An essay of transmigration, in defence of Pythagoras, or, A discourse of natural philosophy

THE CONTENTS.

1. THE mistaken Notion of Transmigration throughout the World; The Consequence of it in Asia, where 'tis believ'd.

Pag. 1

2. The Proposition stated; That the Soul after its departure from the Body, does pass into some other Animal; this is spoken of the Sensi∣tive, not of the Rational Soul.

p. 4

3. Proved in part by way of In∣duction, — either that God makes new Matter and Form daily, to supply the perishing old, or that things pass and are changed into one another. — But God does not make new Matter, &c.

p. 5

4. That Transanimation of Spirits may refer to Plants and Minerals, as well as Animals; for they have a Spirit, or vital Principle.

p. 8

5. Of the Generation of Metals, and how the Spirit enters Matter. Of the Imperfect Metals, and their Cause.

p. 9

6. Of the Perfect Metals, and how various Metals are in the same Place.

p. 11

7. Of Stones; the Precious, the Common: Plants, of two kinds; what grow of themselves, and what are sown

p. 14

8. Of Plants that grow of them∣selves, and the Cause of their va∣riety.

p. 16

9. Of their Figure, whence it proceeds.

p. 20

10. Of the sowing of Seeds, and the setting of Plants.

p. 22

11. Of the Generation of Ani∣mals.

p. 23

12. How the Form leaves Mat∣ter in Animals, Minerals and Vege∣tables; and what then becomes of it; that it passeth into the Air, where it receives new Virtue.

p. 25

13. That thence it flows down again, and animates a new Body, which is the true Notion of Transmi∣gration.

p. 27

14. Objection. That Animals convey a sensitive Spirit in Genera∣tion; how then descends a Form?

p. 32

15. Answered. — That though they do convey a portion of spe∣cifick Spirit, yet the universal co∣operates; The manner how; from the Air.

ibid.

16. Of the Air; and the Mischief of sulphurous Vapours, that they cause the Plague: The Way to foresee it, and a Dearth. Of Au∣gary.

p. 37

17. Homer's Juno explained.

p. 43

18. Why the seven Planets call'd Gods. That the Philosophers did not adore all they call'd Gods.

p. 46

19. Why so many call'd Gods. The first Principles of Nature, by the Philosophers of all Learned Nations call'd Gods, to conceal them from the Vulgar.

p. 50

20. The Description of Nature in her Ascent and Descent, according to Homer. The Consent of the Phi∣losophers about the first Principles.

p. 54

21. The Publishing the Fables of the Ancients, an occasion of Idolo∣try; the Original thereof, though from beholding the Stars; yet not for the Reason R. Maimonides gives.

p. 57

22. Of the Mysteries of the An∣cients.

p. 60

23. That all the Ancient Philoso∣phers, that treated mysteriously of Nature, meant the same Thing un∣der divers AEnigma's.

p. 62

24. This made manifest by ex∣plaining an Egyptian Symbol accord∣ing to the Chaldean Astrology, and Grecian Mythology.

p. 63

25. Objections against Transmi∣gration answered.

p. 80

26. The Notion carried higher than what generally imagined.

p. 82

27. Of the Identity of Form in all Bodies.

p. 83

28. A Comparison of the Form in Animals, Plants, and Minerals.

p. 90

29. Of the excellent Form in Metals, and of the perpetual Light made out of them; of the great dif∣ficulty thereof.

p. 91

30. Objection against the Influ∣ences of the Heavenly Bodies an∣swered. Objection, that the Earth hath Seed in it self, answer'd.

p. 97

31. Other Objections answer'd, and the Conclusion therefrom.

p. 104

32. That Bodies are not annihi∣lated when their Spirit leaves them, nor new Substances made in Genera∣tion; but pre-existent Substances are made into one, which acquire new Qualities.

p. 107

33. How Pythagoras might call himself Euphorbus, that lived ma∣ny years before him.

p. 110

34. Plato's Opinion answered, concerning the Degeneracy of the Effeminate.

p. 111

35. Pythagoras his Abstinence from Flesh, explained.

p. 115

36. Transmigration in Plants and Minerals, demonstrable to Sense

p. 116

And this concludes the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Transmigration.

37. Four Things touch'd 〈◊〉〈◊〉 1. The Duration of Bodies. 2. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Principles and Elements 〈◊〉〈◊〉 received, examined. 3. Some 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ristotelian Hypotheses examined and compared with those of Demo critus, &c. 4. How the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 comes to be filled with variety 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Bodies, abounding with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Qualities,

p. 〈◊〉〈◊〉

38. Of the Duration of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and of the Calcination of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the general Conflagration.

p. 119

39. Of Principles and Elements and first, of Principles; how, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 when they came into the World

p. 126

40. That there are but two Prin∣ciples, notwithstanding the Chy∣mists, and the Invention of Para∣celsus. A Description of Mercury.

p. 132

41. An Objection of reducing Things by Fire into three Princi∣ples, answered; Aristotle's Three Principles likewise answered.

p. 138

42. Of Elements when distin∣guish'd from Principles. A short Description of the Air, the Earth, the Water, and the Fire. That by the Words (Heaven and Earth) are to be understood, the Form, and the Matter.

p. 141

43. That Elements and Princi∣ples may be termed Equivocal, and that there are but Two.

p. 147

44. An Answer to S — s, touch∣ing Four Elements; wherein 'tis shewed, that there are but Two E∣lements; that of Water, the Pas∣sive Matter; and the Solar Influx, the Form.

p. 148

45. Some Aristotelian Hypothe∣ses examined, and compared with those of Democritus, That the Ele∣ments are not contrary and opposite,

as Aristotle holds; but agreeing, and alike, in a remiss degree, according to Democritus.

p. 150

46. Of the Primary Qualities in Bodies, (according to Aristotle,) whence proceed their Effects; and of the Atomical Physiology of Leu∣cippus, Epicurus, and Democri∣tus. Both Opinions examined.

p. 152

47. Reasons against both; and for a middle Opinion.

p. 157

48. Of the Original of Qualities, Herein the Creation is considered, and that according to Moses.

p. 164

49. That these Words [The Spi∣rit of God moved on the Face of the Waters,] are not to be under∣stood of the Holy Ghost.

p. 167

50. Of the First Day's Work: The Creation of Matter and Form, and dividing the Light or Form from the grosser Matter.

p. 168

51. Of the Second Day's Work, or the Expansion, and Division of the Waters above, from those be∣low.

p. 169

52. Of the Third Day's Work: The Generation of Plants.

p. 171

53. Of the Fourth Day's Work: The Collecting of the Light or Form into the Body of the Sun.

ibid:

54. Of the Fifth Day's Work: The Generation of Fish and Fowl, by the Union of Water and the Form.

p. 172

55. Of the Sixth Day's Work: The Creation of Beasts and Reptiles, and lastly, Man.

ibid.

56. How the Earth comes to be filled with variety of Bodies, abound∣ing with different Qualities.

p. 173

57. That the various Accidents and Qualities of Bodies proceed from the various Intension and Re∣mission

of the Form; not according to Des Cartes, from the different Magnitude and Figure of their Principles: This illustrated by se∣veral Instances.

p. 176

58. The Conclusion.

p. 184