the continuance thereof all motion wou all this we know or understand no mor bodies are moved according to a certai that they do not move themselves. 237. So likewife, how to explain al ous motions and effects, by the denfit city of æther, feems incomprehenfib inftance, why fhould the acid particles of water and repel each other? why falts attract vapours in the air, and why should the particles of commo each other, fo as not to fubfide in fhould the most repellent particles be tractive upon contact? Or why fh pellent begin where the attractive fa off. Thefe, and numberlefs other eff explicable on mechanical principles, than by recourfe to a mind or fpiritu Nor will it fuffice from prefent pha effects, through a chain of natural fubordinate blind agents, to trace tellect as the remote original cause, i ated the world, and then fet it a goi not make even one fingle step in ad the phænomena, without admitting ate prefence and immediate action of real agent, who connects, moves, all things, according to fuch rules, purposes as feem good to him. 238. It is an old opinion adopted by that the elements and other natura changed each into other (c). Now, as of different bodies are agitated by di attracting and repelling, or, to fpeak ly, are moved by different laws, how ca (a) 153, 162. 46) 154, 220. ( mať nd ari afti For hofe fome repell oft at- eem in herwife gent (6). ena and es, and vine in first creWe cannting for immedi incorpoA difpofes for fuch or laws be changed, and this change accounted for by an elastic æther? Such a medium, diftinct from light or fire, feemeth not to be made out by any proof, nor to be of any ufe in explaining the phænomena. But if there be any medium employed, as a fubordinate caufe or inftrument in attraction, it would rather feem to be light (k) ; fince by an experiment of Mr. Boyle's, amber, that fhewed no fign of attraction in the fhade, being placed where the fun-beams fhone upon it, immediately attracted light bodies. Befides, it hath been discovered by fir Ifaac Newton, and an admirable discovery it was, that light is an heterogeneous medium (1) confifting of particles endued with original diftinct properties. And upon these, if I may venture to give my conjectures, it feemeth probable the specific properties of bodies, and the force of fpecific medicines may depend. Different fides of the fame ray fhall, one approach and the other recede from the Inlandic cryftal; can this be accounted for by the elasticity of a fine medium, or by the general laws of motion, or by any mechanical principles whatever? And if not, what fhould hinder but there may be specific medicines, whofe operation depends not upon mechanical principles, how much foever that notion hath been exploded of late years? 239. Why may we not fuppofe certain idiofyncrafies, fympathies, oppofitions, in the folids or fluids or animal fpirit of a human body, with regard to the fine infenfible parts of minerals or vegetables, impregnated by rays of light of different properties, not depending on the different fize, figure, number, folidity or weight of those particles, nor on the general laws of motion, fity or elafticity of a medium, bu together on the good pleasure of th original formation of things? Fro unaccountable and unforeseen mot the animal œconomy; from whe peculiar and fpecific virtues may arife, refiding in certain medicines explained by mechanical principle the general known laws of motion ed mechanical, yet peculiar motion parts, and peculiar properties de are occult and fpecific. 240. The words attraction and compliance with cuftom, be used fpeaking, motion alone is meant. it may be faid, that peculiar attract in the parts, are attended with spe the wholes. The particles of ligh ly moved to or from, retained or re Which is the fame thing as to f Newton, that the particles of acids great attractive force (m), where confifts; whence fermentation and that the most repellent are, upon attracting particles. 241. Gravity and fermentation two most extenfive principles. Fr are derived the motion and warm and blood in animals, fubterraneou earthquakes, meteors and change fphere. And, that attracting and operate in the nutrition and diffo and vegetable bodies, is the doctri (m) 202. Eden nd al in the divers arife in various eived to t to be lthough be deem Infenfible thereon, n may, in accurately that fenfe repulfion operties in vehement by objects h Sir Ifaac ndued with eir activity ution; and t, the mof received for ermentation of the heart t, fires, and the atmo elling forces on of animal both of Hip pocrates pocrates and Sir Ifaac Newton. The former of these celebrated authors, in his treatise concerning diet or regimen, observes, that in the nourishment of man, one part repells and another attracts. And again, in the fame treatise, two carpenters, faith he, faw a piece of timber; one draws, the other pushes; these two actions tend to one and the fame end, though in a contrary direction, one up, the other down: This imitates the nature of man: πνεῦμα τὸ μὲν ἕλκει, τὸ δὲ ὠθέει. 242. It is the general maxim of Hippocrates, that the manner wherein nature acts confifteth in attracting what is meet and good, and in repelling what is difagreeable or hurtful. He makes the whole of the animal œconomy to be adminiftred by the faculties or powers of nature. Nature alone, faith he, fufficeth for all things to animals. She knows of herself what is neceffary for them. Whence it is plain, he means a confcious intelligent nature, that prefides and moves the ætherial fpirit. And tho' he declares all things are accomplished on man by neceffity, yet it is not a blind fate or chain of mere corporeal caufes, but a divine neceffity, as he himself exprefly calls it. And what is this but an over-ruling intelligent power that dif pofeth of all things? 243. Attraction cannot produce, and in that fense account for the phænomena, being it felf one of the phænomena produced and to be accounted for (n). Attraction is performed by different laws, and cannot therefore in all cafes be the effect of the elafticity of one uniform medium. The phænomena of electrical bodies, the laws and variations of magnetism, and, not to mention other kinds, even gravity, is not explained by elafti menon not lefs obscure than itself. though it shews not the agent, yet and analogy in nature to fay, Th of animals are endued with attractiv by from contiguous fluids they dr and that glands have peculiar pow peculiar juices (o). Nature feems b explained by attractions and rep those other mechanical principles and the like: that is by Sir Ifaa Descartes. And natural philofo they are more or lefs acquainted methods obferved by the author o 244. The fize and shape of par laws of motion can never expla without the help of attraction, o to it's caufe, but clear as a law. ftances of this might be given: L er thought himself obliged to fupp of light or fire (contrary to all re very grofs kind, even greater t the burnt limestone, in order to being detained or imprisoned there nomenon is easily reduced to a would be no end of enumerating The activity and force of ætheria the laws of attraction, is imparte ticles (p), and thereby wonderfu œconony of living bodies. By f pofitions and attractions it feem that denfer fluids can pafs where (as oil through leather) and |