all sorts of VVets and Liquors are of a watry kind though of a different sort But as I have said all things that are Fluid are not VVet as Melted Metal Flame Light and the like are fluid but not wet and Smoak and Oyl are of another sort of Liquidness than VVater or Juyce but yet they are not wet and that which causes the difference of different sorts of VVaters and VVatry Liquors are the differences of the watry Circular Lines as some are edged some are pointed some are twisted some are braided some are flat some are round some ruff some smooth and so after divers several Forms or Figures and yet are perfect Circles and of some such a Degree of Extenuations or Dilatations CHAP. XV. Of the Alteration of the Exterior Figurative Motion of Water AS I formerly said The Figurative Motions of the Innate Nature of VVater is a sort of Extenuating as being an equal smooth Circle which is the cause VVater is rare fluid moist liquid and wet But the Exterior Figurative Motions of the watry Circle may be edged pointed sharp blunt flat round smooth ruff or the like which may be either divided or altered without any alteration of the Innate Nature or Property As for example Salt-water may be made fresh or the Salt Parts divided from the watry Circle The like of other sorts of VVaters and yet the Nature of VVater remains CHAP. XVI Of OYL and VITRIOL THE Exterior Figurative Motions of Oyl are so much like those of Water as to be fluid smooth soft moist and liquid although not perfectly wet but the Interior Figurative Motions of Oyl are of that sort of Fire that we name a Dull Dead Fire and the difference between Salt Waters Vitriol or the like and Oyl is That the Exterior Figurative Motions of Vitriol and Salt Waters are of a sort of Fire whereas it is the Interior Figurative Motions of Oyl or the like that are of those sorts of Fire and that is the reason that the fiery Motions of Oyl cannot be altered as the fiery Motions of Vitriol may But this is to be noted That although the Interior Figurative Motions of Oyl are of such a sort of fiery Motions yet not just like those of Vitriol and are not burning corroding or wounding as Vitriols Corrosives and the like are for those are somewhat more of the Nature of bright shining Fires than Oyls CHAP. XVII Of Mineral and Sulphureous Waters IN Sulphureous and Mineral Waters the Sulphureous and Mineral Corporeal Motions are Exterior and not Interior like Salt waters but there are several sorts of such waters also some are occasionally others naturally so affected for some waters running through Sulphureous or Mineral Mines gather like a rowling Stone some of the loose Parts of Gravel or Sand which as they stick or cleave to the rowling Stone so they do to the running Waters as we may perceive by those waters that spring out of Chalk Clay or Lime Grounds which will have some Tinctures of the Lime Chalk or Clay and the same happens to Minerals But some are naturally Sulphureous as for example Some sorts of hot Baths are as naturally Sulphureous as the Sea-water is Salt but all those Effects of Minerals Sulphurs and the like are dividable from and also may be joyn'd to the Body of water without any disturbance to the nature of water as may be proved by Salt-water which will cause fresh Meat to be salt and salt Meat will cause Fresh-water to be salt As for hot Baths those have hot figurative Motions but not burning and the moist liquid and wet Nature of water makes it apt to joyn and divide to and from other sorts of Motions as also to and from its own sort CHAP. XVIII The Cause of the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea THE Nature of water is to flow so that all sorts of waters will flow if they be not obstructed but it is not the Nature of Water to ebb Neither can water flow beyond the Power of its Quantity for a little water will not flow so far as a great one But I do not mean by flowing the falling of water from some Descent but to flow upon a Level for as I have said all waters do naturally flow if they be not obstructed but few sorts of water besides Sea-water ebbs As for the Exterior Figurative Motions of water in the action of flowing they are an Oval or a half Circle or a half Moon where the middle parts of the half Moon or Circle are fuller than the two Ends. Also the figure of a half Moon or half Circle is concave on the inside and convex on the outside of the Circle but these Figurative Motions in a great quantity of water are bigg and full which we name Waves of Water which waves flowing fast upon each other presses each other forward until such time as the half Circle divides for when the Bow of the half Circle is over-bent or stretched it divides into the middle which is most extended and when a half Circle which is a whole wave of water is divided the divided Parts fall equally back on each side of the flowing waves so every wave dividing after that manner in the full extension it causes the motion of ebbing that is to flow back as it flow'd forward for the divided Parts falling back and joining as they meet makes the head of the half Circle where the Ends of the half Circle were and the Convex where the Concave was by which action the ebbing Parts are become the flowing Parts And the reason that it ebbs and flows by degrees is That the flowing half Circles require so much time to be at the utmost extension Also every wave or half Circle divides not all at one time but one after another for two Bodies cannot be in one place at one point of time and until the second third and so the rest flow as far as the first they are not at their full extension And thus the Sea or such a great Body of Water must flow and ebb as being its nature to flow and the flowing Figure being over-extended by endeavouring to flow beyond its power causes a dividing of the Extended Parts which is the Cause of the Ebbing But whether this Opinion of mine be as probable as any of the former Opinions concerning the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea I cannot judg but I would not be mistaken for the flowing of the water is according to its Quantity for the further it flows the fainter or weaker it is CHAP. XIX Of OVERFLOWS AS for Overflows there be many and many more would be if the waters were not hindred and obstructed by Man's Inventions But some Overflows are very Uncertain and Irregular others Certain and Regular as the flowing of Nilus in Egypt but as for the distance of time of its flowing it may proceed from the far Journey of those flowing-waters and the time of its ebbing may be attributed to the great
Light is not Flame nor hath it any Fiery Property although it be such a sort of Extenuating or Dilating Actions as Flame hath CHAP. IX Of the two sorts of Fire most different THere are many sorts of Fires but two sorts are most opposite that is the Hot Glowing Burning Bright Shining Fire and that sort of Fire we name a Dead Dull Fire as Vitriol Fires Cordial Fires Corrosive Fires Feverish Fires and numerous other sorts and every several sort hath some several Property as for example There is greater difference between the Fiery Property of Oyl and the Fiery Property of Vitriol for Oyl is neither Exteriorly Hot nor Burning whereas Vitriol is Exteriorly Burning though not Exteriorly Hot but the difference of these sorts of Fires is That the Actions of Elemental Fire are to ascend rather than to descend and the Dull Dead Fire is rather apt to descend than ascend that is to pierce or dilate either upwards or downwards but they are both of Dilating and Dividing Natures But this is to be noted That all sorts of Heats or Hotness are not Fire Also it is to be noted That all Fires are not Shining CHAP. X. Of Dead or Dull Fires OF Dull Dead Fires some sorts seem to be of a mixt sort as for example Vitriol and the like seem to be Exteriorly of the Figurative Motions of Fire and Interiorly of the Figurative Motions of Water or of Watry Liquors And Oyl is of Fiery Figurative Motions Interiorly and of Liquid Figurative Motions Exteriorly which is the cause that the Fiery Properties of Oyl cannot be altered without a Total Dissolution of their Natures But such sorts whose Fiery Figurative Motions are Exterior as being not their Innate Nature may be divided from those other Natural Parts they were joyned to without altering their Innate Nature CHAP. XI Of the Occasional Actions of Fire ALL Creatures have not only Innate figurative Motions that cause them to be such or such a sort of Creature but they have such and such actions that cause such and such Effects also every Creature is occasioned to particular Actions by forrein Objects many times to improper actions and sometimes to ruinous actious even to the dissolution of their Nature And of all Creatures Fire is the most ready to occasion the most Mischief at least Disorders for where it can get entrance it seldom fails of causing such a Disturbance as occasions a Ruine The reason is that most Creatures are porous for all Creatures subsisting by each other must of necessity have Egress and Regress being composed of Interior and Exterior Corporeal Motions And Fire being the sharpest figurative Motion is apt to enter into the smallest Pores But some may ask Whether Fire is porous it self I answer That having Respiration it is a sufficient proof that it is Porous for Fire dyes if it hath not Air. But some may say How can a Point be porous I answer That a Point is composed of Parts and therefore may very well be porous for there is no such thing as a Single Part in Nature and therefore not a Single Point Also some may say If there be Pores in Nature there may be Vacuum I answer That in my opinion there is not because there is no empty Pores in Nature Pores signifying only an Egress and Regress of Parts CHAP. XII Fire hath not the Property to Change and Rechange OF all the Elemental Creatures Fire is the least subject to change for though it be apt to occasion other Creatures to alter yet it keeps close to its own Properties and proper Actions for it cannot change and rechange as Water can Also Natural Air is not apt to change and rechange as Water for though it can as all the Elements divide and join its Parts without altering the Property of its Nature yet it cannot readily alter and alter again its Natural Properties as Water can The truth is Water and Fire are opposite in all their Properties but as Fire is of all the Elements the furthest from altering so Water is of all the Elements the most subject to alter for all Circular Figures are apt to variety CHAP. XIII Of the Innate Figurative Motions of Water THE Nature of Water is Rare Fluid Moist Liquid Wet Glutinous and Glassie Likewise Water is apt to divide and unite its Parts most of which Properties are caused by several sorts of Dilatations or Extenuations but the Interior or Innate Figure of Water is a Circular Line But yet it is to be observed That there are many several sorts of Waters as there are many several sorts of Airs Fires and Earths and so of all Creatures for some Waters are more rare than others some more leight and some more heavy some more clear and some more dull some salt some sharp some bitter some more fresh or sweet some have cold Effects some hot Effects all which is caused by the several Figurative Motions of several sorts of Waters but the nature of Water is such as it can easily alter or change and rechange and yet keep its Interior or Innate Nature or Figure But this is also to be observed That the Dilating or Extenuating Circle of Water is of a middle Degree as between Two Extreams CHAP. XIV The Nature or Property of Water WEtness which is the Interior or Innate Property or Nature of Water is in my opinion caused by some sort of Dilatations or Extenuations As all Droughts or Dryness are caused by some sorts of Contractions so all Moistures Liquors and Wets by Dilatations yet those Extenuations or Dilatations that cause Wet must be of such a sort of Dilatations as are proper to Wet viz. Such a sort of Extenuations as are Circular Extenuations which do dilate or extenuate in a smooth equal dilatation from the Center to the Circumference which Extenuations or Dilatations are of a middle Degree for otherwise the Figure of Water might be extended beyond the Degree of Wet or not extended to the Degree of Wet And it is to be observed That there is such a Degree as only causes moistness and another to cause liquidness the third to cause wetness for though Moistness and Liquidness are in the way of Wetness yet they are not that which we name Wet also all that is Soft or Smooth is not Wet nor is all that is Liquid or Flowing Wet for some sorts of Air are liquid and flowing but not wet nay Flame is liquid and flowing but yet quite opposite from wet Dust is flowing but neither liquid or wet in its Nature And Hair and Feathers are soft and smooth but neither liquid nor wet But as I said Water is of such a Nature as to have the Properties of Soft Smooth Moist Liquid and VVet and is also of such flowing Properties caused by such a sort of Extenuating Circles as are of a Middle or Mean Degree but yet there are many several sorts of Liquors and VVets as we may perceive in Fruit Herbs and the like but
the Rational Corporeal Motions 82 XI Of the Knowledg between the Sensitive Organs of a human Creature 83 XII Of human perception or defects of a human Creature 84 XIII Of Natural Fools 85 The Seventh Part. I. Of the Sensitive actions of Sleeping and Waking 89 II. Of Sleeping 91 III. Of human Dreams 92 IV. Of the actions of Dreams 93 V. Whether the interior parts of a human Creature do sleep 94 VI. Whether all the Creatures in Nature have sleeping and waking-actions 95 VII Of human Death 97 VIII Of the Heat of human Life and the Cold of human Death 98 IX Of the last act of human Life ibid. X. Whether a human Creature hath knowledg in death or not 99 XI Whether a Creature may be new formed after a general dissolution 100 XII Of Foreknowledg 102 The Eighth Part. I. Of the irregularity of Nature's parts 105 II. Of the human parts of a human Creature 106 III. Of human Humors 107 IV. Of Blood ibid. V. Of the Radical humors or parts 109 VI. Of expelling malignant disorders in a human Creature 110 VII Of human Digestions and Evacuations 111 VIII Of Diseases in general 112 IX Of the Fundamental Diseases 113 The Ninth Part. I. Of Sickness 115 II. Of Pain 117 III. Of Dizziness 118 IV. Of the Brain seeming to turn round in the head 119 V. Of Weakness 120 VI. Of Swooning ibid. VII Of Numb and Dead Palsies or Gangren's 122 VIII Of Madness 124 IX The Sensitive and Rational parts may be distinctly mad 125 X. The parts of the head are not only subject to madness but also the other parts of the body 126 XI The Rational and Sensitive parts of a human Creature are apt to disturb each other 127 XII Of Diseases produced by conceit 130 The Tenth Part. I. Of Fevers 131 II. Of the Plague 132 III. Of the Small-Pox and Measles 134 IV. Of the intermission of Fevers or Agues 143 V. Of Consumptions 137 VI. of Dropsies ibid. VII Of Sweating 138 VIII Of Coughs 139 IX Of Gangren's 143 X. Of Cancers and Fistula's 144 XI Of the Gout ib. XII Of the Stone 145 XII Of Apoplexies and Lethargies 146 XIII Of Epilepsies 147 XIV Of Convulsions and Cramps 148 XV. Of Cholicks ibid. XVI Of Shaking-Palsies 150 XVII Of the Muther Spleen and Scurvy 151 XVIII Of Food or Digestions ibid. XIX Of Surfeits 153 XX. Of natural Evacuations and Purgings 154 XXI Of Purging-Drugs 155 XXII Of the various humors of Drugs 156 XXIII Of Cordials 157 XXIV Of the different actions of the several Sensitive Parts of a human Creature 158 XXV Of the Antipathy of some human Creatures to some Forrein Objects 159 XXVI Of the Effects of Forrein Objects on the human Mind ib. XXVII Of Contemplation 160 XXVIII Of injecting the Blood of one Animal into the Veins of ather Animal 161 The Eleventh Part. I. Of the different Knowledges in different kinds and sorts of Creatures 163 II. Of the variety of self-actions in particular Creatures 165 III. Of the variety of Corporeal Motions of one and the same sort and kind of Motion 166 IV. Of the variety of particular Creatures ibid. V. Of dividing and rejoyning or altering exterior figurative Motions 167 VI. Of different figurative Motions in particular Creatures 168 VII Of the alterations of exterior and innate figurative Motions of several sorts of Creatures 169 VIII Of Local Motion 171 IX Of several manners or ways of Advantages or Disadvantages 172 X. Of the actions of some sorts of Creatures over others 173 XI Of Glassie-Bodies 174 XII Of Metamorphoses or Transformations of Animals and Vegetables 175 XIII Of the Life and Death of several Creatures 176 XIV Of Circles 178 XV. Human Creatures cannot so probably treat of other sorts of Creatures as of their own 179 The Twelfth Part. I. Of the equality of Elements 181 II. Of several Tempers 182 III. Of the change and rechange and of dividing of the parts of the Elements 185 IV. Of the innate figurative Motions of Earth 186 V. Of the figurative Motions of Air ibid. VI. Of the innate figurative Motions of Fire 188 VII Of the productions of Elemental Fire 189 VIII Of Flame 190 IX Of the two sorts of Fire most different ibid. X. Of Dead or Dull Fires 191 XI Of the occasional Actions of Fire 192 XII Fire hath not the property to change and rechange 193 XIII Of the innate figurative Motions of Water 194 XIV The nature or property of Water 195 XV. Of the alteration of the exterior figurative motion of Water 197 XVI Of Oyl of Vitriol ibid. XVII Of Mineral and Sulphurous Waters 198 XVIII The cause of the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea 199 XIX Of Overflows 201 XX. Of the Figure of Ice and Snow 203 XXI Of the change and rechange of Water 205 XXII Of Water quenching Fire and Fire evaporating Water 206 XXIII Of inflamable Liquors 207 XXIV Of Thunder 208 XXV Of Vapour Smoak Wind and Clouds 209 XXVI Of Wind 211 XXVII Of Light 212 XXVIII Of Darkness 213 XXIX Of Colours 214 XXX Of the Exterior Motions of the Planets 216 XXXI Of the Sun and Planets and Seasons 217 XXXII Of Air corrupting dead Bodies 218 The Thirteenth Part. I. Of the innate figurative Motions of Metal 221 II. Of the melting of Metals 222 III. Of Burning Melting Boyling and Evaporating 223 IV. Of Stone 224 V. Of the Loadstone 225 VI. Of Bodies apt to ascend or descend 226 VII Why heavy Bodies descend more forcibly than leight Bodies ascend 227 VIII Of several sorts of Densities and Rarities Gravities and Levities 228 IX Of Vegetables 229 X. Of the production of Vegetables 230 XI Of replanting Vegetables 232 APPENDIX The First Part. I. Whether there can be a Substance that is not a Body 237 II. Of an Immaterial 239 III. Whether an Immaterial be perceivable 240 IV. Of the Difference between GOD and Nature 241 V. All the Parts of Nature worship GOD ibid. VI. Whether GOD's Decrees are limited 242 VII Of GOD's Decrees concerning the particular Parts of Nature 243 VIII Of the Ten Commandments 244 IX Of several Religions 245 X. Of Rules and Prescriptions 246 XI Sins and Punishments are material 247 XII Of human Conscience 248 The Second Part. I. Whether it is possible there could be Worlds consisting only of the Rational parts and others only of the Sensitive parts 251 II. Of Irregular and Regular Worlds 254 III. Whether there be Egress and Regress between the Parts of several Worlds 255 IV. Whether the Parts of one and the same Society could after their dissolution meet and unite 256 V. Whether if a Creature being dissolved if it could unite again would be the same 257 VI. Of the Resurrection of Human-kind 259 VII Of the dissolution of a World 260 VIII Of a new Heaven and a new Earth 261 IX Whether there shall be a Material Heaven and Hell ibid. X. Concerning the Joys or Torments of the Blessed and Cursed after they are in Heaven or Hell 263
great heavy Ship as big as an ordinary House fraughted with Iron will swim upon the face of the Water when as a small Bullet no bigger than a Hasle-Nut will sink to the bottom of the Sea A great Bodied Bird will flye up into the air when as a small Worm lies on the earth with a slow kind of crawling and cannot ascend All which is caused by the manner of their Shapes and not the matter of Gravity and Levity CHAP. VII Why Heavy Bodies descend more forcibly than Leight Bodies ascend ALthough the manner of the Shape of several Creatures is the chief cause of their Ascent and Descent yet Gravity and Levity doth occasion more or less Agility for a Heavy Body shall descend with more force than a Leight Body ascend and the reason is not only that there may be more Parts in a Heavy Body than a Leight but that in a Descent every Corporeal Motion seems to press upon each other which doubles and trebles the Strength Weight and Force as we may perceive in the Ascending and Descending of the Flight of Birds especially of Hawks of which the weight of the Body is some hindrance to the Ascent but an advantage to the Descent but yet the Shape of the Bird hath some advantage by the Weight in such sort that the Weight doth not so much hinder the Ascent as it doth assist the Descent CHAP. VIII Of several sorts of Densities and Rarities Gravities and Levities THere are different sorts of Densities and Rarities Softness and Hardness Levities and Gravities as for example The density of Earth is not like the density of Stone nor the density of Stone like the density of Metal nor are all the Parts of the Earth dense alike nor all Stones nor all Metals as we may perceive in Clay Sand Chalk and Lime-Grounds Also we may perceive difference between Lead Tynne Copper Iron Silver and Gold and between Marble Alablaster Walling-Stone Diamonds Crystals and the like and so much difference there is between one and the same kind that some particulars of one sort shall more resemble another kind than their own as for example Gold and Diamonds resemble each other's Nature more than Lead doth Gold or Diamonds Crystal I say in their Densities Also there is a great difference of the Rarity Gravity and Levity of seral sorts of Waters and of several sorts of Air. CHAP. IX Of VEGETABLES VEgetables are of numerous sorts and every sort of very different Natures as for example Some are Reviving Cordials others Deadly Poyson some are Purgers others are Nourishers some have Hot Effects some Cold some Dry some Moist some bear Fruit some bears no Fruit some appear all the year Young others appear but part of the year Young and part Old some are many years a producing others are produced in few hours some will last many hundred years others will decay in the compass of few hours some seem to dye one part of the year and revive again in another part of the year some rot and consume in the Earth after such a time and will continue in perfection if parted from the Earth Others will wither and decay as soon as parted from the Earth Some are of a dense Nature some of a rare Nature some grow deep into the Earth others grow high out of the Earth some will only produce in dry Soyls some in moist some will produce only in Water as we may perceive by some Ponds others on Houses of Brick or Stone Also some grow out of Stone as many Stones will have a green Moss some are produced by sowing their Seed into the Earth others by setting their Roots or Slips into the Earth others again by joyning or engrafting one Plant into another so that there is much variety of Vegetables and those of such different Natures that they are not only different Sorts but are variety of Effects of one and the same sort and it requires not only the study of one Human Creature or many Human Creatures but of all the Human Creatures in all Nations and Ages to know them which is the reason that those that have writ of the Natures of Herbs Flowers Roots and Fruits may be much mistaken But I living more constantly in my Study than in my Garden shall not venture to treat much of the particular Natures and Natural Effects of Vegetables CHAP. X. Of the Production of Vegetables T IS no wonder that some sorts of Vegetables are produced out of Stone or Brick as some that will grow on the top of Houses by reason that Brick is made of Earth and Stone is generated in the Bowels of the Earth which shows they are of an Earthly Nature or Substance Neither is it a wonder that Vegetables will grow upon some sorts of Water by reason some sorts of Waters may be mixt with some Parts of Earth But I have been credibly informed That a Man whose Legg had been cut and a Seed of an Oat being gotten into the Wound by chance the Oat did sprout out into a green Blade of Grass which proves that Vegetables may be produced in several Soyls But 't is probable that though many sorts of Vegetables may sprout as Barly in Water yet they cannot produce any of the off-spring of the same Sort or Kind But my Thoughts are at this present in some dispute as Whether the Earth is a Part of the Production of Vegetables as being the Breeder or whether the Earth is only Parts of Respiration and not Parts of Production and so rather Breathing-Parts than Breeding-Parts as Water to Fishes But if so then every particular Seed must encrease not only by a bare Transformation of their Parts into the first Form of Production but by division of their united Parts must produce many other Societies of the same sort as Religious Orders where one Convent divides into many Convents of the same Order which occasions a numerous Encrease So the several Parts of one Seed may divide into many Seeds of the same sort as being of the same Species but then every Part of that Seed must be encreased by additional Parts which must be by Nourishing Parts which Nourishing Parts are in all probability Earthy Parts or at least partly of Earthy Parts and partly of some of the other Elemental Parts but as I have often said all Creatures in Nature are Assisted and do Subsist by each other CHAP. XI Of Replanting Vegetables REplanting of Vegetables many times occasions great Alterations in so much as a Vegetable by often Replanting will be so altered as to appear of another sort of Vegetable the reason is that several sorts or parts of Soyls may occasion other sorts of Actions and Orders in one and the same Society But this is to be noted in the Lives of many Animals That several sorts of Food make great alterations in their Temper and Shape though not to alter their Species yet so as to cause them to appear worse or better but
perfect Animal when it was Quick yet not ripe that is not at the full Perfection of a Human Creature As it is with Fruits for a Green Plumb is not like a Ripe Plumb but any Green Fruit is like a Dead Fruit in comparison of a Ripe Fruit. At last the Parts of my Mind did agree That if a Human Creature was dissolved excepting the bare Carcase it would require Ten Months time ere it could perfectly be restored for the Springing Parts would require so long a time ere they could come to full Maturity X. THE Question being stated Whether the Restoring-Bed was a Fleshy Bed All the Parts of my Mind after many Disputes agreed That it could not be a Fleshy Bed by reason the nature of Flesh is so corruptible dissolvable and easie to be dissolved that it could not possibly be of such a lasting nature as is required for Restoring-Beds But yet they agreed they were like Flesh for Softness or Spunginess as also for Colour Also they agreed That the Animal Restoring-Bed was of such a Nature or Property that it could dilate and contract as it had occasion in so much that it could contract to the compass of the smallest or extend to the magnitude of the largest Animal Also they did agree That it was somewhat like the Stomack of a Human Creature or of the like Animal that could open and shut the Orifice and that when an Animal Creature was put into the Restoring-Bed it would immediately inclose the Animal and when it had caused a perfect Restoration the Restoring-Bed would open it self and deliver it to its own Liberty XI ANother Question amongst the Parts of my Mind concerning Restoring-Beds or Wombs was That in case there were such Restoring-Beds in Nature as in all probability there were Where could those Restoring-Beds be viz. Whether there were any in this World If not in this World in any other World The Minor Parts were of opinion There were none in this World but that there were some in other Worlds The Major Part 's Opinion was That there were such Beds but that Human Creatures would not know them though they could perceive them nor if they could perceive them could they tell how to make use of them At last they all agreed That those Restoring-Beds were in the Center of the World but where the Center is no Human Creature no not the most Subtile and Learned Mathematicians Geometricians or Astrologers could with their most Laborious Arts and Subtile Observations know and therefore unless by a special Decree from God no such Restoration can be made XII THE Parts of my Mind were very studious to conceive where the Center of the World was Some of the Parts of my Mind was of opinion That there were four Centers viz. A Center in the Earth a Center in the Air a Center in the Sea and a Center in the Element of Fire Upon which Opinion the Parts of my Mind divided into Minor and Major Parts The Minor Parts were of opinion That there were Centers in all the Four Elemental Parts and that the Restoring-Beds were only of four Kinds but yet there might be many several sorts of each particular Kind and that each particular Kind with all the several Sorts was produced in each particular Elemental Center The Major Part was of opinion That there might be infinite Centers if there were infinite Worlds also there might be many Centers in this World for every round Globe hath a Center But their Opinion concerning the Restoring-Beds was That they were in the Center of the Globe of our whole World and not of any of the Parts of the World for the Air could have but an uncertain Center neither could the Water have a very solid Center and the Earth was too solid to have a Center consisting of the Four kinds of Elements neither could the Elemental Fire have such a Center as to breed such different kinds and sorts of Beds as the Restoring-Beds are because many of them are quite of a different nature from the nature of Elemental Fire wherefore it must be the Center of the World which must consist of all the Elemental kinds XIII AFter the former Argument the Parts of my Mind were very studious in conceiving where the Center of the whole Universe of this our World might be at last they all agreed It was the Sea which is the Watry Element for the Sea is inclosed with the Airy Fiery and Earthy Parts of the Universe and therefore must be the Center And though the Sea was the Center of the World yet there was a Center of the Sea so that there was a Center in a Center in which Center were the Restoring-Beds XIV AFter the former Conceptions the Parts of my Mind were very studious to conceive where the Center 's Center might be But they could not possibly conceive it by reason they could not possibly imagine how large and of what compass the Sea may be of for they did verily believe that the utmost extension of the Sea is not as yet known to Human-Kind for that Circle about which the Ships of Cavendishe and Drake did swim might be in comparison to the whole Body of the Sea but such a Circle as a Boy may occasion with throwing a small Stone or such like thing into a Pond of Water XV. THE last Conception of my Mind concerning Restoring-Beds was That the Parts of my Mind did conceive That the Center of the whole Universe was the Sea and in the Center of the Sea was a small Island and in the Center of the Island was a Creature like in the outward Form to a great and high Rock Not that this Rock was Stone but it was of such a nature by the natural Compositions of Parts that it was compounded of Parts of all the principal Kinds and Sorts of the Creatures of this World viz. Of Elemental Animal Mineral and Vegetable kinds and being of such a nature did produce out of it self all kinds and sorts of Restoring-Beds whereof some sorts were so loose that they only hung by Strings or Nerves others stuck close Some were produced at the top or upper parts others were produced out of the middle parts and some were produced from the lower parts or at the bottom In short the Opinion of the Parts of my Mind was That this Rocky Creature was all covered with its own Productions which Productions were of all Kinds and Sorts not that they were numerous but various Productions also that these various Productions were Restoring-Beds for the nature of this Rocky Creature is as lasting as the Sun or other Planets which was the reason that those Productions are not subject to decay as other Productions are nor can they produce new Creatures but only restore former Creatures as those that had been Produced and were partly Dissolved THE CONCLUSION AFter the Wisest Parts of my Mind had ended their Arguments there being some of the Dullest and the most Unbelieving or rather Strange Parts of my Mind that had retired into the Glandula of my Brain which is a kind of a Kernel which they made use of instead of a Pulpit out of which they declared their Opinions thus Dear Associates We that were not Parties of your Disputations or Argumentations concerning Restoring-Beds being retired into the Glandula of the Brain where we have been informed by the Nerves and Sensitive Spirits of your wise Opinions and subtile Arguments Considering that your Conclusion was as improbable if not as impossible as the Chymical Philosophers-Stone or Elixir We desire you being Parts of one and the same Society not to trouble the whole Society in the search of that which if it was in Nature will never be found But to prevent that your painful Studies and witty Arguments be not buried in Oblivion We advise you To perswade the Sensitive Parts of our Society to record them so that they may be divulged to all the Societies of our own Kind or Sort of Creatures as Chymists do who after they have wasted their Times and Estates to gain the Philosophers-Stone or Elixir write Books to teach it to the Sons of Art which is impossible at least very improbable ever to be learn'd there being no such Art in Nature but were it possible such an Art was to be obtained yet when obtained the Artist would never divulge it in Print But those great Practitioners finding after much Loss and Pains nothing but Despair write Books of that Art which instead of the Elixir did produce Despair which again though produced by Art did produce naturally that Vice named Malice and Malice being a Pregnant Seed sowed upon the Fertile Ground of their Writings produces so much Mischief that many men of good Estates have been undone in following their Rules in Chymistry And if your Books should be as succesful as Chymistry hath been I dare not say among Fools but amongst Credulous Men your Books will cause as much Mischief as theirs have done not by the ways of Fire but by the ways of Water for your Books send men to Sea a much Cooler Element than Fire but more Dangerous than Chymical Fire unless Chymical Fire be Hell-Fire Upon which Discourse the rest of my Thoughts were very angry and pull'd them out of their Pulpit the Glandula and not only so but put them out of their Society believing they were a Factious Party which in time might cause the Society's Dissolution FINIS