





















20 
| eAn Idea of a 
52. §. From whence, I fhall, at prefent, only make thefe two Re- 
marques; Firft, That although the chief portion, as to quantity, in 
both thefe Bodys, Cas in moft Plants) is an Acid Liquor 5 yet the lat- 
ter, yields alfo fome ofan Alkaly, which the othef’ doth not. So that 
they arethe Ligvous Parts ofa Plant, generally, which yield the Alkalick 
Salt, or at leaftinthe greateft Proportion. secondly, That the sul- 
phurious or Oleous Principle, isalfomuch more predominant in the Lig- 
ous Part, thanin the Pithy. To thefe, the like Tryals upon other 
Plants, thould beadded 5 and other ways. So, in regard the Soot of 
molt Woods, yields a Volatile Alkaly; it were fit to examine, Whe- 
ther the Soot which ismade of the Pithy Parts and that, of the Lig- 
nous, afford the faid Alkaly, in equal qantity ; or whether, as is moft 
likely, that of the Ligvons doth afford it in a far greater: and the 
like. 
53. §. The profecution of what is here propofed, will be requifite, 
To a fuller andclearer view, of the Modes of Vegetation, of the Senji- 
ble Natures of Vegetables, and of their more Reclufe Faculties and Pow- 
ers, Firft, of the Modes of Vegetation. For fuppofe we were fpeak- 
ing of a Root; froma dueconfideration of the Properties of any Or- 
ganical Part or Parts thereof ‘tis true, that the real and genuine Can- 
jes may be rendred, ofdivers other dependent Properties, as {poken ge- 
nerally of the whole Root. But it will be asked again, What may be 
the Canfes of thofe ff? and Independent ones? Which, if we will 
feek, we muft do it by inquiring alfo, What arethe Principles of thofe 
Organical Parts 2 For it isneceflary, thatthe Principles whereof a Bo- 
dy doth confift, fhould be, ifnot all ofthem the aéfive, yet the capa- 
citating Caufes, or fach as are called Canfe fine quibus non, of its becom 
ing and being, in all refpeéts, both as to Subjtance and Accidents,what 
itis: otherwife, their Exiftence, in that Body, were altogether fu- 
perfluous ; fince it might have been without’ them: which if fo, it 
might then have been made of any other; there being no neceflity of 
putting any difference , ifneither thofe,whereof it ismade,are thought 
neceffary to its Being. Wherefore if we will allow a Body, and fo the Or- 
ganical Parts of a Vegetable tohave Principles, we muftallow thefe Prin- 
ciples their neceflary Ufe; and that the Shapes or other Properties of the 
faid Parts, are as much dependant upon the Nature of Thefe 5 as is the 
Roundnefs of a Drop of Ink, upon the Fluidity of Water, ingredient 
to it. 
54. §. Again, the Principles of the Organical Parts being known, 
we may from thence obtain a further knowledge of the Natures, and 
Caufation or Original of their Contents ; fince thefe Contents are not on- 
ly included in the faid Organical Parts, but alfo Created by them :and 
muft needs be fo, whether we will fuppofe the Principles of thefe Con- 
tents to be pre-exiftent to their reception thereinto, or not. For, if 
not pre-exiftent, what can be clearer, than that the faid Parts give 
them their Exiftence? And if pre-exiftent, yet in regard they are di- 
ftinguifhed, and fuch only of them admitted in fuch fort into an Orga- 
wical Part, from amongft others, as are apt to combine and mix toge- 
ther in fuch a For,and fo to conftitute fuch a Liquor; it is as clear,that 
the Exiftence, if not of tho Principles, yet of that Liquor, is depen- 
dent on the faid Part. 


55-5, 

