A TREATISE 



neth the Being or the making of a knife : and all this he dra weth 

 out of his notion or apprehenfion of a knife; which is, that it is 

 fin inftrxment fitted to cut fuch andfttch things, in fuch a manner: 

 for hence he findeth, that it hath an haft, fit to hold it by in ones 

 hand, to the end it may not hurt the hand, whiles it preflcth up- 

 on the knife ; and that the blade is apt to flide in betwixt the 

 parts of the thing which is to be cut,by the motion of being prcC- 

 fed or drawne by the hand : and fo he proceedeth on, defcending 

 to the qualities of both parts; and how they are to be joyned,and 

 held raft together. In the like manner,he difcourfeth of a beetle, 

 of a five, erofwhatfoeverelfe commeth in his way. And hce 

 doth this, not onely in fuch manufactures as are of mans inventi- 

 on ; but (if be be capable,) hedoththelikcinbeafts, in birds, in 

 trees, in herbes, in fillies, in folfilcs, and in what creature foever 

 he meeteth withall, within the whole extent of nature. He find- 

 eth what they are made for : and having difcovered Natures time 

 in their produftion, he can inftruft others, what partsandman- 

 . r.er of generation they have, or ought to have : and if he that in 

 this manner apprthendeth any thing rightly, hath a mind to 

 work upon it, cither to make it, or to ufe and order it to fome end 

 of his owne ; he is able by h s right apprehenfion, to compare it 

 unto other things; to prepare what is any way fitting for the 

 making of it ; to apply it unto what it will work its erkct upon; 

 and to confer ve it rroan what may wrong or deftroy it : fo, if he 

 have framed a right apprehenfion of a five, he will not employ it 

 in dra wing water; if of a beetle, he will not goe about to cut 

 with it ; neither will he offer, if he have a due apprehenfion of a 

 kniftfjtQCutftoneorfteele with it, but wood, or what is foftcr. 

 He knoweth what will whet and maiatain the edge of it;tnd un- 

 dtrftandeth what will blu.t or break it: In fine, he ufcth it in fuch 

 fort,as the knife it felf (bad it knowledge and will) wonld wifh 

 to be ufed ; and moveth it in fuch a manner, as if it had power ef 

 motion,it would move it f Jf : he goeth about the making it,even 

 as nature would do, were it one of her plants : and in a word, the 

 knife in this appsehenfion made in the man, haththofecaufcs, 

 proprktieSjand'tffefts, which are naturall unto it $and which na- 

 ture would give it,if it were made by her ; and which arc propor- 

 tionable to thofe parts,caufes,proprieties,and effeds, that nature 

 beftoweth on her children and creatures, according to their feve- 

 rall eflence*. What 



