A Philosophical Essay: DECLARING The probable Causes, whence Stones are produced in the Greater World. From which occasion is taken to search into the Origin of all Bodies, discovering them to proceed from Water, and Seeds. Being a Prodromus to a Medicinal Tract concerning the Causes, and Cure of the Stone in the Kidneys, and Bladders of Men. WRITTEN By Dr. Thomas Shirley, Physician in Ordinary to His MAJESTY.  
LONDON, Printed for William Cademan, at the Pope's Head, in the Lower Walk of the New-Exchange. 1672.   

To the Illustrious, GEORGE, Duke, Marquis, and Earl of Buckingham; Earl of Coventry, Viscount Villiers, Baron Whaddon of Whaddon, Lord Ross of Hamlock, Belvoir, and Trusbut, etc. Master of the Horse, Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter, Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, and one of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council.  
May it please your Grace,  
'tIs not the sublime condition in which you are, nor the eminent, and great Honours with which you deservedly shine, (as a bright Star, of the first Magnitude, in our little World,) that hath induced me to address this ensuing Discourse to you; but the great, and excellent knowledge of Natural Being's your Grace hath acquired by a constant, and curious Anatomising of all sort of Concrets in your Laboratory; a way certainly the most likely to give you a faithful and solid account of the Nature of things, by discovering to you the real principles of which they are constituted. This it is, which made me conclude, I should have done a great injustice, had I put this Tract under any other Protection than yours. And indeed, at whose feet can a Subject of this Nature be so fitly placed as at your Grace's, you being so great an Experimental Philosopher?  
But lest I prove tedious, I will conclude this Epistle, with assuring you, that not only this Book, but the Author of it, are both Dedicated to your Grace's Service, by him that in all Humility subscribes himself,  
My Lord, Your Graces most Obedient, and Faithful Servant, THO. SHIRLEY.   

TO THE READER.  
READER,  
Custom, which hath the power to make, and establish Laws, hath obliged me to comply in this particular of writing to thee. Otherwise I was resolved to suffer this ensuing Discourse to appear naked, and without an Advocate, [as Philosophical Subjects ought to do:] that so the minds of the studious, being free from preposession, might be the better able to judge of the truth of the Matter in hand, and of the validity of the Arguments I produce to evince it.  
This, I say, I would have done, could I have been assured, that this Book should have fallen under the censure of none but Philosophical, and knowing Men, to whom I should have thought myself happy to have submitted my labours in this kind▪ To which sort of inquisitive, and industrious Men, I pretend not to have done any further service in these Lucubrations; then by having laid together those Arguments, and Experiments, which did readily occur to my mind▪ and which I thought might conduce to prove the Matter in hand, a Subject ●it to be seriously looked into; and though I seem in some places to be determinate, yet I declare▪ [once for all] I have not the vanity to think I have put such a Ne plus ultra to the inquiries into this Subject, that ●o further discoveries are to be made; nothing less. For though the Subject be rough, and hard, yet it is far from being unfruitful. And if by my endeavours I shall prove Instrumental, [by giving of hints, etc.] too put other industrious Philosophers, who are fitted with better parts, and more time, to dig deeper in these Quarries, I shall think it glory sufficient, to have been thus far serviceable to the Commonwealth of Learning: and if by the endeavours of such Worthy Men, I shall find myself confirmed in my Opinion, I shall rely upon it with the greater security. But if by their inquirius, other, and truer causes shall appear; I shall not scruple to a knowledge, that I will willingly become a Proselyte to Truth, though at the same time it is discovered it convince me of having been erroneous in my Opinion.  
But at present, thinking I defend a verity, I shall not easily recede from my Opinion, without my judgement be convinced, by the same means I make use of, to Proselyte others: that is, both by reason, and Experiments. And likewise let me add this, that I shall expect the same Candid, and civil dealing from such who intent to confute me, which I have showed to those whose Opinions I reject. For otherwise I shall conclude a railing Adversary fitter for my slight, than reply; I knowing a better use of my time, then to spend it so unfruitfully.  
As I court not applause, which is a vanity anbefitting a Philosopher; So, having [as I suppose] appeared in a good Cause, that is, the defence of a philosophical truth, [viz. that the Matter of Stones, and all other Bodies, is Water, and their Efficient Seed] I shall not fear Censure, though I must be exposed to that of any Man, which shall take the pains to peruse my Book; I am not ignorant of the Proverb, So many Men, so many Minds: Nor of that other, Haben●●sua fata Likelli: And therefore cannot expect that impossibility of pleasing every body; but that I may be as useful as I can to those Readers, which though they may have large Souls, have yet been little Conversant with things of this Nature; I say, that I may be as Instructive as I can, and that my meaning may not be mistaken, I shall therefore inform them of these things following.  
First, that there are many Men, of great Natural parts, which yet want the advantage of understanding the Greek, and Latin● ●ong●●s; for whose sakes, I have [that I might be the more useful] Translated into the English, all those quotations which I make use of, from Authors which have writ in those Learned▪ Languages, and that [for the most part] Verbatim, [though sometimes I only deliver their sense.] And to satisfy the scrupulous, yet Learned sort of Readers] of my integrity, I have almost constantly given them the very words, and in the same Language they are delivered by those I qu●te▪ together with the Book, and for the most part, Page, where the Original words may be found, [marked in the Margin.]  
Secondly, If it shall be objected, that I am very frequent in quotations, [a thing much out of fashion;] and that therefore it may be supposed, I have said little but what will be found expressed by others; I shall acknowledge I have wilfully done so, because I had a desire to get myself strongly Seconded in my Opinion by the determinations of Learned Men; [And of the Testimony of such only have I made use] For I verily believes that if an Angel himself should avouch any thing singly, and as his own Opinion, he would not be believed by some Men. But however the Reader will have these Advantages by it, First, those things are here contracted, and brought under their proper heads, which are dispersed in many Voluminous▪ Authors; which will save him time in searching many Books. Secondly, He may find the Pith, and Substance of what others have written in their Languages, delivered in his own. And thirdly, here are, besides, many Experiments, and Observations of my own, very conducible [I suppose,] to clear, and explicate those Philosophical Principles I have undertaken to defend in this Discourse.  
Thirdly, If any Man shall be so much a Mo●us, as to repine at the j●st commendations I often give to Van Helmont, and Mr. Boyl; I must needs say, that I think his ill Nature proceeds from his want of throughly knowing these Authors: for if he had taken the pains to search the depth of these two, as I have done, I doubt not but he would acknowledge, I have fallen short of giving them their deserved praise, [they having merited so much from all inquisitive, and Learned Men.]  
Lastly, I think it necessary to tell thee, how I would have to be understood those two words of Seed, and Water, the Principles upon which I have built this Discourse.  
First then, by Seed I understand a fine, subtle Substance, [imperciptible by our gros● Organs of S●os●tion;] in which God hath impressed a Character of that thing he will have it produce from the Matter it is to work upon: which it doth perform by putting the parts of Matter into such a peculiar motion as is requisite to produce the intended Effect. And this we may illustrate thus.  
A Woman with Child, by a strong desire, forms in her Spirits an Idea of some Fruit she longs for; and by the powerful motion of that Idea working on the Child, she forms a real Effigies of the said Fruit upon that Member of the Child which corresponds to that of her own Body she touched with her hand; which, as Experience teacheth us, will Vegetate, grow Ripe, and Whither, according to the several mutations the Fruit it resembles undergoes. And we are told by Esdras, that God, before he made the World, did consider the things he intended to make; and then produced them. By which Expression, I think may well be understood, the Creation of all those Spiritual, and Seminal Being's, containing in them, not only an Idea of the thing to be made; but also a power to move the Matter after a peculiar manner, by which means it reduceth it to a form like itself. And as a Painter doth first conceive in his mind a Spiritual Idea of the Picture he intendeth to draw; and afterwards by pecultar Motions of his hand, which are guided by the said Idea, he produceth a perfect Picture Corresponding with that in his mind: So likewise, by putting Matter into peculiar Motions, the Seminal Idea makes itself visible.  
By Water, the Material Principle of all Concrets, I understand, a fluid Body, consisting of very minute parts, and variously figured Atoms, or Corpuscules, the Mass of it being full of pores, and therefore subject to be contracted into less room: and upon the same account it doth easily, and readily submit to those motions it is put into by Seminal Being's: from which moving of Matter all the visible, and Tangible Bodies of the World, have their result. And therefore I have, all along this ensuing Discourse, took care to explicate the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Origin of Bodies, by the Mechanical Principles: That is, by the Motion, Shape, Size, Situation, and Connexion of the parts of Matter.  
But though this be a way commonly used, in explicating things, by the Philosophers of our Age, yet most of them leave out the first principle of Natural Motion; viz. the Seminal principle, which I have taken in, to complete my Hypothesis.  
And now 〈◊〉 said they 〈◊〉 I shall say this further, [and let it not be counted a vanity] that I think, and hope, I have in some considerable measure made out the truth of those principles I have assumed to defend.  
It hath cost me some pains to Collect, and draw into proper Sections, the Body of this Discourse: which I have also strengthened by the Authority of the best Philosophers, and Learnedest of Men, both Ancient, and Modern. All which I here present thee with: heartily wishing all ingenious M●n may see the usefulness of, and receive as much satisfaction in this Doctrine; as I do, who am a Friend to all that industriously search after the Truth, and Nature of Things.  
THO, SHIRLEY. From my House, in Newton-street, over against New South-hampton Building, in High Holborn. jan. 27th. 1672.   

The Reader is desired to Correct as he Reads, these Errors of the Press, as likewise any other he shall find.  
ERRATA.  
PAge 12. in the Margin, leg. Consensus. p. 13. lin. 2. read Concurrere. page 15. lin. ult. leg. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. p. 33. deal these words [or entire.] p. 34. lin. 5. leg. a priori. ib. lin. 8. leg. Springy. p. 35. Lin. 11. deal whilst, and they. p. 16. deal [. p. 38. in the Margin, leg. Elementis. p. 40. lin. 23. leg. faeces. p. 103. lin. 25. leg. seminal. p. 126. lin. 26. leg. apposition. p. 124. lin. 24. leg. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. p. 110. lin. 28. leg. those. p. 137. lin. 1. leg. least. p. 129. lin. 1. leg. etherel. p. 114. lin. 1. leg. [〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.] p. 119. lin. 9 leg. OUTOV.   
THE FIRST ESSAY: Being a Discourse intended to demonstrate, that not only Stones, but all other Bodies, owe their Original to Seeds, and Water.  

Section the First.  
HAving, in compliance with the impottunate desires, or rather commands, of many of my Worthy, and ingenious Friends, obliged myself to acquaint the World with my thoughts concerning the most probable cause of the Stone, both in the Kidneys, and Bladder 〈…〉 the greater World] in general: and I was encouraged the more to do so, by a Passage▪ I met with in the Works of that Noble Philosopher, Mr▪ Boyl whose words are there. Since we know very little a Prior●▪ the observation of many effects manifesting, that Nature doth actually produced them so, 
Boyl, Useful, of experiment. Philosephy, p. 31.  and so, suggests to us several ways of explicating the same Phaenomenon, some of which we should, perhaps, never have else dreamt of; which ought to be esteemed no small advantage to the Physician: And again; He that hath not had the curiosity to inquire out, and consider the several ways whereby Stones may be generated out of the Body, not only must be unable, satisfactorily to explicate, how they come to be produced in the Kidneys, and Bladder; ●ut will perhaps, scarce keep himself from embracing such errors, (because Authorised by the suffrage of eminent Physicians) as the knowledge I am recommending, would easily protect him from.  
Let us then, in the first place, examine, how Nature produceth Stones without the Body of Man (that is, in the greater World;) after which we will see, if the causes of generating Stones in the Bodies of Animals, be not the same; or at least, bear some Analogy, or resemblance thereunto. Which that we may the better be enabled to do, I shall relate some choice Histories of Petrifications, taken out of approved Authors; and then examine the causes by which they were performed.  
Gabriel Falopius mentioneth a River, 
History 1.  called Else, which receives into itself the Torrent of the River Sena; into which, 
Falopius de Metal▪ & fallilibus.  Wood, Herbs, or any other thing being ●ast, it converts it into stone.  
Albertus Magnus relates, that in the Danish Sea, near Lubeck, in his time, 
2.  there was found an Arm of a Tree, with a Nest, and Young Birds in it, the Wood, Nest, and Birds being all converted into Stone.  
Domitius Brusonius tells us (not upon hear-say, 
3.  but upon his own knowledge) that the branches of Trees, with their Leaves, being cast into the River of Sylar, do turn into stone.  
Marbodius acquaints us, 
4.  that there is a Fountain in Gothia [or Guthland] that changeth whatsoever is put into it into stone; 
D▪ Lapid, ex Alberto. Lib. 1. Mineral. Cap. 7.  and that the Emperor Frederick being incredulous of the thing, did send his Glove thither, sealed with his Ring; & that that part of the Glove, with the seal, which was immersed in the Water, was in a few days converted into stone; the other part remaining Leather.  
johannes Kentmannus, concerning Fossils', 
5.  writes, 
De fossilibus.  that Arms of Trees, with the Leaves, Bark, Wood; also Gloves, and divers other things, being cast into a certain Fishpond, near the Castle of Schellenlerge, in Misnia, are turned into stone.  
Bartholomaeus à Clivola affirms, th●re is a Lake betwixt Caesarea, 
6.  and Tuana, 
In Lib. de Baluis.  two Cities of Capadocia, into which part of a Reed, or Stick being put, it by degrees is changed into stone, that part which is out of the Water remaining what it was before.  
Anselmus Boethius declareth, that in England, 
7.  near the River Dee, 
Lib. 2. de Lapid. & Gem. Cap. 300.  by West-Chester, there is a great Cave, into which whatsoever water flows, is turned into stone.  
Thomas Moresinus relates, 
8.  that in Moravia there is a dark Water, in which there doth not at all appear any viscous matter; which water, nevertheless, coagulates into stone.  
johannes Petrus Faber giveth us a wonderful account of a Spring in the Suburbs of Claremont, in the County of Avernia. 
History 9  It flows [says he] out of a Rock, 
In Lib. Hydrogr. Spagyr Cap. 14.  and in its very coming forth it produces Rocks, and white stones; and the Inhabitants of this City, when they would make a Bridge to go over any of the small Rivulets, which are made by this Fountain, that so they may visit their Fields and Gardens, do thus: They cause the Water of this Fountain to glide over certain planks, made Arch-like, and within twenty four hours they have a solid stone Bridge; by the help of which they can pass dryfoot over the Rivers. The water of this Fountain is visibly changed into stone, yet nevertheless it always flows as other Springs do: This water is exceeding clear, nor doth it differ in colour, or clearness from other Springs; Beasts will drink of it if they be not hindered; but if they do, it coagulates in their stomaches into stone, from whence Death follows, by reason of a Colic caused from thence, which kills with cruel torments all the Beasts that have drunk this water. Wherefore the Inhabitants take care to drive their cattle far enough from this Fountain; for it is a present poison to all sorts of living Creatures that drink of it. When it is taken from the Spring, it is quickly turned into stone; the truth of which the Inhabitants do make manifest [to all that doubt thereof] by many experiments; they fill a glass with this water, and presently it is converted into stone, which retaineth the shape of the glass: so likewise if Earthen Vessels be filled with this water, it is suddenly congealed into stone, which keeps the form and figure of the Vessel that contained it. This wonder of Nature [says he] every body admires, but I believe hardly any body will be found, that shall be able to render the Natural reason of this thing. Thus far he.  
Gassendus tells us, 
10.  that Peireskius [according to his usual custom in the Summer] going into a stream of the River Rhosne, 
In vita Peireskli. Lib. 1.  to wash himself; he observed once the ground to be hard under his feet, and uneven, [which had at all times before been soft, and smooth] being full of knobs, and Balls; about the bigness, and likeness of Eggs boiled heard, and the shells peeled off; which he looking upon as somewhat strange, took some of them up, and cartied them home; but a few days after he was surprised with a greater Admiration: for, going again into the same place of the River, he found those soft, and yielding lumps, he had left there, turned into perfect pebble stones; and also viewing those he had laid up at home, he found them likewise turned into true Pebbles.  
Helmont likewise affirms, that [contrary to the Proverb, 
11.  Gutta Cavat Lapidem, 
De Lithiasi. Cap. 1.  A drop by often falling doth hollow a stone] there is a Spring in the Monastery of Zonia, near Brussels, that breeds stones so fast, that the Monks are daily forced to break them off with Crooks and Hatchets.  
And I myself have seen a Spring near Wrixham, in North-wales, 
12.  that in a short space of time would convert Sticks, Straws, Leaves, Leather, or any other subject, put into it, into stone. And of this Nature are divers other Springs to be found, both in Ireland, and England.  
Our Industrious Countryman, 
13.  Gerard, assureth us, he knew several Springs of this Nature, 
History of Plants.  both in England, 
Lib. 3. p. 1586.  and Wales: As in Bedford-shire, in Warwickshire, near Newnam Regis; and another near Knasborrow, in Yorkshire; he likewise tells us, he knew divers pieces of Ground, into which astake being struck, that part in the ground would be changed into stone, the other part remaining Wood  
Libavius relates, 
14.  That a certain Hen sitting on her Eggs, 
In apend. Synt●g. Arcan. Chym. Cap. 32.  being struck with a Gorgonick Spirit, was transformed into stone, with her Eggs likewise.  
Crollius relates, 
15.  that in a certain place of Moravia there is a stupendious Den, 
In Praefat. Lib. de signat. Rerum.  in which are to be found divers, and admirable sportive works of Nature: for the drops distilling from the upper part of the Cave, into the hollow of it, do there form many intricate Labyrinths in the Mountain, and do presently [of their own accord] convert into stone, by the help [as he thinks] of the Spirit of Salt; and in their falling from on high, they form various Figures, and Statues of stone.  
Aristotle says, 
16.  that in the Metalline Grots of Lydia, about the City Pergamos, certain Workmen, in the time of War, having fled into them to hide themselves, and the mouth of the Cave being stopped; they perished there; but afterwards being found, not only their Bones, but their Veins, with the humours contained in them, were found to be turned into stone.  
Aventinus also writes thus: In the Year 1348. 
17.  by an Earthquake, 
In Hist●r▪ Bavar. Lib. 7. id▪ est▪ in Anal. Bavar.  more than fifty Country men, with their Milch Cows, and Calves, being killed and stifled by an Earthy saline Spirit [as he supposeth] they were reduced into saline Statues, [such as Lot's Wife:] And this happened amongst the Carini [a People of Germany;] which similitudes or Images of Men, and Beasts, were seen both by him, and the Chancellor of Austria.  
To the like purpose, 
18.  Helmont tells us of a whole Army, 
De Lithiasi Cap. 1.  consisting of Men, Women, Camels, Horses, Dogs, with their Armour, Weapons, and Wagons, which were all transmuted into stone, and remain so to this day, [a horrible spectacle;] And this, saith he, happened in the Year 1320. betwixt Russia and Tartary, in the Latitude of 64. degrees, not far from a Fen of Kataya, a Village, or Horde, of the Biscardians; which he very rationally concludes to have happened from a strong hoary petrifying breath or Ferment, making an eruption through some clefts of the Earth, the Land being stony underneath; and the Winds having been silent for many days.  
He that desireth more Examples of this kind, let him consult Gorgius Wernerus, de ungaricis. Godfrid. Smoll▪ in lib▪ Princip. Philosoph. Et Medic. antiquitatis. Cap. 10. F. Leander Albertus in descript. Italiae. Andrea's Laurentius, lib. 2. de strumis. Cap. 2. Georgius Agricola, lib. 7. de Natura fossil. Cap. 22. Johannas' Wigandus, in libell● de Succino: Lobelius, in fine Observat. Caelius, &c, But I suppose what I have here related sufficient; and therefore I think it now time to inquire into the Causes of Petrification, and the Efficients of these Transmutations. SECT.   

Section the Second.  
THe Doctrine of the four Elements [with their qualities, concutring, as is supposed, to the production of Bodies, which was intorduced by the Authority of Aristotle, and hath since prevailed with most Men even to this Age of ours,] hath been the cause, why we have hitherto received but an unsatisfactory account, not only of the Origine of all concretes, but more particularly concerning stones; and that not only in Relation to the Material Cause, but also to the Efficient, of Petrifications in general.  
For, they seem to think it sufficient, to have crudely told us, that Stones [and all other Minerals, and Metals] are made of Earth, with a slight mixture of the other three Elements, as the Material; and by the assistance of Heat, Cold, Moisture, and Dryness, as the External, and efficient Cause. For perceiving the weight of Minerals, and Stones, to exceed the weight of water, they therefore assign the matter of Minerals, and Stones, to be chiefly Earth; and without any further Controversy, or search after the matter, they are content to believe, and would have us do so too, that all sorts of stones are nothing but Earth, from which the other three Elements are forced by heat; by which means it becomes baked into a stone. And this they [viz. the Aristotelians] think they prove by alleging the Example of Potter's Earth, which being burnt gains a stone-like hardness. And because neither Stones nor Earth do commonly melt in the fire, they therefore conclude stones are made of Earth. But there being on such heat in the Superficies of the Globe, much less in the bottom of the Water [where commonly stones are bred,] I must confess I can receive but little satisfaction from this account.  
And I find the Learned Sennertus is as unsatisfied with this Doctrine as myself: for he will by no means allow the Elements, or their qualities, to be the Primary Efficients of Stonification. His words are these; 
Sennertus, in Lib. concens. Cbymis. Cum Ga●enist. Cap. 2.  Licèt vulgò multi é qualitatibus primis Calculorum Concretionum & Coagulationum causas deducere conantur; tamen frustrae laborant. Nam neque exsiccati●, nec calor, nec frigus, hîc locum habere possunt, ut primariae causae, [name, ut causam sine qua non, concur posse, non negamus; dum scilicet aquam, quae concretioni obstat, absumit;] neque à quoquam hactenus commonstrari potuit, quomodo calor nudus talem Concrescendi dispositionem generare, & succum Lapidescentem producere possit. Imo fit hoc etiam, ubi omnis Calor abest, & in frigidis etiam membraneisque locis, item & in Infantibus, ubinullus concedatur Caloris excessus, sed manifesta potius cruditatis indicia deprehendantur, in vesi●a generantur Calculi; & quomodo, quaeso, in fontibus frigidis, in quibus ligna immersa in lapides transformantur, succus lapidescens à Calore producitur? Deinde, frigus quod attinet, non semper in loco frigido, vel minus calido, Calculi concrescant, cum & in capite, & in pulmonibus, circa basin Arteriae magnae, in Cordis arteriis, imo in Cord reperti sint: uti Legimus in Observation. Cornel. Gemmae, lib. 1. Cosmocritic. Cap. 6. Anton. Beniven. de abdit. Morb. & Sanat. Causs. Cap. 24. Fernel. 5. P●tholog. Cap. 12. Hollerii, 1. de Morb. internis, in schol. Cap. 29. & 50. Et in balneis etiam Calidissimis Trophos at stirias saxeas concrescere, ubi frigus nullo modo admitti potest, experientia compertum habetur: in English, thus;  
Though it hath been much endeavoured by many to deduce the causes of the concretion, & coagulation of stones, from the first, or primary qualities, yet hath their labour been in vain: for neither can drought, heat, or cold, be here allowed as a primary cause, [but we do not deny, that they may concur as a cause, sine qua non, so that it may, for Example, waste the water, which hinders concretion;] neither could it hitherto be demonstrated by any body, how heat of itself could be able to generate such a disposition of compaction; and that it could produce a Lapidescent juice: Nay, this is performed where all heat is wanting, and that in cold and Membranous places; as also in Infants, who are not allowed to have any excess of heat, but are rather found to have manifest crudity, the stone is generated in the Biadder: and how, I pray, is the stonisying juice produced in cold Fountains, into which wood being cast is changed into stone? Then, as to cold, stones do grow in the Head, in the lungs, about the basis of the great artery, in the Arteries of the Heart; nay, they are in the Heart itself. Also there grows in hot Baths, as experience showeth, sandy stones, & stony Icicles, where cold can by no means be admitted. Thus far he: by which you see he is clearly of opinion, that neither heat, nor cold can be the primary, or chief cause of Petrification; contrary to the Axiom which Aristotle lays down, to this effect;  
Of those bodies which adhere together, 
In Meteorologicar. Lib. 4. Cap. 8.  and are hard, they are wont to be thus affected; some by the fervour of heat; some by cold; that drying up the moisture, this pressing it forth.  
Let us then inquire what the Chemical Philosopher's opinion is in this point: (and the rather because it is constantly affirmed by most of them, that the Art of Pyrotechny is the only true means of informing the mind with Truth, and acquainting it with realities; and we shall find, that they hold Salt to be the principle of solidity, and the genuine cause of coagulation, in all bodies; [as also of stonification:] For, say they, if you consult experience, all those things that are compact, or solid, do contain Salt; and where there is no Salt, there can be no hardness. And for this reason they esteem Salt to be the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Solidity: which they that deny [say they] are obliged to show some other cause; from which Salts have that aptitude to coagulate themselves, and become solid bodies.  
For, it is manifest, that the Salts of Vegetables, as Crystals of Tartar, etc. also Nitre, Allom, Vitriol, Salt Gemm, [and divers other of this Nature] do coagulate themselves, not only into hard, but even brittle bodies, in the bosom of the water; and to this end they allege, that if the Salt be washed from ashes, no heat of fire will make them hard; but if the Salt be left in them, [and they be mixed with a little water] the fire will not only quickly make them become hard; but if they be strongly pressed with it, turn them into Glass.  
The Learned Kircherus is also of the same opinion with the Ghymists, 
Kircherus in Mund. Subter.  [viz. that Salt is the cause of stonifying] and giveth us this experiment to confirm it. Si saxum [inquit] quodcunque in tenuissimum p●llinem resolveris, & aqua perfectè commixtum, per Manicam Hippocratis Colaveris, illa nil prorsus saxeum, sed preter arenaceum solummodo sedimentum nil relinquet; si verò Nitrum, vel Tartarum, aqua perfecté commixtum addideris, illa quacunque tetigerint intra subjectam concham posita sive frondes, similiaque, post exiguum temporis curriculum aeri exposita, vel in saxum ejusdem generis conversum si non totum, saltem cortice Saxco vestient. If [saith he] you reduce any sort of stone into a most subtle powder, and mixing it throughly with water, you strain it through Hippocrates' bag, therewill nothing of it remain that is stony; nor will it leave any thing of it behind, but a certain sandy sediment; but if you shall add to this, Nitre, or Tartar, perfectly dissolved in water, whatsoever body they shall touch, being placed in the same Dish, whether it be the twiggs of a Vine, or the like, after a little while being exposed to the Air, it will be turned into stone; or at least it will be covered with a stony Crust. And though this opinion be held by Crollius, Hartman, Quercetanus, Severinus, and Sennertus, [who are but Neoterick, or late Writers] yet is it no new opinion, but hath been asserted by the venerable Ancients, as long ago as the time of Hermes Tresmegistus, [who is said to have lived in the Age of joshua] who in his Smaragdine Tables [as they are called] hath left us these words. Salis est, ut corporibus in Mundum prodituris, soliditatem coagulando praestet; Sal enim corpus est, Mercurius Spiritus, Sulphur anima, that is; 'tis from Salt that Bodies are produced in the World; it causeth Coagulation, and Solidity: for Salt is the Body, Mercury the Spirit, and Sulphur the Soul.  
This Doctrine, though much more rational than the former, and seeming to be confirmed by experiment, and to be verified by the account our senses give us of it, cannot yet gain my full assent to it, so far as to allow Salt to be the Primary, either Matter, or Efficient of Solidity in bodies, or the cause from whence stones are produced. For it is observabe, that Salts are reducible into Liquors, [and do seem to lose their solidity] either by being mixed with water, or exposed to the Air, in which many of them run per deliquium. But, to let this pass; what Salt can be supposed to be communicated to Quicksilver, when it is coagulated by the fumes of melted Lead, by which it becomes so solid, that it may be cast into Moulds, and Images form of it; and when cold, is not only hard, but somewhat brittle, like Regulus of Antimony?. What access of Salt can be fancied is added to the white of an Egg, [from whence the whole Chick is form] which is a Liquor so near water, that by beating it with a whisk it is reduced into so fluid a substance, that it will easily mix with water, and is hardly distinguishable from it? And yet this white of the Egg, by the assistance of a gentle heat, to stir up its seminal Principle, and enable it to turn, and new shuffle the parts of that liquid substance, [by the means of which motion divers of its parts are broken into shapes and sizes fit to adhere one to another] is all of it turned into solid bodies, some of them very tough, as the Membranes, and Nerves; and some of them hard and brittle, as the Beak, Bones, Claws, etc. [of the Chick;] and all this without any new addition of salt.  
'Tis likewise remarkable, that very credible witnesses assure us, 
Gassendus, Lib. 4.  that Coral [though it grow in salt water, 
Anno Dom. 1624.  at the bottom of the Sea] is yet, 
Mr. Boyl. Essay of fermness.  whilst it remains there, soft, like other Plants; [and juicy also:] neither will the example of Kircherus, alleged above, avail much; sinceit is commonly known, that the powder of Plaster of Paris, or burnt Alabaster, if it be mixed with water, without any sort of salt, will coagulate into an entire stony lump, or Mass.  
I do not deny but that salt may very much conduce towards the coagulation of some bodies, as we see in the curdling of Milk with Runner, Spirit of salt, Oil of Vitriol, juice of Limmons, and the like; but then this happens but to some bodies, and is caused from the shape and motion of its small parts, which entering the pores of some bodies that are naturally fitted to be wrought upon by it, it fills up many of the cavities of such bodies; and also affixing itself to the particles of them, it causeth them, not only to stick to itself, but also adhere closely one to another.  
I say, salts do this to some bodies [not to all,] for to some other bodies, instead of being an Instrument, either to cause, or confirm their solidity, it by dissociating the parts, of which they consist, and putting them into motion, doth reduce them into the appearance of Liquor; as we see in the action of corrosive saline spirits, both upon Metals, and stones.  
Now, for that Argument, that salts do shoot even in the water into hard, and brittle Crystals, if I should say they do so upon the account of a seminal Principle, I should not, perhaps, be thought to have much mistaken the cause, by those that have well considered the curious and regular Figures [yet constantly distinct from each other,] which their Crystals shoot into: which certainly cannot proceed from chance; for they do as constantly keep their own figure [as for Example, that of Nitre always appears in a Sexangular form, that of Sea-salt in a Cubical:] As Wheat produceth Wheat, and the seed of a Man, a Man.  
Philosophers hold, there are two sorts of Agents; one they style 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, that is, the principal cause, or Agent; from which immediately, and primarily, the Action depends, and by whose power the thing is made; and this [as we shall prove in its due place] is an Architectonick stonifying Spirit, or Petrifick seed. The other cause they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, or the Adjuvant, or assisting cause, [of which sort there are many] by which the principal Agent may be furthered in its acting upon matter; of which last sort of causes [of the solidity in Bodies, viz. the Helping, or Assistant] we will not deny but that salt may be one, as being such a praevious disposition of the parts of Matter, as renders them more apt to be wrought upon by the first kind of Agent, viz. the Seed. So that in some sense we may [for the reasons above alloadged] allow the Chemist to think salt is [though Nec prima materia, nec efficiens. Yet] Proxima ma●eria, & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Soliditatis. The Proximate matter, and Adjuvant cause of Solidity.  
But since not only salt, but the whole Tria prima, or Three first Principles of the Chemists, as also the Quaternary, or four Elements of the Peripatetics, are justly enough denied to be the first Elements, or constitutive Principles of all Bodies, [they themselves being further resolvable into more simple parts, as we shall prove by and by,] I say, since it is so, I must be excused, if denying my suffrage to both their Doctrines, [in that large sense they propose it in:] I offer to render other causes, by which not only solidity, but Petrification also may be introduced into Matter.   

Section the Third.  
THe Doctrine I am now about to affirm, is no Novel conceit; but so Ancient, that we shall find that it was held, [and by them transmitted to Posterity] not only by Plato, Timaeus Locrus, Parmenides, Pythagoras, etc. Philosophers of the Academic, and Italic Sect; but also by Orpheus, Thales the Milesian, and also by Mochos, and Sanchoniathon, the great, and Ancient Phoenitian Philosophers; nay, by that Divinely illuminated Man, Moses.  
I urge this point of the Antiquity of the Doctrine I am now going to affirm, because I know it is the custom of some Men, to disgust any Philosophical truth, that cannot show itself to be as ancient as Aristotle's time; but to please such, let them consider, that the Hypothesis we intent to make use of in this ensuing Discourse, beareth an equal Date with the World, and was at first delivered to Man by the Ancient of Days himself.  
This Doctrine then [which hath of late years been revived, and assumed by the Noble Helmont, and other great wits,] I now am come to lay down, and explain; and in the next place shall endeavour to prove, and confirm it; first, by rea●on, then by experiment, and lastly, by Authority.  
The Hypothesis is this, viz. That stones, and all other sublunary bodies, are made of water, condensed by the power of seeds, which with the assistance of their fermentive Odours, perform these Transmutations upon Matter.  
That is, that the matter of all Bodies is originally mere water; which by the power of proper seeds is coagulated, condensed, and brought into various forms, and that these seeds of things do work upon the particles of water, and alter both their texture, and figure; as also, that this action ceaseth not, till the seed hath form itself a Body, exactly corresponding with the proper Idea, or Picture contained in it. And that the true seeds of all things are invisible Being's, [though not incorporial;] this I affirm, and shall endeavour to prove.  
But to make this the better to be understood, I shall praemise some generals, and then descend to particular proofs of what I assert.  
First then, nothing is produced by chance, or accident. And therefore in every Generation, or Production, there must necessarily be presupposed some kind of seed which hath a power, or faculty, to alter the Matter, and dispose it to such a Being, and Form, as God and Nature have designed to produce.  
Secondly, all seeds (in some degree)▪ are endowed with Life, and a power of acting: for nothing that is not Vital can promote itself to perfection. And if Bodies are distinguishable from their internal Efficients, and are specificated by them, then must they be allowed to contain a seed.  
These positions will not [perhaps] be denied to Animals, nor Vegetables; because their supposed seed is visible. For the seed [or rather, sperm] of perfect Animals, is an efflorescence of the best parts of the blood [elaborated in the Testicles] and impregnated with Spirits from all parts of the Body; in which resideth the vis Plastica, or Efficient; [and this indeed is the real seed, or geniture, though it be invisible] which containeth in itself the Image, or Type of the thing to be made; which it performs by a Fermental Odour, or Aura, and by breathing upon those proper juices it finds in a Female Womb; it first coagulates them, and then by degrees explicates itself, working this Female Matter into a Body exactly corresponding with its own preconceived Figure: the gross body of the Male-seed all this while being but a vehicle, to convey with safety this subtle fermentative breath to its proper place of action; which being done, the body of the sperm is ejected from the Womb, as useless to Generation.  
That this is so, hath been proved by the industrious and curious dissection of divers sorts of Beasts, made at several seasons after their Conceptions; and continued till the formation of the foetus; and yet no Vestigiae, or footsteps of the Male-sperm could be found in the womb. This is asserted by that incomparable Man, 
Dr. Harvy. de generat. ex Ov●.  Dr. Harvy; to whom I refer him that desireth further satisfaction in this point.  
The sperm of Man, if but for a moment it be exposed to the touch of the external Air, becomes dead, and unprolifick; and that by reason of the subtlety of the spermatick ferment, [it being very apt to desert the body of the seed.] This is a truth so generally known, that the Virtue of that Lady is justly suspected by all rational Men, who pretended to have Conceived with Child, by attracting the seed of a Man which floated in a Bath, wherein she Bathed herself.  
As to Vegetables; They also take their beginnings, are propagated, and do fructify, from the like invisible cause; viz. a fermentative Odour, [or Aura] which also contains the Idea of the Plant to be produced.  
The body of the Seed, or Grain [which is the Casket that contains this invisible Workman] being committed to the Earth [its proper Womb] is softened by the Nitrosulphurous juice of the soil; that the Vis Plastica [which is the Efficient of the Plant] may, being loosened from its body, be at Liberty to act. Which being done, the body of the seed, or Grain, is destroyed; according to the sacred Writ: [Except Seed, committed to the ground, die, it produceth no fruit:] But the Architectonick Spirit being now at Liberty, ferments, by its Odour, the Liquors it finds in the Earth, converting them into a juice, fit to work the Plant out of it, which it by degrees performs. [This Liquor in the Earth, is by Paracelsus, and Helmont, by a Barbarous name, called Leffas Terrae; and is the proximate matter of all Vegetables.] For proof of what I seem to have with some boldness asserted in this place; Let any sort of Grain be put for a small time in an Oven, [or any analogous' hea●,] that the external warmth may suscitate and excite this ferment of the Seed to take wing, and desert its body; This Grain, though entire to sight, if it be committed to the Earth, shall never by any Art be brought to produce its like.  
As Vegetables, and Animals have their Original from an invisible Seminal Spirit, or breath; so also have Minerals, Metals, and Stones.  
To this purpose Dr. jordan tells us, There is a Seminal Spirit of all Minerals in the Bowels of the Earth, 
Dr. jordan of Natural Baths. Cap. 2. p. 58, 59  which meeting with convenient Matter, [what that is, we shall show in its place] and Adjuvant Causes, is not idle, but doth proceed to produce Minerals, according to the Nature of it, and the Matter which it meets withal; which matter it works upon as a Ferment, and by its motion procureth an actual heat, as an Instrument to further its work; which actual heat is increased by the fermentation of the Matter.  
The like we see in making of Malt, where the Grains of Barley being moyst'ned with water, the Generative Spirit in them is dilated, and put in Action; and the superfluity of the water being removed [which might choke it] and the Barley laid up in heaps, the Seeds gather heat, which is increased by the contiguity of many Grains lying one upon another. In this work Nature's intent is to produce more individuals, according to the Nature of the Seed; and therefore it shoots forth in spires; but the Artist abuses the intention of Nature, and converts it to his ends, that is, to increase the Spirit of his Malt.  
The like we find in Mineral Substances, where this Spirit, or Ferment, is resident, as in Allom, and Copperas-Mines; which being broken, exposed, and Moistened, will gather an actual heat, and produce much more of these Minerals than else the Mine would yield; as Agricola, and Thurniser do affirm, and is proved by common experience. The like is generally observed in Mines, as Agricola, Erastus, Libavius, etc. do avouch out of the daily experience of Mineral Men; who affirm, that in most places they find their Mines so hot, as they can hardly touch them; although it is likely, that where they work for perfect Minerals, the heat, which was in fermentation whilst they were yet in breeding, is now much abated, the Minerals being now grown to their perfection. And for this heat we need not call for the help of the Sun, which a little Cloud will take away from us; much more the body of the Earth, and Rocks; nor for subterranean fires. This imbred heat is sufficient, as may appear: also by the Mines of Tinglass, which being digged, and laid in the moist Air, will become very hot; so Antimony and Sublimate being mixed together, will grow so hot as that they are not to be touched. If this be so in little quantities, it is likely to be much more in great quantities, and huge Rocks. Heat of itself differs not in kind, but only in degree, and therefore is inclined no more to one Species, than to another; but as it doth attend, and serve a more worthy Superior, such as this Generative Spirit is. Thus far he.  
Moreover, that Minerals, and Metals have their proper Seeds, hear further what a Mystical Chemist, (but a very rational Man) Cosmopolita says, Semen Minerale, 
Nou. Lum. Chym. Tract. 6. p. 319.  vel Metallorum, create natura in visceribus terrae; propterea non creditur tale semen esse in rerum natura, quia invisible est. Nature doth Create the Mineral, or Metalline Seed, in the Bowels of the Earth; therefore it is not believed, that there is such a Seed in Nature, because it is invisible. And the same Author again, thus: Et quam praerogativam vegetabilia prae Metallis habent, ut Deus illis semen inderet, & haec immeritò excluderet? Nun ejusdem dignitatis Metalla apud Deum, cujus & arbores? Hoc pro certo statuatur, nihil sine semine crescere; ubi enim nullum est semen, res est Mortua; that is, And what prerogative have Vegetables above Metals, that God should put Seed into them, and undeservedly exclude these? Are not Metals of the same dignity with God that Trees are? This may be held for certain, that nothing doth increase without Seed: for where there is no Seed, that thing is Dead.  
So that it is plain, you see, by the aforecited Authorities, that Minerals, and Metals have Seed, & that this Seed is invisible; and that it works by the help of its ferment, or as a ferment. That stones grow, common experience teacheth us; as also the tenth History alleged, in the first Section of this present Essay; and consequently must be endowed with seed, and ferment; so that here is, at least, an analogous' way of production to that of Animals, and Vegetables (which we have declared above) and was the thing we intended here to prove.  
But before I proceed, that I may be the more clearly understood, I shall declare what I understand by the Ferment of the seed. The word Fermentum, which signifieth Leaven, is by ● some esteemed to be quasi fervimentum, or a thing made hot; and generally is used to denote, not only a turgescence, and dilatation of the parts of Matter, (as in Leavened Bread, etc.) but also signifieth the working of any sort of Liquor, till it become Maturated, and exalted into a generous, and sprightly Drink. Fermentation is thus defined by the Learnned Dr. Willis: Fermentatio est motus intestinus particularum, seu principiorum cujusvis corporis, cum tendentia ad perfectionem ejusdem Corporis, vel propter mutationem in aliud; Fermentation is an intestine [or entire] motion of the Principles, or particles, of which day Body consists, with an intent to perfect the said Body, or change it into another. Ferments than are subtle, tenuous Bodies, [which we generally call Spirits; for as to Leaven, Yeast, etc. they are but the cloathings of these Spiritual, and finer Substances; as we before showed the Grains of Vegetables, and the Sperm of Animals were:] which fine subtle breath (the Ferment) hath an expansive power; by which, being immersed in any Matter, or Substance, it desiring to dilate itself, variously agitates the small particles of that matter it is joined to, and making Excursions through all parts of the Subject it is resident in, it adhering intimately to every small part of the Matter, doth first by the peculiar motion it hath put them into, alter and break the particles into new shapes, and sizes; and then by conveneing together with them, constitute a new texture of that Matter; and thus a new Concrete is made by the power of the Ferment.  
So that, in truth, the Ferment of a Seed, [I mean Natural Ferment] is not any Substance distinct, or separable from the Seed itself; since it is connatural with it, and intimately the same, [and is indemonstrable à priore, as well as the Seed, and may be thus defined.  
A Ferment is an Expansive, Elastic, or Springy power of the Seed of any thing; by which motion of its self it also moveth the smallest particles of that Matter in which it is immersed: by which motion also [which is of divers kinds, according to the variety of Seeds] the particles of Matter acquire new shapes, sizes, and postures amongst themselves; and so a new texture of the whole is produced, agreeable to the peculiar Nature of the Seed, and correspondent to its Idea; [which Idea we shall explain in its place.]  
We have likewise declared often, that seeds do operate by Odours, or scents; which we think is not said without cause: for if it be well observed, it will be found, that no seeds do generate; but in the time of their acting upon the Matter there are specific Odours produced; that is, while they are in Fermentation, and the work incomplete: for, when the Concrete is perfected, the Odour is much abated: [as, not to instance in artificial things, making of Malt, the fermenting of Beer, and Wine, in the Barrel, and the leavening of Doughty, etc.] for 'tis observable, that the Grains of Wheat, or other Vegetables, sown in the ground, when their invisible seed begins to ferment, do send forth Odours; so also the Eggs of Birds, on which the Hen hath sat. And that Minerals, and Metals, whilst in their making they do send forth such plenty of stinking Odours, that many times the workmen in Mines are suffocated therewith, no body can be ignorant. Now these Odours are fine and subtle Effluviums, [or small particles of the Matter now put into motion by the power of the seed, Ferment: which having extricated themselves from their Companions, and roving in the Air, do at last strike against those parts of our Noses that are fitted by Nature to be sensible of the touch of such very small Bodies.  
Odours than are a sign of Fermentation begun, and are nothing but small particles of Matter got loose from their Fellows, begun to be altered, and specificated by the seed; and therefore are very various, according to the diversity of seeds, and their Ferments, from whence they proceed.  
Having before declared, that all Bodies proceed, and are made from Seminal Being's; and that the real seeds, and Ferments of things are invisible; and having declared, what I would have understood by a seedy Ferment, and Odour; and also having hinted above, that all Bodies are Materially [and Primarily] nothing but water; I shall now endeavour to prove the same more fully, and clearly; the which I shall do by three sorts of Arguments. The first is grounded upon tha● Philosophical Axiom; viz. Quaesunt prima in Compositione, sunt ultima in resolutione: Et quae sunt ultima in resolutione, sunt prima in Compositione. That which is first in the Composition, is last in the resolution: And those things which are last in the resolution, the same are first in the Composition. The second Argument is grounded upon another axiom commonly received. That is, Nutrimur iisdem quibus constamus. We are Nourished by those things of which we are constituted, or made. The third argument shall be to show, and prove a necessity of all Bodies being form out of water; because neither the four Elements of the Peripatetics, nor the Tria Prima, or three Principles of the Chemists, can possibly concur to the constituting of Bodies, as either the Efficient, or Primary Matter; they being themselves but great disguised Schemes of one and the same Catholic Matter, Water, from whence they were made, and into which they are ultimately to be resolved, and uniformly to be reduced, either by Art, or Nature. All which assertions I hope to prove, both by Experiment, and Reason, and shall likewise endeavour to strengthen by good and sufficient Authorities.   

Section the Fourth.  
AS to the first Argument, founded on that Axiom, that All Bodies are made of that Matter into which they are ultimately resolved, and è Contra; This Maxim is agreed upon of all hands, both by the Aristotelians, the Old Chemists, and the New ones; and that almost upon the same ground. For the first supposed all Bodies reducible at last into Fire, Air, Water, and Earth; and therefore held the Quaternary of Elements, [which, by the way, they could never yet sufficiently prove.] And the Second believed Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury to be the first Principles of all Bodies. And the last sort, the modern Chemists, hold Spirit, Oil, Salt, Water, and Earth, to be the true Primary Principles of Bodies, for the same reason; viz. because many Concrets are resolvable by fire into the first three, if not into the last five, distinct Substances before named.  
But that all Bodies are by Art to be brought back, uniformly, into water; hear what that Learned Man, Helmont, saith. Nostra namque operatio Mechanica mihi patefecit, 
Helm●nt in Tract. de Elementa. ss. 11, 12. p. 43. & DeTerra. p. 45. ss. 15.  omne Corpus [pu●a saxum] Lapidem, Gemmam, Silicem, Arenam, Marcasitam, argillam, terram, Lapides coctos, vitrum, Calces, Sulphur, etc. Transmutari in Salem actualem, aequiponderantem suo Co pori, unde factus est: Et quod iste s●l aliquoties c●hobatus, cum sale circulato Paracelsi, suam omnino fixitatem amittat, tandem transmutetur in Liquorem, qui etiam tandem in aquam insipidam transit: Et quod ista aqua aequiponderet sali suo, unde manavit.— Plantam verò, carnes, ossa, Pisces, etc. quicquid similium est, novi redigere in mera sua Tria, unde post modum aquam insipidam Confeci; Metallum autem, propter sui seminis anaticam commistionem, & arena [quellem] difficilimè in salem reducuntur. Cum igitur arena, sive terra Originalis, tam Arti, quam Naturae resistat, nec queat ullis [unico duntaxat Gehennae artificialis igni excepto] Naturae vel artis, à primaeva sui constantia recedere; sub quo igne artificiali, arena sal ●it, ac tandem aqua; quia vim habet agendi super sublunaria quaevis absque reactione, etc. For our handicraft Operation [that is, his Liquor, Alkahest] hath manifested to me, that all Bodies [to wit, the Rocky Stones] the Pibble, the Precious stone, the Flint, Sand, Marcasits, Clay, Earth, Brick, Metal, Glass, Lime, and Brimstone, etc. may be reduced into a real Salt, equal in weight to its own Body from whence it proceeded: And hat Salt being often cohobated with the circulated Salt of Paracelsus, doth altogether lose its fixedness, and is transmuted into a Liquor, which also at length becomes insipid water; and that water is of equal weight to the Salt of which it was made.— But Plants, Flesh, Bones, Fish, etc. and every such thing [saith he] I know how to reduce into its three first Principles, from whence afterwards I have made an insipid water: but Metal, by reason of its strict, and exact commixture with its Seed, and the Sand [quellem] are most difficultly reduced into Salt: for Sand, or the Original Earth▪ doth resist as well Art, as Nature, neither will by any means [the only artificial ●ire of Gehenna excepted; that is, the Alkahest] be made to recede from its firstborn constancy, etc. [under which artificial fire the Sand is made Salt; and at last water] because it hath a power to work upon any sublunary Body, without its reacting upon it again.  
He likewise tells us, in his Tract, entitled, Co●plexionum atque Mistionum figmentum. 
Helm●nt. Complex. atque Mistion, Figment. p. 88 ss. 27.  Novi enim aquam [quam manifestare non Libet, etc. For I know a Water [which it is not sit to discover, meaning the Alkahest,] by whose help all Vegetables are changed into a distillable j●ice, which leaveth no feces in the bottom of the glass: which distilled juice, if it be mixed with Alkalies, [or fixed Salts] is reduced totally into insipid and Elementary Water.  
And a little further in the same Tract, he tells us: That he took an Oak-Charcoal, and mixing it with an equal weight of the Liquor Alkahest, he put it in a glass, Hermetically Sealed, which being kept in a Balneo for three days, it was in that time turned into a couple of Diaphanous Liquors, of different colours, which swum upon each other; which being distilled together [in Sand] by a heat of the second degree, it left the bottom of the glass as clear, as if it had never been used. The two Liquors of the Coal might be distilled with the heat of a Bath, but the dissolving Liquor, [or Menstruum] in that degree of heat would remain at the bottom of the Glass, not impaired in its weight, or Virtue. And that the aforesaid two Liquors of the Coal, being mixed with a little Chalk, at thrice distilling, did ascend of the same weight as before; but having lost all their distinguishing qualities, it became undiscernible from Rain-water.  
The Operations of this Liquor [which you have heard] in reducing all Bodies uniformly into water, is, I think, of very great force to evince, what I have here affirmed, viz. that all Bodies were Originally Water. But after all this stress I lay upon these Experiments of He●mont'S, it may be objected by some, That they not being possessors of this Liquor, may be allowed to doubt of the truth of what he hath delivered concerning it. To which I answer, first, that I think it no cogent Argument, to conclude there is no such thing, because many men are not possessors of it; and if this should be admitted, all other Arts and things, that are possessed by any Man [and not known to the common people] would be liable to the same exception; and every Cobbler, or Ploughman would conclude the impossibility of the effects produced by most Mathematical Auromatons, or Engines, because he either knoweth not, or hath not seen the contrivance of the thing, or else is not able to conceive the reason of its Operation: And if every Man [that knoweth more than the Vulgar] would make it his own case, they would, I suppose, think it an unreasonable and hard way of judging of things.  
Secondly, the Man is so consentaneous to himself ●n his Experiments, that that very thing to me appeareth an Argument of his Truth. And as to his veracity in those things he delivers as matter of fact, [and upon his own knowledge,] I do not find that even his Enemies have detected him of Falsehood; and I am sure, I have hitherto found him most true, in whatsoever he hath delivered us as his own Experience [though possibly many of those things do not at first sight seem over-probable.] But lest I may seem over-partial, I will give you a Testimony of him [that may be instar omnium] and that shall be from a Man, of whom the World is fully satisfied, not only as to his candid Temper, but also of his ability to judge, both of Men, and things; and the unwillingness of his Nature to encourage falsehood: and that is the Inquisitive, and Honourable Mr. Boyl, who saith thus both of him, and the Alkahest.  
If our Chemists will not reject the solemn, and repeated I estimony of a Person [speaking of Helmont] who cannot but be acknowledged for one of the greatest Spagirists they can boast of, 
Scept. Chemist. Carmades Dialogus p.  they must not deny that there is to be found in Nature another Agent, able to analyze compound Bodies less violently, and both more genuinely, and more universally than Fire: And for my own part, I have found Helmont so faithful a Writer, even in divers of his improbable Experiments, that I think it somewhat harsh to give him the lie, especially to what he delivers upon his own proper Trial. And I have heard from very credible Eye-witnesses some things, and seen some others myself, which argue so strongly, that a Circulated salt [or a menstruum, such as it may be] may by being abstracted from compound Bodies, whether Minerals, Animals, or Vegetables, leave them more unlocked than a wary Naturalist would easily believe; that I dare not confidently measure the power of Nature, and Art, by that of the Menstruums, and other Instruments, that even eminent Chemists themselves are as yet wont to employ about the Analyzing of Bodies. Thus far he.  
Besides, he that had laboured more than thirty years in the fire, and making Experiments, in all probability might attain this secret: since Geber, and many of the Arabian Philosophers had it before him; as also Basil Valentine, Raymund Lul, and Paracelsus. Nor can I believe so grave and great a man, would in his Old Age, near his Death, impose falsehoods and lies upon the World.  
But without the assistance of this Liquor, this Doctrine may be made out; though by more troublesome, and tedious ways; as we shall now proceed to show.  
The same worthy man, Helmont, saith, [and I have found it true by experience] Olea & pinguedines, per ignem separata; adjecto pauco sale Alkali, saponis Naturam assumunt, atque in aquam Elementalem abeant. 
Complex. & Mistion. Elem. sig●. p 86 ss 12.  [And again, thus:] Omne Alkali, addita pinguedine, in aqueum Liquorem, qui tandem mera & simplex aqua fit, reducitur [ut videre est in sapone, etc.] quoties per adjuncta fixa, semen pinguedinis deponit; That is, That fat's, and Oils distilled by fire, a little of an Alkaly, [or fixed salt] being added, do become soap, and at last, may be turned into Elemental Water.— All Alkalies, fat's being added, are converted into watery Liquors, which at last is made and reduced into mere simple water [as it is to be seen in soap, etc.] as often as by a fixed adjunct, [such as Chalk] it shall be made to lay aside its seed, and fatness.  
And again, Omne Oleum distillatum, in salem est mutabile, & in aquam per adjuncta. All distilled Oil is to be changed into Salt, and by adjuncts into Water. Also, the best spirit of Wine, which is totally inflammable, if it be joined with salt of Tartar, will be transmuted into mere water: which salt of Tartar itself, by the help of Oils [as is above declared] will at last be reduced into water.  
All Vegetables are reducible by distillation into Water, Oil, and Salt; the water cohobating upon Chalk becomes merely Elemental; the Oil and Salt may, as is said above, be made to unite into a Saponary Body, which distilled, yield a stinking water, which being oft redistilled from Chalk [or some such Body] having laid aside its seminal qualities, is indiscriminate from common water: The Salt itself [which is accounted the most permanent principle] yet by the help of fire, well contrived Vessels, and proper adjuncts, it may be reduced into a Volatile Menstruum, which being put to act upon Bodies, as a dissolvent, it loseth its saline acrimony, and by repeated operations it is totally converted into insipid water.  
All Animals upon the face of the Earth are remigrable into water [of which they were form] And first, as to Snakes, Vipers, Ee●s, Frogs, etc. these being perfect Animals, as consisting of Organical parts, as Hearts, Stomaches, Livers, Galls, Eyes, etc. [not to mention Worms, and other infects] some of them accounted hot Creatures, and so full of vivacity and life, that several of them will survive after the taking their hearts out of their Bodies some hours, [not to say, days;] I say one would little suspect by their outside, these Creatures should abound with moisture as they do. For, if any of them be put to distillation, you shall perceive them to boil in their own juice, and to afford an incredible quantity of Phlegmatic Liquor, which being cohobated upon dry Bodies, as is directed in the reduction of Vegetables, returneth to water; also their Oils, and fatty substances, being joined with an Alkaly, and made into a soap, then distilled, they yield a stinking water, which cohobated, as the other, doth likewise return into water.  
All other sorts of living Creatures are, by the help of fire, to be dissected into Oils, a fixed, and a volatile Salt [though they yield most of the latter] an Empireumatical Spirit, and Phlegm: all which by the abovesaid helps, and the like repeated Operations, will at last be brought into water.  
Middle Minerals, and Mineral Salts, by Art are reducible into Corrosive Spirits; which acting upon Bodies, are despoiled of their acrimony; and, at last, return to the shape of water.  
As for Minerals, and Metals; if they be fluxed with Alkalies, they are thereby robbed of their Sulphurs; to which if you add Oil, it is made soap, and then to be dealt with as is above directed, by the Example of both Vegetables, and Animals: or else the Sulphurs of Minerals, separated from the Alkalizate Salt, may be burnt, and the Fume caught by a Glass-Bell, [as is usual in making Oil of Sulphur per Campanam] it will be turned into a corrosive Spirit, which will be reduced into water; as I have showed above, other corrosive Spirits may be by acting upon Bodies.  
Metalline Mercury, or Quicksilver, [that peerless body for homogeneity, and likeness of parts] which exceedeth water in weight at least fourteen times, [the parts of it being so forcibly compressed by the power of its Seed] may yet totally be reduced into water, in purposely contrived Vessels, and a skilful management of the fire; as Raymund Lul doth witness, and Experience with him.  
Nay, Nature herself doth in time [by the help of Putrefaction, and ferments residing in the Earth,] reduce into water the bodies of Vegetables, and Animals, whether Fish, or Flesh; also Salts, Ashes, Stones burnt to Lime, etc. witness the dunging of Land by these things. Nay, Metals themselves in time, having past their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or prime, degenerate into middle-Minerals, and Salts; and then return to water. So that you see, all Bodies have water for their first Matter; and are by Art and Nature reducible into it again at last.  
Paracelsus [a Person hardly inferior to any Man in the knowledge of Metals, 
Paracel. Liber de Miner. Tract. 1. p. 342.  and Minerals] giveth us his Opinion of the production of Metals, and Stones, from water, in these words. Sic ergo Mirabili Consilio Deus constituit, ut prima Materia Naturae esset aqua, mollis, levis, potabilis; Et tamen foetus seu fructus ipsius est durus; ut Metalla, Lapides, etc. quibus nihil durius est. So therofore God hath ordered, by a wonderful Counsel, that the first Matter of Nature should be water, soft, gentle, potable; and nevertheless the offspring, or fruit of it, is hard; as Metals, and Stones, etc. than which nothing is harder.  
Plato also is of the same judgement with him; 
Plato Timae. p. Graec. 488. Latin. p. 718.  for he tells us. Aquae genera duo sunt praecipua, unum humidum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, alterum fusile 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉: There are two sorts of Waters, one moist, the other fusil, or to be melted. And presently after, he explaineth what he meaneth by fusil waters. Ex his veró quas aquas fusiles appellavimus, quod ex ten●issimis, levissimisque, fit densissimum, uniform, splendidum, flavumque, & praetiosissima res est, aurum florescens per petram compactum est: But of these, which we call fusil waters, [or to be melted] Gold flowering through the Rock is compacted; for it is, of a most soft, fine, and tender thing, made most hard, uniform, splendid, and yellow, and is a most precious thing.  
The Seeds of Minerals, and Metals are invisible Being's; [as we have showed, above, the true Seeds of all other things are;] but to make themselves visible Bodies they do thus: Having gotten themselves suitable Matrices in the Earth, and Rocks, [according to the appointment of God, and Nature] they begin to work upon, and Ferment the water; which it first Transinutes into a Mineral-juice, called Bur, or Gur▪ from whence by degrees it formeth Metals. To which purpose I shall give you a testimony, or two. The first we borrow from that Book, Entitled, Arcae Arcani artificiosissimi apertae, beginning thus: Igitur No● andum● est, etc. Which because the passage is long, we will only give you in English, 
Theatrum Chym. vol. 6. p. 305.  thus: Therefore it is to be Noted, that Nature hath her passages and Veins in the Earth, which doth distil waters, either Salt and Clear, or else turbid. For it is always observable by sight, that in the Pitts, or Groves of Metals, sharp, and salt Waters distil down; therefore while these waters do fall downwards, [for all heavy things are carried downwards] there doth ascend from the Centre of the Earth, Sulphurous Vapours, which do meet them. Wherefore if so be, the waters be saltish, pure, and clear, and the Sulphurous Vapours pure also, and both of them do strictly embrace each other in their meeting, than a pure Metal is produced; but in defect of such purity, [that is, of the Water, and Vapour] then an impure Metal is generated: in Elaborating of which Nature spendeth near a thousand years before she is able to bring it to perfection; and this happeneth either by reason of the impurity of the Salt, Mercurial Waters, or the impure Sulphurous Vapours. When these two do embrace each other, shut up close in Rocky places; then by the Operation of Natural heat there doth arise from them a moist, thick, fat Vapour, which seateth itself where the Air cannot come, [for else it would fly away:] of this Vapour a Mucilaginous, and unctuous Matter is made, which is white like Butter; Mathesius calls▪ it Gur: it will spread like Butter, which I also can show in my hand, above, and out of the Earth. And the same Author again, thus. The Matter of Metals before it be Coagulated into a Metalline form, 
Arcae Arcan. p. 318.  is like Butter made of the Cream of Milk, which may be claimed, or spread as Butter, which he [he meaneth Mathesius'] calleth Gur, which I also [saith the Author] have found in the Mines, 
M●tallograph. p. 50.  where Nature hath produced Lead. And that Industrious Metallurgist, Webster, [who hath likewise noted the same passages out of this Author] assureth us, that he hath in his possession some pounds weight of this Metalline Liquor, called Gur.  
To which I will also add my own Testimony; which is, that about eighteen years past, having made a Visit to a Friend, who dwelled upon the Borders of Derbyshire; and who had at that time newly discovered a Lead-Mine in his Ground: I remember, that being at the said Mine I saw upon the Work-man's breaking a stone of Lead-Ore, a bright shineing Liquor spurt forth; which in a little while did coagulate, and become solid.  
And that Worthy Man, Helmont, confirms what we have related of this Metalline juice, in these words:  
Non rarò nempe contingit, quod Metallarius, 
Helmont in Mogn. Oport. p. 127.  in fodinis, saxa diffringens, dehiscat paries, & rimam det, unde tantillum aquae, subalbidae, virescentis, manavit, quod mox concrevit instar saponis liquidi [Burvoco] mutatòque deincepa pallore subvirtdi, flavescit, vel albescit, vel saturatius viridescit. Sic enim visum est, quod alias intus, absque saxi vulnere, fit; Quia succus ille interno Efficiente perficitur. Est ergo prima seminis Metallici vita in Condo, sive Promptuario loci, homini plane incognita: at ubi semen in lucem, Liquore vestitum, prodit, Et gas incaepit Sulphur aquae inquinare, vita est seminis media; ultima verò, cum jam indurescit: that is, It many times happeneeh, that a Mine-Man, in the Pits, breaking stones, the Wall is opened, and a Chink is made; from whence a little water hath flowed, of a whitish greeness, which presently hath thickened like soft soap. [I call it Burr, saith he, but I suppose it should be written Gur] and by and by the somewhat greenish paleness being changed, it groweth yellowish, or whitish, or more fully greenish: So that that is brought to sight, which nevertheless was made within, if the ●tone had not been broken; because that juice [or Liquor] is brought to perfection by an internal Efficient; therefore the first life of the Metallick seed is hid in the little store-house, [or Cellar] of the place, altogether unknown unto Man: but when the seed is brought to light, invested with a Liquor, and the Gas hath begun to defile the Sulphur of the water, it is then the middle life of the seed; but the last life is, when it is now grown hard, [that is, become a true Metal.]  
And again, that this Metalline juice, which he calls Bur, [and other Author's Gur, which is the true proximate Matter of all Metals] was Originally nothing but water, coagulated by the power of Metalline Seeds; Hear what the same Author says: 
Helmont, in Element. p. 43.  In terra nimirum fracescens aqua, semen locale vel insitam acquirit, ideoque vel in Liquorem, [Leffas] ad omnem Flantam, vel insuccum [Bur] Mineralem transit, juxta species, per directionem seminum Electas:  
Indeed the water, by continuing in the Earth, growing putrid, doth obtain a local, or implanted Seed; and by that means it is changed either into the Liquor [Leffas',] for all Plants [to be made out of it] or else into the Mineral juice [Burr] according to the particular kinds, chosen by the direction of the Seeds.  
But that you may not think, that Led alone is form from this Buttery, or Soap-like substance, which we have been speaking of; but also that all other Metalline, and Mineral bodies are produced from the same; I shall give you an Instance, or two; 
Metal. p. 44.  Erastus, as I find him quoted by Webster, saith, I have two stones of Iron, one of them of an Ironish colour, the other of the colour of the shell of a ripe Chestnut; altogether soft, and fatty, that may like Butter be wrought with the fingers; from which, notwithstanding, hard, and good Iron was extracted by the fire.  
Concerning the generating Silver from such a Mineral-Liquor, that Honourable Person, Mr. Boyl, tells us [from Gerrhardus] thus. 
Scept. Chym. p. 360.  Item aqua (aerulea inventa est Annebergae, aubi Argentum adhuc erat in primo Ente, quae coagulata, reducta in Calcem fixi & boni argenti: Also that at Anneberge a blue water was found, where Silver was yet in its first Being, or Ens, which coagulated, was reduced into the powder, or Calx of fixed and good Silver.  
As for Gold, and Antimony, Paracelsus saith, 
Paracelsus, in lib. de Ren. & Restor. p. 43, 44, 45 & Chyrurg. Mag. p. 117 143, ●44. De Renov. p. 45. Rer. Natur. Lib. 8. p. 104.  it is to be found in its Ens primum, or first Being, Liquid, and in the form of a Red Liquor, or Water, which afterwards is coagulated and exalted into Gold.  
Again, he says of the primum Ens lege solis, that it is a fugacious Spirit, as yet consisting in volatility, as an Infant in the Womb of a Woman, and is sometimes like a Liquor, and sometimes it is found like an Alcool, or subtle powder.  
'Tis a common known thing, that those Men which bore the Ground to find out Coal-mines, do, when they come near the Mine, bring up in their borer a sort of matter they call Soap-stone, which is like fat Clay, but of a black colour, and will, when new taken out of the Ground, spread like butter, as Gur will do; but in the Air will soon become so hard, that it will not cut with a Knife.  
I might here take notice of what Rulandus hath said of the Medulla Lapidis, which the Germans call Steinmarck; some of which is white, some red, and some of other colours; and most of it in substance like the forementioned Gur: but to avoid being tedious, I forbear. And of this sort of coagulated water were those Pebbles made, which Peireskius found soft under his feet in the River Rosne; as is related in the tenth History of Petrification, in the first Section of this Discourse.  
So that, I think, it is evident, first, by the aforecited Authorities, which hold that all bodies were made of water, and seed; and secondly, by the alleged Experiments, teaching the Reduction of all bodies into water again; that the Original of all Concrets, [even those solid ones of Metals, and Stones] is water.  
And I do not find that very ingenious man, Mr. Boyl, 
Scept. Chym p. 218.  to be against this Opinion: for he saith thus; Yet thus much I shall tell you at present, that you need not fear my rejecting this Opinion; since however the Helmontians may in Compliment to their Master, pretend it to be a new discovery, yet though the Arguments be for the most part his, the Opinion itself is very Ancient.  
I have now done with the first Argument, that is, that all Bodies are made of those things into which they are at last to be resolved, and that I have proved to be water.  
I now proceed to the second Argument, viz. that all Bodies are Nourished by that of which they are Constituted.   

Section the Fifth.  
THat Vegetables are nourished by water, will plainly appear from hence, that no Plants do either grow, or increase without the assistance of water; either by the way of Rain, or Dew, or else by the overflowing of some Spring, or River; for if they be destitute of water, they die, and wither.  
And it is commonly known, that the tops of Rosemary, Marjoram, Mint, Baume, Penny-ryal, Crowsfoot, and many other Plants, will thrive, flourish, and grow to a large Bulk [without being Planted in the Earth,] if they be only put into a Glass with fair water in it; into which they will shoot out springy Roots, and from whence they will gather sufficient Nourishment to become large Plants.  
To confirm which I shall relate a couple of very remarkable passages; the one borrowed from that honourable Philosopher, Mr. Boyl; the other from that Learned Naturalist, Helmont.  
Mr. Boyl tells us, that he caused a certain quantity of Earth to be digged up, 
Scept. Chemist. p.  baked in an Oven, and weighed; and then put into an Earthen Pot, in the which he set the seed of a Squash, which grew very fast, [though planted too late, viz. in the Month of May] it being watered only with Spring, or Rain-water: in October [by reason of the approaching Winter] he caused it to be taken up, and the weight of it, with its stalk, and leaves, was found to be two pounds, twelve Ounces; and the Earth [in which it grew] being baked as before, it was found to be exactly the same weight.  
Helmont's Relation is this: He took, 
Complex. & Mist. fig. p. 88 ss. 30.  he saith, two hundred pounds' weight of Earth, which was dried in an Oven, and putting it into an Earthen Pot, he moistened it with Rain-water, and in it he Planted the trunk of a Willow-Tree, which weighed five pounds, [covering the Pot with an Iron cover, which had a hole for the Tree to grow out at,] and at the end of five years, he took up the Tree, and found it to weigh one hundred sixty nine pound, three Ounces; and the Earth being dried, was of the same weight as at first.  
Now if this be throughly considered, from what can we possibly suppose, the bulk of the Swash, and this great addition of 164. pounds' weight to the Tree, did proceed but from mere water; there being nothing else added to either of them? and no doubt, Nature observeth the same course in producing all other Vegetables; whether springing up from their innate Seeds, or transplanted into other soils: for the Earth is only a Receptacle to receive the seeds of things, [and to sustain the weight of Minerals, Animals, and Vegetables: which Seeds conceive in the water; where they beget themselves Bodies, and from which all Plants arise; and by the power of the Architectonick Spirit of the seed, fermenting the particles of water, do proceed the stalks, wood, leaves, flowers, fruit, grain, [or Casket of the real seed] as also the Colours, Odours, Tastes, and all the specificate qualities of the Plant, according to the Idea wrapped up in the bosom of the seed. Animals also are nourished by water; some immediately, others mediately.  
Immediately, 
100  from mere water, as Salmon, Sturgeon, and several other sorts of Fish, in whose stomaches no food, that I know of, was ever yet found. And to confirm this; Rondeletius [an Author of good credit] affirms, that his Wife kept a Fish in a large glass, and fed it with nothing but water [so long] till it grew so big, that it could no longer be contained in the glass; which they were forced to break to get it out.  
Those living Creatures that are nourished immediately by water and Vegetables, are most sort of Cartel proper for food; so that in these Beasts, which feed upon Corn, Grass, and other Herbs, [which are really but water, once removed from its primitive simplicity by the power of Seeds,] water is a second time transmuted, by the Ferment of a Beasts stomach, by which it is changed into Chyle, Blood, Milk, Urine, Flesh, Bones, Fat, Sinews, etc. and all these different one from another, according to the species of the Beasts that feed upon them.  
Now these Creatures, and their parts [as the flesh and milk of beasts] serve for food to those Animals that are nourished mediately from water; such are Men, and divers Wild beasts, who live upon the flesh, milk, and blood of cattle, and by the Ferments of whose stomaches these things are again Transmuted into another kind of Chyle, blood, flesh, bones, milk, Urine, etc. which juices of our bodies are still but water, disguised by the operation of different feeds, and Ferments; which is quickly discovered by distilling them: for, if our blood be distilled, five or six parts of seven will rise in Phlegm [which is easily reducible into simple water, as we have showed in the last Section before this.]  
Nay, the sperm of Man [by which we propagate ourselves▪] is nothing but water [Originally] altered by the several Ferments of the body, and circulated in the seminal Vessels.  
Upon this Subject there is much good matter to be found in that ingenious man, Simpson, in his Hydrologia.  
It now remains, that we prove the growth, and nourishment of Metals and stones from water: which that we may the better do, I think it necessary, in the first place, to discover, whether they do really grow, and increase or no; for some men believe, that God Created them at first, when he form the world; but that since they do neither grow, nor increase: which error we shall endeavour to confute by several good Observations, taken from approved Authors.  
Almost all the Mystical Chemists have handled this point so obscurely, that though they have asserted, that metals and stones do grow and increase, and that they are generated from a seminal principle; yet have they proved nothing clearly; but left it as a principle to be granted, without any further dispute.  
'Tis a known truth in Cornwall, that after all the Tin, that could be found in a Mine, hath been taken out, and the Mine filled up with Earth; yet within thirty years they have opened them again, 
Nat. Bath. Cap. 11. p. 51, & 52.  and found more Tin generated: of which Dr. jordan doth take notice also, and in the abovecited place he says thus: The like hath been observed in Iron, as Gandentius Merula Reports of Ilna, an Island in the Adriatic Sea, under the Venetians, where Iron is bred continually, as fast as they can work it; which is confirmed also by Agricola, and Baccius. ●he like we read of at Saga in Lygiis, where they dig over their Mines every ten years.  
And of Ilna it is remembered by Virgil, who saith, Ilnaque inexhaustis Chalybum generosa metallis. John Mathesius giveth us Examples of almost all sorts of Minerals, and Metals, which he had observed to grow, and regenerate. The like Examples you may find in Leonardus Thurnisserus; 
In Sarept. Conc. 3. p. TWO, etc. Alchym. Mag. De Metallis. p. 17, & 19  Erastus affirms, that he did see in St. Joachim's Dale, Silver grow upon a Beam of wood, which was placed in the Pit to support the work; and when it was rotten, the Workmen coming to set new Timber in the place, found the Silver sticking to the Old Beam. Also he reports, that in Germany there hath been unripe, and unconcocted silver found in Mines, which the best Workmen affirmed would become Silver in less than thirty years. The like Modestinus, Fucchius, and Mathesius, affirm, of unripe, and liquid Silver; which when the Workmen find, they use to say, we are come too soon. 
Lex. Alchym. p. 56.   
And Rulandus saith [speaking of Silver that is to be found Naturally purified in the Mine;] Sed hoc axgentum pu●um tenuissimis bracteis amplectitur Lapidem; interdum etiam prae se fert speciem Capillorum, interdum virgularum, interdum globi fert speciem, quasi filis convoluti candidis, aut rubris; interdum prae se fert speciem arboris, Instrumenti, Montium, Herbarum, & aliarum re●um. And this pure Silver doth embrace the Stone with most ●ine Plates; it sometimes also doth bear the shaped of hair, sometimes of little twiggs, sometimes of a Globe, as though wrapped about with thread, white, or red; sometimes it appeareth in the shape of a Tree, Mountain, Instrument, Herbs, and of other things.  
Mr. Boyl tells us from Gerrhardus, thus. In Valle joachimacae etc. [saith he] In the Vale of Joachim, Dr. Shreter is a witness, that Silver, in the manner of Grass, had grown out of the stones of the Mine, as from a Root, the length of a finger; who hath showed these veins, very pleasant to behold, and admirable, at his own House, and given of them to others.  
And to show you, that Metals do grow even like Vegetables, it is very remarkable what is quoted by webster, out of ' Peter Martyr, Counsellor to the Emperor Charles the Fifth, 
Peter Martyr. D●cad. 3. C●p. 8. p. 139. 〈◊〉, p. 48.  in these words: They have found by Experience, that the Vein of Gold is a Living Tree, and that the same by all ways spreadeth, and springeth f●om the Root, by the soft pores and passages of the Earth, putteth forth branches even to the uppermost part of the Earth; and ceaseth not till it discover itself to the open Air; at which time it showeth forth certain beautiful colours in the stead of flowers: round stones of Golden Earth, instead of fruit, and thin Plates in stead of leaves: Th●se are they which are dispersed through the whole Island [he is speaking of Hispaniola] by the course of the Rivers, Eruptions of the Springs out of the Mountains, and other falls of the Floods: for they think, such grains are not engendered where they are gathered, especially on the dry Land, but otherwise in the Rivers. They say, than the root of the Golden Tree extendeth to the Centre of the Earth, and there taketh nourishment of increase; for the de●per that they dig, they find the trunk the bigger, as far as they may follow it for abundance of water, springing in the Mountains: of the branches of this Tree, they find some as small as a thread, and others as big as a man's ●inger, according to the largeness, or straightness of the Rifis, and Clefts; they have sometimes lighted upon whole Caves, sustained, and born up, as it were, by Golden Pillars, and this in the way by which the branches ascend: the which being filled with the substance of the Trunk, creeping from beneath the branch, maketh itself way, by which it may pass out. It is oftentimes divided by encountering with some kind of hard stone; yet is it in other Clefts nourished by the exhalations and Virtue of the Root.  
To which I might add what Fallopius saith of Sulphur, [viz.] Sunt enim loca, è quibus si hoc Anno Sulphur effossum fuerit, intermissa fessione per quadriennium, redeunt fossores, & omnia Sulphur, ut antea, rursus inveniunt plena: For there are places, from whence if this Year the Sulphur be digged out, and forbearing to dig, by the space of four years, the Mine-men return, and find them all full of Sulphur, as before.  
And that Salt-Petre groweth, and increaseth, our common Salt-Petre-men will justify; for after they have extracted all the Salt that they can get out of the Earth that yieldeth it, in two or three years after, they work the same Earth [which for that purpose they carefully lay up] over again; and it yields them a considerable quantity of Salt-Petre, as before.  
And concerning Table-Salt, Mathias Untzerus produceth many Testimonies from credible Authors, 
〈◊〉 de Sale. Cap. 7. p. 33, 34, & 35.  that besides that which is made of Salt-Springs, there are in Spain, the Indies, and divers other parts of the World, large Mountains of Salt, which as fast as they can be digged, grow again, and are quickly filled with Salt.  
And for Led, [besides what Galen observeth of its increase, both in bulk, and weight, by being kept in a damp Cellar,] ●occatius Certaldus, as he is cited by Mr. Boyl, saith thus of its growth: Fesularum Mons, etc. Of the Mountain of Fesula, a Village near Florence, that it hath Lead-stones; which if they be digged up, yet in a short space of time they will be supplied afresh, and generated anew. I might instance in many more particulars, but I think these sufficient.  
That Stones do grow, and are made since the Creation, every man's Observations will sufficiently acquaint him: And the Histories cited in the first Section of this Discourse do confirm; and that they are nourished by water, is apparent from the Situation of Rocks in the Sea, the production of Pebbles in the bottom of Rivers, and that both Mountains, and also gravelly places, are never destitute, or unaccompanied of Springs and Rivulets.  
And Paracelsus, I remember [somewhere] giveth us this Experiment, to prove that stones do grow, and are nourished by water; viz. that if a Flint, or P●bble be put in a glass Vessel, and Rain, or Spring-water put upon it, and distilled from it, if this be often repeated, it will cause the stones to grow so big, that at last it will fill up the Glass that contained it.  
That Metals, and Minerals are nourished by water, is more than ptobable from hence, that no considerable Mines are found without a great conflux of waters; which the Workmen are forced to make drains and Pumps to carry away, that they may work dry.  
And there is an Experiment, written by Monsieur De Rochas [a considerable French Author, and Transcribed from him by the Honourable, Mr. Boyl] which I shall here insert. Having [saith he] discerned such great wonders by the Natural Operation of water, I would know what might be done with it by Art, imitating Nature; wherefore I took water which I well knew not to be compounded with any other thing than the Spirit of Life; and with a heat artificial, continual, and proportionate, I prepared it, and disposed it, by graduations of Coagulation, Congelation, and Fixation, until it was turned into Earth; which Earth produced Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals: ●he Animals did eat, move of themselves, etc. and by the true Anatomy I made of them, I found they were composed of much Sulphur, little Mercury, and less Salt: the Minerals began to grow, and increase, by converting into their own Nature one part of the Earth; they were solid, and heavy; and by this truly demonstrative Science, namely, Chemistry, I ●ound they were composed of much Salt, little Sulphur, and less Mercury.  
According to this Experiment, Minerals were Generated out of, and nourished by water.  
From what hath been related, both in this and the foregoing Section, concerning the growth, increase, and Vegetability both of Metals, Minerals, and Stones; as also concerning those Mineral, Metalline, and stony juices, called Gur, [or Bur] Soap-coal, and the Medulla Lapidis, etc. I think it will appear, that both Metals, and Stones, are made, do grow, and are nourished, daily, and at this time; and that from water, of which they were at first made, by the power of their Seeds: And this is the reason, that Metals, and Mines are now usually found in those places where for many Years before there were; 
Nou. L●m. ●hym. Tract 4. p. 314.  as both Sandivogius, and Helmont assure us. Ind fit, quod hodie reperiantur Minerae in locis ubi ante mille annos nullae fuerunt: From hence it is come to pass, that Minerals may be found in places, where before a thousand years since, there have been none. And Helmont, thus: Loca enim quae fodinis Caruêre olim, suo quandoque die, 
Helm●n, In Mag. Oport. p. 127. ●s. 39  Maturato semine, foenora reddent, ditioribus non imparia; quia radices, sive fermen●a Mineralium, sedent in loco immediat●, ac in dierum plenitudinem fine fastidio anhelant: quam ubi semen complevit, tum Gas obsidens quam ibidem, semen à lo●o suscipit, quod aquae sulphur dein impregnat, aquam condensat, atque sensim aquam Mineralem transplantat: For places which have wanted [or had no] Mines in times past, will in their own time, their Seed being ripened, restore Usury, equal to the richer sort [of Mines] because the Roots, or Mineral Ferments, are seated immediately in the place; and their full time being come, they [pant] or breathe without [weariness] or loathing: and when it hath gained a complete Seed, than the Gas which is seated in the water of that place, receiveth that seed of the place, which afterwards begets the Sulphur of the water with Child; condenseth the water, and by degrees turneth, or transplants it into a Mineral water.  
And, to conclude this Section, I will give you the Judgement of that great Naturalist, Helmont, by way of confirmation; because I find him exactly to correspond with all that I have hitherto delivered.  
His words are these, which you shall find in his Imago Fermenti; 
Helment, Imag. Ferment. p. 94. ss. 29, 30, 31.  which because they are long, I will only give you their sense in English. And indeed because the Schools have been unacquainted with Ferments, they have also been ignorant, that solid Bodies are framed only of water, and Ferment: for I have taught, that Vegetables, and Grain, and whatsoever Bodies are nourished by them, do proceed only from water: for the Fisherman never found any food in the stomach of a Salmon; if therefore the Salmon be made of water only, [even that of Rivers.] he is also nourished by it. So the Sturgeon wants a mouth, and appeareth only with a little hole below in his Throat, whereby the whole fish draweth nothing besides water. Therefore every Fish is nourished, and made of water, if not immediately, yet at least by Seeds, and Ferments, if the water be impregnat therewith. From the Salt Sea every fresh Fish is drawn; therefore the Ferment [of the Fish] turneth Salt into. Lastly, Shellfish do form to themselves stony shells of water, in stead of Bones; even as also all kind of snails do; and Sea-Salt, which scarce yieldeth to the force of a very strong fire, groweth sweet by the Ferment in Fishes; and their flesh becometh volatile: for, at the time of distributing the nourishment, it is wholly dissipated, without a residence, or dreg. So also Salt passeth over into its Original Element of water; and the Sea, though it receive salt Streams, yet is not every day increased in saltness. So the most unmixed, and most purest water, under the Equinoctial Line becometh hoary, and stinketh: straightway it getteth the colour of a half burnt brick, than it is greenish, then red, and quakesh very remarkably, which afterwards of its own accord returns to itself again: truly this cometh to pass by reason of the conceived Ferment of that place, which being consumed, all these appearances cease. So the most pure Fountain-water groweth filthy, through the musty Ferment of the Vessel; it conceiveth worms, breedeth Gnats, and is covered with a skin. Fens putrify from the bottom, and hence arise Frogs, Shellfish, Snails, Horse-Ieaches, Herbs, etc. also swimming Herbs do cover the water, being contented with drinking only of this putrid water. And even as stones are from Fountains wherein a stony Seed exists; So the Earth stinking with Metallick Ferments, doth make out of water, a Metalline, or Mineral Bu●; but the water being in other places shut up in the Earth, if it be nigh the Air, and stirred up with a little heat, it putrifieth by continuance, and is no longer water, but the juice Leffas of Plants; by the force of which hoary Ferment, a Four is conferred on the Earth of budding forth Herbs. For that putrifying juice by the prick of a little heat doth ascend in smoke, becomes spongy, and is compassed with a skin, because the ferments therein hid require it. Therefore that putrefaction hath the office of a Ferment, and the Virtue of a Seed, and by degrees it obtaineth some measure of Life, and hasteneth by the Virtue of its Seeds into the Nature of Archeuss. Therefore this putrid juice of the Earth, is Leffas': from whence springs every Plant not having visible seed, which nevertheless bring forth seeds, according to their destinations. Therefore there are as many rank, putrid, musty smells, as there are proper savours of things. For Odours are not only the Messengers of Savours, but also their promiscuous Parents. The smoke Leffas' being now compressed together, doth first grow pale, then somewhat yellowish, and presently after is of a whitish green colour, and at last fully green. And the power of the several species being unfolded, it gains divers marks, and different colours: in which course it imitates the Example of the water under the Equinoctial Line. Yet in this it differs, that those waters have borrowed too Spiritual and volatile a Ferment from the Stars, and place, without a Corporal hoary putrefaction; and therefore through their too frail Seed they presently return into themselves. But Leffas' is constrained to finish the Act, [and obey the Power] of the Conceived Seed. Therefore Rain Conceiving a hoary Ferment, is made Leffas', and is s●cked in by the lustful Roots: 'Tis experienced also, that within this Kitchen [of the Root] there is a new h●ry putrefaction produced by the Ferment which is Tenant there; by and by it is brought from thence to the Bark [which is as it were the Liver of the Plant,] where it is enriched with a new Ferment of that part, and is made a Herby, or Woody juice; and at length it being come to Maturity, it is made Wood, an Herb, or becometh Fruit. If the Arm, or Stem of a Tree shall be putrefied under the Earth, than the Bark or Rinde becometh d●y, and cleaveth asunder, and sendeth forth a smoke by its own Ferment, which in the beginning is spongy, bit at length hardens into a true Root: and so Planted Branches become Trees by the abridgement of Art.  
Therefore it is now evident, there is no mixture of Elements, and that all Bodies primitively, and materially are made of water, by the help of Seeds, and their Ferments; and that the Seeds being worn out▪ and exhausted by Acting, all Bodies do at length return into their Ancient principle of water: yea, that Ferments do sometimes work more strongly than fire, because that fire can turn great stones into Lime, and burn wood into ashes, but there it stops; but notwithstanding, if they shall assume a Ferment in the Earth, they return into the juice of Leffas', and at last into simple water. For Stones, and Bricks, do of their own accord decline into Salt-petre. Lastly, Glass which is unconquered by the fire, and uncorrupted by the Air, in a few years putrifieth by continuance [in the Earth] and undergoes the Laws of Nature, etc.  
Having now gone through the two first Arguments, by which I proposed to prove the Doctrine I have asserted, which Arguments were grounded on two generally received and allowed Axioms, [viz.] Those things which are the last in the resolving, [or retexing] of a Body, the same are found to be the first in its composition. Secondly, we are nourished by those things of which we are made, [or consist.] And having, I hope, sufficiently proved by both of them, that Water is the Original Matter, and Seeds the Efficients of all Bodies; I am now come to the third, and last Argument, which was to show, and prove a necessity of all Bodies being form out of water; because neither the four Elements of the Aristotelians, nor the three Principles of the Old Chemists, no, not yet the ●ive of the Modern Chemists, can possibly concur to the constituting of Bodies, as either their Primary Matter, or Efficient; they being themselves but great disguised Schemes of one and the same Catholic Matter, Water, from whence they themselves were made; and into which they are ultimately to be resolved, and uniformly to be reduced.   

Section the Sixth.  
ANd First for the Chemical Principles; I have showed [in the Fourth Section of this Discourse,] That the Oils of Vagetables, and their Fermented Spirits, which are their Sulphurs; that the Fats, and Oils of Animals, which are their Sulphurs, and also the Sulphurs of Minerals, and Metals, are all of them reducible into Water: As are also both Mineral, Animal, and Vegetable Salts. And as to the Mercury of Animals, and Vegetables (improperly enough so called,) they being but of a loose Contexture, are easily made to remigrate into water, (as I have taught in the same place:) As also is [though with somewhat more reluctancy, because of its strong Compression by its Seed,) true Mettallin Mercury, or Quicksilver, as my own experience hath assured me: Which is also confirmed by Raymundus Lullyus, the ingenious Mr. Boyl, and divers others.  
All this may be performed two ways, that is, Either by the means prescribed in the sorecited pages, or else more solemnly, speedily, and universally▪ by the help of that rare. Solve the Alkahest: The manner of whose operating upon Bodies, I have described from the relation of that worthy man Helmont [in the fourth Section.]  
Now as to the two other Principles added by the Modern Chemists; the one of them, viz. Earth, doth properly belong to the School of the Stagyr●t; and therefore I speak to that, when I come to discourse of the four supposed Elements of Bodies.  
But as to the other, viz. Spirits; they are all of them of one of these two Classes; either Vinous, and made by Fermentation; or Saline, and made without.  
Now for the Vinous, they are totally inflammable Bodies, and therefore to be Ranked under the Classis of Sulphurs; and may be reduced to water, as I have showed you above: Other Sulphurs, and Spirit of Wine itself may.  
The other sort of Spirits, viz. Saline, are nothing but Volatlle Salts, diluted with Phlegm or water; and therefore by repeated distillations, and careful rectifications, will be brought to constitute a Lump or Mass of dry Salt: Wherefore it is not an other Principle, distinct from the former three of the Old Chemists; and by the same handycraft-means may at last be reduced to water, as I have before showed the three Principles of the Chemists may be.  
Nor indeed can any of these three Bodies, called Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury, pretend to be the principles of all Concretes, excxept only Mercury, or Water; for it is proper for Principles, that they be Primary, and not further resolveable into more simple parts: But both Salts, and Sulphurs [as I have made out above] Being further reducible, viz. into Water; they therefore cannot [whilst such] deserve the Name of Principles.  
Besides, it is very much questioned by those two great Philosophers, Helmont, and Boyl, whether the Fire indeed be an adequate and fit instrument to Anatomise Bodies? And whether or no those distinct Schemes, into which the common Chemists resolve the matter of Bodies by Fire, [and which they call their three Principles] were indeed really existing, in those Bodies, from which they were Educed▪ [that they were matterially there, no man will deny, they being themselves composed of water?] But whether they were resident in the Concrete that yielded them, in the same f●●gures, and Shapes, that the Fire Exhibites them to our Sends, is very disputable? And it may easily be imagined, that the Fire acting upon a Body that it can master, [for some it cannot] doth not only put the small parts, of which that Body consisted, and which were before [in some measure] at rest amongst themselves, into a tumultuous motion; by means of which, they are sent hastily off into the Receiver; but doth also break by forcing them asunder, those small particles of that body into other Shades, Figures, and Sizes: upon which account they do conyene together after new manners; and so the Fire may present us with new Bodies, which were not preaexistent in the Concrete, when first exposed to its Action.  
But because this point is throughly, and Learnedly handled both by Helmont, and my excellent Friend Mr. Boyl, in his Sc●ptical Chemist, I shall spare myself the pains of expatiating upon it; and refer the Inquisitive to those two Authors, for full satisfaction in this point.  
Only I think it very necessary in this place, to examine the Arguments which are brought by a very learned man, and Eminent Physician, to evince the real Existence of the Chemical Principles in Bodies, and to prove that they are not products of the Fire. And I the rather take notice of it here; First, because they are not bare ratiocinations of this Learned man's, but experiments; upon which he hath built very much: And Secondly, should I omit to examine these Experiments, [which indeed do seem weighty] they might perhaps be produced against the Doctrine I descend: And some might likewise object, that I had not dealt candidly with the Chemist; in that I had taken no cognisance of the best weapon they have to defend their Cause.  
This Learned man then intending to prove the real existence of Salin and Sulphurous Principles in Bodies, before the action of the Fire upon them, produceth Experiments nevertheless, that are made by the Fire. His sense is this: 
Dr. Willis de se●m. cap 20. p. 10.  For the first, [viz. Salt] it is commonly known, that if the Salt be once washed out of the Ashes of any vegetable, if they be again calcined, they will yield no more Salt. Moreover, if any concrete being distilled, shall yield a very sharp, and acid Liquor, their Calces [or Ashes] do remain less Salt; and è contra, that is, where the salt is vblat●zed, and become a Liquor, and doth ascend by the Alimbec, you shall in vain seek for it in the caput mortuum: That which vindicates the Existence of the Principle of Sulphurs in Vegetables, is this; Take Gua●acum, or any other sort of heavy wood, in pieces or shave, and putting it into a Glass-Retort, distil it by degrees; and it will give you, together with a sowet Liquor [which is the Saline Latex] a blackish oil [which is its sulphury part] in a great quantity. That this was at first in the distilled Body, and not all produced by this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, appeareth from hence, because if you do proceed another way, by which the Sulphur may be taken from the concrete, b●fore it be distilled, the Liquor which cometh forth, will be almost totally deprived of its Oylyness: Wherefore, if you shall pour spirit of Wine upon the Shave of this wood, this menstruum will extract a great quantity of pure Rozin from it, which is the same Sulphury parts; and if afterwards you take these Shave that are left, and wash them with common water, and being dry, put them in a Retort, and distil them [as at first] you shall have but a little Oil. But that which is more to be wondered at, and which doth more fully confirm this truth, is, that several Bodies which have little of Spirit, or Sulphur in them [they being for the most part found amongst Volatils] and which chiefly consist of Salt, Earth, and Water, and are separated into these Elements by distillation, which being again mixed together, doth restore us the same sort of mixts, marked with the same sort of qualities as before; V. G. if you distil Vitriol in a reverberating Furnace, you shall have a Phlegm, almost insipid, which is its watery part: Then a very sour Liquor, or rather a ●luid Salt, and in the bottom remains a Red Earth of a pleasant purple Colour: These being rightly performed, if the two distilled Liquors be poured back upon the Caput Mo●tuum, we shall have the same Vitriol as before, revived of the same colour, taste, and almost of the same weight. The like may be done with Nitre, Sea-salt, Salt of Tar●ler, and perhaps, with Alum, and other Mineral bodies, which you may proceed withal with the same success▪ so that those concrets that consist of fixed and stable Elements, may, like Mechanical Engines be taken to pieces, and put together again, without any prejudice. Thus far he.  
First then, he saith, that if Salt be washed from the Ashes of a vegetable, though the Ashes be afterwards never so much calcined, yet will they yield no more Salt; and also that those things that yield a sour Liquor, have little or no fixed Salt in their A●hes.  
The matter of fact I do not deny, but the inference from thence, I suppose I may. For it is no necessary consequence, that●a thing was really existing in that form, in the body that yielded it, in the which Art presents us with it, when separated from the said body: As for Example, who ever believed, that a Coal was ever really Existent, [as a Cole] in wood, any otherwise than materially; and it is sufficiently known, that the Coal is a product of the Fire, which hath dissipated some parts, of which the wood consisted and new modified the rest? From which action of the Fire, the new body of the Coal resulted: From which Coal, if it be fluxed with an Alkalizat-Salt, may be obtained a perfect, true, and totally inflammable Sulphur, no way distinguishable from common Brimstone, [as I have often proved:] Which Brimstone is a body very different from that of Salt, which the same Coal, if burnt to Ashes, will yield us in the room of this Brimstone. And if it shall be objected, that this Brimstone is the Oil of the Wood or▪ Plant, which this Learned man is pleased to call the Sulphury Principle, and which he afterwards tells us may be obtained [together with an acid Saline Liquor, upon which it swimmeth] by distillation from Guajacum; if this be objected, I desire it may be considered, First, that the Oil of the wood was before sent off into the Receiver; and that a much greater Stress of Fire is required to burn the wood into a Coal, then is needful to separate all its Oil from it. And Secondly, that after it hath afforded all the Oil which the Fire can make of it, yet then at last this Brimstone may be made out of it. And thirdly, that it be taken notice of, that it is not a sufficient ground [nay, that it is a liberty not to be allowed] to give different bodies the same denomination, because they agree in some one quality: as this Oil, and the Sulphur do in that of Inflammability, when they differ in so many others, as is obvious to every man.  
And as to that part of the Experiment alleged by this Learned man; in the first place, viz. that these Concrets, which yield in distilling a sour Spirit, which is [saith he] their Salt volatised, and brought into the form of a Liquor; and therefore, as he ●aith, in vain to be sought for in their Ashes, in which very little will be sound: It proveth no more but this, that according as Bodies are differently made up, so the Fire acts diversely upon their Matter: As is to be seen in Wax and Clay, the former of which the fire melts, and the last it hardens. Nor doth it appear, that this Saline Liquor was such, whilst it resided in the Concrete, and before the action of the Fire upon it; any more than it doth, that there is really, and actually residing in the body of Wheat, or Barley, before they be made into Malt, and afterwards Brewed and Fermented, a vinous, and inebriating Spirit: Which when they are so managed we find there is. But if otherwise these grains of Barley, or Wheat, shall be ground into Flower, and made into Bread, they then become wholesome Food; of which a great quantity may be eat without procuring drunkenness, which their fermented liquors will cause. And yet from this very substance of the Grain, which affordeth two such bodies, as Drink, and Bread; by a different managing of it, may be made a liquor which is so far a Corrosive, that it will draw Tinctures, [which are solutions of the small parts of bodies] from divers Minerals, Metals, and Stones, and that many times without the help of External heat. Nor can it with more Justice be affirmed, that these Salts [whether fixed, or volatile] were really and in that form, existing in the wood, or other Concrete; than it may be said, and believed, that there is actually in Breadcorn, the Flesh, Blood, Bones, Sinews, Hair, Nailes, etc. of a man; because we see, that by the action of a humane stomach, these things are made out of Bread.  
And as to what is alleged concerning the Oil of Guajacum, it yieldeth if it be distilled per se, but if it be infused in Spirit of Wine, it will impregnate it with a certain Rozin, or Gum. And the wood after this Extraction, if it be committed to distillation, will not then afford the same quantity of Oil as before it would have done: That I easily grant, but than it will quite destroy the inference for which this Learned man brings it; viz. That Oil was in that form a constituant Principle of the mixed. For there is a vast difference betwixt Rozin, and Oil, the one being a firm body that will admit of pulverisation, the other a fluid, and unctuous body. And besides many other specifical differences, [which, not to be tedious, I purposely omit,] The Rozin is a product of Nature, the Oil, of the Fire. For the Rozin or Gum, is to be seen in the wood before distillation; and is only taken up, and dissolyed in the Spirit of Wine, which being evaporated, it appears again in its own form. But the Oil is, I grant, substantially, and materially the same with the Rozin; and therefore, that being for the greatest part, or totally taken away, the Fire produceth either less, or no Oil: Because if the Rozin be left in the wood, when it is committed to the Fire, the Fire doth spread abroad, break, and new alter the texture of the Rozin, and elevating, and making a new combination of its parts; it constitutes that Body which we call Oil; which is in this case a real and new product of the Fire, and was not before formally Existing in that Body.  
And it is plain, besides the instances before cited, that by a different mannagement of one and the same Concrete, I will cause the Fire to Exhibit very different substances from it; as for Example, take any herb, as Wormwood, Mint, etc. and having bruised them, add Yeast to them, or by any other means, procure a fermentation in the Matter; and then commit it to distillation, it will afford you an Oil, and a ●inous Spirit [which rectified, are both of them totally inflammable] but if the same herb be bruised, and suffered to lie upon the Flore some days, without fermenting, and if it be thus put to distillation, instead of yielding a vinous Spirit, and an Oil, as the other did; it will afford an urinous or Armoniac Spirit; which being carefully rectified, will coagulate totally into a mass of Salt; and that every man knows, is very different both from an Oil, and a vinous Spirit: For this Salt is not only brittle, but also absolutely uninflamable.  
And Lastly, as to what this Author instances, concerning Vitriol, Saltpetre, Tarter, and Alum, yielding of Saline Spirits, which being poured back upon their Caput Mortuums, do redent●grate; and return to the same bodies as they were before. The matter of Fact I allow to be true; but withal, must be allowed to say, that it proveth not what he brings it for; nor doth evince, that Salt▪ and Sulphur, are principles in all bodies▪ for 'tis the effect of their seeds, that forms these bodies out of water: For Salts sometimes are the products of s●eds; as I have proved from the regular figures, into which these Concrete juices do constantly shoot; as in Section the Second of this Discourse. So that it is not strange, that the smaller parts of these Saline juices, being by Fire divorced from the grosser, upon their being put together, do hastily run into, and lodge themselves in the cavities of their own bodies, from whence they were forced by the Fire. And to conclude, there are many bodies which the Fire cannot force to confess they are constituted so much as of two of the five modern Chemical Principles; as to instance in Gold, Talk, Silver, etc. and yet by the operation of the Alkahest, even these are at last reducible to water, of which they were made by the power of seed; and the aforesaid Oils, Salts, and Concrete juices, are to be all of them returned to water by the means prescribed in the Fourth Section of this Discourse.  
And here I must again take notice of two things, First, that this Learned Doctor's Experiments are all made by the Fire; which of itself alone I deny to be a proper Agent, to Analize bodies, and to discover to us the truth of those principles of which they are constituted; and that for these reasons, because it doth not work uniformly upon all bodies exposed to its action; for, as I have said before, it cannot of itself separate any one of these supposed Principles, from Gold, Talk, Sand, Silver, and many other Concrets; and yet of some other bodies it will frame, not only Oils, Salt, Spirit, Ashes, [or Earth, as he is pleased to call it] but also a Coal, Brimstone, and at last Glass: which three last, no man I suppose will imagine, were really existing, in those bodies of which they are made; and yet are they made by the same Agent, and from the same Subject, of which the Fire produced Salts, Oils, Ashes, etc. and therefore upon the same ground, may as justly plead for the prerogative of being the constituent principles of bodies.  
The Second thing I would have considered is this: That those different Shapes and Appearances, into which the Fire hath put the matter of any Concrete▪ viz. Salts, Oil, Ashes, Spirits, all of them are yet so compound, that they may be yet ●urther returned and divided into more simple parts; viz. into water, which is indeed the only, and true material Principle [deservedly so called,] for it is a primary, and simple body, into which at last, all Concrets, [and even the other Four supposed principles of this Learned man's] are reduced both by Art, and Nature; and of which they were made. So that we may truly affirm with the Ancient Philosophers, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; 
Pl●to. Hipp●, & An●x●g.  One is many, and many One.  
So that though this Learned Doctor, showed much wit in building so fair and specious a Philosophical Structure, from these five supposed principles, yet can it be no safe dwelling in it; because the Foundation is unsound.  
I have been the fuller in discussing the Experiments brought by this great man, in favour of his five Chemical Printiples; First, because indeed they have a very fair appearance, till they be throughly examined.  
And Secondly, I would be very loath to have it thought, I would endeavour inconsiderately or upon slight grounds, to diminish the ●ame this ingenious man hath already gained in the World by his Writings.  
And now having examined not only the Tria Prima [or three first Principles of the Old Chemists] but also the five Principles of our Modern Chemical Philosophers; and not being able to allow them the Title of Principles, for the reasons above alleged; I will likewise examine the Quaternary, or four Elements of the Aristotelians, and see, whether they can plead any better Title to be allowed, and established, the Principles, or Elements, of which all Bodies are made.   

Section the Seventh.  
THe Quadriga, or four Elements of the Peripatetics, hath for a long time gained the privilege, of being esteemed the constituent Principles of all Concretes: [which therefore are usually stilled compound- Bodies] for they say of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth, all sublunary Bodies are made, and from the divers mixtures of these, do arise all generations, corruptions, alterations, and changes, that happen to all sorts of Bodies.  
And first for the Element of Fire, [placed by Aristotle under the Globe of the Moon, but never yet seen by any man,] certainly it is nothing else but Heat; and that we know is caused by the violent and nimble agitation of the very minute-parts of Matter: And though there be Heat, [and consequently a kind of Fire] in the Bodies of Animals, yet this is no radical Principle but a product of vital Fermentation. The like of which we see is produced by the sermentation of Wines in the Barrel, to whose Bung, if the flame of a Candle be held, the subtle vapours of the Wine take flame and burn; which vapours, if they be otherways debarred of all vent, they by their brisk motion, cause an intense heat; and sometimes burst the Vessels that contain them. And this happeneth not only to Wines, but even to water itself; for it hath been observed in long Voyages [which somewhere is also taken notice of by Mr. Boyl] that our Thames water, being kept close stopped, assisted by the motion of the Ship, and its own secret fermentation, a Candle being brought near the vent, upon the opening of it, hath set all the Cavity of the Vessel into a flame. There is the like reason for the bursting forth of flame from wet and closely compressed Hay; as also from the Action of dissolvents upon Mettallin Bodies, etc. in which action, if the Glasses be stopped, they break with great violence: From the incoercible nature of which, we may conclude, that Fire [if there were such an Element] can never enter, as a constituant Principle, into the Composition of Bodies; but it is rather, as Helmont styles it, destructor seminum, the destroyer of Seeds, and is a fitter Instrument to Analize, and take Bodies in pieces, by not suffering their parts to be at rest amongst themselves, [to which purpose it is generally employed] than to constitute any. And therefore in this particular, Paracelsus was grossly mistaken, where he undertakes to teach us a way to separate the Element of Fire from Bodies, and afterwards pretends to make a new separation of Elements from them again. For, if we will suppose an Element of Fire, yet if that be further reducible, it must of necessity lose both the name and nature of an Element.  
But Fire is but an Accident, [no distinct substance, or radical Principle of Bodies;] for Fire, or Heat, as I have said before, doth result from the m●tion, which the small parts of Matter are put into by the power of their Seeds, and Ferments. For Fire cannot subsist of itself [as matter can, and doth] but necessarily requireth some other Body, to which it may adhere, and upon which it may Act: Which Bodies are either of a Vinous nature, as the sermented Spirits of Vegetables; or their Rozinous, and Brimstony parts; or else of an unctuous, and fatty nature, as the Grease, and Fatts of Animals; or else of a Bituminous substance, as the Sulphurs of Minerals and Metals are. And that all this is but disguised Water, which hath got new textures by the operation of Seeds, and Ferments, I hope I have sufficiently evinced before. So that without we will much injure Truth, we must degrade Fire from being an Element or Principle, in the constituting of Bodies.  
Nor doth Air enter Bodies, as an Element of which they are composed; though it be not only useful, but absolutely necessary both to Animals, and Vegetables; without which, neither of them live, or grow, and by the means of which, the Circulation and Volatization of the blood in Animals is promoted: By the help of which, also the motion of every part is performed. It also doth not only afford a convenient help to the Vegetation of Plants, by its compressing the surface of the water, and so forcing it to ascend into the stringy Roots and Fibers of Trees and Herbs; but also by acting the part of a Separator, [for it is, contrary to the received opinion of the Aristotelians, a very dry and tenious Body,] it, in its passage over the surface of the water, inbibes and takes into its Cavities, store of water, which it Transports to distant places [where Springs and Rivers are wanting;] and then being no longer able to suspend it, by reason of its plenitude, and weight, it returns it to the Earth, where it proves a fit nourishment for Plants, and a proper matter for all sort of Seeds to form themselves Bodies out of.  
An other use of the Air, is to be a receptacle, to receive vapours ascending from the water, through the pores of the Earth, where finding many Cavities, these vapours rove about, till by the cold of the place, or the great extension of them, the Seminal Principle contained in them, and by which they were specifically distinguished from water, is forced to desert the Body of the vapour; and so at last it returns to the Earth, in the form of the Catholic and universal matter, water.  
It likewise serveth as a fit Body for the Stars to glide through, and move in; and also by its Elatery Spring, pressing equally upon all parts of this Terraqueous Globe, it keeps it firmly supported in its place; and doth the same Office, which I suppose Zoreastes means by his Prestor.  
These are some of the Offices, and Uses, that God and Nature hath designed the Expansum, or Firmament, or Etherical Air for, but that Air we live in, and enjoy, is very far estranged from the nature of pure Ether, it being filled and defiled, with the Subtle steames and effluviums of all sorts of Bodies, which are there in a constant Flux, by which means particles of matter differently figured, [and as yet retaining some slight touch, as I may say, of their seminate natures,] meeting together by their action and reaction upon each other, generate Meteors; which having spent themselves, return to the bosom of the catholic matter, water.  
But before I take leave of this subject, give me leave to take notice of a great mistake in the Aristotelians; who affirm, that Air may be Transmuted into water; which change was never yet performed, either by Nature or Art. For, if it be to be done, by their own confession it must be performed by the means of compression, or condensation. But compression will not do the feat, as is manifest by winde-Guns; in which the Air is forcibly compressed [into, sometimes the Twentyeth part of the space it possessed before;] yet for all that, it is so far from being Transmuted into water, that by the help of this Compression, it hath its Elastic or Springy faculty so far advanced, that it will with as much impetuosity and vigour throw forth a Bullet, as Gunpowder set on fire would do.  
Nor will condensation serve the turn. For the moisture which we see affix itself to the walls of Cellars, and Caves, or any other subteranious places, is not Air Transmuted▪ but the vapours of water lodged in the Cavities of the Air; which being compressed by the cold of those places, becomes drops too big, and heavy for the Air to keep up; and so falling down, they settle in their pristin shape of water.  
And as Air is not Transmutable into water, neither is water into Air. For it is manifest in distillations, that though water be converted into very subtle vapours, yet by the touch of the cold Air, it returns again into water as before, and so distils into the Receiver. And I have showed above, that in nature's Circulations, though water be so distended as to become a most subtle vapour, or Gas, it doth yet constantly at last return, in its own Shape, to its own fountainwater, from whence it sprang.  
From what hath been said, it will follow, that though we do allow Air to be a very great Body, and a considerable part of the Universe, and also exceeding useful to all Bodies, we cannot yet afford it to be a material Principle, or Element, out of which any sublunary body is Constituted or Made.  
Lastly, let us examine whether the Earth have any right to be counted an Element or Principle, of which Bodies are constituted, For although the Aristotelians [as well as the Chemists] pretend to resolve all concretes into their first Principles by Fire; which they think they evince, by the example of burning wood. For, say they, That which supplies the flame, is Fire. That which sweats forth of the ends of the wood, is water; and that which ascends in smoke, is Air; but that which remains fixed [viz. the Ashes] after the Fire hath disbanded the other parts, is Earth. Yet if we examine this experiment of theirs, it will be found too Gloss, to make out what they endeavour to Illustrate by it.  
For first, the Phlegm of the wood is not a simple water; but contains a sour Salt, and doth both need, and will admit of a further division to reduce it to Elementary water.  
Nor were those parts which are converted into flame, Fire; but Roziny, or [as the Chemist's phrase it] Oily, or Sulphury parts: which I have before showed to be far from an Elementary simplicity.  
Neither is the smoke, which is seen to arise in the conflagration● Air. For it will affix itself to the funnel of the Chimney in the form of Soot; after which it may be divided into Water, Oil, Salt, and Earth, [as they call it.]  
And the Ashes [which they are pleased to take the liberty to call Earth] every Wash-maid knows, are far enough from being so; since they are yet so compound a Body, that they contain very much of a lixiviate and fixed Salt. So that in reason it cannot be called an Element: [For Elements ought to be pure, and simple Bodies, not capable of a further reduction into different parts.]  
And here it is necessary to remember my promise, and to take notice, that the modern Chemists, after they have washed the Salt from these Ashes, do not scruple to call it Earth, and allow it the place of one of their five Principles, of which they affirm all Bodies are compounded, and framed. But, as I declared before, so I do now again affirm, that the separating of these parts from Concrets by the force of Fire, is not a true Analisis, or proper way of taking Bodies to pieces; and therefore is no Genuine reduction of them; but a forcing of their parts asunder by the Fire, by which new combinations of the parts of Matter are made; and consequently the products of the Fire, are not to be looked upon as Principles, which were existing in Bodies under that form, in which the Fire presents them us.  
Besides, were Fire an adequate and proper Agent to dissolve the Texture of Bodies, and to present us with their real Principles, it would act uniformly upon all Bodies, and exhibit to us the same Schemes of matter, with certainty from all alike; which it doth not do. For [as for example] from Gold, Silver, Talk, Diamonds, Rubies, common Stones, Sand, and many other Bodies, who ever separated? not to say the four Elements, or the five Chemical Principles, but even any two of them; and yet if we may credit that worthy man Helmont, all these Bodies, by the operation of his Alkahest, are to be reduced into simple water, equal to their own weight. So that this soluent, must [from the uniformity of its operation] be allowed to be a much more fit instrument to discover what Bodies are composed of, then Fire alone can be supposed to be. And if we strictly examine the business, we shall find, that Earth doth not enter any natural Body, as a constitutive Principal thereof; but indeed Earth, or Ashes, may help to compose Artificial Bodies, such as Pots, and Glasses.  
For all sorts of Earth's are but various Coagulations of water, diversified by different Seeds, and Ferments, and are as much the products of water, as I have showed Mineral Salts, middle Minerals, Stones, etc. to be. All which, as Helmont assureth us, are reducible to water, by his great Solvent, [the Alkahest] which possibly I have somewhat more reason to affirm, than I am willing to declare.  
Earth I confess, to me appeareth to be the first product of the water, and is designed by nature as a firm foundation, [or Pedestal] to support the weight of Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals, and to afford proper Wombs for the water to deposit its seeds in. For the Earth produceth nothing of its self; but all things by the assistance of water, impregnated with Seeds; which it depositeth in its bosom.  
And that the Earth was the first product of the water, is confirmed by the Testimony of Moses, in the first Chapter of Genesis, at the 9th. verse; where describing the Creation of the Earth, he says no more but this: God commanded the water together into one place, and the dry Land appeared.  
From what hath been said, it is I think, very clearly made out, that Water, and Seeds, are the true and only Principles, of which all Bodies are made, and that neither the Tria Prima of the old Chemists,. nor the five Principles of the Chemists of our Age, no nor yet the four Elements of the Aristotelians, can rationally be allowed to be the Principles, or Elements of Bodies. So that as Helmont says, ruit totum quaternarium Elementorum praetor aquam: The whole Doctrine of the four Elements falleth to the ground: Excepting water only.  
Having now in some measure, made out the truth, or at least probability of these Principles I assumed to defend, both by reason, and experiment; it remains, that according to my promise, I strengthen these assertions by Authority. And show this is no Noval opinion; but that it was held, and believed by the Ancientest Philosophers: Such as Moses, Sanchoniathon, Mochus, Orpheus, Thales, Pythagoras, Timaeus, Locrius, Plato, etc. After which I shall make some short examination of the Histories of Petrification, alleged in the first Section of this Discourse, and so put an End to this Essay.   

Section the Eighth.  
THat Moses held water to be the First and universal Matter, will appear from what he tells us in the First chapter of his Book of the Creation, called Genesis, verse the Second, where he acquaints us, that the first material substance out of which God made this Beautiful and Orderly frame of the World, which from its Beauty the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, was water. His words are these; And the Spirit of God moved upon the Face of the Waters. Where it is to be observed, that the word which our Translation renders moved, is in the Original Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Moracephet; which properly signifieth not a bare motion, but such a motion as we call Hover, or Incubation, as Birds use to do over their Eggs to hatch them. By which expression we have not only an account of the first matter out of which the World was afterwards made; but also of the Efficient, by which this matter was wrought into so great a variety of Bodies. For in all probability, the sense of the Expression is, that at that time, [viz. in the beginning] God infused into the bosom of the waters, the seeds of all those things, which were afterwards to be made out of the waters, setting them their constant Laws, and Rules of acting [and thus was Nature Created, that is, the Order, and Rule of those things were established, which God designed to make:] and by the power of the words, increase and multiply, they had a faculty given them, to continue themselves in the same Order, till the world shall be destroyed by Fire, [the great destroyer of Seeds;] at which time all Seminal beings shall desert their gross Bodies, and return to their first Fountain, and great exemplar God, on whom they have at this time a constant dependence. For according to the Apostle, In him and to him, and through him, are all things; and in him we live, move, and have our being.  
Sanchoniathan, the great Phenician- Philosopher, [whom some Chronologers make contemporary with Gideon] some part of whose Works are yet to be met with in Philo-Biblius, and 〈◊〉 sebius; and a good account of whose Works we may also find in the writings of that Learned, and Ingenious man, Mr. Gale. This Sanchoniathan I say, exactly corresponds with Moses. For he says, In the beginning there was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, which in the Phenitian Tongue, 
Court of the Gentiles. part 〈◊〉. p. 55  is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Chauth Ereb; that is, Night or Evening Darkness. Then he further sayeth to this purpose; From the commixtion of the Spirit with the Chaos, was produceds Mot, which some call [〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉] that is matter, or watery moisture: Out of this was produced the whole Seed of the Creation, and the Generation of the whole.  
Also Mochus, an other Phenician- Philosopher, who continued the Philosophic History, begun by Sanchoniathon, [and who is said to have written long before the Trojan War,] was also of the same opinion, as Bochard affirms.  
And that Thales of Miletus, [who is held the first Philosopher that writ in Greek] taught that the world was made out of water, no body can be ignorant. And that, which Sanch●niathan calls Mot, fluid Matter, he calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉▪ water. 
Tully de Natur. Deorum. lib. 1. cap. 2d.  And Tully affirms, that Thales held water to be the beginning of things: And that God out of water framed all things.  
Orpheus also is of the same judgement, and tells us, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; of water, Slime was made. And Apollonius says, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Earth, of Slime was make. And the Scholiasts give a good explication of these words; for they affirm, that the Chaos, of which all things were made, was water, which coagulated itself, and became Slime; and that Slime condensed, became solid Earth.  
Thus you see, that Thales' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, or water; and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, i. e. watery moisture, of Sanchoniathon, and M●chus, was believed and held by them to be the first Principle of all things: From which the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Pythagoras, and Plato, differs not; as I will show by and by.  
Pherecides [an ancient Greek- Philosopher] who was Pythagoras his Master, and who we are told, was one of the first Greeks that held the Immortality of the Soul; though he seem to differ from Thales, and Orpheus in some things, yet agreed with them in the main, or the thing taken for granted by them all, viz. That water was the first Matter of all things.  
Also Pythagoras, the Founder of the Italic Sect of Philosophers, corresponds exactly in Opinion with Moses, concerning the Origin of the World, and its first Matter. For he positively held, that the World was made by God; and by him adorned with an excellent Order, Harmony, and Beauty in all its parts; and therefore he was the first that called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉▪ to Adorn or Beautisy: Secondly, his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, or first Matter, was the same with Sanchoniathons' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; and Thales and Orpheus their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, viz. water: Agreeable all of them to Moses, Genesis the first.  
Thirdly, Pythagoras, and all the Ancient Philosophers before him, held, that the Divine Providence, which they style 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, did inspire and influence the whole Creation, governing, and directing all things to their proper and peculiar Offices, Functions, and Ends. And this Providence was by them sometimes styled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, the Soul of the World; by which, saith Seranus, they understood nothing else but the Fire, Spirit, or Efficacy, which is universally diffused in the Symmetry of the Universe▪ for the Forming, Nourishing, and Fomenting all things according to their respective natures: Which Vivifick Principle Plato calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, effective Fire; but this they never understood, or meant to be a material part of any Body; but is the same which Moses calls. the Spirit of God.  
And now in the last place, I am come to give you the mind of Plato, and his conformity with Moses; His judgement hath always been so●esteemed, that men, to express the Reverence they had of him, did usually call him the Divine Plato: And in delivering his opinion, I shall also at the same time give you that of Timaeus Locrius, that great Philosopher, and Disciple of Pythagoras; from whom Plato borrowed much.  
First then, Plato tells us that the World was made: For he puts the question whether the World had a beginning, or was made? To which he answers, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, it was made. Then as to the first matter, of which the World, and all the Bodies in it were made, he says thus, [in his Timaeus] it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉▪ the Genus or Species out of which every thing is composed; and He calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, or first Matter, and is indeed the same with Sanchoniathans 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Mot, etc. and Thales, and Orpheus' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; and all of them the same with Moses his Chaos and Water, as will appear by comparing their descriptions together. Thus first, Moses calls his first matter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●ohu, without from; which Rabbi Kinchi calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 [as Fabius tells us] which is the same word that Plato uses to express his first matter by; and differs little, in sound, but less in the sense from the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Sanchoni●thon, which Philo Biblius styles Mot, from the Hebrew, and Phenitian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mod, which signifieth Matter: Yea, Plato expressly calls his first Matter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, somewhat without form; just like Moses his Bohu.  
And in his Timaus he tells us, that God out of this first matter [w●ter] commonly called Cha●s [because disordered, and irregular] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beautified, Ordered, and Figured, or Formed the Universe; and as Moses says, the Spirit of God moved upon the Face of the waters: So Plato affirmeth, that God made the World, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, that is, by an importunate m●tion, fluctuating, and not quiescing upon the matter. And as for Plato's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, or Soul of the World, we are assured by Ludovieus Vives, 
Lud. Vi●●s in come super  he mean● by it the same Spirit of God which Moses says moved upon the waters in the Beginning; and which the Psalmist calls the breath of his mouth: (Psalm 33. verse 6.) For, according to Plato's Philosophy, [as well as that of Moses] God is the Executive cause, and productive Efficient of all things, and therefore he usually styles God, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, the Supreme Fabricator, Perfector, and Essentialisor of all things. And as to the manner, how all things were made, he says, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉▪ Every thing was essentialised by certain Prolific, or efformative words, which the Stoics call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, a Spermatick, or Seedy word: Which agrees exactly both with Moses his Fiat, and with that of St. Paul; 
Epistle to the Heb. cap. 11. verse 3.  The Worlds were framed by the word of God; that is, God's Fiat was the Creator of all the Seminal and Prolific Principles of all things; and those created Seeds were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉▪ the Efficients; and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, water, was the Matter of which they were all made.  
These Seminal or Efficient Principles of things do contain within themselves certain Pictures or Images of those things which they are to make out of the matter, [viz. water.] To which purpose let us here what Plato says of his Ideas, 
Plato Timaeus. fol. 49.  which is to this effect; There are two sorts of Worlds; one, that hath the form of a Paradigm, or Exemplar, which is an intelligible Subject, and always the same in being: but the second, is the Image of the Exemplar, which had a beginning, and is visible. By his Intelligible World, Plato means the Divine Decrees; which are inherent in the Mind and wisdom of God: and these Original Ideas, he says, do produce a Secondary sort of Ideas [that is, the Seeds of things;] and these he makes to be the more immediate Delineation, or Image of the whole work; sometimes calling them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Exemplar; sometimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, an Image: His words run thus; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉: making use of this Exemplar, he frames the Idea, and Powers; that is, the Seeds of things. So that he makes the first, and Original Idea, [which is resident in the Divine Wisdom or Mind of God, and which Divines call the Decrees of God] to be much more Noble than the latter, or secondary Idea, or Seed, and to be the cause of it. And this last Idea and Seed, contains the Picture of the thing to be made; and depends upon the Primary, or Original Idea, and Exemplar, which is seated in God himself.  
Which Doctrine rightly considered, we have a satisfactory account of the cause, why the last Ideas, viz. the Seeds of things do proceed so regularly, constantly and unerringly in the producing their likes. For, if we consider, that the Seeds of things do depend upon their Paradigmes, and that they are inherent in the Mind of God himself, who is a God of Order; this will appear not so abstruse, as it hath hitherto done.  
And though we, out of Pride, and self-love to our own Nature, are unwilling to afford any creature, that is not of our Species, the Privilege of doing any thing by a Principle of reason; that is, with a design, tending towards the accomplishment of such an End; yet it is certain, that all creatures, even those that we count inanimate, do enjoy, upon the account of their Seminal Principles, not only Life, but even reason in some measure: Which, wanting the use of Languages, they do nevertheless plainly declare [to heedful and inquisitive men] not only by their regular, [and consequently designed] working the parts of matter, till they have produced such a distinct sort of Body; but also by those affections which we call Sympathy and Antipathy; and, for want of this knowledge, have hitherto referred to occult or hidden causes, the usual Sanctuary of Ignorance; by which Sympathy, and Antipathy of theirs, it is very manifest, they have hatred and love; and have a knowledge of those things, which are either pleasing or agreeable too, or else unpleasant or hurtful to their natures. And this is not only to be observed in Beasts, and visible moving Creatures, but also in all other sorts of Creatures, which we very injuriously call Dead, or Inanimate.  
But to return from whence I digressed, I shall in short say thus much of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, or manner how the Ideas and Seeds do work upon Matter, and form themselves Bodies; which they perform on this manner: First, by their Fermentative faculty, [or Springy power] they put the Body of the water into a peculiar sort of motion, by which they congregate those particles, which are most agreeable to their design, and consequently fittest to adhere, and stick to each other. Secondly, they break the rest into convenient shapes, and Sizes: And Thirdly, by this motion they also put these particles into commodious Postures, and Situations amongst themselves, and by these means frame themselves Bodies, exactly correspondent to their own praeconceived Figures.  
By this declaration of my thoughts, I hope it will plainly appear, that I am no Enemy to that rational way of explicating the Phaenomena of Nature, used by the Atomical, Cartesian, or Corpuscularian Philosophers; for certainly, they do give us not only an very ingenious, but also a very true account of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, or manner how, matter is, or may be modified; to which, if they would please to add, as some do, the powerful efficacy of Seeds upon Matter, by which indeed all the several 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉▪ or various shapes of Matter is produced, we might then hope to receive some satisfactory account of that hither to perplexed Subject, the Generation of Natural Bodies: Which Principle if it were received, and taken into the Philosophy of our Age, I am apt to believe it would silence many Litigations, now daily commenced by men of Parts against each other; and oblige them to love truth more than the desire of being accounted witty Disputants; Truth being so desirous a thing, that Porphyry in the Life of Pythagor as [though a Heathen] tells us; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is, Truth only can make men near to God.  
Now therefore, though rude and unguided motion, will naturally have some kinds of result upon matter, as we see the springy motion of the Air, or some more subtle Body doth form of the Water, of Rain, and Dew, round Drops, by equally Compressing it; yet because this general kind of motion doth something, we are not from thence to conclude it doth all things. For, this were a Sophism, fitter to impose upon Fools or Children, then upon Men of mature reason. Nor can such kind of motion be ever able to form such bodies, as imply a wise Council, and curious contrivance; as, for Example [to say nothing of Living Creatures] the strong and useful bodies of Metals, Minerals, and Stones, and the beautiful Branches, Flowers, and Fruits of Blants, are. Wherefore we must in all reason acknowledge and confess, that there is an internal Mind, virtue, and Idea, contained in the Seeds of things, which works rationally, [that is, to a Designed end;] by which Principle, the matter is put into a peculiar motion, and usefully guided, till it be changed, and form into a body, such as the Idea was designed by God to make, who still governs these Seedy Principals: And therefore in Scripture, we are told, He Giveth is Every Seed, it's own Body.  
Thus then, I hope, I have proved, that I am of the same Judgement with the Ancientest, and best Philosophers; viz. that there is but two Principles of all things, Efficients, and Matter; Seeds, and Water.  
And now having cleared the Doctrine proposed; I intent in the last place, to inquire, How those Transmutations of different Bodies into Stone, the Histories of which you will find set down in the first Section of this discourse, were performed: upon which, I will only Touch, and so Conclude.  
It is the Opinion of some Men, that the change of Leaves, Moss, Wood, Leather, and other Substances, into Stone, [wrought by those Petrifying Waters, and Caves, I have mentioned in the first Section of this Essay] are no real Transmutations of those Bodies into Stone, by the Operation of a Petrifying Seed; but that they are nothing else, but the opposition of certain small Stony Particles, hid in the Water, to those Bodies immersed in them; and that by this means they become Crusted over with a stony Coat or Bark, and so they become increased both in Bulk, and Weight, by continual addition. But if this were so, then indeed the Leaves, Wood, etc. cast into these Waters, would not be really transchanged into perfect Stony Nature; but only seemingly so.  
Nevertheless, if we look warily into the thing, we shall have Cause to believe, that there is, not only an Aggregation of these small Stony particles, and an incrustation upon the outside of those things put into the Water; but even that the smallest Atoms of the Wood, Leather, etc. are really Petrisyed; in so much, that we can discern them to be no other than Stones, not only by our Eyes alone, but by them assisted with the best Microscopes. Nor if they be examined by the Fire, will they make any other Confession: For they will not burn like Wood, but calcine like Stones; and though great pieces of Wood, and Trees, will not be so soon converted into Stone, as twigs, Leaves, or Moss, are; yet by continuance of Time, great bulks of Wood will be Stoni●yed totally, both within, and without; so that by these kind of Waters, bodies are not only Crusted over with stone, but the Wood, Leaves, etc. are really and truly changed into Stone. I do not deny, but that there may be an affixing of some stony Corpuscles Latent in these Waters, which may increase both the bulk and weight of those things Changed by them; but that this is all, that I deny.  
For, if so, than those Bodies thus changed, would not be altered into a true Stony Nature, per minima, and in their smallest parts, internally, as Experience shows they are; and though the Explicating, how this Change is Wrought, is somewhat difficult, yet in all probability it is thus.  
The Saxeous, or Rocky Seed, contained in these Waters, [which is so fine, and subtle a Vapour, that it is Invisible; as I have before showed all true Seeds are,] doth penetrate those Bodies which come within the Sphere of its Activity; and by reason of its Subtlety, passeth through the pores of the Wood, or other Body, to be changed: by which permeating those Bodies, it doth these four things: First, it Extruds the Globuli Aetherai [as the Cartesians Phrase it] or the Airy Particles Lodged in their pores: Secondly, it puts the Particles of those Bodies into a new and different motion, from that they were in before; by which means they become broken into Figures, and Sizes, and obtain new and convenient Situations. Thirdly it entangleth and Lodgeth itself intimately amongst the smallest parts of those Bodies; by which means their parts being drawn closer together, they obtain a greater Weight and Solidity: And lastly, it Acts as a Ferment, and by reason of its Contiguity, and Touch with every small part of the matter it doth, as Leaven useth to do, [though mixed with a much greater quantity of Doughty, than itself] Convert the whole into its own Nature. So also this Stonifying Seed, by its operating Ferment, doth transchange every particle of the matter it is joined unto, into perfect Stone; according to its Idea or Image, Connatural with itself.  
As to those Conversions of Animals into Stone, related in History, the 13, 15, 16, and 17, of the first Section of this Essay; they also are wrought by the same powerful Operations of a petressent Seed or vapour; and by the same Circumstances, and Contrivances: which showeth, that the strength and Power of a Petrifying Seed is above, and beyond all other: For, other sorts of Seeds do require, that the subject matter be reduced into a sequatious juice, or obedient Liquor, and Consequently doth require, that the Figure, and Shape of the precedent Concrete be destroyed, or else they cannot Act. But the Petrifying Seed, the Human, or other Living Cretures Figure being still entire, without any intervening putrefaction, or dissolution of the matter, doth transchange [Totum per Totum] the whole, throughout the whole; that is, as well the Bones, as the Blood, and Skin: So that here is not an incrustation of the Stony matter upon the External parts, [only] but a real change, intrinsically, and throughout, of the Bony, Fleshy, and Sinnewy parts of the Animal into a stony Substance.  
By the same operations Water itself is converted into Stone, [viz. by, the power of Petrifying Seeds] as we may see by the 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and Fourteenth History of the first Section: As also doth appear by the Relation of those that have seen those Famous Grots in France, called, Les Caves Goutieres', where the Drops falling from the top of the Cave, doth [even in its falling] coagulate before your eyes into little Stones. Now this Transmutation of Water into Stone, by a Petrescent Seed, is not only much more usual, than the change of other Substances is, but also much Easier: For Water is a Primary, simple, liquid, tremulous Body, consisting of very minute parts, already in Motion, and therefore readily obeying the Command of all sorts of Seeds.  
Nature is uniform in her manner of producing Bodies, and therefore, as I have demonstrated in the body of this Discourse, as she usually, nay constantly produceth, both Animals, Vegetables, and Metals, from liquid Principles, viz. Water, so doth she most commonly Stones; which before their becoming such hard Bodies, were at sometime in Principiis Solutis, that is, their matter was in a loose, open, and fluid Form: And, as I have showed, the Spiritual Seeds of Vegetables, do assimilate, and change Water, into Mint, Rosemary, etc. According to the divers Ideas, and characters of their peculiar Kinds; so also the Stony Seeds, do form themselves Bodies out of Water; and these of very different Figures, Compaction, and Colours; and this is done sometimes suddenly, sometimes slowly, and by length of time: Now, the difference of compaction, and hardness, that we find in Stones, as also their sudden or slow Coagulation, depends chiefly upon the plenty, or paucity of the stony Seed, or Spirit, in respect to the quantity of the matter to be wrought upon, and changed by it. But the difference of the Figure, is chiefly to be referred to the peculiar Nature of the Seed, and its Idea; [as we see in Crystals, and other Stones, which have a determinate Figure:] and sometimes it is to be referred to the vessel, or place, containing the Water, or other Liquor, before its conversion into Stone, And for the Colour, that is also chiefly caused by the operation of the peculiar sort of stony Seed; which in its working upon the Water, hath given it a determinate Texture, and superficies; by which it reflects and modifies the Light, after a peculiar manner. But sometimes it is to be referred also to the Waters being impregnated with the Tinctures of some Mineral or Mettallin Bodies, before its coagulation. As Granets contain the Tincture of Iron in them; and therefore are drawn by the Loadstone.  
But to put it out of all doubt, that Stones were at first Water; [or at least, some Liquid Matter] I will Cite a passage or two out of the Works of my often mentioned, Honourable Friend, Mr. boil. 
Boyl in his Essay of Ferm. p. 281.  His words are these: And here I will Confess further, that I have oftentimes doubted, whether or no not only Consistent Bodies, but some of the most Solid Ones in the World, may not have been Fluid in the form, either of Steemes, or Liquors, before their Coalition and their Concretion either into Stones, or other Mineral Bodies. And then speaking of the Opinion of some Men, who will have it, that Stones, and Metals, [were indeed Created at the beginning of the World by God, but that since they] are neither Made, nor do Grow, and increase: He further says [viz. that they were once in a fluid form] thus: Of this, besides what we elsewhere deliver Concerning it, we shall anon have Occasion to mention some Proofs; and therefore we shall now only mention two or three instances: the first whereof shall be, that we saw, among the rarities of a Person, exceedingly Curious of them, a Stone flat on the outside, on one of whose internal surfaces was most Lively Engraven, the Figure of a small Fish, with all the Finns, Scales, etc. which was affirmed to have been enclosed in the Body of of that Stone, and to have been accidentally discovered, when the Stone chancing to receive a rude Knock upon its Edge, split a sunder. I Remember also that a while since a Housekeeper of mine in the Country informed me, that whilst a little before, he Caused in my absence one of my Walls to be repaired; the Masou, I was wont to employ, Casually breaking a Stone, to make use of it about the Building, found in it [to his Wonder] a piece of Wood, that seemed part of the branch of some Tree, and Consequently was afterwards enclosed with that solid Case wherein he found it. This Example seems to me a more cogent Proof of the increase of Stones, than some others, that Eminent Naturalists much rely on, for reasons discoursed of in an other place.  
And again, he tells us in the same place, that He hath seen several large Stones, such as they make Statues of, that when they were sawed, and broken, had Caveties in them, which contained Metals, and other substances: And I myself have observed pebbles enclosed in great free Stones. And it is commonly known, that Spiders and Toads have been found upon the breaking of great Stones, enclosed in their innermost substance.  
And now I have showed you, how agreeable I am with this Learned Person in this Doctrine concerning the matter, and growth of Stones; I will also show you his Opinion, as to their Efficient: for he says; 
Essay of Ferm. P. 275.  I know that not only professed Chemists, but other persons who are deservedly ranked amongst the Modern Philosophers, do with much Confidence entirely aforibe the induration, and especially the Lapidescence of Bodies, to a certain secret internal principal, by some of them called a Form, and by others a Petrifying Seed, lurking for the most part in some Liquid Vehicle: And for my part, having had the opportunity to be in a place, where I could in a dry Mould, and a very elevated piece of Ground, cause to be digged out several Crystalline Bodies, whose smooth sides, and Angles, were as Exquisitely figured, as if they had been wrought by a skilful Artist a cutting of precious Stones; and having also had the opportunity to consider divers exactly or regularly shaped Stones, and other Minerals, some digged out of the Earth by my Friends, and some yet growing upon Stones, newly Torn from the Rocks, I am very forward to grant that [as I elsewhere intimate] it is a Plastic Principal implanted by the most wise Creator, in certain parcels of matter, that doth produce in such Concretions, as well the hard Consistence, as the determinate Figure. Thus far He; Then which, what more consonant to the Doctrine I have asserted in this Discourse?  
Conclude we then [and I hope at last upon probable Grounds] since we have not only the before cited Authorities, both of the best Ancient, and Modern Philosophers; and also are taught by the experiments, and Manual Operations laid down in this Discourse, which show us the reduction of all bodies ultimately into Water; and their Nourishment from thence; as also from the inaptitude of at least two of the four Aristotalian Elements [viz. Fire, and Aire] to concur to the Constituting of Bodies; and likewise from the Compound Nature, of two of the Old Chemical Principles, viz. Sulphur and Salt: and from the same compound Nature of four of our modern Chemist's Principles, viz. Oil, Salt, Spirit, Earth, which all of them are further reducible into Water, and therefore not to be allowed for Principles; as I have before demonstrated: Let us then, I say, conclude in, and acknowledge the truth of the Moysaick, Platonic, and Helmontian Doctrine.  
That is, that all Bodies consist but of two Parts, or Priniciples, Matter, and Seed; that their Universal Matter is Water: That the Seeds of things do from this Matter, [by the help of Fermentation] alter, break, and new compose the Particles of which it Consists, till they have form a Body, Exactly Corresponding to the Images, or Ideas contained in themselves: Also that the true Seeds, of all things, are of a very subtle Nature, and Invisible, and are secundary Ideas and Images; and that they are Connexed to, and depend upon their Primary Ideas, and Exemplars; which are Inherent and resident in God himself: And that for that reason they Act with Design, and to a purposed End, which they constantly, and regularly Accomplish; and this is somewhat Analogous to reason in them. Lastly, that Nature, or the Law of Kind, is uniform in its productions thus far, that it makes all Bodies out of Water, by the power of invisible Seeds; so that the Matter of all Bodies is Identically the same. And that they are all of them reducible into the same Matter at Last: But that their Seeds are various, and therefore produce different Effects upon the same Matter: yet do they all agree in this, viz. That they are all invisible Being's, and all of them have a dependence upon their Exemplars, which are the Decrees of God, and are constantly inherent in him.  
FINIS.   

An Advertisement.  
THere is lately Printed, a Book, in which is showed the necessity that lies upon all Honest, Discreet, and Conscientious Physicians, to resume that Ancient, and Laudable Custom of making, and Dispencing their own Medicines; with the Advantages thereby accrueing to the Patient: Both as to saving of Charges; and the speedy cure of their Distempers. In which the New way of prescribing Bills, [or making Medicines with the Pen] is showed to be destructive to the Interest, both of the Patient, and Physician: It exposing them to the Fraudulent dealing of Practising Apothecaries, in which you will find the Marrow of what hath been writ upon this Subject, by Dr. Cox, Dr. Merrit, Dr. Goderd, and others; together with certain new, and cogent Arguments not formerly made use of. The Subject I conceive, of such general concern, that I thought it is very fit to give notice of it here.  
The Title of it is Praxis Medicorum Antiqua, & Nova, or the Ancient, and Modern Practice of Physic examined, Stated, and Compared, etc. It was written by the Industrious, and Ingenious Dr. Everrard Manewring. And is to be sold by William Cademan Bookseller, at the Sign of the Pope's Head, at the little Door of the New Exchange, next Durham Yard.  

Clarks Examples in two Volumes in Fol.  
Bacon's Natural History in Fol.  
Reynolds of Murder in Fol.  
Cozens' Devotions in 12.   

Plays.  
Cambyses King of Persia in 4.  
Island Princess in 4.  
Town Shifts in 4.  
Juliana in 4.  
Catiline in 4.  
Rivals in 4.  
Flora's Vagaries in 4.  
Marcelia in 4.  
Imperial in 4.  
Fortune by Land and Sea in 4.  
Unfortunate Mother in 4.  
Hamlet in 4.   
Cum multis Aliis.  
To be Sold by William Cademan, at the Sign of the Pope's Head in the New Exchange.