NATURAL HISTORY. 



CENTURY VII. 



Experiments in consort touching the affinities and 

 differences between plants and animate bodies. 



601. THE differences between animate and inani 

 mate bodies, we shall handle fully under the title of 

 life, and living spirits, and powers. We shall there 

 fore make but a brief mention of them in this place. 

 The main differences are two. All bodies have 

 spirits, and pneumatical parts within them : but the 

 main differences between animate and inanimate 

 are two: the first is, that the spirits of things 

 animate are all continued with themselves, and are 

 branched in veins, and secret canals, as blood is : and 

 in living creatures, the spirits have not only branches, 

 but certain cells or seats, where the principal spirits 

 do reside, and whereunto the rest do resort ; but the 

 spirits in things inanimate are shut in, and cut off 

 by the tangible parts, and are not pervious one to 

 another, as air is in snow. The second main differ 

 ence is, that the spirits of animate bodies are all in 

 some degree, more or less, kindled and inflamed; 

 and have a fine commixture of flame, and an aerial 

 substance. But inanimate bodies have their spirits 

 no whit inflamed or kindled. And this difference 



