Chap. 24. -/ 



but pufh out more matter, and do that action which we may 

 call germinating? Can thefe germs choofe but pierce the earth 

 in fmall firings, as they are able to make their way ? Can tbefe 

 ft rings choole but be hardened* by the compreffion of the earth, 

 and by their own nature, they being the heavicft parts of the 

 fermented bean? And can all this be any thing clfe but a root > 

 Afterwards the heat that is in the root, mingling it felf with 

 more moifture, and according to its nature, Springing upwards; 

 will it not follow neceflarily 3 that a tender green fubftance(which 

 we call abudjor lcaf)muft appear a little above the earth; fince 

 tendernefle, grcenneflc, and afccnt, arc the effects of thofe two 

 principles, heat and moifture ? And muft not this green fub- 

 fhncc change from what it was at the firft, by the funnc and 

 aire working upon it, as it groweth higher; till at the length it 

 hardcneth into a ftalk? All this while, the heat in the root fub- 

 limethup more moifture, which maketh the ftalk at the firft 

 grow rank and encreafe in length. But when the more volatile 

 part of that warm juice , is fuflficiently depured and fublimed, 

 will it not attempt to thruft it fclf out beyond the ftalk with 

 much vigour and fmartneffe? And as foon as it meeteth with the 

 cold aire in its eruption, will it no: be ftopped and thickned? 

 And new parts flocking Mill from the root, muft they not clog 

 that ifTue, and grow into a button, which will be a bud ? This 

 bud being hardened at the fides, by the fame caufes which har- 

 dened the ftalk, and all the while the inward heat ftill ftream- 

 ing up, and not enduring to be long euclofed, ( efpecially when 

 by its being ftopped, it multiplyeth it felf) will it not follow 

 neceffarily that the tender bud muft cleave, and give way to 

 that fpirituall juice; which being purer then the reft ( throngh 

 it* great fublimation ) flieweth it felf in a purer and rrobler fub- 

 ftance then any that is yet made ; and fo bccometh a flower? 

 From hence, if we proceed as we have begun, and do weigh all 

 circumftances; we fhall fee evidently, that another fubftarce 

 muft needs fucceed the flower, which muft be hollow and con- 

 tain a fruit in it: and that this fruit muft grow bigger and hard- 

 er. And fo, to the laft period of the generation of new beans. 



Thus by drawing the thrid carefully a-long through your 

 fingers, and ftaying at every knot to examine how it is tye.f; 

 you fee that this difficult progrefle of the generation of living 



creatures, 



