92 The Wisdom of GOD Parti. 



1 fhall inftance in are: Firft, Colour^ which in 

 fome of them is moft lively, fparkling, and beau- 

 tiful ; the Carbuncle^ or Riibine fhining with Red, 

 the Sapphire with Blue, the Emerald with Green, 

 the Topaz y or Chrjfolite of the Ancients^ with a 

 Yellow, or Gold Colour, the Amethiji as it were 

 tinftur'd with Wine, the Opal varying its Colours 

 like changeable TafFata, as it is diverfly exposed 

 to the Light. Secondly, Hardnefs^ wherein fome 

 Stones exceed all other Bodies, and among them 

 the Adamant all other Stones, being exalted to 

 that degree thereof, that Art in vain endeavours 

 to counterfeit it, the fidlitious Stones of Chymifts 

 in Imitation being eafily detefted by an ordinary 

 Lapidift. Thirdly, F/^^/r^ : Many of them fhoot 

 into regular Figures, as Cryjial and Bajiard 

 Diamonds into hexagonal ; others into thofe that 

 are more elegant and compounded, as thofe for- 

 med in Imitation of the Shells of Teftaceous 

 Filhes of all Sorts , Sharks Teeth and Vertebres, 

 &c, if thefe be originally Stones, or primary Pro- 

 dudlions of Nature in Imitation of Shells, and 

 Fifhes Bones, and not the Shells and Bones them- 

 felves petrify'd, as we have fometimes thought. 

 Some have a kind of Vegetation and Refem- 

 blance of Plants , as Corals, Fori, and Fimgites , 

 which grow upon the Rocks like Shrubs: To 

 which I might add our ordinary Star-Stones and 

 Trochites^ which I look upon as a Sort of Rock- 

 Plants. 



Secondly, 



