certain weights of each in the several rates or degrees of their Rarifaction and Condensation according to the evidence of Aerostatick and Hydrostatick Experiments but in regard these things are not directly pertinent to our present scope and institution and that Galilaeus and Mersennus have enriched the World with excellent Disquisitions upon each of those sublime Theorems we conceive ourselves more excusable for the Omission than we should have been for the Consideration of them in this place However we ask leave to make a short Excursion upon that PROBLEM of so great importance to those who exercise their Ingenuity in either Hydraulick or Pneumatick Mechanicks viz. Whether may Aer be Rarified as much as Condensed or whether it be capable of Rarifaction and Condensation to the same rate or in the same proportion That common Oracle for the Solution of Problems of this abstruse nature Experience hath assured that Aer may be Rarified to so great a height in red-hot Aeolipiles or Hermetical Bellows that the 70 part of Aer formerly contained therein before rarifaction will totally fill an Aeolipile upon extreme Rarifaction thereof For Mersennus using an Aeolipile which being Cold would receive exactly 13 ounces one Drachm and an half and when Hot would suck in only 13 ounces found that the whole quantity of Aer ignified and replenishing the same Aeolipile when glowing Hot being reduced to its natural state did possess only the 70. part of the whole Capacity which was due to the Drachm and half of Water We say upon Extreme Rarifaction because this seems to be the highest rate to which any Rarifaction can attain in regard the Metal of the Aeolipile can endure no more violence of the Fire without Fusion As for the Tax or Rate of its utmost Condensation though many are persuaded that Aer cannot be reduced by Condensation to more than a Third part of that Space which it possesseth in its natural state because they have observed that Water infused into a Vessel of three Heminae doth not exceed two Heminae in regard of the Aer remaining within yet certain it is that Aer may be Condensed to a far higher proportion For Experience also confirms that into the Chamber of a Wind-Gun of usual Dimensions Aer may be intruded to the weight of a Drachm or sixty Grains and that in that Capacity which contains only an ounce of Water it may be so included as that yet a greater proportion of Aer may be injected into it Now therefore insomuch as the Aer in â—ersennus his Aeolipile amounts to four Grains at least or sixe at most which number is ten times multiplied in sixty and that the Concave of the Aeolipile is to the Concave of the Pipe of the Wind-Gun in proportion sesquialteral by Computation it appears that the Aer condensed in the Chamber of the Wind-Gun must be sufficient to fill the Aeolipile ten times over or the same Chamber 15 times over if restored to its natural tenour And hereupon we may safely Conclude that Aer may be Compressed in a Wind-Gun to such a rate as to be contained in a space 15 times less than what it possessed during its natural Laxity and that by the force only of a Mans hand ramming down the Embolâ—s or Charging Iron which Force being capable of Quadruplication the Aer may be reduced into a space subquadruple to the former If so the rate of the possible Condensation of Aer will not come much short of that of its extreme Rarefaction at least if a Quadruple Force be sufficient to a Quadruple Condensation and Aer be capable of a Quadruple Compression both which are Difficulties not easily determinable SECT III. PERSPICUITY and OPACITY we well know to be Qualities not praecisely conformable to the Laws of Rarity and Density yet insomuch as it is for the most part found true caeteris paribus that every Concretion is so much more Perspicuous by how much the more Rare and è contra so much
to increase and decrease is competent only to a thing that consisteth of parts such as is the Organ not the Mind Nor is the acquisition of a Habit by assuefaction proper only to Man but in common also to all Living Creatures such especially as are used to the hand and government of Man as Horses Doggs Hawks and all prating and singing Birds And where we affirmed that some Faculties are capable of advancement to perfection by Habit we intended that there are other Faculties which are incapable thereof as chiefly the Natural Faculties in Animals and such as are not subject to the regiment of the Will though still we acknowledge that some of these there are which upon change of temperament in their respective Organs may acquire such a certain Habit as may oppose the original inclination and of this sort the principal is the Nutrient Faculty which may be accustomed even to Poison Lastly when we said Chiefly in Animals we were unwilling totally to exclude Plants because they also seem at least Analogically to acquire a kind of Habit as is evident from their constant retaining of any posture or incurvation which the hand of the Gardiner hath imposed upon them while they were tender and flexible as also that they may by degrees be accustomed to forein soils and what is more admirable if in their transplantation those parts of them which at first respected the South or East be converted to the North or West they seldome thrive never attain their due procerity Nay if the Experiments of some Physitians be true Minerals also may be admitted to attain a Habit by assuefaction For Baptista van Helmont in lib. de Magnetica Vulnerum curatione lib. de Pestis tumulo reports that He hath found a Saphire become so much the more efficacious an Attractive of the pestilential Venome from the Vitals by how much the more frequently it hath been circumduced about Carbuncles or Plague Sores as if Custome multiplied its Amuletary Virtue and taught it a more speedy way of conquest SECT II. AMong all Qualities of Concretions that deduce themselves from the Mobility of Atoms the most eminent is GRAVITY or the motion of perpendicular Descent from Weight Which though most obvious to the observation of Sense hath much of obscurity in its Nature leading the Reason of Man into various and perplext Conceptions concerning its Causes nor hath the judgment of any been yet so fortunate as to light upon a Demonstrative Theory concerning it or fix upon such a determination as doth not lye open to the objection of some considerable Difficulty So that it may well seem Ambition great enough for us onely with due uprightness to examine the Verisimility of each opinion touching the Formal Reason or Essence of Gravity that so we may direct younger Curiosities in which they may for the praesent most safely acquiesce Epicurus indeed well desumes the Gravity of all Concretions immediately from the Gravity of Simple Bodies or Atoms insomuch as all things are found to have so much more of Weight as they have of Atoms or Matter that composeth them and è contra Which reason the exact Ioh. Bapt. Balianus a Nobleman and Senatour of Genoa seriously perpending sets it down as a firm ground Gravitatem se habere ut Agens Materiam vero seu Materiale corpus ut Passum proinde gravia moveri juxta proportionem gravitatis ad materiam ubi sine impedimento naturalitèr perpendiculari motu ferantur moveri aequalitèr quia ubi plus est Gravitatis plus ibi paritèr sit Materiae seu Materialis quantitatis de motu Gravium Solidorum Liquidorum lib. 1. cap. 1. But this being too General and concerning rather the Cause of Comparative than Absolute Gravity leaves our Curiosity to a stricter search The Grand Dictator of the Schools Aristotle taking it for granted Unumquodque sensilium ita in suum locum ferri ut ad speciem that every corporeal Nature is by native tendency carried to its proper place as to its particular Species confidently inferrs this doctrine that Gravity and Levity are Qualities essentially inexistent in Concretions 4. de Caelo cap. 3. and passionately reprehending Democritus and Leucippus for affirming that there is no such thing in Nature as Absolute Gravity or Absolute Levity concludes that in Nature is something absolutely Heavy which is Earth and something Absolutely Light which is Fire de Caelo lib. 4. cap. 4. But neither of these Positions are more than Petitionary and so not worthy our assent as the Context of our subsequent Discourse doth sufficiently convince The Third opinion worthy our memory is that of Copernicus who considering that all Heavy Bodies either projected Upwards by external violence or dropt down from some eminent place are observed to fall perpendicularly down upon the same part of the Earth from which they were elevated or at which they are aimed and so that the Earth might be thence argued not to have any such Diurnal Vertigo as His Systeme ascribes unto it insomuch as then it could not but withdraw it self from Bodies falling down in direct lines and receive them at their fall not in the same place but some other more Westernly we say considering this Copernicus determined Gravity to be not any Internal Principle of tendency toward the middle or Centre of the Universe but an innate propension in the parts of the Earth separated from it to reduce themselves in direct lines or the nearest way to their Whole that so they may be conserved together with it and dispose themselves into the most convenient i. e. a sphaerical figure about the centre thereof His words are these Equidem existimo Gravitatem non aliud esse quà m Appetentiam quandam naturalem partibus inditam à Divina Providentia Opificis Universorum ut in unitatem integritatemque suam sese conferant in formam â—lobi coeuntes quam Affectionem credibile est etiam Soli Lunae caeterisque Errantibus fulgoribus inesse ut ejus efficacia in ea quâ— se repraesentant rotunditate permaneant lib. 1. cap. 9. So that according to this Copernican Assumption if any part of the Sun Moon or other Coelestial Orb were divelled from them it would by the impulse of this natural tendency soon return again in direct lines to its proper Orb not to the Centre of the Universe Which as Kepler in Epitom Astronom pag. 9â— well advertiseth is but a Point i. e. Nothing and destitute of all Appertibility and therefore ought not to be accounted the Term of tendency to all Heavy Bodies but rather the Terrestrial Globe together with its proper Centre yet not as a Centre but as the Middle of its Whole to which its Parts are carried by Cognation But this opinion hath as weak a claim to our Assent as either of the former as well because it cannot consist with the Encrease of Velocity in all Bodies descending perpendicularly by
which is vulgarly reputed the 〈…〉 Gravity and by Aristotle defined to be a Quality inhaerent in 〈…〉 Bodies whereby they spontaneously tend upward we understand it to be nothing a less Gravity and so that Gravity and 〈◊〉 are Qualities of Concretions not Positive or Absolute but 〈◊〉 Comparative or Respective For the same Body maâ— be 〈…〉 be Heavy in respect to another that is Lighter and Light 〈…〉 to another that is Heavier For Example let us compare a Stone Water Oyle and Fire which we have formerly annumerated 〈◊〉 Terrene Concretions one to another to the end that our 〈◊〉 may be both illustrated and confirmed at once Water we 〈◊〉 being poured into a vesâ—el immediately descends to the bottom 〈…〉 and if permitted to settle doth soon acquiesce but upon 〈◊〉 â—ropping of Stone into the same vessel as the Stone descends 〈◊〉 Water ascends proportionately to give it room at the bottom And Oyle infused into a vessel alone doth likewise instantly 〈◊〉 and remains quiet at the bottom thereof but if Water be poureâ—â—â—ereupon the oyle soon ascends and floats on the surface of the Water If the Vessel be repleat only with Aer the Aer 〈◊〉 therein but when you pour oyle into it the Aer instantly asâ—ends and resignes to the oyle Lastly thus Fire would be â—mmediately incumbent upon the surface of the Earth and there 〈◊〉 but that the Aer being circumstant about the superfice 〈◊〉 the Terrestriaâ— Globe and the more weighty body of the two 〈◊〉 extrude it thence by depressure and so impell â—t upwards 〈◊〉 make room for it self beneath And thus are all these bodies 〈…〉 and Light Comparatively or Respectively The 〈…〉 all is the Stone as being the most strongly attracted 〈…〉 Earth or is the least Light among them all as being 〈…〉 abduced from the Earth And Water which is Light 〈…〉 of the Stone is yet Heavy in compaâ—â—son of Oyle seu fumum rapi in sublime extrudi suum extra locum ideoque statim languesâ—â—re tanquam confessâ causâ violentiae quae terrestri materiae illata fuitâ— quapropter Levitatem non dari aut non esse Connaturalem hisce corporiubs Conclude also with Us that in the Earth indeed there are Direct Motions Upward and Downward but those Motions are proper only to the Parts as Gravity and Levity are likewise proper only to the Parts not to the Whole or Globe of the Earth CHAP. XII HEAT and COLD SECT I. THe Genealogy of those sensible Qualities of Concretions which arise from either of the three Essential Proprieties of Atoms in its Single capacity thus far extending it self here begins that other of those which result from any Two or All of the same Proprieties in their several Combinations or Associations Of this order the First are Heat Cold Humidity Siccity which though the Schools building on the fundamentals of their Dictator Aristotle derive immediately and solely from the 4 First Qualities of the vulgar Elements Fire Aer Water Earth yet because those reputed Elements are but several Compositions of the Universal matter and so must desume their respective Qualities from the consociated Proprieties of the same and because the original of no one of those Qualities can be so intelligibly made out from any other Principles therefore doth our reason oblige us to deduce them only from the Magnitude Figure and Motion of Atoms Concerning the First of this Quaternary HEAT we well know that it is commonly conceived and defined by that relation it bears to the sense of touching in Animals or as it is the Efficient of that passion or Acute Pain as Plato in Timaeo calls it which Fire or immoderate Heat impresseth upon the skin or other organ of touching yet forasmuch as this Effect which it causeth in the sensient part of an Animal is only special and Relative therefore ought we to understand its Nature from some General and Absolute Effect upon which that Special and Relative one depends and that is the Penetration Discussion and Dissolution of Concretions To come therefore to the Determination of its Essence by the explanation of its Original by Heat as from our praecedent Disquisition of the Origine of Qualities in General may be praesumed we do not understand any Aristoletâ—â—â— i. e. naked or Immaterial Quality altogether abstract from matter but certain Particles of matter or Atoms which being essentially endowed with such a determinate Magnitude such a certain Figure and such a 〈◊〉 Motion are comparated to insinuate themselves into Concrete Bodies to penetrate them dissociate their parts and dissolve their Contextur 〈◊〉 to produce all thus mutations in them which are commonly 〈…〉 Heat or Fire Not that we gainsay but Heat may be considered 〈…〉 or as it is a certain peculiar Manner without which a substanc◠〈…〉 which sense Anaximeneâ— apud Plutarch de 〈…〉 allowed to have spoken tollerably when he said 〈…〉 substantial but affirm only that it is not 〈…〉 independent upon matter â—as most have 〈◊〉 〈…〉 ought else in Reality but Atoms themselves 〈…〉 Concretions so of all their Faculties 〈…〉 Motion so all Action ought to be imputed 〈…〉 from which we derive this noble and most 〈…〉 be not Hot essentially yet do they deserve the 〈…〉 of Heat or Calorifick Atoms insomuch as they have 〈…〉 to Create Heat i. e. cause that Effect which consisteth 〈…〉 Discussion Exsolution Likewise those Bodies which 〈…〉 such Atoms and may emit them from themselves ought also to be 〈…〉 Hot insomuch as that by the emission of their Calorifick 〈…〉 empowered to produce Heat in other bodies and 〈…〉 Actually emit them i. e. give their Calorifick Atoms liberty 〈…〉 Motions after exsilition then may they be 〈…〉 or Formally Hot as the Schools phrase it but which 〈…〉 them within themselves and hinder their exsilition they are 〈…〉 To the First of these Differenceâ— we are to refer 〈…〉 Second not only all those things which Physicians call 〈…〉 such as Wine Euphorlium Peper c. but 〈…〉 combustion incalescence and the 〈◊〉 〈…〉 objected such as Wood Resine Wax 〈…〉 be conceived to contain igneous or Calorifick 〈…〉 or imprisonment in Concretions 〈…〉 so not produce Heat but immediately 〈…〉 or emption they manifest their nature 〈…〉 〈…〉 What kind of Atoms these Calorifick ones are and 〈…〉 Heat depends Democritus Epicurus 〈…〉 Atomists unanimously tell us that they are Exile in 〈…〉 in Figure most Swift in Motion And this upon 〈…〉 That they must be most Exile in bulk is 〈…〉 that no Concretion can be so compact and solid 〈…〉 find some pores or small inlets whereat to insinuate 〈…〉 of it and penetrate thorow its substance 〈…〉 a number as is required to the total dissolution of its Contexture as in the Adamant which as Naturalists affirm no Fire can demolish or dissolve 2. That they ought to be Spherical in Figure is probable yea necessary from hence that of all others they are most Agile
they suddainly engage in a general cumbustion and dissolving all impediments 〈◊〉 their liberty Hence also proceed all those Heats which are observed in Fermentation Putrifaction and all other intestine Commotions and Mutations of Bodies Hither likewise would we refer that so generally believed Phaenomenon the Warmness of Fountains Cellars Mines and all subterraneous Fosses in Winter but that we conceive it not only superfluous but also of evil consequence in Physiology to consign a Cause where we have good reason to doubt the verity of the Effect For if we strictly examine the ground of that common Assertion we shall find it to consist only in a misinformation of our sense i. e. though Springs Wells Caves and all subterraneous places are really as Cold in Winter as Summer yet do we apprehend them to be warm because we suppose that we bring the organs of the sense of Touching alike disposed in Winter and Summer not considering that the same thing doth appear Cold to a hot and warm to a Cold hand nor observing that oyle will be conglaciated in Winter in subterraneous Cells which yet appear warm to those who enter them but not in Summer when yet they appear Cold. Secondly by Motion External when a Sawe grows Hot by continuall affriction against wood or stone or when fire is kindled by the long and hard affriction of 2 dry sticks c. This is manifest even from hence that unless the bodies agitated or rubbed against each other are such as contain igneous Atoms in them no motion however lasting and violent can excite the least degree of Heat in them For Water agitated most continently and violently never conceives the lest warmth because it is wholly destitute of Calorifick Atoms Lastly as for the Heat excited in a body upon the Motion of its Whole whether it be moved by it self or some External movent of this sort is that Heat of which motion is commonly affirmed to be the sole Cause as when an Animal grows hot with running c. and a Bullet acquires heat in flying c. And thus much concerning the manner of Emancipation of our Calorifick Atoms The next thing considerable is their peculiar Seminarie or Conservatory concerning which it may be observed that the Atoms of Fire cannot in regard of their extreme Exility sphaerical Figure and velocity of motion be in any but an Unctuous and viscous matter such whose other Atoms are more hamous and reciprocally cohaerent than to be dissociated easily by the intestine motions of the Calorifick Atoms so that some greater force is required to the dissolution of that unctuousness and tenacity whereby they mutually cohaere And hereupon we may safely conclude that an Unctuous substance is as it were the chief nay the sole Matrix or Seminary of Fire or Heat and that such Bodies only as are capable of incalescence and inflammation must contain somewhat of Fatness and unctuoâ—ity in them Sometimes we confess it is observed that Concretions which have no such Unctuosity at all in them as Water are Hot but yet we cannot allow them to be properly said to wax Hot but to be made Hot because the principle of that their Heat is not Internal to them but External or Ascititious For instance when Fire is put under a vessel of Water the small bodies or particles of Fire by degrees insinuate themselves thorowe the pores of the vessel into the substance of the Water and diffuse themselves throughout the same though not so totally at first as not to leave the major part of the particles of the Water untoucht to which other igneous Atoms successively admix themselves as the water grows hotter and 〈◊〉 And evident it is how small a time the Water doth keeâ—â—ts acquired heat when once removed from the fire because thâ—â—toms of Heat being meerly Adventitious to it they spontaneousl◠〈◊〉 it one after another and leave it as they found it Cold only 〈◊〉 Alteration they cause therein that they diminish the Quantity the 〈◊〉 insomuch as successively asâ—ending into the aer they carry along 〈◊〉 them the more tenuious and moveable particles of the Water in 〈◊〉 â—pparence of vapours which are nothing but Water Diffused 〈…〉 Bu◠〈…〉 we affirm that only Unctuous Bodies are Inflammable be gâ—â—â—rally true whence comes it that amongst Unctuous and 〈…〉 some more easily take fire than others The 〈…〉 is this that the Atoms of Fire incarcerated in â—ome 〈◊〉 are not so deeply immerst in nor so opprest and 〈…〉 other Heterogenous particles of matter as in others 〈…〉 the lâ—berty of Eruption much more easily Thus 〈…〉 kindled than Green because in the green the Aâ—ueous 〈…〉 surrounding and oppressing the Atoms of Fire therein containe◠〈◊〉 first tâ— be discussed and attenuated into vapours but in the 〈◊〉 time bâ— the mediation of the warmth in the ambient aeâ— hath 〈…〉 that luxuriant moysture so that none but the 〈…〉 oâ— unâ—tuous part wherein the Atoms of Fire have their 〈…〉 remains to be discussed which done the Atoms of 〈…〉 issue forth in swarms and discover themselves in 〈…〉 spirit of Wine is so much the sooner inflammable by how much 〈◊〉 more pure and defaecated it is because the igneous Atoms 〈…〉 concluded are delivered from the greater part of that 〈…〉 humidity wherewith they were formerly â—urrounded 〈…〉 On the contrary a stone is not made Combustibâ—e 〈◊〉 great â—â—fficulty because the substance of it is so compact as 〈…〉 Unctuous humidity is long in discussion We â—ay a Stone 〈…〉 or Arenaceous one because such is destitute of all 〈◊〉 and so of all igneous particles but a Lime-stone 〈…〉 capable of reduction to a Calx or a Flint out of which by 〈◊〉 against steel are excussed many small fragments plentifully 〈◊〉 Atoms of Fire The 〈◊〉 and Origine of Heat being thus fully explicated according 〈…〉 most verâ—imilous Principles of Democritus Epicurus and their 〈…〉 that we progress to those Porifmata or 〈◊〉 which from thence result to our observation and the 〈…〉 some most considerable Problems retaining to the same 〈◊〉 sucâ— especially as have hitherto eluded the folutive 〈…〉 any other Hypothesis but what we have here 〈◊〉 〈…〉 as the Atoms of Heat which are always 〈…〉 â—nctuous Matter doe upon the acquisition of 〈…〉 â—orth with violence and insinuating themselves into Bodies which they meet withal and totally pervading them dissociate their particles and dissolve their Compage or Contexture Hence is it manifest that Rarefaâ—tion or Dilatation is upon good reason accounted the proper Effect of Heat since those parts of a body which are Conjoyned cannot be Disjoyned but they must instantly possess a greater part of space understand us in that strict sense which we kept our selves to in our Discourse of Rarefaction and Condensation than before Hence comeâ— it that Water in boyling seems so to be encreased that what when cold filled scarce half the Caldron in ebullition cannot be contained in the whole but swells over
the brim thereof Hence is it also that all bodiâ—â— attenuated into Fume are diffused into space an hundred nay sometimes a thousand degrees larger than what they possessed before From this Consectary we arrive at some Problems which stand directly in our way to another and the First is that Vulgar one Why the bottom of a Caldron wherein Water or any other Liquor is boyling is but moderately warm at most not so hot as to burn a mans hand applyed thereto The Cause of this culinary Wonder 〈◊〉 our Housewifes account it seems to be this when the Atoms of Heâ—t passing through the pores in the bottom of the Caldron into the water do ascend through it they elevate and carry along with them some particles thereof and at the same time other particles of Water next adjacent to them sink down and instantly flowe into the places deserted by the former which ascended and insinuate themselves into the now laxarated pores in the bottom of the caldron And though these are soon repelled upwards by other Atoms of Fire ascending thorowe the pores of the Vesselâ— and carried upwards as the former yet are there other particles of Water which sinking down insinuate also into the open pores of the vessel and by their conflâ—x or downward motion much refract the violence of the subingredient Atoms of Fire and so by this â—â—ciffitude of Heat and Moysture it comes to pass that the Heat cannot be diffused throughout the bottom of the Caldron the Humidity which falls into the pores of it in the same proportion as the Heat passeth thorow them hindering the possession of all â—ts empty spaces by the invading Atoms of Fire Nor doth it availe to the contrary that the Water which insinuates into the pores of the vessel is made Hot and so must calefie the same in some proportion as well as the Fire underneath it because boyling Water poured â—nto 〈◊〉 Caldron doth more than warm it For those particles of Water which successively enter into the void spaces of the vesselâ— are such as have not yet been penetrated per â—iâ—imas by the Aâ—â—ms of Fire For all the cold formerly entered into the water â—s not at once â—iscussed though the Water be in boyling the 〈◊〉 arising â—nly â—rom the cohaerence of the calefied with the 〈◊〉 particles of the Water And from the same Cause â—s â—t that a sheet of the thinneâ—t Venice Paper if so 〈…〉 hold Oyle infused into 〈…〉 doth endure the 〈…〉 Which some Cooks observing use to fry Bacon upon a sheet of Paper only Secondly Why doth Lime acquire an Heat and great Ebullition upon the affusion of Water since if our praecedent Assertion be true the Heat included in the Lime ought to be supprest so much the more by how much the more Aqueous Humidity is admixt unto it This Difficulty is discussed by Answering that the Aqueous Humidity of the Lime-stone is indeed wholly evaporated by fire in its calcination but yet the Pingous or Unctuous for the most part remains so that its Atoms of Fire lye still blended and incarcerated therein and when those expede themselves and by degrees expire into the ambient aer if they be impeded and repelled by water affused they recoyle upon the grumous masses of the Lime and by the Circumobsistence of the Humidity become more congregated and so upon the uniting of their forces make way for the Exsilition of the other Atoms of Fire which otherwise could not have attained their liberty but slowly and by succession one after another So that all the Atoms of Fire contained in the Lime issuing forth together they break through the water calefie it and make it bubble or boyle up the calefied parts thereof being yet cohaerent to the uncalefied The Third Problem is Why the Heat of Lime kindled by Water is more intense than that of any Flame whatever Answer that forasmuch as Flame is nothing but Fire Rarefied or as it were an Explication or Diffusion of those Atoms of Fire which were lately ambuscadoed in some Unctuous matter and that all Fire is so much more intense or vehement by how much more Dense it is i. e. by how much the more congregated the Atoms which constitute it are therefore is the Heat of Lime unslaking more vehement than that of any Flame in regard the smallest grains of Lime contain in them many Atoms of Fire which are not so diffused or disgregated in a moment as those in Flame So that a mans hand being waved to and fro in Flame is invaded by incomrably fewer particles of Fire than when it is dipt into or waved through water at the unslaking of Lime thereby the small granes of Lime adhaering unto and insinuating into the pores of the hand the many Atoms of fire invelloped in them incontinently explicate themselves violently penetrate and dilacerate the skin and other sentient parts and so produce that Pungent and Acute pain which is felt in all Ambustions From the same Reason also is it that a glowing Coale burns more vehemently than Flame and the Coals of more solid wood as Juniper Cedar Guaiacum Ebony Oke c. more vehemently than those of Looser wood such as Willow Elder Pine tree c. The like Disproportion is observable also in the Flames of divers Fewels for in the flame of Juniper are contained far more Igneous Atoms than in that of Willow and consequently they burn so much more vehemently True it is that spirit of Wine enflamed is so much more Ardent by how much more refined and cohobated yet this proceedeth from another Cause viz. that the Atoms of Fire issuing from spirit of Wine of the first Extraction have much of the Phletegme or Aqueous moysture of the Wine intermixt among them and so cannot be alleaged as an Example that impugne's our Reason of the Different Heats of several Flames The Fourth is that Vulgar Quaere Why boyling Oyle doth scald more dangerously than boyling Water To which it is easily Answered that Oyle being of an Unctuous and Tenacious consistence and so having its particles more firmly cohaerent than Water doth not permit the Atoms of Fire entered into it so easily to transpire so that being more agminous or swarming in oyl they must invade and dilacerate the hand of a man immersed into it both more thickly and deeply than those more Dispersed ones contained in boyling Water Which is also the Reason why Oyle made fervent is much longer in cooling than Water and may be extended to the Solution of the Fifth Problem viz. Wherefore do Metals especially Gold when melted or made glowing hot burn more violently than the Fire that melteth or heateth them especially since no Atoms of Fire can justly be affirmed to be lodged in them as in their proper seminary and so not to be educed from them upon their Liquation or Ignition For the Heat wherewith they procure Ambustion being not domestick but only Adventitious to them from the Fire
a Lamp as Oyle alone from whence some Chymists have promised to make Eternal Lamps with an Oyle extracted from common Salt and the stone Amiâ—nthus 2. The more or less easie Attraction of its Pabulum or Nourishment For Lamps in which the Flame draweth the oyle from a greater distance always burn much longer than Candles or Tapers where the circumference of the fewel is but small and the broader the surface of the Oyle or Wax wherein the Wiek is immersed so much the longer doth the flame thereof endure not only in regard of the greater Quantity of Nourishment but of its slower Calefaction and so of its longer Resistence to the absumptive faculty of the flame Since it is observed that the Coolness of the Nourishment doth make it more slowly consumable as in Candles floating in water This was experimented in that service of our quondam English Court called All night which was a large Cake of Wax with the Wiek set in the middest so that the flame being fed with nourishment less heated before hand as coming far off must of necessity last much longer than any Wax Taper of a small circumference 3 Various Conditions of the same Materials For Old and Hard Candles whether of Wax or Tallowe maintain flame much longer than New or soft Which good Houswives knowing use no Candles under a year old and such as have for greater induration been laid a good while in Bran or Flower And from the same reason is it that Wax as being more firm and hard admixt to Tallowe and made up into Candles causeth them to be more lasting then if they were praepared of Tallowe alone 4. Different Conditions and Tempers of the ambient Aer For the Quiet and Closeness of the Aer wherein a Taper burneth much conduceth to the prolongation of its flame and contrariwise the Agitation thereof by winds or fanning conduceth as much to the shortning of it insomuch as the motion of flame makes it more greedily attract and more speedily devour its sustenance Thus a Candle lasteth much longer in a Lanthorne than at large in a spacious roome Which also might be assigned as one Cause of the long Duration of those subterranean Lamps such as have been found if credit be due to the tradition of Bapt. Porta lib. 12. Magiae natural cap. ultim Hermolaus Barbarus in lib. 5. Dio cap. 11. and Cedrenus Histor. Compend All which most confidently avouch it upon authentique testimonies in the Urns of many Noble Romans many hundreds of years after their Funerals Here should our Reader bid us stand and deliver him our positive judgement upon this stupendious Rarity which hath been uged by some Laureat Antiquaries as a cheif Argument of the transcendency of the Ancients Knowledge as in all Arts so in the admirable secrets of Pyrotechny above that of Later Ages as we durst not be so uncharitable to quaestion the Veracity of either the Inventors or Reporters of it so should we not be so uncivil as not to releive his Curiosity at least with a short story that may light Him towards farther satisfaction A certain Chymist there was not many years since who having decocted Litharge of Gold Tartar Cinnaber and Calx vive in spirit of Vinegre until the Vinegre was wholly evaporated closely covering and luting up the earthen vessel wherein the Decoction was made buried it deeply in a dry Earth for 7 moneths together in order to more speedy maturation expected from the Antiperistasis of Cold came at length to observe what became of his Composition and opening the vessel observed a certain bright Flame to issue from thence and that so vehement as it fired the hair of his eyebrowes and head Now having furnished our Reader with this faithful Narrative we leave it to his owne determination Whether it be not more probable that those Coruscations or Flashes of Light perceived to issue from Vials of Earth found in the demolisht sepulchres of the Great Olybius and some eminent Romans at the instant of their breaking up by the spade or pickaxe did proceed rather from some such Chymical Mixture as this of our Chymist who acquired Light by the hazard of Blindness which is of that nature as to be in a moment kindled and yield a shortlived flame upon the intromission of Aer into the vessel wherein it is contained than from any Fewel that is so slowly Absumable by Fire as to maintain a constant Flame for many hundred years together without extinction and that in so small a vial as the Fume must needs recoyle and soon suffocate the Flame But we return from our Digression and directly pursue our embost Argument It much importeth the greater and less Continuance of Flame whether the Aer be Warm or Cold Dry or Moâ—st For Cold Aer irritateth flame by Circumobsistence and causeth it burn more fiercely and so less durably as is manifest from hence that Fire scorcheth in frosty weather but Warme Aer by making flame more calm and gentle and so more sparing of its nourishment much helpeth the Continuance of it If Moist because it impedeth the motion of the igneous Atoms and so in some degree quencheth flame at least makes it burn more dimly and dully it must of necessity advance the Duration of flame and contrariwise Drie Aer meerly as drie produceth Contrary Effect though not in the same proportion nay so little that some Naturalists have concluded the Driness of Aer to be only indifferent as to the Duration of Flame And now we are arrived at our Third and Last CONSECTARY That the immediate and genuine Effect of Heat is Disgregation or Separation and that it is only by Accident that Heat doth Congregate Homogeneous natures To argue by the most familiar way of Instance when Heat hath dissolved a piece of Ice consisting of water earth and perhaps of gravel and many small Festucous bodies commixt the Earth Sand and other Terrene parts sink downe and convene together at the bottom the water returns to its native fluidity and possesseth the middle region of the Continent and the strawes swim on the surface of the water not that it is essential to the Heat so to dispose them but essential to them being dissociated and so at liberty each to take it proper place according to the several degrees of their Gravity Thus also when a Mass of various Metals is melted by Fire each metal indeed takes it proper region in the Crucible or fusory vessel but yet the Congregation of the Homogeneous particles of each particular Metal is not immediately caused but only occasioned i. e. Accidentally brought to pass by the Disgregation or praecedent separation of the particles of the whole Heterogeneous Concretion by heat Again the Energy of every Cause in Nature ceaseth upon the production of its perfect Effect but the Effect of Heat ceaseth not when the Homogenieties of the mass of Ice or Metal are Congregated but continues the same after as before i. e. to
they make their Consistence more Compact and somewhat Rigid as in Ice Snow Haile Hoar-frost c. The Consignation of a Tetrahedical Figure to Frigorifick Atoms appearing thus eminently verisimilous to the full Explanation of the Nature of Cold it remains only that we decide that notable Controversy which so much perplexed many of the Ancients viz. Whether Cold be an Elementary Quality or more plainly Whether or no the Principality of Cold belongs to any one of the four vulgar Elements and so whether Aer or Water or Earth may not be conceived to be Primum Frigidum as rightfully as Fire is sayd to be Primum Calidum Especially since it is well known that the Stoicks imputed the principality of Cold to the Aer Empedocles to Water to whom Aristotle plainly assented though He sometimes forgot himself and affirmed that no Humor is without Heat as in 5. de Generat Animal cap. â— and Plutarch to Earth as we have learned from Himself lib. de frigore primigenio To determine this Antique Dispute therefore we first observe that it arose cheifly from a Petitionary Principle For it appears that all Philosophers who engaged therein took it for granted that the Quality of Heat was eminently inhaerent in Fire the chief of the 4 Principal or Elementary substances and thereupon inferred that the Contrary Quality Cold ought in like manner to have its principal residence in one of the other 3 when introth they ought first to have proved that there was such a thing as an Element of Fire in the Universe which is more than any Logick can hope since the Sphere of Fire which they supposed to possess all that vast space between the convex of the Sphere of Aer and the concave of that of the Moon is a meer Chimaera as we have formerly intimated and Helmont hath clearly commonstrated in cap. de Aere And Secondly we affirm that as the Highest degree of Heat is not justly attributary to any one Body more than other or by way of singular eminency for the Sphere of Fire failing what other can be substituted in the room thereof but to sundry special Bodies which are capable of Exciting or Conceiving Heat in the superlative degree so likewise though we should concede that there are 3 Principal Bodies in Nature namely Aer Water Earth in each whereof the Quality of Cold is sensibly harboured yet is there no one of them of its own nature more principally Cold than other or which of it self containeth Cold in the highest degree but some special Bodies there are composed of them which are capable of Exciting and Conceiving Cold in an eminent manner But in Generals is no Demonstration and therefore we must advance to Particulars and verify our Assertion in each of the Three supposed Elements apart For the Earth forasmuch as our sense certifieth that it is even Torrified with Heat in some places and Congealed with Cold in others according to the temperature of the ambient Aer in divers climats or as the Aer being calefied by the Sun or frigified by frost doth variously affect it in it superficial or Exterior parts and so it cannot be discerned that its External parts are endowed with one of these opposite Qualities more than the other and since we cannot but observe that there are many great and durable subterraneous Fires burning in and many fervid and sulphlureous Exlations frequently emitted and more Hot Springs of Mineral Waters perpetually issuing from its Interior parts or bowels and so it is of necessity that vast seminaries of Igneous Atoms be included in the Entrals thereof We say considering these things we cannot deny but that the Earth doth contain as many Particles of Heat or Calorifick Atoms both without and within as it doth of seeds of Cold or Frigorifick Atoms if not more and upon consequence that it cannot be Primum Frigidum as Plutarch and all his Sectators have dreamt What then shall we conclude Antithetically and conceive that the Globe of the Earth is therefore Essentially rather Hot than Cold Truely No because experience demonstrateth that the Earth doth belch forth Cold Exhalations and congealing blasts as well as Hot Fumes and more frequently witness the North-wind which is so cold that it refrigerates the Aer even in the middst of Summer when the rivers are exhausted by the fervor of the Sun to which Elihu one of Iobs sorry Comforters seems to have alluded when He said That Cold cometh out of the North and the Whirlwind out of the South All therefore we dare determine in this difficult argument the decision whereof doth chiefly depend upon Experiments of vast labour and costs is only thus much that the Earth which is now Hot now Cold in its extreme or superficial parts may as to its Internal or profound parts be as reasonably accounted to contain various seminaries of Heat as of Cold and that the principal seeds of Cold or such as chiefly consist of Frigorifick Atoms do convene into Halinitre and other Concretions of natures retaining thereto And our Reason is that Halinitre is no sooner dissolved in Water than it congealeth the same into perfect Ice and strongly refrigerates all bodies that it toucheth insomuch that we may not only conclude that of all Concretions in Nature at least that we have discovered none is so plentifully fraught with the Atoms or seeds of Cold as Halinitre but also adventure to answer that Problem proposed to Iob Out of whose womb came the Ice and the Hoary Frost of heaven who hath gendred it by saying that all our Freezing and extreme Cold winds seem to be only copious Exhalations of Halinitre dissolved in the bowels of the Earth or consisting of such Frigorifick Atoms as compose Halinitre and this because of the identity of their Effects for the Tramontane Wind the coldest of all winds as Fabricius Paduanus in his exquisite Book de Ventis copiously proveth which the Italians call Chirocco can pretend to no natural Effect in which Halinitre may not justly rival it Long might we dwell upon this not more rare than delightful subject but besides that it deserves a profest Disquisition apart by it self our speculations are limited and may not without indecency either digress from their proper Theme or transgress the strict Laws of Method May it suffice therefore in praesent that we have made it justifiable to conceive that the Earth containeth many such Particles or Atoms whether such as pertain to the Composition of Halinitre or of any other kind whatever upon the Exsilition of which the body containing them may be said to become Cold or pass from Potential to Actual Cold and upon the insinuation of which into Aer Water Earth Stones Wood Flesh or any other terrene Concretion whatever Cold is introduced into them and they may be said to be Frigefied or made Cold. Secondly as for Water that the praetext thereof to the praerogative of Essential Frigidity is also fraudulent and inconsistent
with the Magna Charta of right Reason may be discovered from these considerations 1. When Water is frozen the Ice always begins in it superfice or upper parts where the Aer immediately toucheth it but if it were Cold of its own Nature as is generally praesumed upon the auctority of Aristotle the Ice ought to begin in parts farthest situate from the Aer that is in the middle or bottom rather than at the top at least it would not be more slowly conglaciated in the middle and bottom than at the top 2. In all Frosts the Cold of Water is encreased which could not be if it were the principal seat of Cold. For how could the Aer which according to the vulgar supposition that Water is the subject of inhaesion to extreme Cold if less cold infuse into water a greater cold than what it had before of its owne or how could Nitre dissolved in water so much augment the Cold thereof as to convert it into Ice even in the heat of summer or by the fires side as is experimented in Artificial conglaciations if Nitre were not endowed with greater cold than Water 3. If Water be formally ingravidated with the seeds of Cold why is not the sea why are not all Rivers nay all Lakes and standing Pools in which the excuse of continual motion is praevented constantly congealed and bound up in ribbs of Ice Whence comes it that Water doth constantly remain Fluid unless in great frosts only when the Atoms of Cold wafted on the wings of the North-wind and plentifully strawed on the waters doe insinuate themselves among its particles and introduce a Rigidity upon them Certainly it is not conform to the Laws of Nature that any Body much less so eminent and useful a one as Water should for the most part remain alienated from its owne native constitution and be reduced to it again only at some times after long intervals and then only for a day or two 4. Were Cold essentially competent to Water it could not so easily as is observed admit the Contrary Quality Heat nor in so high a degree without the destruction of its primitive form For no subject can be changed from the Extreme of one Quality inhaerent to the extreme of a contrary without the total alteration of that Contexture of its particles upon which the inhaerent quality depended which done it remains no longer the same but Water still remains the same i. e. a Humid Fluid substance both at the time of and after its Calefaction by fire as before And therefore that common saying that Water heated doth reduce it self to its native Cold though it be tollerable in the mouth of the people yet He that would speak as a Philosopher ought to change it into this that Water after calefaction returns to its primitive state of Indifferency to either Heat or Cold for though after its remove from the fire it gradually loseth the Heat acquired from thence the Igneous Atoms spontaneously ascending and abandoning it one after another yet would it never reduce it self to the least degree of cold but is reduced to cold by Atoms of Cold from the circumstant Aer immitted into its pores What then shall we hence conclude that Water is Essentially Hot Neither because then it could not so easily admit nor so long retain the Contrary Quality Cold for Hot springs are never congelated Wherein therefore can we acquiesce Truly only in this determination that Water is Essentially Moist and Fluid but neither Hot nor Cold unless by Accident or Acquisition i. e. it is made Hot upon the introduction of Calorifick and Cold upon the introduction of Frigorifick Atoms contrary to the tenent of Empedocles and Aristotle Lastly as for the Aer insomuch as it is sometimes Hot sometimes Cold according to the temperature of the Climate season of the year praesence or absence of the Sun and diversity of Winds we can have no warrant from reâ—son to conceive it to be the natural Mother of Cold more than of Heat but rather that it is indifferently comparated to admit either Quality according to divers Impraegnation Whoever therefore shall argue that because in the Dogg daâ—es when the perpendicular rayes of the Sun parch up the languishing inhabitants of the Earth in some positions of its sphere if the North-wind arise it immediately mitigates the feâ—vor of the Aer and brings a cool relief upon its wings therefore the Aer is Naturally Cold maâ— as justly infer that the Aer is Naturally Hot because in the dead 〈◊〉 Winter when the face of the Earth becomes hoary and rigid with â—râ—st if the South-wind blowe it soon mitigates the frigidity of the Aer â—nd dissolves those fetters of Ice wherewith all things were bound up Wherefore it is best for us to Conclude that the Essential Quality of the Aer is Fluidity but as for Heat and Cold they are Qualities meerly Accidental or Adventitious thereto or that it is made Hot or Cold upon the commixture of Calorifick or Frigorifick Atoms So that where the Aer is constantly impraegnate with Atoms of Heat as under the Torrid Zone there is it coâ—stantly Hot or Warme at least where it is Alternately perfused with â—â—lorifick and Frigorifick Atoms as under the Temperâ—te Zones 〈…〉 it Alternately Hot and Cold and where it is constantly pervaded by â—â—igorifick Atoms as under the North Pole there is it constantly Cold. To put a pâ—â—iod therefore to this Dispute seeing the Quality of Cold is not Essenâ—â—â—â—ly inhaerent in Earth Water or Aer the Three Principal Bodies of Nature where shall we investigate its Genuine Matrix or proper subject of inhaesion Certainly in the nature of some Special Bodies or a particular species of Atoms of which sort are those whereof Salnitre is for the most part composed which being introduced into Earth Water Aer or any other mixt Bodie impraegnate them with cold But haply you may say that though this be true yet doth it not totally solve the doubt since it is yet demandable Whether any one and which of those Three Elements is highly Opposite to the Fourth viz. Fire We Answer that forasmuch as that Bodie is to be accounted the most Opposite to Fire which most destroyes it therefore is Water the chief Antagonist to Fire because it soonest Extinguisheth it Nevertheless there is no necessity that therefore Water must be Cold in as high a degree as Fire is Hot for Water doth not extinguish Fire as it is Cold since boyling water doth as soon put out fire as Cold but as it is Humid i. e. as it enters the pores of the enflamed body and hinders the Motion and Diffusion of the Atoms of Fire Which may be confirmed from hence 1. That Oyle which no man conceives to be Cold it poured on in great quantity doth also extinguish fire by suffocation which is nothing but a hindering the Motion of the igneous Atoms 2. That in case the Atoms of Fire issue from
Wines wherein the spirits concentre and preserve themselves free from Congelation in the middle of the frozen Phlegm so that they may be seen to remain fluid and of the colour of an Amethyst as Helmont hath well declared in his History of the Nativity of Tartar in Wines 3. That the Death of all Animals is caused immediately by the Atoms of Cold which insinuating themselves in great swarms into the body and not expelled again from thence by the overpowered Atoms of Heat they wholly impede and suppress those motions of them wherein Vitality consisteth So that the Calorifick ones being no longer able to calefy the principal seat of life the Vital flame is soon extinguished and the whole Body resigned to the tyranny of Cold. Which is therefore well accounted to be the grand and profest Enemy of Life CHAP. XIII OF Fluidity Stability Humidity Siccity SECT I. HEre our very Method must be somewhat Paradoxical and the Genealogy we shall afford of those Two vulgarly accounted Passive â—â—ualities Humidity and Siccity very much different from that universally embraced in the Schools For should we tread in the steps of Aristotle as most who have travelled in this subject have constantly done we must have subnected our Disquisition into the Nature and Origine of Moisture and Dryness immediately to that of Heat and Cold as the other pair of First Elemental Qualities and â—diametro opposite to them But having observed that those 2 Terms Moist and Drâ— are not according to the severe and praecise Dialect of truth rightly â—â—commodable to all those things which are genuinely imported by 〈◊〉 Greek Words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the definions of Aristotle and consequently that we could not avoid the danger of losing â—â—â—selves in a perpetual Aequivocation of Terms unless we committed ouâ— thoughts wholly to the conduct of Nature Herself progressing from the more to the less General Qualities and at each step explicating their distinct dependencies we thereupon inferred that we ought to praemâ—se the Consideration of Fluidity and Firmness which are more Generâ—â—â— to that of Humidity and Siccity as less General Qualities and 〈◊〉 seem to be one degree more removed from Catholick Principles That those 〈◊〉 Terms so frequent in the mouth of Aristotle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 in signification than Humidum and Siccum by which His 〈◊〉 Interpreters and Commentators commonly explicate them 〈…〉 even from hence that under the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is comprehended noâ— only in General whatever is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fluid and Liquid but also in special that matter or body whereby a thing is moistned when immersed into or perfused with the same and likewise under the contrary term 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is comprehended as well in General whatever is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Compact or Firm and Solid as in special that matter or body which being applyed to a thing is not capable of Humectating or Madefying the same and which is therefore called also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aridum Now this duely perpended doth at first sight detest the Aequivocation of the Latin Terms and direct us to this praecise determination that whatever is Fluid is not Humid nor whatever is Dry Compact or Firme but that a Humid body properly is that whereby another body being perfused is moistned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or madefied 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and on the contrary that a Dry or Arid body is that which is not capable of Humectating or madefying another body to which it is applied Again forasmuch as Aristotle positively defines 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id quâ—d facile terminum admittens proprio tamen non terminatur that which being destitute of self-termination is yet easily terminated by another substance t is evident that this His Definition is competent not only to a Humid thing in special but also to a Fluid in General such as are not only Water Oyle every Liquor yea and Metal or other Concretion actually fused or melted but also the Aer Flame Smoke Dust and whatever is of such a nature as that being admitted into any vessel or other continent of whatever figure or however terminated in it superfice doth easily accomodate it self thereunto put on the same figure and confess termination by the same limits or boundaries and this because it cannot terminate it self as being naturally comparated only to Diffusion On the other side since He defines 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod facile terminatum proptio termino terminatur aegre alieno to be that which is easily terminateâ— by its owne superfice and hardly terminated by another it is also manifest that this Definition is not peculiar only to a Dry or â—rid substance but in common also to a Firme or Solid one such as not only Earth Wood Stones c. but also Ice Metal unmolten Pitch Resine Wax and the like Concreted juices and in a word all bodies which have their parts so consistent and mutually cohaerent as that they are not naturally comparated to Diffusion but conserve themselves in their own superfice and require compression dilatation section detrition or some other violent means to accommodate them to termination by the superfice of another body And certainly if what is praecisely signified by the Terme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were no more than what is meant by the Latin substitute thereof Humidum then might the Aer be justly said to be Humid which is so far in its owne nature from being endowed with the faculty of Humectating bodies that its genuine virtue is to exsiccate all things suspended therein nay even Fire it self might be allowed the same Attribute together with Smoke Dust and the like Fluid substances which exsiccate all bodies perfused with moâ—sture On the advers part if what is praecisely intended by the Terme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were fully expressible by the Latin Siccum or Aridum then doubtless might Wax Reâ—ine and all Concreted juices be accounted actually Dry nay Ice it self which is only Liquor congealed could not be excluded the Categorie of Arid substances These Considerations premised though we might here enquire Whether Aristotle spake like Himself when He confined Fluidity and that according to his owne definition to only 2 Elements Water and Aer when yet the Element of Fire which He placed above the Aerâ—â—l region must be transcendently Fluid else how could it be so easily terminated by the Concave of the Lunar Sphere on one part and the Convex of the Aereal on the other And whether His Antithesis or Counter assertion viz. that the 2 Firme Elements are Fire and Earth be not a downright Absurdity yet shall we not insist upon the detection of either of those two Errors because they are obvious to every mans notice but only Conclude that though every Humid body be Fluid and every Arid or Dry body be Firm yet will not the Conversion hold since every
Fluid is not Humid nor every Firme Dry and upon natural consequence that Humidity is a species of Fluidity and Siccity a Species of Firmity and also that it is our duety to speculate the Reasons of each accordingly beginning at the Generals FLUIDITY we conceive to be a Quality arising meerly from hence that the Atoms or insensible particles of which a fluid Concretion doth consist are smooth in superfice and reciprocally contiguous in some points though dissoâ—â—â—â—â— or incontiguous in others so that many inane spaces smaller and greaâ—â—â— according to the several magnitudes of the particles which intercept them being interspersed among them they are upon the motion of the mass oâ— body which they compose most easily moveable rowling one upon â—â—other and in a continued fluor or stream diffusing themselves till thâ—â— are arrested by some firm body to whose superfice they exactly accommodate themselves That the â—â—sence of Fluidity dont consist only in these Two conditions the smoothness of insensible particles and interruption of small inane spaces among them where their extrems are incontiguous may be even sensibly demonstâ—â—â—â—d in an heap or measure of Corne. Which is apt for Diffusion or Fluid only because the Grains of which it doth consist are superficially smooth and hard and have myriads of inane spaces intercepted among them by reason of the incontiguities of their extrems in various points so 〈◊〉 whenever the heap is moved or effused from one vessel into anotheâ— the Grains mutually rowling each upon other diffuse themselves in one continued stream and immediately upon their reception into the concave of the vessel the Aggregate or mass of them becomes exactly accommoâ—â—te to the figure or internal superfice of the same And forasmuch as the â—ifferent magnitudes of composing particles do not necessitate a differeâ—â—e of formal qualities but only variety of Figures contexture and 〈◊〉 well may we conceive the same reasons to essence the Fluidity of Water also because betwixt an heap of Corne and an heap or mass of Water the Difference is only this that the Grains which compose the one are of sensible magnitude and so have sensible empty spaces interposed amoâ—â— them but the Granules or particles which compose the other are 〈◊〉 sensible magnitude or incomparably more exile and so have the inane 〈◊〉 intercepted among them incomparably less For that Water doth consist of small Grains or smooth particles is conspicuous even from 〈◊〉 that Water is capable of conversion into Fume or Vapouâ— only 〈◊〉 â—â—refaction and Fume again reducible into Water meerly by 〈◊〉 and the reason why Fume becoms visible is only this that the 〈…〉 part of fume is a Collection or Assembly of many thousand of thoâ—â—â—â—â—gly-invisible particles which constitute the Water from whence the â—â—me ascends as may be ascertained from hence that to the composition of one single drop of Water many myriads of myriads of insensible particles must be convened and united So that Water contained in a Caldron set on the fire and seething doth differ from the Fume exhaled from it only in this respect that the one is Water Condensed the other Rarified or that Water is made Fume when its particles are violently dissociated and the aer variously intercepted among them and Fume is returned to Water when the same particles are reduced to their natural close order and the intercepted aer again excluded Again that the Fluidity of Water depends on the same Cause proportionately as that of an heap of Corne may according to the Lawe of Similitude be justified by the parallel capacity of Water to the same Effects viz. Diffusion Division and Accommodation to the figure of the Recipient or Terminant For the result hereof is that it hath no Continuity or mutual Cohaerence of its particles which should hinder their easy Dissociation Nor is it a valid Argument to the contrary that Water appears to be a Continued body but an heap of Corne a Discontinued for that is only according to Apparence caused from hence that by how much smaller the component particles of a Concretion are by so much smaller must the inane spaces be which are intercepted among them where they are incontiguous and upon consequence so much the less interrupted or more continued must the mass or Aggregate appear as may be most familiarly understood if we compare an heap of Corne with one of the finest Callis sand that with an heap of the most volatile or impalpable Powder that the Chymist or Apothecary can make and so gradually less and less in the dimensions of Granules till we arrive at the smallest imaginable So that we cannot wonder that the substance of Water should be apprehended by the dull sense as wholly Continued though really it be only less interrupted than an heap of sand when the Grains whereof Water is amassed are incomparably smaller than those of the finest sand and intercept among them inane spaces incomparably smaller such as are by many degrees belowe the discernment of the acutest sight though advantaged by the best Microscope If this Argument reach not the height either of the Difficulty it self or your Expectation and Curiosity concerning it be pleased to imp the Wings of it with the feathers of another of the same importance but more perspicuity It is well known especially to Chymists and Refiners that every metall is capable of a twofold Fluidâ—ty one in the forme of an impalpable or volatile Powder the other of a Liquor whose fluor is continued according to the judgement of sense For when a Metal is Calcined by Praecipitation i. e. by Corrosive and Mercurial Waters specifically appropriate to its nature being thereby reduced into small Grains it becomes Fluid after the manner of sand and therefore may as conveniently be used in Hour-glasses for Chronometry or the measure of time but because each of those visible Grains is made up of millions of other more exile and invisible Granules or particles which are the component principles or matter of the Metal hence it is that if we put them all together in a Crucible and melt them in a reverberatory fire whose igneous Atoms invade penetrate and subdivide each Granule into the smallest particles to which the Corrosive Virtue of the Aqua fortis could not extend then will the whole mass put on another kind of Fluidity such as that of Water Oyle and all other Liquors Now the Reason of the Former Fluidity is manifestly the same with that of Corne and Sand newly explicated and that of the Latter the same as of Water i. e. the Granules of the Calcined powder being dissolved into others of dimensions incomparably smaller do intercept among themselves or betwixt their superficies where those aâ—e incontiguous innumerable multitudes of Inane spaces but those incomparably less than before their ultimate subtiliation and consequently as hath been said make the Metal dissolved to be deprehended by the senâ—â— as one entire and continued substance To
Conclude therefore 〈…〉 discover no Reason against us of bulk sufficient to obstruct the 〈◊〉 oâ— our Conception that the Fluidity of Fire Flame Aer and all â—â—quid substances whatever cannot well be deduced from any other 〈◊〉 but what we have here assigned to Water and Metals dissolved 〈◊〉 when we consider that is equally consentaneous to conceive thâ—â—â—â—ery other Fluid or Liquid body is composed also of certain specially â—â—â—â—igurate Granules or imperceptible particles which being only 〈◊〉 in some points of their superficies not reciprocally Cohaerent 〈…〉 intercept various inane spaces betwixt them and be therefore easily 〈◊〉 dissociable externally terminâ—ble and capable of making the body appâ—â—â—ntly Continuate as Water it selâ— And as 〈…〉 other General Quality FIRMNESS or STABILITY since 〈◊〉 mâ—st have Contrary Causes and that the solidity of Atoms is the 〈◊〉 of all solidity and firmness in Concretions well may we understand 〈◊〉 be radicated in this that the insensible particles of which a â—irme 〈◊〉 is composed whether they be of one or diverse sorts i. e. 〈◊〉 or dissimilar in magnitude and figure do so reciprocally compâ—â—â— and adhaere unto each other as that being uncapable of rowling 〈◊〉 each others superfice both in respect of the ineptitude of 〈◊〉 figures thereunto and the want of competent inane spaces among them they generally become uncapable 〈◊〉 without extream 〈◊〉 of Emotion Dissociation Diffusion and so of Terminatio◠〈◊〉 any other superfice but what themselves constitute If it 〈…〉 Enquired Whence this reciprocal Compâ—ession Indissociability 〈◊〉 Immobility of insensible particles in a Firme Concretion doth 〈◊〉 proceed we can derive it from Three sufficient Causes 1. The 〈◊〉 small Hamulâ— Uncinulive Hooks or Clawes by which Atoms of 〈…〉 superficies are adapted to implicate each other by mutual 〈◊〉 and that so closely as that all Inanity is excluded from betwixt 〈◊〉 â—â—mmissures or joynings and this is the principal and most frequent 〈◊〉 of stability 2. The Introduction and pressure of Extranâ—ou◠〈◊〉 which invading a Concretion and wedging in both themselves 〈…〉 intestine ones together and that cheifly by obverting the◠〈…〉 or superficies thereunto cause a general Compression and 〈…〉 of all the particles of the mass And by this way doth 〈…〉 Water and all Humid Substances for since the Atoms of 〈…〉 and those of Water octahedrical as is most 〈…〉 those of Cold insinuating themselves into the 〈…〉 by obversion of their plane sides to them they 〈…〉 particleâ— thereof and so not permitting them to be 〈…〉 fluidity and make the whole mass Rigid and 〈…〉 Hither also may we most congruously referr the Coagulation of milk upon the injection of Rennet Vinegre juice of Limons and the like Acid things For the Hamous and inviscating Atoms whereof the Acid is mostly composed meeting with the Ramous and Grosser particles of the milk which constitute the Caseous and Butyrous parts thereof instantly fasten upon them with their hooks connect them and so impeding their fluiditie change their lax and moveable contexture into a close and immoveable or Firme while the more exile and smooth particles of the milk whereof the serum or whey is composed escape those Entanglings and conserve their native Fluidity This may be confirmed from hence that whenever the Cheese or Butter made of the Coagulation is held to the fire they recover their former Fluidity because the tenacious particles of the Acid are disentangled and interrupted by the sphaerical and superlatively agile Atoms of fire 3. The Exclusion of introduced Atoms such as by their exility roundness and motion did during their admistion interturbe the mutual Cohaesion and Quiet of domestique ones which compose a Concretion Thus in the decalescence of melted metals and Glass when the Atoms of fire which had dissociated the particles thereof and made them Fluid do abandon the metal and so cease to agitate and dissociate the particles thereof then do the domestique Atoms returne to a closer order mutually implicate each other and so make the whole mass Compact and Firme as before Thus also when the Atoms of Water Wine or any other dissolvent which had insinuated into the body of Salt Alume Nitre or other Concretion retaining to the same tribe and dissolving the continuity of its particles metamorphosed it from a solid into a fluid body so that the sight apprehends it to be one simple and uniforme substance with the Liquor we say when these dissociating Atoms are evaporated by heat the particles of the Salt instantly fall together again become readunated and so make up the mass compact and solid as before such as no man but an eye-witness of the Experiment could persuade himself to have been so lately diffused concorporated and lost in the fluid body of Water SECT II. BY the light of the Praemises it appears a most perspicuous truth that HUMIDITY is only a certain Species of Fluidity For whoever would frame to himself a proper and adaequate Notion of an Humâ—r or Humid substance must conceive it to be such a Fluid or Fluxile body which being induced upon or applied unto any thing that is Compact doth adhare to the same per minimas particulas and madify or Humectate so much thereof as it toucheth Such therefore is Water such is Wine such â—s Oyle such are all those Liquors which no sooner touch any body not Fluid but either they leave many of their particles adhaerent only to the superfice thereof and this because the most seemingly polite superfice is full of Eminences and Cavities as we have frequently asserted and so moisten it or penetrating through the whole contexture thereof totally Humectate or wett the same But such is not Aer such is not any Metal fused such is not Quick-silver nor any of those Fluors which â—hough they be applied unto and subingress into the pores of a Compact body doe yet leave none of their particles adhaerent to either the superficia◠〈◊〉 internal parts thereof but without diminutâ—â—n of their own quantity 〈◊〉 off clearly and so leave the touched oâ— pervaded body unmaâ—ified 〈◊〉 â—â—humectaâ—e as they found it On the other side it is likewise manifest that SICCITY oâ— ARIDITY is only a certain species of Firmness or stâ—bility because a Dry or 〈◊〉 â—ubstance is conceived to be Firm or Compact only insomuch as it is 〈◊〉 of all moisture Of this sort according to vulgar conception may 〈◊〉 account all Stones Sand Ashes all Metals and whatever is of so firme a constitution as containâ— nothing of Humidity either in it superfice 〈…〉 which can be extracted from it or iâ— extracted is not capable 〈◊〉 moistning any other body but not Plants nor Animals nor Minerals 〈◊〉 any other Concretionâ— which though apparently dry to the sense doth 〈◊〉 contâ—in some moisture within it and such as being educed is capable of 〈◊〉 another body We say â—ccording to Vulgar Conception because not Absolutely for though 〈◊〉 be opposed to Humidity not as an
Habit to which any Act can 〈…〉 attributed but as a meer Privation for to be Dry is nothing else 〈…〉 want moisture yet because a Moistned body may contain more 〈…〉 Humidity therefore may it be said to be more or less Dry 〈◊〉 and a body that is imbued with less moisture be said to be dry 〈…〉 one imbued with more Thus Green Wood or such as hath 〈◊〉 extraneous moisture is commonly said to grow more and more 〈…〉 degrees as it is more and more Dehumectâ—ted and then at lengâ—◠〈◊〉 be perfectly dry when all the Aqueous moisture as well natura◠〈◊〉 â—mbibed is consumed though then also it contain a certain 〈◊〉 moâ—sture which Philosophers call the Humidum Primigentum 〈◊〉 this only Comparatively or in respect to its forme◠〈…〉 was imbueâ— with a greater proportion of Humidity For the 〈◊〉 of this we are to observe that there are Two sorts 〈…〉 compact bodies are usually humectated the one 〈…〉 â—he other Oleag nous and Fat The First is easily 〈…〉 by heat but not inflammable the other though it 〈…〉 and is as easily inflammable in regard of the many 〈…〉 is not easily exsoluble nor attenuable into 〈…〉 cohaerence of its particles To the First 〈…〉 that mâ—â—sture in Concretions which Chymists extracting 〈…〉 Vegetables because though it moâ—stens as Wate◠〈…〉 incapable of inflâ—mmation yet is it much more volatile 〈…〉 And to eâ—ther or both sorts though in a diverse respect belong 〈…〉 they call Aqua Vitae or the spirits of a Vegetable such 〈…〉 because though it doth moisten as Water yet is 〈…〉 evaporable by heat and as inflammable as 〈…〉 learn in the School of Sense that such bodie◠〈…〉 Aqueous and Lean moisture are easily 〈…〉 are humectate with the Unctuous 〈…〉 hardly Why because the Atoms of which the Aqueous doth consist are more laevigated or smooth in their superfice and so having no hooks or clawes whereby to cohaere among themselves or adhaere to the concretion are soon disgregated but those which compose the Oleaginous being entangled as well among themselves as with the particles of the body to which they are admixt by their Hamous angles are not to be expeded and disengaged without great and long agitation and after many unsuccessfull attempts of evolution Thus Wood is sooner reduced to Ashes than a stone because that is compacted by much of Aqueous Humidity this by much of Unctuous For the same reason is it likewise that a clodd of Earth or peice of Cloth which hath imbibed Water is far more easily resiccated than that Earth or Cloth which hath been dippt in oyle or melted fat And this gives us somewhat more than a meer Hint toward the clear Solution of Two PROBLEMS frequently occurring but rarely examined The one is Why pure or simple Water cannot wash out spots of Oyle or Fat from a Cloth or silk Garment which yet Water wherein Ashes have been boyled or soap dissolved easily doth For the Cause hereof most probably is this that though Water of it self cannot penetrate the unctuous body of oyle nor dissociate its tenaciously cohaerent particles and consequently not incorporate the oyle to it self so as to carry it off in its fluid arms when it is expressed or wrung out from the cloth yet when it is impraegnated with Salt such as is abundantly contained in Ashes and from them extracted in decoction the salt with the sharp angles and points of its insensible particles penetrating pervading cutting and dividing the oyle in minimas particulas the Water following the particles of salt at the heels incorporates the oyle into it self and so being wrung out from the cloth again brings the same wholly off together with it self Which dâ—ubtless was in some part understood by the Inventor of soap which being compounded 〈◊〉 Water Salt and Oyle most perfectly commixt is the most general Abstersive for the cleansing of Cloathes polluted with oyle grease turpentine sweat and the like unctuous natures for the particleâ— of oyle ambuscadoed in the soap encountring those oyly or pâ—nguous particleâ— which adhaere to the hairs and filaments of Cloth and stâ—â—n it become easily united to them and bring them off together with themselves when they are dissolved and set afloat in the Water by the incisive and diâ—â—â—ciating particles of the Salt which also is brought off at the same time by the Water which serveth only as a common vehicle to aâ—l the rest The other Why stains of Ink are not Delible with Water though decocted to a Lixirium or Lee with Ashes or commixt with soap but wiâ—◠〈◊〉 Acid juice such as of Limons Oranges Crabbs Vinegre c. 〈◊〉 Reason hereof seems to be only this that the Viâ—â—ioâ— or 〈◊〉 which â—trâ—kes the black in the Decoction of Galls Sumach or other 〈◊〉 Ingredients being Acid and so consisting of particles congenerâ—â—s â—n figure and other proprieties to those which constitute the 〈…〉 whenever the spot of Ink is throughly moystned with an acid 〈◊〉 the vitrioâ—â—s soon united thereto and so educed together with â—t upâ—n expression the union arising propter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the Similitude of their two natures For there always is the most easy and perfect union where is a Similitude of Essences or formal proprieties as is notably experimented in the eduction of Cold from a mans hands or other benummed parts by rubbing them with snow in the evocation of fire by fire in the extraction of some Venoms from the central to the outward parts of the body by the application of other Venoms to the skin which is the principal cause why some Poysons are the Antidotes to others the alliciency and â—â—â—â—uation of Choler by Rhubarb c. Lastly in 〈◊〉 place we might pertinently insist upon the Causes and Manner of Coâ—â—osion and Dissolution of Metals and other Compact and Firmâ— bodies 〈◊〉 Aqua Fortis Aqua Regis and other Chymical Waters the 〈◊〉 of Salt Alume Nitre Vitriol Sugar and other Salin concreted 〈◊〉 by Water the Exhalability or Evaporability of Humid and 〈◊〉 substances and other useful speculations of the like obscure naturâ— but 〈◊〉 of these deserves a more exact and prolix Disquisition than the 〈…〉 signed to our praesent province will afford and what we have already 〈◊〉 sufficiently dischargeâ—h our debt to the Title of this Chapter CHAP. XIV Softness Hardness Flexility Tractility Ductility c. SECT I. THe two First of this Rank of Secunâ—darie Qualities HARDNESS and SOFTNESS beâ—ng so neer of Extraction and Semblance that mâ—ny have confounded them with Firmness and Fluidâ—ty in a General and looser acceptâ—tion forâ— so Virgil gives the Epitheâ—e of Soft to Water Lucretius to Aer Vaporâ— Clouds c. because a Firme bodie or such whose parts are reciprocâ—lly cohaerent and superfice more 〈…〉 apparently continued as 〈◊〉 may be Soft and on the other side a Fluid body or such whose 〈…〉 not reciprocally cohaerent nor 〈◊〉 really continued as 〈…〉 be Hard
the Atoms be at all Hamous or reciprocally retentive Insomuch therefore as there is some certain Compactness more or less even in all Soft Concretions from thence it may be easily inferred that the General reason of the Mollification of Hard bodies doth consist in this that their insensible particles be in some degree dissociated i. e. so separated each from other in many points as that more and larger inane spaces be intercepted among them than while they were closely coadunated and on the contrary that the General reason of the Induration of Soft bodies doth consist only in this that their insensible particles before in some degree dissociated be reduced to a closer order or higher degree of Compactness and so most of the inane spaces intercepted be excluded from among them To this the doubting Mersennus fully subscribes in lib. 2. Harmonicor proposit ultima where deducing the causes of Hardness Rigidity and the like qualities from the Atoms of Democritus and Epicurus he plainly saith Duritiem fieri ab Atomis ramosis quae suis hamatis implicationibus perexigua spatia relinquunt inania per quae nequeant ingredi corpuscula caloris c. Nay such is the urgencie of this truth that Aristotle Himself seems to confess it in these words quae humoris absentia concrescunt duruntur ea liquefacere humor potest nisi adeo sese particulae nimirum collegerint coierintque ut minora partibus aquae foramina sint relicta id quod fictili accidit c. 4. Meteorum cap. 8. And we need seek no farther than a ball of wool for the Exemplification of both for that being so relaxed as that the hairs touch each other more rarely or in fewer points and thereupon more of the ambient Aer be intercepted among them instantly becomes soft and then being so compressed that the hairs touch each other more frequently or in more points and the aer be thereupon again excluded from among them it as soon becomes hard But if we wind up our curiosity one note higher and enquire the Special Manner of Mollifying Hard bodies we shall find it to rest upon either Heat or Moisture Upon Heat when the Atoms of fire subingressing into the pores of a Hard Concretion doe so commove and exagitate the insensible particles thereof that they become incontiguous in more points than before and so the whole mass being made more lax and rare upon the interception of many new inane spaces among its particles puts on a capacity of yeelding to any thing that presseth it and of receding from it superfice toward its interiors according to the property of softness Thus Iron made red hot is mollefied and hard Wax liquefied by heat Upon Moisture when the particles of an Humor so insinuate themselves among the closely cohaerent particles of a Hard body that dissociating them in some measure they intermix among them and so themselves being sufficiently yeelding upon pressure cause the bodie to become yeelding and recessive from it superfice inwards Thus Leather is softned by lying in Water or Oyle and Clay assumes so much the more of softness by how much the more of water it hath imbibed On the other side if we pursue the Induration of Soft bodies up to its Special Manner we shall secure it either in Cold or Siccity In Cold whether we understand it to be a simple expulsion of Calorifick Atoms lately contained in the bodie as in the growing hard of Metals after fusion or the introduction of Frigorifick Atoms into the bodie naturally void of them as in the induration of Water into Ice In Siccity whether we conceive it to be a meer expulsion of the particles of moisture from a Concretion as when Earth is baked into Bricks or a superinduction of drie particles upon a moist concretion as in the composition of Pills which for the most part consist of Drie Powders and Syrupe or some other viscid moisture But here we feel a strong Remora or Doubt How it comes about that Iron made glowing hot and immediately plunged into cold Water acquires a greater degree of hardness than it had before And to remove it we Answer that the particles of the Water subingress into the amplified pores of the Iron and are not again excluded from thence though the particles thereof returne to their former close order and reciprocally implicate each other as before in candescence but remaining imprisoned in the small incontiguities or inane spaces which otherwise would have been empty make the body of the iron somewhat more solid or hard than otherwise it would have been That this is a sufficient Cause of that Effect may be warrantably inferred from hence that if the samâ— seasoned iron be afterwards brought to the fire again and therein made red hot so that the contexture of its particles be relaxed and the particles of Water which possess the inane spaces betwixt them be evaporated there doth it resume its former Softness and this our Smiths call Nealing of Iron To steer on therefore the same course of Disquisition we have begun forasmuch as Softness is defined by the Facility and Hardness by the Difficulty of bodies yielding in the superfice the only Considerable remaining to our full explanation of the formal Reason of each of these two Qualities is How the yielding of a Soft body in the Superfice is effected for that being once explicated the rule of Contraries will easily teach us Wherein the Resistence of a Hard doth immediately consist And thâ—s requires no taedious indagation for from the Praemises it may easily be collected that a soft body doth then yeild when its particles immediately pressed in the superfice do sink down and subingress into the pores immediately beneath them and then press down the next subjacent particles into pores immediately beneath them and those likewise press down the next inferior rank of particles into void spaces below them an those again press down others successively until the number of pores or void spaces successively in each subingression decreasing there be no more room to receive the last pressed particles and then the subingression ceaseth If this seem not sufficient to make the yeildingness of Soft bodies clearly intelligible we must remit our Reader to our praecedent Discourse concerning the incapacity of Aer to be Condensed or Compressed in a Wind-gun beyond a certain proportion or determinate rate Farther because a soft body cannot be squeezed unless it rest upon or against something that is hard at least less soft than it selfe so that though the lower superfice thereof relying upon the support is so bounded that it hath no liberty of space whether to recede Versùs profundum yet hath it full liberty of space Versus latera therefore comes it to pass that the subingression of particles into pores and the Compression of others is made not only Versus profundum in that part of the soft body which directly confronteth the hard whereupon it
created it and â—alen de therica ad Pison termed the Attractive Virtue thereof whâ—â— Divine To which we shall add also this that the Hypothesis of thâ—â—ontinued Ductus of the Magnetick Fibres of the Earth especially 〈◊〉 the Kernell or Interior substance thereof from the South to the North Pole â—upon which we have erected the solutions of sundry great Magneâ—â—call Apparences is subject to much less of Improbability than that oâ— â—ilbert and Grandamicus that the Magnetique Virtue is a simple or Immaâ—â—â—iall Quality than that of De's Cartes that the Magnetique Aporrhaea's consist of streated or Screw'd Atoms passing through the Earth by contrâ—â—â— and diversly figurated insensible pores issuing forth at either poâ—e and â—â—eeling about interchangeably to the opposite pole than that of Sr. 〈◊〉 Digby that the Magnetique streams glide along from either Pole anâ— Hemisphere of the Earth by Attraction to the Aequator or in truth â—â—an any other hitherto excogitated and divulged But before we puâ— an end to this Chapter 't is requisite to advertise you oâ— a Confiderâ—â—â—â— omitted in the beginning of it which is thâ—â— though we 〈◊〉 the Virtue Magnetick to be in Generall Two-fold Attractive 〈◊〉 Directive yet is that Distinction to be admitted noâ— in an Absolute 〈◊〉 Respective intention or only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in order to our morâ—â—â—stinct Comprehension of the immediate and particuâ—ar Reasons of 〈◊〉 respective Magneticall Effects which otâ—erwise must have wanted 〈◊〉 advantage of order in their consideration For we are fully 〈◊〉 of the truth of that Assertion of Grandamicus Nova Demonstraâ—â—â—â—mobilit Terrae cap 5. Sect. 2. that the Attraction and Direâ—â—ion or 〈◊〉 and Polarity of Magneticks are caused by one and the sam◠〈◊〉 which being conferred upon them by the infinite Wisdome and 〈◊〉 of the Creator in order to the Conservation of the Earth and all its genuine parts in that position in the Universe and that disposition among themselves in which they are best supported and most conveniently performe Actions conforme and proper to their Nature may be yet termed Attractive insomuch as it Unites Magneticall Bodies violently separated and Directive insomuch as it Disposeth them in a due and commodious situation And so notwithstanding the Actions and Motions of Magnetiques seem exceeding Various and in some cases plainly Contrary yet are they to be deduced from one simple principle one and the same Generall Virtue and they all may be conveniently explicâ—ted by the same Common Reason The Fourth Book CHAP. 1. OF GENERATION AND CORUPTION SECT I. THat Nature or the Common Harmony of the World is continued by Changes or the Vicissitudes of Individualls i. e. the Production of some Destruction of other Things determined to this or that particular Species and that there must be one Catholique Matter of which all things are Elemented and into which they may be again by Dissolution reduced are Positions to which all men most readily prostrate their assent But What that First and Common matter is How Concretioâ—s are Educible out of it and How Reducible at length into it after the Privation of their Specificall Formes are Quaestions whose Beginnings are more easily known than their ends However forasmuch as we have endeavoured in our immediately foregoing Book to determine the First of them together with the possible Emergency of all Qualities whereof either our sense or Reason can afford us any measure of cognizance and the Reasons of the Perception of them by Animals from Atoms so and so Configurated and so and so Disposed in Commistion it now neerly concerns us to attempt the most hopefull Decision of the other Two that so we may not seem to have thus long discoursed of the Principles and Affections of Compound Bodies while we remained wholly ignorant of the most probable wayes both of their Origination from those Principles and of their Reversioâ— into them again when they have lost the right of their former Denominations and suffered to the utmost of their Divisibility By the terme GENERATION we ought praecisely to understand that Act of Nature whereby she produceth a Thing de novo or gives Being to a Thing in some certain Genus of Bodies Concrete and consequently by its Contrary CORRUPTION that whereby she Dissolves a Thing so that thenceforth it ceaseth to be what it was For when Fire a stone a Plant an Animal or whatever is referrible to any one determinate kind of Bodies Compound is first produced or made and begins to be so or so Denominated it is truely said to be Generated and contrariwise when a Thing perisheth and loseth the right of its former Denomination it is as truely said to be Corrupted And this is that which Aristotle 1. de Generat 2. frequently call's Generatio 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Generation Simple and Perfect so to praevent that Confusion of Generation with Alteration into which many of his Praedecessors had oftâ—â— fallen to their own and their Disciples no little disquiet For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Alteration can be accounted a Generation only improperly of secundum quid forasmuch as by Alteration a Body is not produced de novo but onely acquires some new Quality or some Accidentary Denomination and Philosophers accordingly define it to be Progressionem Corporis ex una qualitate in aliam a Progression of a Body from one Quality to another as when water is changed from cold to hot by fire Again every Mutation requires a subject to be Altered and that subject must be something Compound complete and already constituted in some determinate Genus of Beings But of Generation strictly accepted the onely subject is the First and Universall matter which being in it self destitute of all Form Aristole doth therefore subtly call simpliciter Non-ens simply or determinately Nothing forasmuch as he frequently inculteth that Generation is made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex Nâ—n ente simpliciter Because had He ommitted that adverb simpliciter his Reader might justly have understood Non ens absolute Nothing Absolutely and so have accused him of openly contradicting his own Fundamentall Axiome Ex nihilo nihil fieri that nothing can be made or â—enerated of Nothing This being praemised to praevent the danger of Aequivocation we observe First with Aristotle 3. de caelo 1. that among the Ancient Philosophers some held that Nothing is Generated nothing Corrupted as Parmenides and Melissus Others again that All things are Generated and Corrupted as Hesiod and Heraclitus Secondly that of Those who admitted Generation and consequently Corruption some conceived that Generation is made by the Access of a Form to Matter and that that Form is a certain New substance absolutely distinct from that of the Matter and together with it constituting the Compositum or whole resulting from the Commistion of Matter and Form of which sect Aristotle Himself deserves to be in the Chair because in order to his Assertion of this Opinion He supposeth a Threefold substance the
Matter Form and Composiitum arising from their Commistion But Others though they concede that Generation indeed consisteth in the Accession of a Form to Matter yet will they not allow that Form acâ—eding to be substantiall but onely a certain Accident or Modification of the Matter it self so that according to their theory in Generation there superveneth upon Matter some certain Quality of such a Condition as that by reason thereof a Thing obtain s a certain Being in Nature and acquireth some determinate Denomination respective to that Genus of Bodies to which its Nature doth referre it And in the Catalogue of Philosophers of this persuasion Aristotle nominateth as Principalls Empedocles Anaxagoras Democritus and Leucippus all which He sharply taxeth of Confounding Generation with Alteration and of inferring that aswell Generation as Corruption ariseth not from the Transmutation of Principles but onely from their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Concretion and Secretion which is not only inconsistent but contrapugnant to His own great Hypothesis that the Four Elements or Catholique Principles of Generation are so Transmutable both secundum substantiam at least according to the Comments of all his modern Expositors secundum Qualitateâ— as to their substance and Qualities as that from their Commistion Alteration and Corruption a certain New and distinct substance doth arise which is the Form of the Thing so produced For having supposed for a Groundwork that the Four Elements are not the First Principles it could not stand with his advantage not to have assumed also that the Elements may be so Transmuted as that the more Generall and Common Matter doth still remaine and that the same upon the perdition of the Elementary Forms may put on a New Forme that is substantiall and that very thing by which the resulting or Generated Body is specified and entituled to such a Denomination But as for Empedocles and the rest enumerated to whom we may add also Epicurus 't is well known that notwithstanding they all admitted the Four Vulgar Elements as readily as Aristotle Himself yet would they by no means hear of their Transmutability either as to substance or Qualities unanimously decreeing that in their Commistion each of them is divided into particles most minute which yet retain the very same substance and qualities that they had before as that every particle of Fire doth still retain the substance and quality of Fire namely Heat and that every particle of Water doth likewise constantly conserve the substance and quality of Water viz. Moisture and so of the other two so that it is most evident They would have that in Generation there is onely a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Concretion of the insensible particles of the the 4 Elements but no Transmutation of any one of them either with the Perdition of their own or the Adeption of a new substantiall Forme both which are praesumed by Aristotle But this great Difficulty about the Generation of Things from the Commistion of the General Principles soon loseth it self in a Greater which concerns the Manner and Condition of their Commistion and whose consideration will best instruct us aswell what is the main Difference among Philosophers touching this most weighty Theorem as what opinion can best deserve our Approbation and Assent Concerning this therefore we find two necessary Remarks 1 That there are Two different Kinds of Commistion whereof the one is by Aristotle de Generat 1. cap. 10. termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Composition and by others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apposition the other is called in the Dialect of the Stoicks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Confusion and in that of Galen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Coalition or Temperation The Former is when those things whether Elements or others that are mixed together do not interchangeably penetrate each others parts so as to be conjoyned per minima but either themselves in the whole or their parts onely touch each other superficially as in the Commistion of the Grains of wheat Barly Rye and other Corn. The Latter when the things commixed are so seemingly united and concorporated as that they may be conceived mutually and totally to pervade and penetrate each other per minimas partes so as that there is no one insensible particle of the whole mixture which hath not a share of every ingredient as when Wine and Water that we may use the Example aswell as Conception of Aristotle are infused together into the same vessel Now the Stoicks and Aristotle are equally earnest to have this Latter way or manner of Commistion viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Confusion to be that according to which the Elements of Principles of Bodies are commix't in Generation But Empedocles Anaxagoras Democritus Epicurus with all their Sectators allow none but the Former or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apposition with very solid arguments among which the easy separability of Wine from Water either by a sponge or Cup of Ivie is not the least asserting that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Elements as also of all other things is really a meer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Composition of their small particles though apparently or according to the judgement of sense it may pass for a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Confusion 2 That when either the Elements themselves or any other Bodies more Concrete as Water and Wine are mixed together they may reciprocally divide dissect and resolve each other into either very small and insensible moleculae masses which yet are each of them composed of multitudes of Atoms concreted or most exile particles i. e. Atoms themselves and where the resolution is only into insensible Masses there may the Commistion be accounted Perfect but where the parts of each ingredient are so far resolved as to be reduced quite down to the first Matter Atoms there is the Commistion most Perfect Now upon this Distinction depends the whole Controversy betwixt Aristotle and the Stoicks on one part and the Atomists on the other about the Manner of the Commistion of the Common Principles in Generation Those vehemently contending for their totall Concorporation or Unition per minimas partes so that every the most minute particle in the whole mistum must be of the very same nature with the whole These strongly asserting that no Mistion of Elements or Temperation of Principles goes further than a meer Apposition or superficiall Contingency of their several particles so that the particles of each ingredient must still retain the very same nature they had before commistion howbeit they may seem to be totally Concorported or Confused in regard they are reduced to such Exility as that each single one escapes the discernment of the sense These two â—o highly repugnant Opinions being thus rightly stated it follows that we uprightly perpend the Verisimility of each that so we may confer our Assent upon the more ponderous If we look no further than the Commmon Notion or what every man understands by the Terme Mistion it is most evident
to Aristotle Art 1. The Link connecting this Section to the former Art 2. That Cold is no Privation of Heat but a Real and Positive Quality demonstrated Art 3. That the adaequate Notion of Cold ought to be deâ—umed from its General Effect viz. the Congregation and Compaction of bodies Art 4. Cold no â—mmaterial but a Substantial Quality Art 5. Gassendus conjectural Assignation of a Tetrahedical Figure to the Atoms of cold asserted by sundry weighty considerations Art 6. Cold not Essential to Earth Water nor Aer Art 7. 〈…〉 Art 8. Water the chief Antagonist to Fire not in respect of its Accidental Frigidity but Essential Humidity and that the Aer hath a juster title to the Principality of Cold than either Water or Earth Art 9. â—ROBLEM Why the breath of a man doth Warme when expiâ—ed with the mâ—uth wide open Cool when efflated with the mouth contracted Art 10. 〈…〉 the premises Art 1. Why Fluidity and 〈◊〉 are here considered before Humidity and 〈◊〉 Art 2. 〈…〉 Art 3. 〈…〉 a Firme Art 4. Fluidity defined Art 5. Wherein the Fâ—rmal Reaâ—on thereof doth consisâ— Art 6. The â—ame â—arther illustrated by the twoâ—â—â—ld Fluidâ—ty of Metals and tâ—e peculiar reason of each Art 7. Firmness defined Art 8. And dâ—rived froâ— either of â— Causes Art 1. Humidity defined Art 2. 〈◊〉 defined Art 3. 〈…〉 Art 5. PROBLEM 1. Why pure water cannot wash out oyle from a Cloâ—â— which yet waâ—er wherein Ashes have been decoâ—ted or soap dissolved easily doth Solut. Art 6. PROBLEM 2 Why stains of Ink are not to be taken out of cloths but with â—ome Acta Liquor Solut. Art 1. The 〈◊〉 of the Chapâ—er Art 2. 〈◊〉 â—nd Soft 〈◊〉 Art 3. The Difference betwixt a Sâ—ft and Fluid Art 4. Solidity of Atoms the Fundament of Hardness and Inanity intercepted amâ—ng them the fuâ—dament of Softness in all Concretions Art 5. Hardneâ—s and Soâ—â—nesâ— no 〈◊〉 but mâ—â—rly â—omparative Qualities as adscriptive to Concretions contrary to Aristotle Art 6. Sâ—ftness in Firme things deduced from the same cause as Fluidity in Fluid oneâ— Art 7. The General Reason of the Mollification of Hard and Indâ—ration of Sofâ— bodies Art 8. The special manners of the Mollification of Hard and Induration of Soft bodies Art 9. PRâ—â—LEM Why Iron is Hardned by being immersed red-hot into Cold Water and its SOLUTION Art 10. The Formal Reasons of Softness and Hardness Art 11. The ground of Aristotles Distinction betwixt Formatilia and Preâ—â—ilia Art 12. Two Axioms concerning illustrating the nature of Softness Art 1. Flexilitâ— â—â—actility â—uctility c. deâ—ived from Sâ—â—iness and Rigidity from â—aâ—dnâ—â—s Art 2. PROBLEM What is the Câ—use of the motion of Restoration in Flexiles and the SOLUT. Art 3. Two Obstructions expeded Art 4. Why Flexile bodies grow weak by over-much and over frequent Bending Art 5. The Reason of the frequent Vibrations or Diadrâ—ms of Lutestrings other Tractile Bodies declared to be the same with that of the Restorative Motâ—â—n of Flexiles and Demonstrated Art 6. PROBLEM Why the Vibrations or Diadrâ—ms of a Chord distâ—â—ded and percussed are Aeâ—uitemporane â—us â—hough not Aeâ—â—ispatial and the SOLUT. Art 7. PROBLEM Why doth a Chord of a duple length perform its diadroms in a proportion of time duple to a Chord of a single length both being distended by equal force yet if the Chord of the duple length be distended by a duple fore or weight it doth not perform its Diadroms in a proportion of time duple to that of the other but only if the Force or weight distending it be quadruple to the First supposed and its SOLUT. Art 8. The Reasons of the vast Ductility or Extensibility of Gold Art 9. Sectility and Fissility the Consequents of Softness Art 10. Tractility and Friability the Consequents of Hardness Art 11. Ruptility the Consequent partly of Sâ—ftness partly of Hardness Art 12. PROBLEM Why Chords dâ—â—â—â—enced are more apt to break neer the Endâ— than in the middle â—nd its SOLUT. Art 1. That the Insensibility of Qualities doth not import their Vnintelligibility contrary to the presumption of the Aristotelean Art 2. Upon what grounds and by whâ—m the Sanctuary of Occult Qualities was erected Art 3. Occult Qualities and profest Ignorance all one Art 4. The Refuge of Sympathies and Antipathies equally obstructive to the advance of Natural Science with that of Ignoâ—e Proprieties Art 5. Thatall Attraction referred to Secret Sympathy and all Repulsion adscribed to secret Antipathy betwixt the Agent and Patient is effected by Corporeal Instruments and such as resemble those whereby one body Attracteth or Repelleth another in sensible and mechanique operations Art 6. The Means of Attractions sympathetical explicated by a convenient Simile Art 7. The Means of Abaction and Repulsions Antipathetical explicated likewise by sundry similitudes Art 8. The First and General Caâ—ses of all Love and Hatred betwixt Animals Art 9. Why things Alike in their natures love and delight in the Society each of other and why Vnlike natures abhor and avoid each other Art 1. Th◠〈◊〉 of Qualitâ—â— repuâ—ed â—ccult Art 2. Natures 〈…〉 in 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 or Câ—â—â—piration of all parts of the Universe no Occult Qualâ—ty Art 3. The 〈…〉 of mans will Art 4. The Afflux and Reflux of the sâ—a inderivative from any immaterial Influx of the Moon Art 5. 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 and â—â—nversion of â—he 〈◊〉 and other Flowers Art 6. Why Garden Claver hideâ—h it sâ—alk in the heat of the day Art 7. Why the 〈…〉 usually 〈◊〉 soon after midnight and at break oâ— day Art 8. Why Shell-fish growe fat in the Full of the moon and lean again at the New Art 9. Why the Selenites resembles the Moon in all not several Aâ—spects Art 10. Why the 〈…〉 Art 11. 〈…〉 Art 12. A COROLLARY Why the Granules of Gold and Silver though much more pondrous then those of the Aqua Regis and Aqua Fortis wherein they are dissolved are yet held up and kept floating by them Art 13. The Cause of the Attraction of a Less Flame by a Greater Art 14. The Cause of the Invâ—â—ation of flame to Naphtha at distance Art 15. Of the Ascention of Water into the pores of a Spunge Art 16. The same illâ—strated by the example of a Syphon Art 17. The reason of the Percolation of Liquors by a cloth whose one end lieth in the liquor and other hangs over the brim of the vessel that contains it Art 18. The reasâ—â— of the 〈…〉 that ar◠〈◊〉 Art 19. The reason of the Discent betwixt Lute-strings of sheeps Guts and those of Woolfs Art 20. The tradition of the Consuming of all Feathers of Foul by those of the Eagle exploded Art 21. Why some certain Plants befriend and advance the growth and fruitfulness of others that are their neighbours Art 22. Why sâ—me Plants thrive 〈…〉 of some others Art 23. The â—â—ason of the great Frieâ—dship betwixâ— the Male and Femaâ—e Palm-trees Art 24. Why all â—â—ines grow â—ick and
the accensed matter with such pernicity and vehemence and reciprocal arietations and in such swarms as that they repel the water affused and permit it not to enter the pores of the fewel as constantly happens in Wild-fire where the ingredients are Unctuous and consist of very tenacious particles in that case Water is so far from extinguishing the flame that it makes it more impetuous and raging However we shall acknowledg thus much that if the Principality of Cold must be adscribed to one of the Three vulgar Elements the Aer doubtless hath the best title thereunto because being the most Lax and Porous bodie of the Three it doth most easily admit and most plentifully harbour the seeds of Cold and being also subtile and Fluid it doth most easily immit or carry them along with it self into the pores of other bodies and so not only Infrigidate but some times Congeal and Conglaciate them in case they be of such Contextures and such particles as are susceptible of Congelation and Conglaciation The Fable of the Satyr and Wayfering man who blew hot and cold though in the mouth of every School-boy is yet scarce understood by their Masters nay the greatest Philosophers have found the reason of that Contrariety of Effects from one and the same Cause to be highly problematical Wherefore since we are fallen upon the cause of the Frigidity in the Aer and the Frigidity of our Breath doth materially depend thereon opportunity invites Us to solve that Problem which though both Aristotle sect 3. prob 7. Anaximenes apud Plutarch de frigore primigenio have strongly attempted yet have they left it to the conquest of Epicurus principles viz. Why doth the breath of a man warme when effâ—ated with the mouth wide open and cool when efflated with the mouth contraâ—â—ed To omit the opinions of others therefore we conceive the cause hereof to be only this that albeit the Breath doth consist of aer for the most part fraught with Calorifick Atoms emitted from the lungs and vital organs yet hath it many Frigorifick ones also interspersed among its particles which being of greater bulk than the Calorifick and so capable of a stronger impuls are by the force of efflation transmitted to greatter distance from the mouth because the Calorifick Atoms commixt with the breath in regard of their exility are no sooner dischaged from the mouth than they instantly disperse in round Wence it comes that if the breath be expired in 〈◊〉 large stream or with the mouth wide open because the circuit of the 〈◊〉 of breaâ—h is large and so the Hot Atoms emitted are not so soon dispersed therefore doth the stream feel warme to the hand objected there and so much the more warme by how much neerer the hand is held to the mouth the Calorifick Atoms being less and less Dissipated in each degree of remove But in case the breath be â—mitted with contracted lipps becausâ—â—hen the compass of the stream is small and the force of Efflation greater 〈◊〉 therefore are the Calorifick Atoms soon Disgregated and the Frigorificâ— only râ—main commixt with the Aer which affects the objected hand 〈◊〉 Cold and by how much farther in the limits of the power of Efflation◠〈◊〉 hand is held from the mouth by so much colder doth the breath appear 〈…〉 contra That Calorifick Atoms are subject to more and more 〈…〉 the stream of a Fluid substance to which they are commixt is greater and greater in circuit may be confirmed from hence that if we poure hoâ—â—â—ter from on high in frosty weather we shall observe a fume to issue 〈◊〉 â—scend from the stream all along and that so much the more plentifully by how much greater the stream is Thus we use to cool Burnt wine or 〈◊〉 by frequent refunding it from vessel to vessel or infunding it into broad and shallow vessels that so the Atoms of Heat may be the sooner disperâ—â—â— for by how much larger the superfice of the liquor is made by so much more of liberty for Exsilition is given to the Atoms of Heat containeâ—â—herein and as much of Insinuation to the Atoms of Cold in company 〈◊〉 the circumstant Aer Thus also we cool our faces in the heat of 〈◊〉 with fanning the aer towards us the Hot Atoms being thereby 〈◊〉 and the Cold impelled deeper into the pores of the skin which 〈…〉 the reason why all Winds appear so much the Colder by how much â—â—â—onger they blowe as Deâ—s Cartes hath well observed in these words 〈…〉 vehementior majoris frigiditatis perceptionem quam aer 〈…〉 corpore nostro excitat quod aer quietus tantùm exteriorem nostram 〈…〉 quae interiâ—ribus nostris carnibus frigidior est contingat ventus vero â—â—hementius in corpus nostrum actus etiam in penetralia ejus adigatur 〈◊〉 illa siut cute calidiora id circo etiam majorem frigiditatem ab ejus contaâ—â—â— percipiunt In our preceâ—ent Article touching the necessary assignatin of a Tetrahedical Figure 〈…〉 Atoms of Cold we remember we said that in respect of their 〈…〉 or plane faces they were most apt to Compinge or bind in the particle 〈◊〉 all Concretions into which they are intromitted and from thence we shalâ—â—â—ke the hint of inferring Three noble CONSECTARIES 1. That 〈◊〉 Snow Hail Hoarfrost and all Congelations are made meerly by thâ—â—â—â—romission of Frigorifick Atoms among the particles of 〈…〉 being once insinuated and commixt among them in sufficieâ—◠〈…〉 alter their fluid and lax consistence into a rigid and compact i. e. they Congeal them 2. That 〈…〉 or Trembling sometimes observed in the members of 〈…〉 that Rigor or Shaking in the beginning of most putri◠〈…〉 when the Fits of Intermittent fevers invade are chiefly cause◠〈◊〉 Frigorifick Atoms For when the Spherical Atoms of Heat which swarm in and vivifie the bodies of Animals are not moved quaquaversùm in the members with such freedom velocity and directness excentrically as they ought because meeting and contesting with those less Agile Atoms of Cold which have entred the body upon its chilling their proper motion is thereby impeded they are strongly repelled and made to recoyle towards the Central parts of the bodie in avoydance of their Adversary the Cold ones and in that tumultuous retreat or introcession they vellicate the fibres of the membranous and nervous parts and so cause a kind of vibration or contraction which if only of the skin makes that symptome which Physicians call a Horror but if of the Muscles in the Habit of the bodie makes that more vehement Concussion which they call a Rigor Either of which doth so long endure as till the Atoms of Heat being more strong by Concentration and Union have re-encountered and expelled them That it is of the Nature of Hot Atoms when invaded by a greater number of Cold ones to recoyle from them and concentre themselves in the middle of the body that contains them is demonstrable from the Experiment of Frozen