p. 14. v Trwifc o/BODIES. 



which light is reflected unto us, there muft be a like variety of 

 complexions and of qualities, and of bodies tempered by them, 

 as we find here in the orb we live in. Which fyfteme,how diffe- 

 rent it is from that which Ariftotle and the moft of the fchool 

 have delivered us, as well in the evidencies of the proofs for its 

 being To; as in the pofition and modell of it ; I leave unto the 

 prudent readers to confider and judge. 



Out of what hath been already fa id, it is not hard todifcover 22 . 

 in what manner the composition of bodies is made. In effef^ing 

 of whichjthe main hinge whereon that motion dependeth is fire 

 or heat: as it likewife is in all other motions whatfbcver. Now 

 bcci life the composition of a mixed.body, proceedeth from the competition of 

 a&ion of one fimple body or clement upon the others; it wilt ">'d bodies: 

 not be amiflc to declare by fome example how this work pa ^' *' 



fethrfor that purpofelct us examine how fire or heatworketh 

 upon his fellows. 



By what we have formerly delivered, it is clear that fire ftrea- 

 ming out from its center , and diffufing it felf abroad, fb as to 

 fill the circumference of a larger circle.it muft needs follow, thac 

 the beams of it are moft condenfai and compacted together near 

 the ccnterjand the further they ftream from the center,the more 

 thin and ranfied they muft growryct this is with fuch moderati- 

 on, as we cannot any where difcern that one beam doth noc 

 touch another; and therefore the diftances muft be very fmall. 

 Now let us fuppofe that fire happeneth to be in a vifcuous & te- 

 nacious body; and then confider what will happen in this cafe: 

 of one fide, the fire fpreadcth it felf abroad; on the other fide,the 

 parts of the tenacious body being moifi(as we have formerly de- 

 termined ) their edges on all hands will flick fad to the dry 

 beams of the fire that paflc between them. Then they ftrccching 

 wider and wider from one another, mutt needs draw with them 

 the parts of that tenacious body which ftick unto them; and 

 ftretch them into a greater widenefTe or largcnes then they en- 

 joyed before, from whence it folio ws^that (feeing there is no o- 

 ther body near thereabouts but they t\vo)cither there mutt be a 

 vacuity ieft,or elfe the tenacious body muft hold and fill a grea- 

 ter fpace then it did before, and conicqucndy be more rare. 



Contrariwife,ifany of the other elements beftrongcr then fire, - 

 tl.c tienfer dements break off from their continued ftream the 



little--: 



