(72)

its meaning. It may fuffice to have n declaration once for all, in order to ftakes.

the vi

a

156. The calidum innatum, or animal spirit in man is fuppofed the all motions, in the feveral parts of his bo ther voluntary or natural. That is, it ftrument, by means whereof the mind e manifefts herself in the motions of the the fame fenfe may not fire be faid to ha to operate, and agitate the whole fyfte world, which is held together and inf one prefiding mind, and animated throu one and the fame fiery fubftance, as an i tal and mechanical agent, not as a pri efficient?

157. This pure fpirit or invifible fi
ready to exert and fhew itfelf in its e
cherishing, heating, fermenting, diffolv
ning and operating in various manners,
fubject offers to employ or determine its
is prefent in all parts of the earth and fi
though perhaps latent and unobferved,
accident produceth it into act, and rend
ble in its effects.

158. There is no effect in nature, gr vellous, or terrible but proceeds from diffused and active principle, which at time that it shakes the earth and heavens ter, divide, and diffolve the fmalleft, cl most compacted bodies. In remote cavi earth it remains quiet, till perhaps an fpark from the collifion of one ftone aga ther kindles an exhalation, that gives bi earthquake or tempeft, which fplits mou overturns cities. This fame fire ftands,

(d) 152.

the focus of a burning glass, 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, otherwise than from it's effects. The famẹ may be faid of pure fire, or the fpirit of the univerfe, which is perceived, only by means of fome other bodies, on which it operates, or with which it is joined. What the chemists 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 Toyμovxov, or mind prefiding ἡγεμονικὸν, in the world, acts by an inftrument freely. Without inftrumental and fecond caufes, there could be no regular course of nature. And without a regular course, nature could never be understood. Mankind must always be at a lofs, not knowing what to expect, or how to govern themselves, or direct their actions for the obtaining of any end. Therefore in the government of the world physical agents, improperly fo called, or mechanical, or fecond caufes, or natural causes, 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 fup pofed the immediate phyfical caufe of their motion. So likewife in the mundane fystem, 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 supposed to receive the impreffions of the first mover, and communicate them to the groffer fenfible parts of this world. Motion, though in metaphyfical

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taphyfical rigor and truth, a paffion or yet, in physics, paffeth for an action. action all effects are fuppofed to b Hence the various communications, ons, accelerations of motion conftitut 'nature.

162. The pure æther or invifible parts of different kinds, that are in different forces, or fubjected to diffe motion, attraction, repulfion and ex endued with divers diftinct habitudes bodies. These feem to constitute th ous qualities (e), virtues, flavours, od Jours, which distinguish natural prod different modes of cohæfion, attracti and motion, appear to be the fource the specific properties are derived, rat rent fhapes or figures. This, as hath obferved, feems confirmed by the fixed falts operating one way, notwi difference of their angles. The orig productive of odours, flavours, and ties, as well as of colours, are, one m contained and blended together in tha original feminary of pure elementar which they are diverfly feparated and the various fubjects of the animal, v mineral kingdoms; which thereby l into kinds, and endued with thofe d ties, which continue till their feveral f fic proportions of fire return into the

163. As the foul acts immediatel fo pure fire operates immediately on the abrasions of all terreftrial things volatile and elaftic by fire (f) and at leffening the volatility and expanfiv (e) 37, 40, 44. (f) 149, 15

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0,152.

fire, whofe particles they attract and adhere to (k), there is produced a new fluid, more volatile than water or earth, and more fixed than fire. Therefore the virtues and operations imputed to air muft be ultimately attributed to fire, as that which imparts activity to air itself.

164. The element of æthereal fire or light feems to comprehend, in a mixed ftate, the feeds, the natural caufes and forms (g) of all fublunary things, The groffer bodies feparate, attract, and repel the feveral conftituent particles of that heterogeneous element; which, being parted from the common mafs, make diftinct effences, producing and combining together fuch qualities and properties, as are peculiar to the several fubjects, and thence often extracted in effential oils or odoriferous waters, from whence they exhale into the open air, and return into their original element.

165. Blue, red, yellow, and other colours, have been discovered by Sir Ifaac Newton to depend on the parted rays or particles of light. And in like manner, a particular odour or flavour, feemeth to depend on peculiar particles of light or fire (b); as appears from heat's being neceffary to all vegetation whatfoever, and from the extreme minuteness and volatility of thofe vegetable fouls or forms, flying off from the fubjects without any fenfible diminution of their weight. These particles, blended in one common ocean, fhould feem to conceal the diftinct forms, but, parted and attracted by proper fubjects, difclofe or produce them. As the particles of light, which, when feparated, form diftinct colours, being blended are loft in one uniform ap, pearance.

166. Agreeably thereto, an ether or fire was fuppofed by Heraclitus to of the generation of all things, or that all things drew their original. The taught, that all fubftance was origina fhould return to fire: that an active fu diffufed or expanded throughout the verfe; the feveral parts whereof wer fuftained, and held together by it's fo was the opinion of the Pythagoræans informs us, that heat or fire was the life animating the whole fyftem, and all the elements (a). The Platonists as the Pythagoreans, held fire to be ate natural agent, or animal fpirit; t warm, to heat, to enlighten, to veget duce the digeftions, circulations, fecreti ganical motions in all living bodies, animal, being effects of that element it actuates the macrocofm, fo it anim crocófm. In the Timæus of Plato, th fed fomething like a net of fire, and in a human body. Doth not this fee the animal fpirit, flowing, or rather d the nerves?

167. According to the Peripatetics of heaven, or the fiery æthereal fubfta the forms of all inferior beings (b). It to teem with forms, and impart them fitted to receive them. The vital ford the Peripatetic fenfe is vital to all, but ceived according to the diverfity of So all colours are virtually contained i but their actual diftinctions of blue, and the reft, depend on the difference jects which it illuftrates. Ariftotle in t

(a) 152, 153. (b) 43.