222 The received Dottrine Book IV: 
C H-A E 
Of the received Dottrine of Mixture. 
SIRST, As to the received Doétrine of Mixtures not to 
trouble you with tedious quotations of. what Ariffotle, Ga- 
len, Fernelins, Scaliger, Sennertus, Riverius, and other 
5 Learned men fay hereof; we may füppofethe whole fummed 
upinthat Definition which Arifiotle himfelf hath given of 
it,and which the greater number of his Followers,have almoft religioufly 
adhered to 5 viz, that ‘tis, ry pueray dAdoebivrav yong. that “tis, 
Lib. 1. de Mifcibilium alteratorum unio. W| hich Definition, as it is ufually expli- 
Generat. cated, is both Unintelligible, and Unnjeful, 
Corrupt. 2. $. Two things are unintelligible; what they mean by Alterati- 
Cap.ult, 075 and what by Union. In this Alteration 
, they fay, That the very 
Forms of the Elements are altered. And therefore lay it down for an 
Axiom, Quod in Mixto, Forme Elementares tantum fint in potentia, But 
let us fee the confequence. For if ina mixed body, the Forms ofthe 
Elements are but in potentia; then the Elements themfelves are but in 
potentia: for we all fay, Forma dat efe. And if the Compounding 
Elements, are only in potestia; then the Compounded Body it {lf can 
be only ix potentia > yet to fay it is no more, is molt abfurd. 
3. $. As for the Union of Elements in a mixed Body 5 they make 
it fuch, as brings them at laft to aflert, the Penetration of. Bodies, and 
that the Union of mixed Bodies is nothing elfe. For they fay it is made 
in fuch fort, that every particle of the mixed Body, partaketh of the 
Nature of the whole. Which Nature, arileth from 
ted Qualities of the four Elements. Whence they conclude, That 
every particle of the mixed Body, containeth in it {elf all the four Eke- 
ments. Which is plainly to affert a penetration of Bodies. For every 
experience of fo many years, wherein it hath been ventilated by the 
difputes of men, proveth as much: Scarce any of them, except the 
Learned sennertus, daring to venture upon Experiment, for fear they 
fhould come to underftand themfelves. 
5- $. It isconfeffed, that many gallant things have been found out 
by artificial Mixture. "But no thanks to this Definition of it. For as 
an Ignorant Man may make bad Work, and a good Rule be never the 
worle 5 fo one that is Ingezions may make good Work , and a bad Rule 
be never the better. The queftion isnot, what have men done? but 
what have they done upon this foundation, Quod Mixitio Sit mifii- 
bilium alteratorum unio. Had this ever taught them to do ny thing, 
even fo much as to make the Jvke wherewith they have wrote, all 
their Difputes 5 I confefs, they would have had fomething to thew for 
it. But the truth is, their zotions of Mixture, have been fò far from 
doing us any good, that they have done us much harm: being, through 
their Ceming fubtlety, but real abfürdity, as fo many phantaftick 
Specfruns, ferving only to affright men from cı ming near them, or the 
Subject whereof they treat, 6 
. $ 
