[ 10(^1 ] 
fta^nceftiould befo ftrangely privilegd by nature, as to 
be wholy put out of the power of fire: we muft confider 
firft fthat we doe it with clearnefsj the ^alities and 
power of fire it IqM; 2. the condition of the Ihings moft 
lyable tp/r^j and then J. wh^t things they are that re- 
^ it moft, and remain after it has exercifed itsultimat 
force. ThQ qualities then 2LnA power of fire according 
to Arifiotle are> ^^-pMv to ^ c^^vacc, cuiKptviv -A I^quka m ^ 
feparat things of adifferent.^nd unite thofe of a/% nature. 
2. The Subjeils moft apt to take /r^ and be diflblved 
by it, we find to be fuch heterogeneous bodies, in whole 
pores the moft Sulphureous hitummousy and aqueous ^<35r- 
it/t:/^/ arelodg'dj which being feized by /r^, are quickly 
put into motion, dilated, leparated, and being thus 
made ca^pableof flying away, are atldit confumed ^ and 
diflToIve x\iz frame of thofe bodies whole parts before were 
united by them. When thefe are fled and gone, the fire 
naturally goes out, as having nothing now left to work 
upon, nothing remaining, but xki^ Salts and Earth in the 
form o.f JJhes : which 3. in all forts of compounds are 
the ^/^/w^j" that r^/f/^ this Element mo% and will remain 
after the moft exalted operationit c^LnhQioxcQd to. Nor 
doe the fe/^/only of ;7zm ^(^&j- thus baffle the force of 
fire, hvLtt]!^ fimple ones m\xc\i moiiQ, as being more homo'- 
geneous, as we lee in the decrepitation oi common Salt, and 
exficcation of Vitriol, which when the aqueous parts are 
once evaporated, are now a pure fimple homogeneous hody^ 
no more Jenfible of the fire, the decrepitation cealing, and 
nothing remaining that can be dilated, any further to 
break the corns oiSalt. Now whatever the fire cannot 
dilate, it cannot feparate, nor conlequeutly defiroy, or 
carry any thing from it, but what is heterogeneous and 
accidentally adhering to the outlide of it." which is per- 
fectly the c^koiowx incombufiible Linnen^ whofe threds 
m Atifloiel, de Cceio Lib. 4- cap- 
being 
