Chap. 1 6. ATrutifeof BODIES. 17*' 



CHAP. XVI. 



exflicatton of certain Afaxintes touching the tpirations 

 and qualities of bodies : and whet her the Elements b e found, 

 pure in any part of the world. 



OUt of what we have determined, concerning the naturall 

 a&ions of bodies, in their making and destroying one an* whatf* the 

 other; it is eafic to underftand the right meaning of fome terms, f P hc . rc of 

 and the true reafbnof fomemaximes much ufed in the fchools. 

 As fi rft when Philofophers attribute unto all forts of corpo- 

 rcall Agents, a Sphere of Atttvttie. The fenfe of that manner 

 of cxprem"on, in fire appeareth plainly, by what we have al- 

 ready declared of the nature and manner of operation of that 

 Element. 



And in like manner, if we ronfidef how the force of cold con- 

 /ifteth in a compreffion of the body that is made cold, we may- 

 perceive that if in the cooled body there be any fubtile parts 

 which can break forth from the refbfuch comprcflion will make 

 them do fo. Efpecially, ifthecompreflion be of little parts of the 

 comprefled body within thcmfelves, as well as of the outward 

 bulk of the whole body round about : for at firft the compreffi- 

 on of fuch cauftth in the body, where they are, little holes or 

 pores in the places they arc comprdfcd and driven from which 

 pores they filled up when they were dilated at their own natu- 

 rall liberty. But being thus forcibly flirunk up into lefle room,, 

 afterwards, they ftjueefe again out of their croud all fuch very 

 loofcand fubcile parts (refidingtill ttan with them) as c.m find 

 their way out from among them. And thde fubtile parts that 

 thus arc delivered from the eolde comptclTion, get firft into the 

 pores that we have lliewcd were made by thiscornpreflion. But 

 they cannot long (Jay there ; for the atomes of advenicivt cold 

 that obfcffe the comprefled body, do hkevvife v\idi all their 

 force throng into thole pores, and loon drive out the fubtile 

 guefts thry find there, becaufe they are more in number, bigger 

 in bulk, ml more violent in their coitrfe then they. Who there- 

 fore muli yield unco them the little channels, and capacities they 

 formerly took up. Out of which they are thruft with fuch an 

 impctuofmc, chat they fpinne from them wkh a vehemence, as 



quick"- 



