{ 222 ) 
of Wafer more than that did : and yet Was not tf/elf 
fo much encreafed in weight as that was by 53 gr. This 
is both a very fair and a very conclujive Inftance : on 
which Account 'tis that I make oftner ufe of it. Indeed 
they are all fo : and to add any thing further on this Head 
will not be needful. 
*Tis evident therefore Water is not the Matter that 
compofes Vegetable B(ydies. 'Tis only the Jgent that 
conveys that Matter to them : that introduces and difiri^ 
hutes it to their feveral Farts for their Nourijhment. 
That Matter is fluggifli and inaBive : and would lye eter- 
nally confin'd to its Beds of Earthy without ever ad- 
vancing up into Plants^ did not Water or fome like In^ 
Jirupienty fetch it forth and carry it unto them. That 
therefore there is that plentiful Provifon and vaft Abun- 
dance of it fupplied to all Parts of the Earth is a mark 
of a natural Providence fuperintending over the Globe we 
inhabit : and ordaining a due difpenfation of that Fluid, 
^ without the Minijiry of which the Noble fuccefjion of 
Bodies we behold. Animals^ Vegetables^ and Minerals 
* Conf. Nat. would be all at a ftand But to keep to Plants ; 
^^7^&%, '^^^ manifeft Water, as well on this, as upon the other 
uti&p. 128, Hypothefisy is abfolutely neceffary in the Affair of Vege- 
tation: and it will not face eed without it. Which indeed 
gave occafion to the Opinion that Water it felf nourifli- 
ed, and was changed into Vegetable Bodies, They faw, 
tho* thefe were planted in a Soil never fo rich^ fo happy^ 
fo advantageous^ nothing came of it unlefs there was 
. Water too in confiderabie quantitye And it muft be al- 
lowed Vegetables will not come on or profper where that 
is wanting: But yet wh^it thofe Gentlemen inhn'd thence 
was not, we- fee, well grounded. 
' This Fluid is capacitated for the Ojice here affign'd 
it feveral ways. By the Figure of its Parts 5 which, as 
appears from many ExperimentSy is exadly and mathe- 
matically 
