[ 746 ] 
which thefe great Operations are brought about. 
This is the fubtil Fluid of Sir Ifaac Newton, per- 
vading all things 5 the occult Fire diffufed thro' the 
Univcrfe, according to Marfilins Ficinus, the Fla- 
tonic Plnlofopher, in the ‘Timceus of his Matter. 
And the Flatomfls infift on an occult Fire patting 
thro’ and agitating all Subftance by its vigorous and 
expan live Motion. 
Before them, Hippocrates writes in the fame 
Scnfe, I. de <viclus rati one , that this Fire moves all 
in all. This ethereal Fire is one of the four Ele- 
ments of the Ancients : It lies latent, and difperfed 
thro’ all the other three, and quiefeent; till col- 
l.cled in a Qua tity, that overbalances the circum- 
jacent; like the Air crouded into a Tempeft; or 
till it is excited by any proper Motion. 1 
This Fire gives Elatticits , and Elafticity, or Vi- 
bration, is the Mother of Electr ciry. This Fire is in 
Water, and betrays itfelf to our Senfes in fait Wa- 
ter. Many a time, \vh nlha\e palled rh Lincoln- 
fliire Wafhcs, in the Night-time, the Horfe has leem’d 
to tread in liquid Flames. The fame Appearance oft 
at the Keel of a Ship. 
The Operation of the ethereal Fire is various, 
nay infinite, according to its Quantity, and De- 
gree of Incitement, Progrefs, Hindrance, or Fur- 
therance. One Degree keeps Water fluid, fays the 
learned Bifhop of Cloyne : Another turns it into 
elaltic Air : And Air itfelf feems nothing elfc but 
Vapours and Exhalations render’d elaftic, by this 
Fire. 
This fame Fire permeates and dwells in all Bo- 
dies, even Diamond, Flint, and Steel. Its Particles 
- attradf 
