AND FAMILY DISPENSATORY. 1 
from this: inferior globe into the airy region, as into the neck or higher part of an 
alembic , and, being refolved into water, (by reafon of their'weight,) fall down again 
upon the earth, which is the vefiel receiving : fo, through contitined diftillations, by 
fublimation of the water, by cohabation, by drawing off the liquor: (being often 
poured on), and fortified by the influence of the celeftial-and central fun, the body 
becomes endued with a concottive, nutritive, and procreative, virtue. So in the fto- 
mach, by the active quality of the microcofmical fun, his benevolent rays, and friend- 
ly heat, meat and drink are defired, and attra¢ted into the ftomach, for the prone 
ment of the whole body. 
In the ftomach is a tranfverfe mufcle, to withhold or make retention ; binth this 
retentive virtue, thofe things that are brought into the ftomach are kept and with- 
holden uatil nature hath wrought her end, and every faculty hath executed its office, - 
It is in quality cold and dry; cold, becaufe the nature of cold is to comprefs or hold 
together, as you may fee in ice; dry, becaufe it is the nature of drinefS to keepand 
hold what is compreffed. It is under the influence of Saturn, and that is the reafon 
why, for the moft part, men that are coldand dry of temperature, or, as aftronomers 
fay, Saturnine people, are covetous and tenacious ; and that is the reafon that old men 
ate naturally covetuous, becaufe Saturn ruleth old age, and, by the decay of nature, 
the temperature becomes cold and dry. It hath the fpleen, the reprefentative of Sa- 
turn, lying toward the left fide, and furnifheth the eam with humours neceffary 
to fortify the retentive virtue. 
The digeftive faculty, which is the chief and. moft principal, (the others like hand- 
maids attending it,) is hot and moift, nature’s cook and principal workman, the 
archaeus and.central fire which in this philofophical veffel, viz. the ftomach, digefteth 
the victuals into achaos,. or confufed mafs, chat fo a natural feparation may be made. | 
It is under the influence of Jupiter, who furnifheth it with friendly heat and moif- 
ture; by the liver, (the Lennotianee reer: ) oars and spe the — fide of 
the ftomach. 
ooFhe ftomach hath ‘di a latitudinal aia eles or will, which tithes ae ek palfive 
faculty ; ; it is naturally cold and moitt; cold, to comprefs the fuperfluity ; moift, 
to make’ the matter flippery and fit for ejection, alfo to work a fuitable difpofition in 
the body. ‘It is a neceffury operation by it, after the feparation of the pure from the 
impure, the elements from the caput mortuum, or rather feces, is removed and carried. 
away, all that is needlefs or prejudicial to nature. Itis under the dominion of the 
‘Moon, (with whom you may join Venus, being of the fame nature,) whofe epitome 
or microcofmical fubfticute, ’ viz. the brain, féndeth a branch of nerves to the pres: 
and — sdemsaeee it with humours, cold and moift, fit for expulfion, 20> © 
rr OF 
