An Accomj)t of fome Books. 
L traBatus de NJTVl^A SVBSTAmij£ ENBj{GETlC^^ 
feu de Fit J TSIATVKjE, ejufq-^ Tribus pnmu Facultatihrni 
Perceptiva, Appetitiva, Mottvay^c Juth. Franc. Gliffonio, 
Med. D^^ CoH, Med.Lond, Soch^nec wo« Societatis Re. 
galis College, Londini. A, 1672* in 4°. 
/-p^He famous Author of this Philofophical Treatife eodea- 
J_ vors to make it out, that matter is thePrime and Radical 
fubjed of Life-^QX, that Life is the inmoft effeiice of matter, and 
infeparable from the fame: Andjbecaufe the very Effeiice of 
matteris fubjed to various Modifications^ that thence its life 
alfois capableof being varioufly modified^fo as to be different 
in Plants and Animals 3 being in all their kindi variedby a 
ftrange diverfity of Strudure and Organization. 
This Life our Author efteems'to be the very Energetical na- 
ture of a fubflance, whereby it is fitted for Operation, that is, 
made a Principle of Perception^ Appetition and Motion 5 not 
producible in his ©pinion by any external power^ motion, tex- 
ture, figure, organization^ proportion^ or connexion of parts, 
but by the fole Firft Caufeof all things. 
The fame Lifc^as 'tis efTential to matterg is here diftingiiiffc 
from the Senfes • which to our Author are not the very firft and 
fimple perception of Nature, but forne Organical Modifica- 
tions thereof; forafrauch as^in his opinion^ if there were no 
Natural perception, no modification or organization of mat-- 
ter would be able to change it into Animd or Senpive'^ but 
a Natural one being given^ thisj flowing immediately from the 
fubftantial nature of the matter^ will be fubjed toas many 
kinds of Modifications^ as the matter it felf is capable of. And 
it feeraSj that the main fcopeofthis book was, to invefligate 
thofe various Modifications of life 5 though the Author inge- 
niouily confellethg to have met with fuch difficulties in this 
argument, that as yet he hath not fo much as gone through all 
the variations of Subfltances s much lefs through thofe 
very fubtile Formations of- Plants and Animals. 
If it be asKed, How this Natural Perception becomes Sift' 
pive oT dmrnal'; the Doftor anfwerSj That difpofed matter, 
fiadingit felf capable, fo far to raifeits perceptions, as to re- 
double ir^ whereby it nxay be enabled to judge of its owo 
ads and to behold them, with delight^ falls upon organizing^ 
