of 

 dies. 



Chap. 14, 



arcrcdu- pofition of particular bodies; we fliall find ftill greater mixtures, 

 combi- the further we go; for as the firft and fimpleft compounded bo- 

 Eie- dies, are taa<3e of the foure Elements; fo, others arc made of 

 of thefej and again a third fort of them: and fo onwards, accord- 

 j n g as u,y motion, the parts of every one are broken in funder, 

 and mingled with others. Thofc of the fir ft order, muft be of 

 various tempers according to the proportions of the Elements, 

 whereof they are immediately made. As for example, fuch a 

 proportion of fire to the other three Elements, will make one 

 kind offimple body.and another proportion will make another 

 kind: and lo throughout, by various combinations and propor- 

 tions among all the Elements. 



In the effecting of which work, it will not be amiflc to look 

 a little upon nature; and obfervc how fhe mingleth and tem- 

 pereth different bodies one with another, whereby flic begetceth 

 that great variety of creatures which we fee in the world. But 

 becaule the degrees of competition arc infinite, according to the 

 encreafe of number, we will contain our felvcs within the com- 

 mon notions of excefle in the foure primary components; for if 

 we fhould defcend once to fpecifie any determinate proportions, 

 we fhould endanger lofing our {elves in a wood of particular 

 natures, which belong not to us at prefent to examine. Then 

 taking the foure Elements as materials to work upon: let us firft 

 confidcr how they may be varied , that differing compofitions 

 may refulc out of their- mixtures. I conceive that all the wayes 

 of varying the elements in this regard, may be reduced to the fe- 

 verall fizes of bignefle, of the parts of each Element, that enter 

 into the compofition of any body, and to the number of thofe 

 parts : for certainly no other can be imagined, unleffe it were 

 variety of figure. 



But that cannot be admitted to belong in any conftant man- 

 ner to thofe leaft particles whereof bodies arc framed; as though 

 determinate figures were in every degree of quantity due to the 

 natures of elements, and therefore, the elements would confervc 

 themfelves in thofe figures, as well in their leaft atomes ., as in 

 maffic bulk : for feeing how thefe little parts are fhuflfled toge- 

 ther without any order; and that all liquids eafily joyn,and 

 take the figures which the denfc ones give them; and that they 

 again, juflling onranother;docru(li tbcmfclves into new fhapes, 



vshiclr. 



