OF BODIESjChap.XZXVll. 599 



lefle Element ; as though it had a pious care ofprefcrving the 

 cgges commicted to his truft no fuch fupplements arc requifite 

 to DC added unto the diftributions of nature, who hath fet mate, 

 rial caviies on foot , to produce a con jundure of both thofeeftecH 

 at the fame period of time , ior the propagation of this animtls 

 fpecies. 



In fine, both the time and the place of the Ha'cyons breeding, 

 and the manner and order, and icafbn of all birds making their 

 ce/h, proceedeth from lecret motions, which doe require great 

 observing and attention to under/land them } and doefervefor 

 directions unio every bird according to her kind, to make her 

 fleft fitteft for her ufe. Which fecrer motions^ we cannot doubt 

 but are material] ones and doe arife out of the conftitutionand 

 temper of their bodies and fpirits j which in like arcumftances 

 are alike in them all: for all the birds of one kind, do make their 

 nefts exactly alike; which they would not doe,if this worke pro. 

 ceeded from reafon in them , and were governed by their owne 

 election and dei:gne : as we fee it happen among men upon all 

 occafions eii her of building houfes, orof making clothes or of 

 what action foeveris guided by their reafon governing their 

 iantafie; in all which we fee fbgreat variety and inconftancy* 



And therefore this invariability in the birds operation*, muft 

 proceed from a higher intellect , that hath determinately and 

 preciiely ordered a complexc or aflembly of fundry caufes , to 

 meet infallibly and by eceflity,for the production of an effecl 

 that he hath defigned : and fb, the birds are but materiall inflru- 

 ments to performe without their knowledge or reflexion, afu- 

 periour reafbns counfels : even as in a clocke , that i j compofed 

 of feverall pieces and wheeles, all the parts of it doe confpire to 

 give notice of the feverall effluxes and periods of time, which the 

 maker hath ordered it for. 



And although this be a worke of reafon and difcourfe in him, 

 that did fet it together ; yet the inttrumentaJJ performance of 

 it dependeth meerely of local! motion, and of the revolutions 

 of bodies , fb orderly proportioned to one another , that their 

 effects cannot faile , when once the engine is wound up ' in like 

 manner then, the bird is the engine of the Artificer , infinitely 

 more perfect, and knowing, and cfextericus then a poore clock- 



Gg 2 maker | 



