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152. This æther or pure invifible fire, the moft fubtile and elaftic of all bodies, feems to pervade and expand it felf throughout the whole univerfe. If air be the immediate agent or inftrument in natural things, it is the pure invifible fire that is the first natural mover or fpring, from whence the air derives it's power (a). This mighty agent is every where at hand, ready to break forth into action, if not reftrained and governed with the greatest wisdom. Being always reftlefs and in motion, it actuates and enlivens the whole vifible mafs, is equally fitted to produce and to deftroy, diftinguishes the various ftages of nature, and keeps up the perpetual round of generations and corruptions, pregnant with forms which it conftantly fends forth and reforbs. So quick in it's motions, fo fubtile and penetrating in it's nature, fo extenfive in it's effects, it feemeth no other than the vegetative foul or vital spirit of the world.

153. The animal fpirit in man is the inftrumental or phyfical caufe both of fenfe and motion. To fuppofe fenfe in the world, would be grofs and unwarranted. But loco-motive faculties are evident in all it's parts. The Pythagoreans, Platonists, and Stoics held the world to be an aninal. Though fome of them have chofen to confider it as a vegetable. However the phænomena and effects do plainly fhew there is a fpirit that moves, and a mind or providence that prefides. This providence, Plutarch faith, was thought to be in regard to the world, what the foul is in regard to man.

154. The order and courfe of things, and the experiments we daily make, fhew there is a mind that governs and actuates this mundane fyftem, (a) 139, 149, 151,

as

as the proper real agent and caufe. And that the inferior inftrumental caufe is pure æther, fire, or the fubftance of light (c) which is applied and determined by an infinite mind in the macrocosm or univerfe, with unlimited power, and according to ftated rules; as it is in the microcofm, with limited power and fkill by the human mind. We have no proof either from experiment or reason, of any other agent or efficient cause than mind or fpirit. When therefore we speak of corporeal agents or corporeal caufes, this is to be understood in a different, fubordinate, and improper fenfe.

155. The principles whereof a thing is.compounded, the inftrument used in its production, and the end for which it was intended, are all in vulgar ufe termed Causes, though none of them be ftrictly speaking agent or efficient. There is not any proof that an extended corporeal or mechanical caufe doth really and properly act, even motion itself being in truth a paffion. Therefore though we speak of this fiery fubftance as acting, yet it is to be understood only as a mean or inftrument, which indeed is the cafe of all mechanical caufes whatfoever. They are nevertheless fometimes termed agents and caufes, although they are by no means active in a strict and proper fignification. When, therefore, force, power, virtue, or action are mentioned as fubfifting in an extended and corporeal or mechanical being,, this is not to be taken in a true, genuine, and real, but only in a grofs and popular fenfe, which sticks in appearances, and doth not analyse things to their first principles. In compliance with eftablifhed language, and the ufe of the world, we muft employ the popular current phrafe. But then in regard to truth we ought to distinguish (c) 29, 37, 136, 149.

its meaning. It may fuffice to have made this declaration once for all, in order to avoid miftakes.

156. The calidum innatum, the vital flame, or animal spirit in man is fuppofed the cause of all motions, in the feveral parts of his body, whether voluntary or natural. That is, it is the inftrument, by means whereof the mind exerts and manifefts herself in the motions of the body. In the fame fenfe may not fire be faid to have force, to operate, and agitate the whole fyftem of the world, which is held together and informed by one prefiding mind, and animated throughout by one and the fame fiery fubftance, as an inftrumental and mechanical agent, not as a primary real efficient?

157. This pure fpirit or invifible fire is ever ready to exert and fhew itself in its effects (d), cherishing, heating, fermenting, diffolving, thi ning and operating in various manners, where a fubject offers to employ or determine its force. It is present in all parts of the earth and firmament, though perhaps latent and unobferved, till fome accident produceth it into act, and renders it vifible in its effects.

158. There is no effect in nature, great, marvellous, or terrible but proceeds from fire, that diffused and active principle, which at the same time that it shakes the earth and heavens, will enter, divide, and diffolve the smallest, clofeft, and moft compacted bodies. In remote cavities of the earth it remains quiet, till perhaps an accidental fpark from the collifion of one ftone against another kindles an exhalation, that gives birth to an earthquake or tempeft, which splits mountains, or overturns cities. This fame fire ftands unseen in

(d) 1520

*the

the focus of a burning glafs, till fubjects for it to act upon it come in it's way, when it is found to melt, calcine, or vitrify the hardest bodies.

159. No eye could ever hitherto difcern, and no fenfe perceive, the animal fpirit in a human body, otherwife than from it's effects. The fame may be faid of pure fire, or the fpirit of the univerfe, which is perceived only by means of foine other bodies, on which it operates, or with which it is joined. What the chemifts fay, of pure acids being never found alone, might as well be faid of pure fire.

160. The mind of man acts by an inftrument neceffarily. The Tuovinov, or mind prefiding in the world, acts by an inftrument freely. Without inftrumental and fecond caufes, there could be no regular courfe of nature. And without a regular courfe, nature could never be understood. Mankind must always be at a lofs, not knowing what to expect, or how to govern themfelves, or direct their actions for the obtaining of any end. Therefore in the government of the world phyfical agents, improperly fo called, or mechanical, or fecond causes, or natural caufes, or inftruments, are neceffary to affift, not the governor, but the governed.

161. In the human body the mind orders and moves the limbs: but the animal fpirit is fuppofed the immediate phyfical caufe of their motion. So likewife in the mundane fyftem, a mind prefides, but the immediate, mechanical, or inftrumental caufe, that moves or animates all it's parts, is the pure elementary fire or fpirit of the world. The more fine and fubtile part or fpirit is fuppofed to receive the impreffions of the firft mover, and communicate them to the groffer ferfible parts of this world. Motion, though in metaphyfical

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taphyfical rigor and truth, a paffion or mere effect, yet, in phyfics, paffeth for an action. And by this action all effects are fuppofed to be produced. Hence the various communications, determinations, accelerations of motion conftitute the laws of

nature.

162. The pure æther or invifible fire contains parts of different kinds, that are impreffed with different forces, or fubjected to different laws of motion, attraction, repulfion and expansion, and endued with divers diftinct habitudes towards other bcdies. Thefe feem to conftitute the many various qualities (e), virtues, flavours, odours, and colours, which diftinguish natural productions. The different modes of cohæfion, attraction, repulfion and motion, appear to be the fource from whence the specific properties are derived, rather than different shapes or figures. This, as hath been already obferved, feems confirmed by the experiment of fixed falts operating one way, notwithstanding the difference of their angles. The original particles productive of odours, flavours, and other properties, as well as of colours, are, one may fufpect, all contained and blended together in that univerfal and original feminary of pure elementary fire; from which they are diverfly feparated and attracted, by the various fubjects of the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms; which thereby become claffed into kinds, and endued with those diftinct properties, which continue till their feveral forms, or fpecific proportions of fire return into the common mass. 163. As the foul acts immediately on pure fire, fo pure pure fire fire operates immediately on air. That is, the abrasions of all terreftrial things being rendered volatile and elaftic by fire (f) and at the fame time leffening the volatility and expanfive force of the (f) 149, 150, 152.

(e) 37, 40, 44.

fire,

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