54. §. Again, the Principles of the Organical Parts being known, we may from thence obtain a further knowledge of the Natures, and Causation or Original of their Contents; since these Contents are not only included in the said Organical Parts, but also Created by them: and must needs be so, whether we will suppose the Principles of these Contents to be præ-existent to their reception thereinto, or not. For, if not præ-existent, what can be clearer, than that the said Parts give them their Existence? And if præ-existent, yet in regard they are distinguished, and such only of them admitted in such sort into an Organical Part, from amongst others, as are apt to combine and mix together in such a Form, and so to constitute such a Liquor; it is as clear, that the Existence, if not of those Principles, yet of that Liquor, is dependent on the said Part.

55. §. And if by means of the said Organical Parts, it is, that their Contents become such and such peculiar Mixtures; it is hence also manifest, That, by the same means, they are of such distinct Faculties and Powers: Because the Faculty or Power of a Body, lieth not in any of its Principles apart; but is a Resultance from them all; or from their being, in such peculiar sort and manner, United and Combined together. So the Principles of the Purgative Parts of a Root, as of Rhubarb, although we should suppose them to be existent in the surrounding Earth, yet we cannot say, That that Earth, or the Principles therein contained, are Purgative; but only that they are such, as by being combined together, in such a peculiar way, may become so. So the several parts of a Clock, although they are and must be all præ-existent to it, and it is their Form, by which they are, what they are; yet is it the setting together of such Parts, and in such a way only, that makes them a Clock. And since we see that the Mixture of two Bodies of two different Qualities, as of Two Colours, will produce a Third Colour, differing from them both; as Blue and Red, do a Murrey: Why should not Two or More Bodies of different Natures, be so combined together, as to produce a Third Nature? Or wherefore may not that be allowed to be performed by Nature, which by Artificial Compounding of Medicines, or other Bodies, is designed, and often times effected? I’ll give but one Instance; Water, Grease, and an Alcatizate Salt, may be easily so ordered as to be inverted with new Qualities, Nature, and Powers; the Salt, to lose its extreme fiery Pungent Taste; the Tallow, its Smell; and being before unsociable with the Water, to mingle therewith: neither Tallow, Salt, nor Water alone, will fetch out a spot of Grease; but all united easily do it: the same Three Bodys united, are, in some Cases, as in the Jaundies, no ill Medicine; any of which, given alone, may rather prove prejudicial, than a cure: and all this done, only by duly boiling them together into one Body, which we call Sope.

56. §. Whence again, if it be such an Union, and Proportion, of such a Sort of Principles, which produceth such a Faculty; and that we may, by any means, come to know what these are; we may, possibly, also attain to the knowledge of such Rules, whereby any kind of Faculty may be made; as to Compound such Bodies, which are neither Purgative nor Vomitory, so together, as to be Invested with those Faculties. And if to Make them, then consequently, to Mend, Exalt, Strengthen, and Enoble them, with greater ease and certainty. And thus much for the Fourth General Mean.

57. §. HITHERTO, We have considered the Materials of a Vegetable, only as Ingredient to it: The Fifth General Mean. there yet remains a Fifth Story to be ascended; which is, to consider these Materials as they are derived from abroad: or as, after they are received and naturalized, they may, with others yet abroad, have any kind of correspondence. And these are Four in general, scil. Earth, Water, Aer, and Sun; all which, in that they contribute so universally to Vegetation, and to whatsoever is contained in a Vegetable, it is therefore requisite, that of These likewise, Particular Observation should be made.

58. §. And First, of the Earth, and of all Solid Receptacles of Plants. Where we are to consider their several Kinds; as Mellow, Sandy, Clayie, Chalky, and others. Their Ingredients; as Rank and Mellow Earth, with Sand, or with Clay; or Sand with Clay; or altogether; and in what Proportions. The Principles whereinto any one of these Ingredients, separated from the rest, and put to the Test of Distillation, Ustion, Calcination, or other, either alone, or by mixture with other Bodies, may be Resolved. And by their Qualities, as Colour, Smell, Taste, &c. both Ingredients and Principles to be examined. To make tryal of the growth of Plants, in all kinds of simple Soils; either Earthy or Mineral, as Clay, Marl, Oker, Fullers Earth, Bole Armeniac, Vitriol, Allum, &c. or Vegetable, as Rotten Wood, Brans, Starch, or Flower, &c. or Animal, as Dungs, pounded Flesh, dried and powdered Blood, and the like; that it may appear, how far any of these may contribute to the growth of a Plant; or to one, above another.

59. §. Next of the Water, and of all Liquid Receptacles. Where the several kinds of Water, from Wells, Springs, Rain, and Rivers are, by their Qualities and Faculties, to be examined; as these, and by these, their Principles, either in their Natural State, or upon Digestion, or otherwise, may be observable: since Common Water it self, is undoubtedly compounded of several Principles; the simplicity thereof, not being argued, from its Clearness and Transparency; for a Solution of Alum, though it containeth a considerable quantity of Earth, is yet very Clear: nor from its seeming to have neither Smell nor Taste; for Water-drinkers will tell you of the varieties of both in different Waters. Besides, if these Qualities should be accounted rather Phansie, than Sense; the difference of Waters is yet more manifest, from their different Effects, observed by Cooks, Laundresses, Brewers, and others, that have occasion to use them: for not to mix with Sope, without curdling; not to boil Meat tender, or without colouring it red; and the like, are the vices of some Waters, not of others, which yet would seem, in Colour, Taste, and Smell, to be the same. Tryal should also be made of the growth of Plants in all kinds of Liquid Receptacles, as Common Water, Snow Water, Sea Water, Urine, Milk, Whey, Wine, Oyl, Ink, &c. Or any of these, with a solution of Salt, Nitre, Sal prunellæ, Sope, or other body. And hereby to observe what follows, either in the Liquor, or in the Plant it self: as if any fixed Body, being weighed before its dissolution in Water; and if the Plant, set herein, groweth; the Water, being then evaporated; whether the quantity of that dissolved body, continue the same, or is lessened. So, whether any Vegetable will become Opiate, by growing a considerable time in a plain Solution or Water-tincture of Opium; and the like. Which Experiments, what event soever they have, yet at least, for our further instruction in the Nature of Vegetation, may be of use.

60. §. Next of Aer, where it will be requisite to inquire, what sort of Bodies may be herein contained: It being probable, from the variety of Meteors formed herein; and of Vapours and Exhalations continually advanced hereinto; that some or other of them, may bear an Analogy, to all Volatile Bodys, whether Animal, Vegetable, or Mineral. The flourishings also of Frozen Dew; and the Green Colour, which the Aer gives the Ground or Water, when, for some time exposed to it; and other effects; seem to argue, that it is Impregnated with Vegetable Principles. To consider also the peculiar Nature of that Body, which is strictly called, Aer, And of that true Aerial Salt, which to me, seemeth probable, that it is dissolved in the Æther, as other Salts are in Water, or in the Vaporous parts of the Aer. As also to try, what different Effects, a diversity of Aer may have upon a Vegetable; as by setting a Plant, or Seed, either exceeding Low, as at the bottom of a deep Well; or exceeding High, as on the top of a Steeple. Or else by exposing some Soil to the Aer, which is assuredly free from any Seed, and so, as no Seed can light upon it; and to observe, whether the Aer hath a power of producing a Vegetable therein, or not: and the like.

61. §. Lastly of the Sun; as to which, it may be considered, What Influence it may have upon the Plant it self; upon the Soil; Or upon the Aer. Whether that Influence is any thing else besides Heat: or may differ from that of a Fire, otherwise, than by being Temperate, and more Equal. That it doth, seems evident from an Experiment sometime since given us, in one of the Parisian Journals des Scavans, and which I therefore think very applicable to our present purpose. If you hold a Concave at a due distance, against a Fire, it will collect and cast the Heat into a burning Focus: but if you put a piece of plain Glass between them, the Glass will scatter the Heat, and destroy the Focus. Whereas the Sun-Beams, being gathered in like manner, will pass through the interposed Glass, and maintain their Focus. As for That, of the Collection of the Sun-beams, by the help of Glasses, in the form of a Magistery, or of Flowers, and such like, I desire to suspend my thoughts of them, till I see them. I will only say thus much further at present, That I do not understand why the Sun should not have some Influence upon Bodies, besides by Heat, if it may be granted, That the Moon hath; for which, it should seem, there are some good Arguments.

62. §. WE HAVE thus far examined the Principles necessary to Vegetation. A Sixth General Mean. Only hinted. The Question may be put once more, In what manner are these Principles so adapted, as to become capable of being assembled together, in such a Number, Conjugation, Proportion, and Union, as to make a Vegetable Body? For the comprehension whereof, we must also know, What are the Principles of these Principles. Which, although they lie in so great an abyss of obscurity; yet, I think, I have some reason to believe, that they are not altogether undiscoverable. How far they may be so, I am so far from Determining, that I shall not now Conjecture.

The Conclusion. 63. §. THIS is the Design, and these the Means I propose in order thereunto. To which, I suppose, they may all appear to be necessary. For what we obtain of Nature, we must not do it by commanding, but by courting of Her. Those that woo Her, may possibly have her for their Wife; but She is not so common, as to prostitute her self to the best behaved Wit, which only practiseth upon it self, and is not applied to her. I mean, that where ever Men will go beyond Phansie and Imagination, depending upon the Conduct of Divine Wisdom, they must Labour, Hope and Persevere. And as the Means propounded, are all necessary, so they may, in some measure, prove effectual. How far, I promise not; the Way is long and dark: and as Travellers sometimes amongst Mountains, by gaining the top of one, are so far from their Journeys end; that they only come to see another lies before them: so the Way of Nature, is so impervious, and, as I may say, down Hill and up Hill, that how far soever we go, yet the surmounting of one difficulty, is wont still to give us the prospect of another. We may therefore believe, our attainments will be imperfect, after we have done all: but because we cannot attain to all, that therefore we should endeavour after nothing; is an Inference, which looks so much awry from the Practical Sense of Men, that it ought not to be answered. Nor with better Reason, may we go about determining, what may be done. The greatest Designs that any Men undertake, are of the greatest uncertainty, as to their Success: which if they appear to be of good Import, though we know not how far they are attainable, we are to propound the Means, in the utmost use whereof only, we can be able to judge: A War is not to be quitted, for the hazards which attend it; nor the Councils of Princes broken up, because those that sit at them, have not the Spirit of Prophecy, as well as of Wisdom. To conclude, If but little should be effected, yet to design more, can do us no harm: For although a Man shall never be able to hit Stars by shooting at them; yet he shall come much nearer to them, than another that throws at Apples.

FINIS.