268 Tie Wisdom of G OD Part 11^ 



Now if (as Galen faith) he that fhall marfhal 

 a Company but of Thirty-two Men in due Or- 

 der, is commended for a fkilful and induftrious 

 Perfon, fliall we not admire Nature, which hath 

 fo fkilfuUy rank'd and difpos'd this Quire of our 

 Teeth ? 



Fifthly^ The Tongue is no lefs admirable for 

 the Contexture and manifold Ufes of it. Firjiy 

 It is the Organ of Tailing ; for being of a fpon- 

 gy Subftance, the fmall Particles of our Meat 

 and Drink being mingled with the Saliva^ eafily 

 infinuate themfelves into the Pores of it, and fo 

 do either gratefully affeft it, or harflily grate up- 

 on it, accordingly as they are figured and mov'd ; 

 and hereby we difcern what is convenient or in- 

 convenient for our Nourifhment. It helps us 

 likewife in the chewing and fwallowing of our 

 Meat. And lajilyy it is the main Inftrument of 

 Speaking, a Quality fo peculiar to Man, that no 

 Beaft could ever attain to it. And altho' Birds 

 have been taught to form fome Words, yet they 

 have been but a few, and thofe learn'd with 

 great difficulty ; but what is the chief, the Birds 

 underftand not the meaning of them, nor ufe 

 them as Signs of Things, or their own Concep- 

 tions of them, tho' they may ufe them as Expref- 

 iions of their Paffions; as Parrots having been 

 ufed to be fed at the Prolation of certain Words, 

 may afterwards, when they are hungry, pro- 

 nounce the fame. For this Des Cartes makes his 



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