In our Bodies we may consider three several qualities on dispo∣sitions, and according to each whereof they suffer decay; First, Their continuity; Secondly, That disposition whereby the are capable of receiving nourishment, which we may call Nutribility; and Third∣ly, The Tone or Tonick disposition of the Organs whereby they per∣form their several functions. In all these three respects they would decay in any state of Nature, but far sooner, and faster in the pre∣sent state than in the Primaeval. As for their Continuity, we have noted before that all consistent Bodies must be less durable now, than under that first order of the World, because of the unequal and contrary motions of the Elements, or of the Air and Aether that penetrato and pervade them; and 'tis part of that vanity which all things now are subject to, to be more perishable than in their first Constitution. If we should consider our Bodies only as breathing Statues, consisting of those parts they do, and of that tenderness, the Air which we breath, and wherewith we are continually incom∣past, changing so often 'twixt moist and dry, hot and cold, a slew and eager motion, these different actions and restless changes would sooner weaken and destroy the union of the parts, than if they were always in a calm and quiet medium.But it is not the gross and visible Continuity of the parts of our Body that frist dacays, there are finer Textures that are spoil'd insen∣sibly, and draw on the decay of the rest; such are those other two we mention'd, That disposition and temper of the parts whereby they are fit to receive their full nourishment; and especially that con∣struction and texture of the Organs that are preparatory to this Nutrition. The Nutribility of the Body depends upon a certain tem∣perament in the parts, soft and yielding, which makes them open to the Blood and Juices in their Circulation and passage through them, and mixing intimately, and universally, hold fast and retain many of their Particles; as muddy Earth doth the parts of the Wa∣ter that runs into it and mixeth with it: And when these Nutri∣tious Particles retain'd are more than the Body spends, that Body is in its growth; as when they are fewer, 'tis in its decay. And as we compar'd the flesh and tender parts when they are young and in a growing disposition, to a muddy soil, that opens to the Water, swells and incorporates with it? so when they become hard and dry, they are like a sandy Earth, that suffers the Water to glide through it, without incorporating or retaining many of its parts; and the sooner they come to this temper, the sooner follows their decay: For the same Causes that set limits to our Growth, set also limits to our Life; and he that can resolve that Question, why the time of our Growth is so short, will also be able to resolve the other in a good measure, why the time of our Life is so short. In both cases, that which stops our progress is external Nature, whose course, while it was even and steddy, and the ambient Air mild and balmy, pre∣serv'd the Body much longer in a fresh and fit temper to receive its full nourishment, and consequently gave larger bounds both to our Growth and Life.But the Third thing we mention'd is the most considerable, The decay of the Organick parts; and especially of the Organs prepara∣tory 0