Astro-meteorologica, or, Aphorisms and discourses of the bodies cœlestial, their natures and influences discovered from the variety of the alterations of the air ... and other secrets of nature / collected from the observation at leisure times, of above thirty years, by J. Goad.

CHAP. IX.

Natures of the Planets according to the Antients, then according to Truth. Not ♄ but ♃ the Coldest Planet. Cold no Privation. The Primum Fri∣gidum. How a Lucid Body can patronize Cold. Light is the Spirit of the Universe.

§ 1. PTolemy hath not adjusted the Definitions or Properties of the Planets beyond Exception.

§ 2. The greater misery is, that they do not agree, so much as I could wish, with modern Experience; let the Curious Naturalist enquire, for the Planetary Defini∣tions are the Fundamentals of All Astrology, whether Legitimate, or Suspi∣cious.

§ 3. Ptolemy, and All Astrologers after him, say thus. First, the Nature of the Sun consists in a moderate Warmth, and Drought: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c.

§ 4. ☽ nature is Moistning, with some degree of Warmth: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

§ 5. ♄ is the Cold Planet, Cold and Dry; the First in an intense, the Latter in a more remiss degree: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

§ 6. ♂ is (contrary) Hot, Dry, and Burning: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

§ 7. ♃ of a temperate faculty, warm and moistning, but rather warming: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

§ 8. ♀ temperate as ♃, only with this difference; that whereas ♃ warms more, moistens less, ♀ only contrary, contributes to Warmth less, and more to Moisture: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c.

§ 9. ☿ is indifferent, as to Moisture or Drought, sometimes for the one, some∣times for the other, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Elsewhere he saith somewhat dry, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, contrary in that to ♀.

§ 10. Ptolemy his Evidences are from Sense, and Reason, the Difference of their sensible Magnitude, the Difference of their Colour, their Difference of Situa∣tion in respect of the Earth, and Sun.

§ 11. Now the Sun's Heat he argues (because All Disputation is plausible in its first Theoremes) from the Administration of the IV. Seasons, the Approaches of the Sun to the Zenith, witnessed (as he saith) also by his singular Magni∣tude.

§ 12. The Neerness of the ☽ to the Earth, being moderately warm, by the Sun's irradiations, draws up Moisture. He doth not say draws it up even to the Lu∣nar Sphere, as if the ☽ were affected by the Earth, or thereby formally moistned; but more truly and innocently he speaks of an indefinite Attraction of the Sublunar Moisture, defining no term or height of that Attraction, nor is there any necessity of such Definition, no more than in the Sun, which notwithstanding is attractive of the same.

§ 13. The distance of ♄, saith he, from the Earth makes him Dry, and the di∣stance from the Sun makes him Cold.

§ 14. While the Fiery Constitution of ♂ is as evident from his Colour, so it is as justly concluded from his vicinity to the Orb of the Sun, which lieth next under him.

§ 15. The situation of ♃ between the extreme coldness of ♄, and the burning of ♂, makes him temperate, yet not so but that the subject Spheres of ♂ and ☉ both bequeath him a warming Influence.

§ 16. The vicinity of ♀ to the Sun gives her Warmth, while she contributes al∣so to Moisture, as the ☽ doth, and that by the greatness of her Discus,

§ 17. ☿ is a Dryer, he saith, because never far from the Sun in Longitude; and a Moistner also, in that he bears upon the Moon's Orb, the greatest Contributer to Moisture. Thus far Ptolemy, I. 22. Tetrabibl.

§ 18. Now as to the Effects, they are put answerable to the premised Defini∣tions, as may be gathered from Ptol. lib. II. c. 9. in which Chapter he treateth of the Planets in their best advantage, their Lordship he calls it; and there ☿ (saith he) because of its Dryth, raiseth Winds, Lightnings, Thunders, &c.

§ 19. ♂ brings Hearts, and Droughts, and Thunders, and Stormy Winds.

§ 20. ♃ healthful and temperate Air, yet with Wind, and competent Moisture.

§ 21. ♀ also the same, temperate and serene Air, with Wind, and fruitful showres intermixt, in the whole as ♃, but with a greater suavity, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as Ptolemy pleases himself in the Expression.

§ 22. ♄ produceth terrible Cold; and Frosts, and Snow, and Hail, and Mists, and Clouds, and dark Air.

§ 23. To the premises they reduce the determination of the Winds, when they make ♄ cause the East, ♀ and ☽ West; ♂ South, ♃ North.

§ 24. And what can Observation pretend to more? and how can. They be vain, which are so specifick and precise as These seem to be? And if so, how chance They have not got footing in the World amongst other Liberal parts of Know∣ledge? Surely, 'tis more easie to arrive to the knowledge of their Natures, than of their Motions; yet the World hath advanced to the Latter, and That with repute, and starce as yet to the Former?

§ 25. I say therefore, toward the Enucleation of the Question, First, that the Planets, in Number VII, are more than numerically different; That very Diffe∣rence with a modest Disputer, is apt to perswade there is a Difference in Nature.

§ 26. Secondly, as to their distance from the Earth and the Sun, there is some Secret lies in it: 'tis so considerable, so deliberate a work of the most High Creator, that I think from hence alone a man may boldly pronounce, that it is not indifferent to the Systeme of the World's Well-being; whereabout the VII Planets are situate. This, as reasonable as it is, will be more strongly inforced from the Doctrine of the Perigee, &c

§ 27. Thirdly, since the Difference of their Colour ariseth not from the Me∣dium, but from the difference of the Spirit, (as in Camphire and Brimstone inflamed, the Flames wear several Colours.) This must argue some Difference of Consistence: since in serenity of Air, in all Climes; the Moon hath her smooth-faced lustre, ♂ his fiery beam, and ♄ his dimmer glare.

§ 28. We do not desire to imagine, that the Planets are ought but Reflexions, yet we say withall that so Vast Bodies receiving the Ray which they Return, may be of such several Consistences, and different Fabricks, that there may be found as much variety in them as in other Reflexives, i. e. Plain, Convex or Concave Glasses, of which the one will generate Flame, and the other are too weak for such Gene∣ration. Thus the Tiles and Lead on the House-top, by reason of their consistence, while they reflect the Sun-beams, conceive such Heat, as is not to be endured by the Palm of the Hand.

§ 29. Fourthly, we say that though there be two Contrarieties to be inquired into, first of Hot and Cold, then of Moist and Dry, Ours will be but only after the First Contrariety, in as much as the Second is an Affix, and an Appendage to the First. Because it will be very easie to say, from what hath been said before, that eve∣ry Planet as it partakes of Warmth, is thereby apt to produce Moisture; whence the Sun it self being Hot, must also be defin'd to be moist: for though the Sun drieth up the Moisture fallen, yet the same Warmth first attracted the Vapor, and the Va∣por so attracted, with a little help from the Contrary Quality, (of which we have said we cannot be always sensible chap. 2. § 9.) condenseth it into a Drop: sothe ☉

and ☽ both are Moist but only by an extrinsec Denomination, as much as they contribute to the attraction of it.

§ 30. Dry, in respect to the Earth, the Sun may be called; but in respect of the Air 'tis a Moistner. The Meteorologer respecteth not the Earth but the Air; wherefore though Ptolemy hath put only Dryth into the Sun's definition, he cannot oppose this which is said of Moisture.

§ 31. And thus the rest of the Planets also, ♂ ♀ ♃, if they prove to be warm, by the same reason must be admitted to be moist also, in our sense, though Ptolemy I see scarce mentions Moisture for an Effect even of ♂ himself, in the Chapter above quoted.

§ 32. To proceed then, no Planet can be said to be Dry, i. e. a causer of Dryth, but what is a Favourer of Cold; in as much as if Warmth be the producer of Moi∣sture, Cold must be the Resister, as the truth is it doth resist, dissipating or disconti∣nuing the fatter vapour, by the immission of a cruder Atome.

§ 33. Thence it follows much to our purpose, that Cold must be the Parent of Serenity, which is briefly proved by this; that the Cold Spirit is more pellucid than the more opacous and unctuous vapour, which it dissipateth.

§ 34. Since then we are bound to inquire into the first Contrariety of Heat and Cold, that from thence we may find out their due Complications with Moi∣sture and Dryth, we say

First, that the Sun is a warm Body, and that of the same kind with what is called Elementary Warmth.

§ 35. Not that He is the primum Calidum, for That is Fire, or That Diffused Spirit which is found indeed in the Sun, and other Celestials, but not confined to them, rather distributed through the whole Universe to All its mixt or compound Bodies, the Mines Subterranean especially comprehended.

§ 36. The Moon hath her remiss degree of Warmth, demonstrable as you have seen by many a fair Experiment, making up Her History; to which I know the more Curious can add more, that I may not say 'tis apparent, if watch'd at some opportunity, even to sense. A Perspective of IV 1/2. Foot, taking the Rise of the Moon after the Full in August, a warm day preceding, (that the Air may not be Counter-disposed) shall sensibly present the Planet's warmth to the Eye. The like have I found in a Summer-Even, sitting in a Southern Chamber, that the Moon being eight or nine dayes old, when approaching the Meridian, hath infused a sensible warmth into the Chamber, though the Sun were set.

§ 37. ♂ is found to be endued with a Heat, if the Effect may judge equal, nay to all seeming, superiour to the Sun; yet seeing he acts by dependance on Him, as all the Rest do, we must compare None of them to their Maintainer.

§ 38. ☿ hath a warmth more remiss than ♂ or ☉ more intense than ♀.

§ 39. ♀ her Warmth is so remiss and slack, that she seemeth to befriend a Cold Influence.

§ 40. There is only left ♄ and ♃, and it is very convenient that the cold Planet assigned should be One of these Two. It may be somewhat for Ptolemies reason, as also because None of the Planetary Bodies which pretend to Cold, except these Two, can raign (I mean shine) all Night, the most fit opportunity for Cold: ♀ shines but part of the Night, and the ☽ is too warm for the purpose.

§ 41. This supposeth I confess, that the Nocturnal Cold is ordered and mana∣ged by the Celestial Bodies, which is most certain, and will be evidenc'd hereafter.

§ 42. ♄ indeed (who can outface so Ancient and Loud Tradition?) goes for the Coldest Planet. He is indeed of a Tepor so low and indiscernible, that he may and must be reckon'd as a Favourer of Cold, and so far Experience justifies the Tra∣dition.

§ 42. But ♃, ('tis well he hath obtained the Character of Temperate, as well as ♀) is (oh let the Paradox be pardoned!) the Principal Cold and crude Planet: All the Rest are warm and moist, though in different measure, only ♃ cold and dry,

or a Resister of Moisture. I know 'tis a great Paradox, and therefore to some will be offensive: but it is such as wanteth neither Apology, nor Proof.

§ 44. Not Apology: for what? must we in earnest submit to every Tradition in Natural Science? There's nought I hope in Philosophy, but what appeals to Po∣sterity, as to Sense and Reason, and will abide the Test of Natural Scrutiny. Philo∣sophy is too ingenuous to impose upon us, to offer to deceive us by Authority. I grant the Authority of our Ancestors is Greater than is allowed by the Junior Inceptors of these dayes: Many are despised by Us, whose Wisdom we shall never attain to. But yet our Ancestors themselves have fixed Bounds to their Authority: They swear us indeed not to corrupt their Books, they do not swear us to believe. All they deliver. We must tast before we swallow; especially in that part of Philosophy which lies beyond the Moon, abstruse Theorems at a vast prospect and distance. In these I ought not to follow them hood-winkt, to take All for granted as if They were First Principles, or from Infallible Dictates; They teach us concerning Hea∣ven, but they came not from thence. I cannot give them their Due Praise, unless I examine their Theses; I shall be a lazy unwise person, if I do not. I shall be loath to betray the Generations of the World to Security, and Error. What Liberty the Antients have taken in a modest dissent from their Predecessors, is left to us for a Lega∣cy. Ptolemy himself differs from His Seniors the Egyptians.

§ 45. Not Proof: no not from the Antients themselves. For first, though They declare him to be Moist, yet they teach us also that He is a Raiser of Winds, (Ptol. I. 20.) which by nature are a Dry Exhalation, and Cold too. 2. ♃ is the only Aeolus that blows up the North-wind, say both Antients and Moderns, and they say truly, a second Argument that ♃ is the Coldest. 3. With one mouth also They truly and consequently affirm, that He is the Parent of Serenity; but if the Cause of Clouds and Vapor be Heat, the Cause of Serenity is Cold, the Cleansing Spirit of Cold. Add, that we shall see hereafter, how No Aspect Planetary causes Dryth, but every one of them more or less incline to Moisture, except ♃ be one; therefore if Cold be the Author of Dryth, (Dryth I mean in the Constitution of the Air) ♃ is that Colder Planet. Yea so manifestly is He the favorer of Dryth, that he shews this Influence not only in Serene and open Air, but in Cloudy and dark Air, where many times he suspends the Moisture, and (as the Vulgar speak, when in Cloudy Air a Dry Wind blows) It keeps up the Rain. Nor is it to be conceal'd, that in All Fogs, and Mists ♃ hath Influence, which argues a dry fuliginous Exhalation mixt with Moisture, That Moisture which is found and maintained at the Cost of the Rest of the Planets.

§ 46. Colder and Dryer is ♃ than ♄ it self, as much as the North-wind is col∣der than the East: for though the East be cold and dry compared to the West, it obtaineth no such character compared with the North. But ♃ is confessed Parens Aquilonis, Raiser of the North-wind, while ♄ contents himself with the East.

§ 47. And for Dryth, Aspects of ♄ are not found to resist Moisture, to cause Serenity, to raise dry Winds, to cast a Fog; a Cool Constitution it may profess, but with inclination to Moisture: for admit it causeth Snow; I desire it be con∣sider'd, that 'tis one thing to cause Snow, and another to cause it to fall: and the Di∣stinction will be admitted by them that consider, that how bitter soever the Wea∣ther is when Snow hangs in the Air, as they call it, yet the Weather relents in a sen∣sible degree at the fall of Snow: ♄ then may concur to the Solution of that Cold Mass, which ♃ or some other hath created; but none contests so much for Cold as ♄, ♃ therefore is the Coldest. And let thus much at present serve for the 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

§ 48. Toward the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, how ♃, or any other Celestial Body can be the Pa∣rent of Cold, we are willing to declare. First, what is the Nature of Cold, whether positive or meet Privation. 2. If Positive, what is the Primum Frigidum, Earth or any other Body. 3. What relation a Body Celestial can have to Cold, if Cold prove to be a terrestrial Emanation.

§ 49. Though some Philosophers have said that Cold is a Privation, and it

seems to agree to what Ptolemy would say concerning the Quality attributed to ♄, the remotest of all from the Sun: yea though I think it manifest, that some things called Positive Qualities, are no better than Privations, as Siccity, Diaphaneity, Softness, &c. yet I take it, that Cold cannot be said to be such.

1. Because though it be necessary upon the removal of Moisture, I must under∣stand the Subject to be Dry; yet there is not the same necessity, that on the Remo∣val of Heat, I should apprehend the Subject to be Cold. Hence some Philophers have (it may be not absurdly) defined, the Air to be Neither of its own Nature, be∣ing the Subject and Receiver of Both.

2. Privation may be allowed a principle of Generation, but not of Constitution; but Cold is a Constituent, as in Metals, Glass, &c. ingreditur opera Naturae. Hence a sudden Heat violates the Consistence of the Glass, whereas a Privation may be removed with Safety and Innocence.

3. Cold is Active, Penetrative, Expulsive of its Contrary, even as Heat, Active and Biting, Penetrative through Glass it self, where neither Air, nor Moi∣sture can be transmitted: whose Action is so like that of Heat, that sometimes we take it to be the very same. For a▪ Cold piece of Iron seems to burn the Hand, if the Sense of the Touch (not the Eye) be witness; Expulsive of the Heat, even Na∣tural Heat: This is seen in Freezing of Beer or Wine, where the Spirits driven out of their Cells, retire to their Centre. In the freezing of Fruits, which upon a mil∣der Constitution suddenly putrifie, the Spirit being not able to recover its former Mansion, by reason of the disorder created. Add the Gangren'd parts of Man's Bo∣dies in cold Countreys, &c. the crumbling and scaling of Brick and Stone in Frosts that are extreme, &c.

§ 48. 4ly, a Spirit is no Privation, Cold is a Spirit, of such a Figure, saith Democritus, and not very absurdly, for the benumming operation of Cold, curiously attended, betrays not the pungencies of the Pyramid, proper to Fire, but the Contu∣sion of a Cubical Figure, which is the figure assigned to the Earth: but that Cold is a Spirit may be proved, because some Bodies enjoy a cool Spirit, Vegetables, as the Rose; Minerals, as the Nitre; and all Infrigidation is performed by transfu∣sion of a Spirit, as Rooms are cool by strewing of Herbs, Flags, and Aspersion of sweet Water, Vinegar, &c. Wines in their Bottles are cooled by immersion into Water, the Water transmitting the Spirit suddenly through the Vessel. This Spirit is evident and awakened by the Motion: certainly if Heat be a Spirit, Cold is also a Spirit; and if the South-wind warms by the introduction of the One, the North-wind chills by the accession of the Other: and so much for the First, the Nature of Cold.

§ 49. For the second, we deem that the Earth is rightly assigned for the primum frigidum, and this may be gathered from the very situation it obtains in the System of the World, viz. the very Distance from the Spheres of Heat, being as good as in the Centre of the Sphere of the Fixed, even in Copernicus his Hypothesis. For though Cold be no Privation, yet 'tis not altogether becoming the Order of Nature, that Opposites should have an opposite place, and be at local as well as at formal Di∣stance. God hath not placed Heat at one of the Poles, if he had, sure he had fixed the Cold at the Pole opposite. Giving him therefore the liberty to place it in the middest of the Globe, the Frozen Zones must quarter on each side, as far distant as they can, and that is tantamount to Diametrical. For as to the Subterranean Fires, by Natures great End placed in the Earth, they can put in no Caveat to our pretence, seeing they cannot belong to the Nature of that Element, though therein con∣tained, no more than the Vegetable, or Animal Seeds that lie couch'd in the same. The same is to be reckoned of Hot Earths, Lime, &c. They conclude not the Earth of its own Nature, indifferent to Cold or Heat, no more than Hot-waters artificially extracted, or Hot Baths for the Nature of the Water conclude any such indifferen∣cy. But that Cold is an Earthy Spirit, whence shall we more evidently conclude, but from the consistence of Ice? Ice hath a terrene Consistence, therefore it depends

upon a terrene Spirit. For such cognation is there between the Consistence, and the Spirit actuating, that a man may safely conclude the one from the other. The Ve∣getable Spirit is of the same Nature with the Plant, the Metallick Spirit with the Metal, the Fumid Spirit with the Odour, the Earthy Spirit with the Earth. We con∣firm this by consideration, that all Petrification is by intrusion of a Terrene Spirit, as in Wood, and other things metamorphos'd by petrifying Streams, is confessed. And what is Ice, but Water petrifyed? Add, that Ice becomes fixed by Incra••••ations so Cold fixes or stanches Bloud by incrassating of the parts. Hence the cold Spirit or Corpuscle dilating the Body, as in liquor congeled in Earthen Vessels, bursts the Vessel, and the Hand benummed with Cold is more swoln and gowry than in open Weather.

§ 50. Further, Metals, or Minerals, which are the coldest Bodies, are of a Consistence Earthy, as Stone, Lead, Iron, yea Quick-silver, though a strange Bo∣dy, is the Colder, because it is so dense: for we may safely allow an Earthy Spirit in it, notwithstanding its Fluor, as well as in other Metals, which at least when mel∣ted are fluid. So much it seems to have of Earth, that though it be fluid, we see it moistens not; the whitish Hue I hope is no hinderance, since sundry Earths are of a Cretaceous colour.

§ 51. Again, every Stupefactive Spirit is Terrene, every Cold Spirit is Stupe∣factive. For what I pray is Stupefying, but Congeling? the Cold Spirit stanches Blood by Congelation. Thus Dioscorides, speaking of all Earths used in Physick, saith they are Cold and Stupifying: all Narcoticks, quatenus talia, will be found invested with such a Spirit, Opium, &c. the History of the Torpedo it self, I believe will prove it. Yea the Greatest Observers, that have been curious in this point, de∣clare, that as according to the common Presumption, Heat tends upward, so the Cold hath a tendency downward, a Heavy Spirit; it seems then to be Earthy.

§ 52. But whether this Spirit be Saline, or Nitrous, or of Quick-silver, is none of our interest to define, 'tis somewhat too nice a discourse to be so particu∣lar. Saline, or Nitrous, are All Earthy, and, it may be, not so much different.

§ 53. Here, I confess, our Discourse is strongly checked by some of the Noblest Observers, who scruple to admit any prime Recipient of Cold, as not necessary there should be a 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of all Qualities; for there are None assignable, say they, for Gravity, Figure, Motion, Colour, Sound, &c.

To the Vindication therefore of such a Principle, let me crave leave to distinguish, first of Qualities, then of the Prime Recipient; and say first, that in all Qualities, whe∣ther Powers Natural, or their Sensible Objects, Heat, Cold, Humour, Siccity, Light, Colour, &c. as also Qualities more Material, such as consist in the several Texture of Matter, Density, Rarity, &c. we must carefully distinguish between Them and their Privations; the rather, because the Philosopher saith rightly, that the same Sense is Judge of both: for tis no reason to look for a 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of Privative Beings, but only of Positive. Thus it will be vain to look for a Prime Recipient of Siccity; the Fire being dry, and the Earth also, and neither owing that Quality one to the other, because being a bare carentia and Absence of Humidity, all Bodies so deprived must aequè primò rejoice in that Denomination. Thus I take it, is Rarity nothing but a Privation of Density, Softness of Hardness, Smoothness of Asperity, Fluor of Solidity, Friability of Viscosity, Leanness of Fatness, total or partial Pri∣vations. For the Prime Recipient, though it be commonly a certain species, yet 'tis not always so.

§ 54. There are Properties which follow the Genus, as All men must confess, such are the known Properties of Quantity, Figure, Place, Motion, Time, Gravity, Colour, Sound; Figure I say, for if Quantity be such a Property, then Figure must also, however it be called Quality, or otherwise a Property of Corpus solidum. Then Motion, for be the principle of Motion what it will, Matter or Form, or Finiteness of Nature, 'tis plain 'tis a common Generical Attribute to which it is annexed, we may call it corpus, or, if you will, substantia finita. Then for Gravity, we have a Ge∣neral

Recipient for That, whether in the new Philosophy, which reckons All Ele∣ments to be Gravia, as tending to their Centre, Fire it self seeming to tend upward only on this account; or in the more stale Philosopby, which makes Earth, Water, Air Gravia in comparison of Fire; I say, according to the one, the Prime Recipient of Gravity is corpus Homogeneum, supposing the Heavy substance out of its place, and corpus Opacum according to the other, understanding it here as opposed to Lu∣••id; in which sense Air, Water; Earth are opacons, and therefore Gravitating, as being destitute of That Spirit which tendeth upward. We say the same of Colour, that corpus opacum, but as distinguish'd to pellucid or Diaphanous, is the Prime Reci∣pient of it; Colour being nothing else but a nice mixture of Light and Opacity. Yea for Sound it self we give a prime Subject, and That is corpus Spirituosum; it be∣ing the Spirit that is the Subject and Vehicle of the Sound.

§ 55. These things being premised, I say, that All Qualities, truly so called, po∣sitive Beings, not privative, have necessarily their Prime Recipient in the Species or the Genus at least: Heat, Cold, Humectation, Tast, Odour, All Sensible Qualities, have their Prime Recipient; it being hard to find Humectation where there is no Water, Cold where no Earth, Tast where no Salt, Odour where no Oyl, Light and Heat where no Fiery Spirit. And what do we say of the Second Tactile Qualities, Crassitude, Solidity, Density, Hardness, Roughness? The Earth no doubt is the Prime Receiver of them All, so that where there is Solidity and Density, there is Earth, as Plato saith, even in the Stars themselves. For Viscosity, unless we say 'tis a Compound Complicate Qua∣lity, ex pingui & arido, and so get off from the necessity of assigning a Prime Recipient, as there is no Prime Recipient of Tepor, and mixt Colours; so otherwise we may no∣minate a Gluten to supply That place, with the same liberty as the Chymists name Sulfur, and Salt: for if it be said that there is no such species, in which this quality inheres, no more is there any species of Salt and Sulfur, the Prime Recipient of Sa∣vours and Odours; they are Generical Natures, common to all Sapid and Odorate Bodies,

§ 56. Surely, unless some Recipient be admitted, both in Active and Passive Qualities, the Family of Nature will be at a loss. The several Tribes of Hot, Cool, Sapid, Odorate, how manifold soever in their Natural Colonies, must needs depend on some prime Propagator, as all Families do.

§ 57. I will not say this is in imitation of God himself, and his Communicati∣ons, (Nature being nothing else but a Sciagraphy of Divinity) who being a Creator hath ordained a Generant, communicating Essence, and Gifts, and Graces, Him∣self being of them All the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

§ 58. And truly, when upon a just Induction made, we may find a prime Sub∣ject for all the Active Qualities (truly stated,) as Light, Heat, Cold, Humidity, &c. why we should not seek for prime Subjects for All the rest, which are absolute per∣fections of the Subject in which they dwell, I see not, seeing the Fabrick of this Great Universe, though it be abstruse, yet it is such as doth incourage Enquiry (not discourage it) by the Mutual dependance of Causes, the Second on the First, and the Third on Both: the Creator being admirable, not only in the Number, but in the Order of his Creatures. To find Fire in Fish-bones, Rotten wood, Tasts in Dews as well as Plants and Minerals, Stenches in Mists as well as Puddles, and All through the communication of the same prime Subject, incourages a Modest En∣quirer, and brings him to the knowledge of a 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the prime Cause of All.

§ 59. Neither is the prime Generical Recipient to be thought an Empty No∣tion, as if Universal Natures subsisted only by the Operation of the Intellect, and did not exist à parte rei; for certainly They are guilty of the Empty Notion, that make a Nature, not We that find it. Surely the Individual borrows all its Reality from the Species, unless his Essence be a fiction, and the Species in part from the Ge∣nus: the One is a Modification of his Vniversal, the Other a Difference; and thus far for the second Enquiry.

§ 60. Now thirdly, what Relation a Body Celestial may have to Cold, if Cold

be a Terrestrial Emanation, is the next Enquiry; seeing Reason, as Cardan confes∣ses, makes them All without difference warm, even ♄ it self if he be Luminous. Resp. The Nature of the Planet is to be estimated, not from his Magnitude only, and Distance, and Light, and Colour; but much, if not chiefly, from its Consistence, and Spirit, if any there be that inhabits it.

§ 61. Their Bodies, of their own nature, are Opacous, but they are Pervious too. This is known for certain as to the ☽, it is full of Cells and Concavities, of a vast Penetration; for otherwise, neither It, nor the Rest could so visibly, so po∣tently reflect the Solar Incidences. As to the Spirit, all that believe the Sun to be of an Igneous Nature, as 'tis high time we should come so far, do resolve that there are Mines of Sulfur in the Sun, which minister an Eternal Pabulum to the Flame, as the Mines do to our Hot Baths. This is so certain, that the Assertors of the Ma∣culae Solares know not what else to define them, but Sulphureous Fumid Exhalations issuing from it.

§ 62. Again, all that are Curious Observers of the. ☽ do aver, not only Moun∣tains, but Waters also placed there, which cover all the darkish parts of the Lunar Globe: and why may not God fill the Rest of the Celestial Bodies with a suitable Spirit? The different Colours both of Planets, and Fixed Stars, do more than pro∣bably argue a difference of Spirit lodged in them. 'Tis not impossible but some of the Heavenly Bodies may partake of the Cold Spirit in common with the Earth, as the Subterranean specus partakes of the Warm Spirit, the Fires that rage there, in common with the Heavens.

§ 63. What Mines of Sulphur may be lodged in ♂, what Treasure of Nitre, or Camphire, or Quick-silver may be in ♀ or ♃? the Expiration of Camphire, even flaming, cools a Room. Who can refell this with any better Argument than a Smile? What know we their Internal Constitution, Where were we in the day of their Creation, that we should pronounce of their Natures but by their Effects? If thus it should be, how facile, how explicate is the Solution of this great Question: Celestial Bodies, though Lucid, though Fiery, may have some of them a cold Ema∣nation, and at their opportunity they may cause a Winterly Weather, not only by their chill Emanation from above, but by the consequent Attraction of the Cold here below, as all Homogeneous Bodies naturally observe one another.

§ 64. Verily we seem to flutter neer some Truth, when the Scripture it self seems to teach us so monstrous things as Waters above the Heavens, placed there, wot you what but for the tempering of Celestial Heat? or some worse, because un∣known reason? Ger? Voss. de Idololatr. II. 39. and our own Learned Gregory, beside the Jew and Ancient Christian: what may there not be contain'd in the Celestial Bodies, (Seas or Mines) if there may be Elementary Bodies in the utmost Circum∣ference of the Heaven? Our narrow Imaginations cramp the Planets, as far as the Distance diminishes them to sight, not daring to look into the vast Continent of those unknown Orbs, which it may be are as little Homogeneous as the Globe of the Earth, which seems a Globe of Dust, and similar Mold, to those that have not descended into the heart of it, to those that have not viewed the Fossiles, the Mine∣rals, Metals, concrete Juices, Subterranean Fires, &c. 'Tis clear that the Planets are not made only for Reflexion, but also for Modification of Light and Heat. And Light, if there be any Connate Spirit in the Lucid Body, is apt to convey the Radiation, as the painted Glass transmutes its Colour along with the Beam, that shoots through it: the variety of the Colour, we must say again, doth argue a diffe∣rence of Spirit and Confistence, as in the Yolk and White of an Egg is manifest.

§ 65. But ♃ may be cold as the ☽ is moist (no Waters, no Lakes, no Seas sup∣posed) by extrinsecal Denomination. We say 2^ly then, who knows but that Light and Cold may have kindness one for the other? Tis a great Speculation that is before us. When I was arrived in Philosophy so far, as to hearken to the discourse of the Spirits of Natural Bodies, to which by Assent and Experience Universal all Activity belongs, and finding that what they call Spirits, were for the most nothing

but igneous parts of the Compound, I justly cry'd up Avicen the Physician, who owns the Elements Actual Existence in the Composition, as the Existence of Fire among the rest: but when I was advertised from so great Authority as my L^d Ve∣rulam, who somewhere tells us, that amongst Natural Bodies there is found a Cold Spirit, I confess I was at some Loss, as to the stating the Question Affirmative, every Spirit being the Actuous part of the Body. Attending farther therefore to what was proposed, concerning Heterogeneous Mixtures found in the same Body, by rea∣son of which the same Vegetable or Mineral may be qualified sundry wayes, as in Salt, Pepper, Opium, &c. consisting of a Hot and also Crude Spirit, subtilty wea∣ved together, I began to admit of a cold Spirit; or rather having admitted it, to guess the Reason or its Activity, as borrowed from the vicinage of the warmer Cor∣puscles, as if a Spirit were nothing else but the Igneous Particle incrusted in the Body; as if the Spirit were Active upon one account, and seemed Cold upon the other For Cold it self, at least in comparison of Heat, is but a dull and slow Quality; that it may be a great question, whether setting aside its Figure and Gravity, it hath any pure Activity of Influx or Emanation, or no: for the Pressure it makes by reason of its Gravity or Figure, is not Activity of Emanation, such as is found in Fire; This it owes to Warmth perhaps. So that if God should annihi∣late the Celestial Warmth, there would be no Elevation, or Emanation of a Cold Spirit, all would sink and lye flat upon the Surface of its Cold Earth, as in a most unlively Chaos. Hence it may be, before God was pleased to make the Light or Heat Celestial, the Spirit of God is expresly said to move on the Face of the Waters, to keep them in their serviceable (and therefore Natural) Fluidity, which otherwise would be sullen, and put on their Icie, unpliant, and unserviceable Rigor. For the Subterranean Fires, too much made of by some, cannot so much as considerably sup∣ply the want of the Celestial; since 'tis notorious, that on the top of Aetna itself, there lies all the year a continual Snow.

§ 66. The Heat then of Celestial Bodies may be such a friend to the Activity of the Cold Spirit, as to raise it from its Centre, and keep it up in suspense, as under the Poles it doth, toward the generation of Wind, Snow, Mists, Clouds, &c. what the Northern Voyages sufficiently testifie, testifie I mean concerning the Heat that is many times felt there, amidst the very Mountains of Ice. In this case Cold first acts by Corporeal Contact and Gravitation of Those Bodies that wade in the At∣mosphere: That's one way.

§ 67. But again, the same Agent that raises that Exhalation, may, if it be in∣couraged, hurry, and drive the Cold Atome, and impart a forced Activity to it, as in the generation of Hail may be seen, and in all cold Winds, and especially on those signal times, when Frost and Ice is found on the ground, the Sky having been Clou∣dy, by the piercing of a sharp Wind, busling all the Night before. That's a second.

§ 68, But sure Cold appears not always under a forced, sometimes with a pro∣per and Natural Activity, being quick, and agile, penetrative, and pungent, like the Fiery Atome, entring the Body, and following the Leading Atome with a vehe∣ment Nisus into the same; not by Gravitation only, because then there would be but little Frost within doors, where there is little Gravitation, yea all Congelation would begin at the top only, when as in Vessels of Wood and Metal, the side and bottom of the Water is usually as soon congeled as the top it self.

§ 69. Let us see whether Light have no Energie in this matter. Surely if any thing may be entitled to what Philosophers call the Spirit of the World, This is it, the smallest and most Active Body in the World; in Motion confest to be Instan∣taneous, in subtlety incredible, and absolutely incomprehensible. The vast Activity of Flame is seen in the force and swiftness of a Ball discharged from Cannon, &c. in the prodigious Eruptions of Earthquakes; but Flame it self comes short of Light, as to Activity, as far as the Sphere of Calefaction, as we have said, is narrower than that of Illumination. An Inch of Flame, if it multiplies it self but in one straight line to the Eye, at three or four Miles distance, of how rare, how subtle Particles

must that one single Ray consist? But when that Lucid Inch (as all Luminous Bo∣dies spread themselves Spherically) shall send its Beams through 10000 Lines so far protended, even as many as the Eyes, which can be imagined to be placed in all differences of Position; I say it argues the Light to be, for subtl••ty of Essence, and swiftness of Motion (for the One follows the Other) incomprehensible. Hence I may argue thus: The most actuous Substance in the world (I value not whether the Peripatetick allows any such Notion, or no) is the Spirit of the World, But Light is such, Ergo. Light, or Heat, One of them is; but the Premises rightly consider'd, it will be found, that (since Both are Active) Light hath not its Activity quatenus of kin to Heat, but Heat rather, quatenus Luminous. From hence doth Heat learn to shed it self into a Sphere of Warmth round about, because it is of the same Na∣ture with Light: but Light is the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of that Quality, and indeed of all Activity, at least as much as uses to be imputed to Heat, because in the Competitor∣ship for Sprightfulness, we find one so infinitely surpassed by the other.

§ 70. This Discourse supposeth Light to be a Body, and may well do so, for very many Arguments not to be produced here; seeing 'tis enough that the Peri∣pateticks I hope can produce no Accident whatsoever, separable from its Primitive Subject, or any Migration of the one without the other: the Power of Matter, and Eduction thencefrom, are meer Words, educed out of the power of a Verbal Philosophy.

§ 71. But then for its relation to Cold: before we speak of That, we must con∣sider, that though the Light and Heat be substantially the same Spirit, yet for Do∣ctrines sake, especially being different Objects of the Sense, they must be said to differ specie, even as Air doth from Water; though in the most probable opinion it differ only from it by a vast rarefaction or Attenuation, just as our Light from Heat; on which account it may be true to say, that Light is the Author of some Action in Nature, which Heat is not: for the Heat and Light differ only in tenuity, or rarity, and density, the Seat of Fire being neer the center of the Luminous Sphere, while purer Light is neerer the circumference; the Sphere of Illumination being so Vast, the Circumferential parts of the Spirit of so incredible Subtlety, must of necessity be denuded from all manner of Heat real, and sensible, that whatsoever is ascribed to the Spirit so attenuated, may in no wise be thought reasonable to be ascribed to any thing else, such a vast difference interposing. So that it may not fol∣low, notwithstanding the Identity of the Spirit, that if Heat be contrary to Cold, Light must also be deputed to the same Contrariety. Hence there is made way for a reconcilement to amity with the Cold Spirit, the Contrariety being removed.

§ 72. Now that Cold hath such amity and acquaintance with the Luminous Spirit, I prove, because Cold is an Active quality, Active by way of Emanation. Thus in Stone-building, that Room is the cooler for the walls sake, the Emanation from thence infrigidating the place: but if it be so active, whence hath it this Acti∣vity? we answer, from the universal Luminous Spirit implanted in it. This is con∣firm'd, because Cold is not only active in it self, according to its measure, as Light is, but it resembles also the manner of the Activity. Doth Light cast it self into a Sphere, Cold also hath its Sphere (its narrower Sphere indeed) of her Activity. Place it in the Centre, and all Parts shall feel its Influence, so do all things imitate or rather express the motion of the Universal Spirit.

§ 73. Nor can it be otherwise imagin'd, since into the most deep recesses of the Earth 'tis believ'd the Light of the Sun pierces through the Opacous Body, giving Life and Spirit to every Mineral there in his kind. Then what Influence the Heaven∣ly Light hath on the Animal and Natural Spirits all the World seeth; how cheer∣fully and briskly our Spirits behave themselves in a serene Season? How dull and cloudy in close Air! what alteration our Bodies find at night! how torpid our Limbs, and given to heaviness, composed for sleep and darkness! A little Light we see raises us, wakes us, calls for the Spirit to the Circumference, cheereth the sick, is welcom to those that are frighted with Spectres and Phantasms, the Day salutes us

All, and bids us good Morn. The Morning Cock chants not but upon warning given by the Light. The very Vegetable Spirit in Darkness is a sleep, (Darkness I mean of the Time, not of the Place, a great Argument for our Conjecture.) Hence the good Houswife gives no leave to broach her Liquor in the Night-Season. Add that the subtle mixture of the Cold Spirit delights in the white Colour, Frost, Snow, Ice, Hail, Nitre, Quick-silver: but Whiteness partakes of the Light, by which (I do not say 'tis visible in dark, but) disposed to more visibility than other obscurer pieces. Hence we answer an Objection, because in the dark recesses of the Earth no Light is perceptible. Resp. The Spirit called Light or Heat, is Innominate of it self, is only termed Light in relation to the Sense; so that we must not conclude the Non-Existence of the Spirit from the Non-apparence, because more is required to the one than to the other. We see not the dancing Motes in the Air, but where the Sun discovers them, howsoever they frisk continually by us: no man by Night sees the Lightsome Ray of the Luminous Body, if it run parallel to the Eye. Nature hath not given us Senses to perceive all possible, but all convenient Objects; no Microscope reaches All things that are really existent.

§ 74. As to Cold then, who knows not that the Brightest Night in Winter, and most Star-light, are usually most Frosty? Dixeris Coelum esse frigidum, saith Ke∣pler, who raises the Objection, to which he gives little Satisfaction: nay, that the vehement Congelations are found about Day-break.

§ 75. All this concerns every Planet in the Heaven, not the Sun it self excep∣ted. I have wondred often at Winter-time to see Relenting Air in the Sun-shine, and freezing in the Shade; I concluded two things, both that Cold had its Activity, and that the very Solar-light was no Enemy to it, not the secundary Light, what∣soever it does if in its primary, or more perpendicular.

§ 76. Here it will be argued, how comes ♃ Light to be the chief favourer of Cold, since All Light at such a distance from the Centre doth the same? What shall we say? If ♃ were the remotest from the Earth we had some pretence, but ♄ hath that plea for his Title. If we shall say from the difference of his Fabrick and Spirit therein lodged, and this argued from its whitish Light; then ♀ will put in an equal claim. Resp. ♄ is most remote, but the Consistence and the Spirit is different. ♃ is brisker to all appearance, ♄ glows darkly and sullenly; ♃ and ♀ are bright, and fla∣ming Comet-like, neer to sparkling and Scintillation, this argues a quick Spirit, while ♄ glows within the Profundity of his Globe. Unless you will extort from us a con∣fession, that we do believe that the Reason of the crude Light that appears in ♃ to lie in the crude Spirit, placed there by Nature, which we are not forced to avow; in the mean time sufficiently salving the instance from ♀, which we make not equally crude, by her vicinity to our Globe of the Earth, as also to the Sun. The best of it is, that Both these ways of Explication are hugely reconcileable, seeing a Spirit will secretly pass along with a Beam, yea with a Flame too. So the Sublunar Cold shall be martial'd upon a double account, the Agile nature of Light, and the Homo∣geneity of the Spirit convey'd by it: as if it should be thus with the ☽, she should be the Lady of Moisture, upon the same twofold respect, viz. the Tepor of her Beam, and the Sympathy of the Sublunar Moisture with the Lunar. Surely this doth not substitute violence instead of Nature, when we say that the Cold Spirit may be acted ab extrinseco by the Celestial Light: because All Light (so for want of words we call that Innominate Spirit) is of the same nature, the Light Celestial with the Light or Spirit inbabiting the Sublunar Body; and by reason of this Homogeneity One is naturally governable by the other, the Inferior by the Superior; so is Iron naturally, not violently, though ab extrinseco attracted by the Magnet.