light that colli , en t (a). thofe ecor Ity at or par all pof arly, if fphere, nother, diftinct ther eye g each over by e points quently, Efpace a hat many notwithperform t is not Om every often fee 20 an object, though more dimly, when many rays are intercepted by a grofs medium. 209. Befides, we may fuppofe the particles of light to be indefinitely fmall, that is, as fmall as we please, and their aggregate to bear as fmall a proportion to the void as we please, there being nothing in this that contradicts the phænomena. And there needs nothing more in order to conceive the poffibility of rays paffing from and to all visible points, although they be not incorporeal. Suppose Suppofe a hundred ports placed round a circular fea, and fhips failing from each port to every other; the larger the fea, and the smaller the veffels are fuppofed, the lefs danger will there be of their ftriking against each other. But as there is by hypothefis no limited proportion between the fea and the fhips, the void and folid particles of light, fo there is no difficulty that can oblige us to conclude the fun's light incorporeal from it's free paffage; efpecially when there are fo many clear proofs of the contrary. As for the difficulty, therefore, attending the fuppofition of fphere ftudded with eyes looking at each other, this is removed only by fuppofing the particles of light exceeding fmall relatively to the empty fpaces. 210. Plotinus fuppofeth, that from the fun's light which is corporeal, there fprings forth another equivocal light which is incorporeal, and as it were the brightnefs of the former. Marfilius Ficinus alfo, obferving it to be a doctrine in the Timæus of Plato, that there is an occult fire or fpirit diffused throughout the universe, intimates that this fame occult invifible fire or light is, as it were, the fight of the mundane foul. And Plotinus, in his fourth Ennead, fheweth it to be his opinion, that the world feeth it felf and all it's parts. The Platonic philofophers do refine upon light, and foar very high to flame; from flame to light; from light to the occult light of the celef dane foul, which they fuppofed to agitate the substance of the universe rous and expansive motion. 211. If we may believe Diogenes Pythagoræan philofophers thought certain pure heat or fire, which had vine in it, by the participation wher came allied to the gods. And acco Platonifts, heaven is not defined fo local fituation, as by it's purity. TH most excellent fire, that is heaven, And again, the hidden fire that ev erts it felf, he calls celeftial. He as moft powerful and active, dividir abhorring all compofition or mixtu bodies. And, as foon as it gets f inftantly into the common mafs of which is every where present and late 212. This is the general fource and ftrength, and therefore of heal mals, who conftantly receive it's ill in air, through the lungs and pores The fame spirit imprifoned in food a is conveyed into the ftomach, the lacteals, circulated and fecreted b ducts, and diftributed throughout th Plato in his Timæus enumerating juices, names wine in the first plac the fecond. But wine is preffed fr and fermented by human industry. all ignited juices purely natural, tar in his account be efteemed the first. (a) 37, 42, 44. ally fible nun and vigos, the was a at dien beto the by it's eft and Ficinus. here exents fire things, th other relapfing tial fire, 213. The vivifying luminous æther exifts in all places, even the darkeft caverns, as is evident from hence, that many animals fee in those dark places, and that fire may be kindled in them by the collifion or attrition of bodies. It is alfo known that certain perfons have fits of feeing in the dark. Tiberius was faid to have had this faculty or distemper. I my felf knew an ingenious man, who had experienced it feveral times in himself. And doctor Willis, in his tract De fanguinis accenfione, mentions another of his own knowledge. This luminous æther or fpirit is therefore faid by Virgil, to nourish or cherish the innermoft earth, as well as the heavens and celeftial bodies. Principio cœlum ac terras, campofque liquentes, 214. The principles of motion and vegetation in living bodies feem to be delibations from the invisible fire or spirit of the universe (a). Which, though present to all things, is not nevertheless one way received by all; but variously imbibed, attracted, and fecreted by the fine capillaries, and exquifite ftrainers in the bodies of plants and animals, whereby it becomes mixed and detained in their juices. 215. It hath been thought by some obfervers of nature, that the fine glandular veffels admit from the common mafs of the blood, only fuch juices, as are homogeneous to thofe, with which they were originally imbued. How they came to be fo imbued doth not appear. But thus much is plain; that fine tubes attract fluids, that the glands are fine tubes, and that they attract very (a) 43, 157, 164, 171. N 2 diffe 213. The different juices from the common mass. holds alfo with regard to the capillar of vegetables, it being evident that fine ftrainers in the leaves and all ov of the plant, there be juices or fluid cular kind drawn in, and feparated fro mon mafs of air and light. And th elaborate fpirit, whereon the charact guifhing virtue and properties of the p is of a luminous (b) and volatile n loft or efcaping into air or æther, f oils and odoriferous waters, without diminution of the fubject. 216. As different kinds of fecreted produce different effences, virtues, or perties, fo alfo different degrees of different effects. Thus one degree o the blood from coagulating, and an coagulates the blood. Thus a mor hath been obferved to fet free and c very light, which a more moderate troduced and fixed in the calcined r timony. In like manner, one kind of this ætherial fiery fpirit may be c friendly to the fpirits of a man, v may be noxious. 217. And experience fheweth this For the fermented fpirit of wine or produceth irregular motions, and fu preffions in the animal fpirits. Wh minous fpirit lodged and detained in t fam of pines and firs, is of a nature benign and proportioned to the human as to warm without heating, to cheer (a) 30, 31, 33, 35(6) 37, 43 ame ; (a) the body parti commoft diftin. epend, being ffential fenfible or fire ific pro produce at keeps degree olent fire off that had inis of an quantity enial and e another be true. her liquors quent de as the lu native bal mild and Onftitution at not ine briate, briate, and to produce a calm and fteddy joy like the effect of good news, without that finking of fpirits which is a fubfequent effect of all fermented cordials. I may add, without all other inconvenience, except that it may, like any other medicine, be taken in too great a quantity for a nice ftomach. In which cafe it may be right, to leffen the dofe, or to take it only once in the four and twenty hours, empty, going to bed (when it is found to be least offenfive) or even to fufpend the taking of it for a time, till nature fhall feem to crave it, and joice in it's benign and comfortable fpirit. re 218. Tar-war ferving as a vehicle to this fpirit is both diuretic and diaphoretic, but feems to work it's principal effect by affifting the vis vitæ, as an alterative and cordial, enabling nature by an acceffion of congenial spirit, to affimilate that which could not be affimulated by her proper force, and fo to fubdue the fomes morbi. And this fhould feem in most cafes the beft and fafeft courfe. Great evacuations weaken nature as well as the difcafe. And it is to be feared that they who ufe falivations and copious bleedings may, though they fhould recover of the diftemper, in their whole life be never able to recover of the remedies. 219. It is true indeed, that in chronical cafes there is need of time to compleat a cure, and yet I have known this tar-water in diforders of the lungs and stomach to prove a very speedy remedy, and to allay the anxiety and heat of a fever in an inftant, giving eafe and fpirits to the patient, This I have often experienced, not without furprife, at seeing thefe falutary effects follow fos mediately in a fever on taking a glass of tar-water, Such is the force of these active vivifying princi ples contained in this balfam. 220. Force |