5 Co tX Tre*ti fi of B O D I ES. Chap. 2 j. 



7. thingsrlet us frame a conception,that not far under the fuperficies 

 How pi ants arc of the earth, there were gathered together clivers parts of litcle 

 mixed bodies, which in the whole fumtnc were yet butlittle:and 

 that this little mafic had feme exccfie or" fire in it, fuch as we fee 

 in wet hay, or in mufteof wine, or in woort of beere : and that 

 \vithall the drought of it were in fo high a degree, as this heat 

 fhould not find means (being too mucli conipreficd) to play his 

 game.-and that,lying there in the bofome of the earth, it mould 

 after ibme little time receive its ex peeled and defired drink 

 through the benevolence ofthe hcavenjby which it being moift- 

 ned,and thereby made more pliable, and tender and eafie to be 

 wrought upon. the little parts of fire fhould break loofejand they 

 finding this moyfturc a fit fubjecl to work upon, fhould drive it 

 into all the parts ofthe little mafic, and digefling it there fhould 

 make the mafic fwel. Which action taking up long time for per- 

 formance ofit,in refpecl ofthe final increafeof bulk made in the 

 mafic by the fwclling of it ; could not be hindred by the prcfiing 

 ofthe earth, though lying never fb weightily upon it:according 

 to the maxime we have above delivered, that any little force, be 

 it never fo little;is able to overcome any great refi(tance,be it ne- 

 ver fo powerfull;ifthe force do multiply the time it worketh in, 

 fufficiemJy to equalifc the proportions of the agent and the 

 rcfiftant. 



This increafe of bulk and fwelling ofthe little ma{Te,will of its 

 own nature be towards all fides, by reafonof the fire & heat that 

 occaiioneth it-(vvhofc motion is on every fide, from the center to 

 the circumference.-)' but it will be moft efficacious upwards, to- 

 wards the aire, becaufcthe refinance is leaft that way; both by 

 reafon ofthe little thicknes ofthe earth over it; as alfo by reafon 

 that the upper part of the earth lieth very loo'e and is exceeding 

 porous, through the continuall operation of the funnc and fal- 

 ling of rain cpon it. It cannot choofe therefore but mount to 

 the aire ; and the fame caufe that maketh it do foj preficth at 

 the fame time the lower parts of the' mafie, downwards. But 

 what afcendeth to the aire, muftbeofthc hotter and more moid 

 parts of the fermenting mafie; and what gocth downwards 

 iiiuft bcofhfs harder and drier parts proportionate to the con- 

 trary motions of fire and of earth , which predominate in 

 theft two kinds of parts. Now this that is pufhcd upwards, 



coming 



