3$ A Treatife of BODIES. Chap, 4. 



other extremely humideand moderately hot : the fecond fort, 

 concerning denfity; out of which, is produced one that is ex- 

 tremely cold and moderately wet, and another extremely dry 

 and moderately cold. And thefe are the combinations whereby 

 are constituted fire, aire, water, and earth. 



So that we have thus, the proper notions of the foure Ele- 

 ments; and have both them and their qualities driven up and 

 refolved into their moil fimple principles: which are, the no- 

 tions of Quantity, and of the two mod fimple differences of 

 qualitative things, Rartty and 'Denfity. Beyond which, mans 

 wit cannot penetrate ; nor can liis wiflies aim at more in this 

 particular ; feeing he hath attained to the knowledge of what 

 they are, and of what makech them be fo, and that it is impofli- 

 ble they (liould be otherwife : and this, by the moft fimple and 

 firft principles, which enter into the compofition of their na- 

 ture. Out of which it is evident, that thcfc foure bodies arc - 

 lemcnts : fince they cannot be refblved into any others, by way 

 of phyficall compofition; themfelves being constituted by the 

 moft fimple differences of a body. And again, all other bodies 

 whatibever muft of neeeffity be refolved into them, for the fame 

 reafon; becaufe no bodies can be exempt from the firft diffe- 

 rencies of a body. Since then, we mean by the name of a-n Ele- 

 mentj a body not compofed of AHJ former bodies, and^of vt>htch 

 all other bodies tire compofed^e. may reft Satisfied that thefc are 

 rightly fo named. 



g. But whether every one of thefe foure elements, do compre- 



The Atuhour hcnd under its name one oncly lowert fpecies or many (as, 

 S Sci""" whether there be one onely fpecies of fire, or fcverall; and the 

 every dement ijfc e o f the reft ) we intend not here to determine. Yet we note, 

 bend 'umleHcs chat there is a great latitude in every kind ; feeing that, Rarity 

 name one <mciy anc j [) cn fi c y f as wc'havc faid before ) are as divifible as quan- 



lowcft fiiccics rV / . i i i i 



or many: nor tity. Which laritiidcs, in the bodies we convcric withall, arc fb 

 of h th h e " b? l im >ttd that what maketh it fclf and other things be feen ( as 

 found pure. being accompanied by light ) is called fire. What admitteth the 

 illuminative acTion or" fire, and is not fccn, is called aire. What 

 adm'itteth the Hi me aftion and is fcen (in the rank of Ele- 

 ments ) is called water. And what through thedenfity of it ad- 

 mitteth not that awlion.j but abfblucely reflcd'eth itj is called 

 earth*. 



And; 



