128 Of the Advancement of Learning. L i e. IV. 



be not fo credulous as to think that fuch a great work as this is, to retard 

 and turnback^ the conrfc of Nature, may be brought to perfeftionby a 

 morning draught, or theufe of (bme precious Receipt 5 no not with 

 Aurum Potabile, or the (ubftances of Pearls, or fuch like toys^ but that 

 they take it for a grounded truth , that the Prolongation of Life ^ is a 

 ' great work, and which confifts in many kinds of Receipts^ and of an 

 orderly courfe and connexion of them: And let no man befoftupid 

 as to believe , that what never yet was done^ can be now effeCfed, but by 

 means yet never attempted. 



Fonrthly, weadmonifli men, that they rightly obfetve and diftingufh 

 touching tho(e Receipts which conduce to a healthful life, and thofe 

 which confer to a /t?*^ /;/e. For there are many things which exhila- 

 rate the fpirits, ftrengthen the aftive powers of nature, repel difeafes, 

 which yet fubduft from the fum of life , and without ficknefs accele- 

 rate aged Atrofhie. And there are other Receipts which conduce to 

 the Prolongation of life, and the retardation of the Atrophic of old-age 5 

 but yet are not us'd without hazard of health : So that they who ufe 

 thefe remedies {ot the prorogation of life, muft likewife provide againft 

 fuch inconveniences as upon their ufage may unexpeftedly fall out. And 

 thus much by way of Admonition. 



§ As for Indications, the image, or Idea we have conceiv'd in our 

 mind hereof, is this : Things are conferv'd and continued two ways 3 

 either in their own Identity, or by Reparation. In their proper Identic 

 ty, as a Fly or an Ant in Amber ; a Flower, an Apple or Wood in Con« 

 iervatories of Snow ; a dead corps in Balfam. By Reparation, as in 

 Flame, and Mechanicks. He that goes about the work of Prolonga- 

 tion of Life , muft put in praftice both thcfe kinds, ("for difunited , 

 their ftrength jsweakned) and Mans body muft be conferv'd after the 

 lame manner inanimate Bodies are conferved ; and again, as Flame is 

 conferved ^ and laftly, even as Alechanickj axe conferved. Wherefore 

 there are three intentions for the Prolongation of Life 3 . the Retardation 

 of Confumption ; the Integrity of the Reparation , and the Renovation 

 of that which begun to decay and grow old. Confumption is caus'd by 

 two Depredations, Depredation of innate Spirit ; and Depredation of 

 ambient Air. The refiftence of both is two»foId, either when the A- 

 gents fthat is, the fucc and moiftures of the Body ) become lefs Pre- 

 datory j or the Patients aremadelefs depredable. The Spirit is made 

 ]e(s Predatory, if either it be condenfed in fubftance, as in the ufe of 

 Opiates, and nitrous application, and in contriftations 3 or bedimi' 

 nificd in ^antity, as in fpare, Pythagorical or Monaftical Diets : or 

 is fweetned and refreflH with motion, as in eafe and tranquility. Am- 

 bient Air is made le^ Predatory , either when it is lefs heated with the 

 beamsofthe Sun, as in colder Countries s in Caves, in Hills, and in" 

 the Pillars or Stations of Anchorites 5 or when it is repell'd from the 

 Body, as in dens-clofe skin 3 in the Plumage of birds, and the ufe of 

 oyland unguents without Aromatick ingredients. Thejuyce and fuc- 

 culencics of the Body, are made Icis depredable, if either they be 

 made more indurate, or more dewy, and oyly: Indurate as in aujiere 

 courfe Diet 5 in a life accujiomed to cold, hy Jirong exercifes , by certain 

 Alincral Baths : Rofcide or dewy, as in the ufe of SvTeet-meats, and 

 abftinence from MeatSj Salt and Acid 3 but efpecially in fuch a mix- 

 ture 



