3 1 8 Of Vegetation . 
the dilguife of a fubtilc fpirit, a mere fla- 
tulent explofive matter ; they would then 
inftead of reaping vanity, have found their 
relearches rewarded with very confiderable 
and ufeful difcoveries. 
CHAP. VII. 
Of Vegetation . 
E are but too fenfible, that our rea~ 
fonings about the wonderful and 
intricate operations of nature are fo full 
of uncertainty, that as the wife man truly 
obferves, hardly do we guefis aright at the 
things that are upon earthy and with labour 
do we find the things that are before us. 
Wifdom Chap. ix. v. 1 6. And this obferva- 
tion we find fufficiently verified in vege- 
table nature, whofe abundant produ&ions, 
tho* they are moft vifible and obvious to us, 
yet are we much in the dark about the nature 
of them, becaufe the Texture pf the veffels of 
plants is fo intricate and fine, that we can 
trace but few of them, tho’ affifted with the 
beft microfcopes. We have however good 
reafon 
