Archelogia philosophica nova, or, New principles of philosophy containing philosophy in general, metaphysicks or ontology, dynamilogy or a discourse of power, religio philosophi or natural theology, physicks or natural philosophy / by Gideon Harvey ...

CHAP. VIII. Of the Absolute and Respective Form of Earth, Water, Ayr, and Fire.

• 1. What Form it is the Author allots to Earth. That driness is not the first quality of earth.
• 2. The respective form of Earth.
• 3. That Coldness is not the first quality of Water. That water is not moyst naturally, neither doth it moysten: What it is to moysten. Why water acuated with Spirits of Vitriol, Sulphur, or of Salt-Peter, doth moysten and abate thirst more then when it is single.
• 4. The form of water. What Gravity is, and what Levity. What Density is. The form of water proved. Why water disperseth it self into Drops. Why Sea-men cannot make Land upon the Cap-head, when they may upon the Top Mast-head. Why the Stars do appear sooner to those in the East-Seas, then to others in the West.
• 5. That water is thick but not dense. Whence it is that water is smooth. Why Ayr makes a Bubble upon the water, when it breaks forth. That the least Atoms of Ayr cannot break through the water without

• ... raising a Bubble. Why the same doth not happen to Earth,
• 6. That Moysture is not the first quality of Ayr, neither doth the Ayr naturally moysten any body, but to the contrary dryeth it.
• 7. The form of Ayr. What Tenuity is. Why Feathers, Cobwebs, and other light Bodies do expand themselves when thrown through the Ayr. Why Grease, Oyl, Wax. &c. do make Splatches when poured upon the ground. Why Gunpowder, Smoak, Breathes of living creatures, Va∣pours, Exhalations, Dust, &c. do diffuse themselves in that manner. Whence it is that the least breath moves and shakes the Ayr. The rela∣tive form of Ayr. Why Spirits of Wine mix easier and sooner with wa∣ter, then one water with another.
• 8. The first quality of fire. What Rarity is. Whence it is that a Torch or Candle spreads its Beames circularly, as appears at a distance. That Fire is roof: the cause of it. Fire's Relative nature. A comparing of all the first qualities of the Elements one to the other.

1. THe Form lately mentioned may justly be surnamed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Perfection; because it confers a Perfection upon mat∣ter. But to return where I left: After sufficient evidence, that each of the Elements are actuated by a distinct form; I begin first with the Earth, whose form and first quality is weight (pondus) with den∣sity.

1. Because through it, it performeth all its Operations and Ef∣fects.

2. The form, or first quality of a body is unremoveable; but dense weight is unremoveable from earth; ergo it is its form, and first quality; whereas dryness, which is brought in competition with it by all Peripateticks, is removeable; for earth may be moystened with water. This is an Herculean Argument, if well weighed.

3. A Privation cannot be the first quality of earth, because it is accidental to it; but dryness is only a privation of moysture, and consequently accidental. I confirm the Minor; had there never been any moysture, who could ever have thought of dryness? Again, in the ordinary Ideom of speech, we say, such a thing is dry, because we feel no dampness in it: for first we feel, and gather it together to try whether we can feel any moysture; but perceiving no moy∣sture, or dampness, we say it is dry: Ergo, because of the privation of moysture. Further, moysture and dryness are privative opposites, because the one being removed, the other also vanishes: For take

away sight, and you take away blindness; it being improper to say a thing is blind, unless in opposition to sight. The same is appliable to dryness and moysture; take away moysture, and then it will be improper to say dryness.

Lastly, the Peripatetick description of dryness proves no less: Dryness is, whose subject is easily contained within its own bounds, but difficultly within anothers. Now unless there were water, with∣in whose bounds it could not be contained, there could be no dry∣ness, since that dryness is, whose subject cannot be contained unless difficultly within the bounds of water; or Ayr either.

II. All elements and each of them are actuated by a respective, or relative form, that is, their being and conservation consisteth in a relation of a dependence from each other; for instance, the earth is inconsistent of it self; for through its incomprehensible gravity it would move to an infinitum, which is repugnant to its truth; so that through its pondus it inclineth to the fire; which again through its lightness bendeth to it; and so meeting one another, they em∣brace and constitute each other in their being. Well may Authors term their close and entire union a discors amicitia, or amica discordia, since their motion to each other is so fierce, and eager, that it doth as it were appear a fighting, or discord, but it tending to so mutual a good and benefit, proves the greatest friendship. But should cold∣ness and heat be stated to be the form or first qualities of the Ele∣ments, they could not subsist one moment, because they are the great∣est contraries, and therefore would not cease from their most incenst hostility; before each were expelled from their common subject; as we see plainly in water and fire.

III. This makes way to free water from coldness, to which it is neither but a privation of heat: For suppose there were a dish of water placed without the sphear of the elements, it would be im∣proper to say, it were either hot or cold.

Neither is Moysture the first quality of water; for water of it self (per se) doth not moysten any thing absolutely, that is freed from all mixture. I prove it: To moysten, is nothing else but to be thinly covered, or dasht over with water, or its vapours; but water, when it is in its absolute state, is of so thick parts, that it is unapt to adhere to any thing. We observe that Quick-silver (or rather quick Lead, for so it is in effect) and melted Lead, although liquid, yet they do not moysten, because their parts are thick. By thick∣ness

I do not intend a depth of quantity, or of matter only, but such a depth of quantity that is not porous, or a crassitude, whose parts are diducted and drawn out into a continuity, and that throughout all its dimensions, and therefore through defect of tenuity doth not adhere to whatever is immerst in it: even so it is with water, which supposed in its absolute, or separated state doth by far exceed quick-Lead in thickness, and consequently is unapt for humectation: but in the state wherein it now is, which is mixed and attenuated with much fire and ayr, it doth easily adhere to whatever body, that is dipt in it. This is the reason, why water in hot Countries doth soon∣er quench thirst, then in cold; or wine sooner then water; because the watery parts are more subtilized by the indivisibilities of fire, that are dispersed through them. Now water abates drought but lit∣tle, because of its crassitude. Experience tels us, that one little mea∣sure of water acuated with Spirits of Vitriol, of Sulphur, or of Salt-Peter doth moysten the body, and abate thirst in a Feaver more then a Pint of water single, because the water is subtilized by the forementioned Ingredients. But Physitians vulgarly adscribe this effect to the penetrability of the admixtures; A blind reason: be∣cause water doth penetrate to the internals, therefore it moystens the more; this is not all; for suppose that water did penetrate, yet it would not moysten, because it doth not adhere to the parts, which it doth touch; wherefore it is only to be imputed to its subtilizati∣on. All which demonstrates, that water in its purity, that is, in its absolute state, doth moysten less then Quicksilver, which is not at all.

IV. The Form or first quality of water is gravity with crassitude. There is no single word I can think upon in any Language, that I know, full enough to express what I do here intend, and therefore am compelled to substitute these. I explain them thus: You must apprehend that gravity is a motion from the Circumference to the Center. Levity is a diffusion or motion from the Center to the Cir∣cumference. Now there is a gravity with density, that is, which hath density accompanying it. Density is a closeness of minima's not diducted into a continuity, but potentialiter, (that is Logicè) po∣rous, and such is proper to earth.

There is also a gravity with crassitude; which is a weight, whose parts are diducted into a continuity, or I might rather express my self, whose parts do concentrate, or move from the Circumference

to the Center with a continuity, that is, without any potential pores dividing its matter; as in Quicksilver, diduct its body to the Cir∣cumference as much as you can, yet its part will concentrate with a continuity: but if you diduct earth, you will perceive its porosity, so that its body is altogether discontinuated. Water is then weigh∣ty with a crassitude.

I prove it. First, that it is weighty, or that its parts move from the Circumference to the Center: Water when divided through force doth unite it self in globosity, as appears in drops, where all its parts, falling from the circumference close to their center, form a globosity.

2. Water doth not only in its divided parts concentrate, but also in its whole quantity. This is evident to them that are at sea, and approaching to the Land, they first make it from the top-mast-head; whereas standing at the foot of it upon the Deck they cannot. The reason is, because the water being swelled up in a round figure, the top is interposed between the sight of those, that stand upon the Deck, and the Land-marks, as hils, or steeples; but they, that are aloft, viz. upon the Yard arm, or top-mast, may easily discover them, because they stand higher then the top of the swelling of the water. The same is also remarkeable in a Bowl filled up with water to the Brim, where you may discern the water to be elevated in the mid∣dle, and proportionably descending to the Brim to constitute a round Figure. Archimedes doth most excellently infer the same by de∣monstration; but since the alleadging of it would protract time, and try your patience, I do omit it.

Lastly, The Stars rising and going down do plainly demonstrate the roundness of the water; for to those that sayl in the Eastern Seas, the Stars do appear sooner then to others in the Western Oce∣an; because the swelling of the water hindreth the light of the Stars rising in the East, from illuminating those in the West. The same Argument doth withal perswade us, that the earth is round, and consequently that its parts do all fall from the Outside to the Cen∣ter.

V. Secondly, That water hath a crassitude joyning to its gravity, sight doth declare to us; for it is impossible to discern any porosity in water, although dropped in a magnifying Glass; which in Sand is not. Its levor or most exact smoothness expressing its continuity, & accompanying its weight, is an undoubted mark of its crassitude,

whereas roughness is alwaies a consequent of contiguity and porosity. There is not the least or subtilest spark of fire or ayr can pass the substance of water, unless it first break the water, and so make its way to get through; this is the reason, why the least portion of ayr, when inclosed within the Intrailes of water, cannot get out, unless it first raises a bubble upon the water, which being broke, it pro∣cures its vent. Nor the least Atome of fire cannot transpire through water, unless it disrupts the water by a bubble, as we see happens, when water seeths: or disperse the water into vapours, and carry va∣pours and all with it. But ayr and fire do easily go through earth, be∣cause its parts being only contiguous and porous, have no obstacle to obstruct them: for sand, we see, in furnaces will suffer the grea∣test heat, or fire to pass through, without any disturbance of its parts. Lastly, Its respectiveness or relation doth require this form, both for its own conservation, and for others: For the earths relative form being to meet and take hold through its weight and porosity, (this porosity is necessary for admitting the fire within its bowels; for were it continuous, as water is, it would expel fire, and dead it) of the fire, and by ballancing its lightness to preserve their beings mutually, it needs the assistance of water, for to inclose the fire, when it is received by the earth, and through its continuity to keep it in, otherwise it would soon break through its pores and desert it. So that you see, that water by doing the earth this courtesie, preserveth her self; for were she not stayed likewise in her motion through the fire and ayr, she would move to an infinitum.

VI. Moisture is not the first quality or form of the ayr. I prove it. Moysture (as I said before) is nothing else, but the adhesion of a moyst body to another, which it doth affect, or touch. Now, in this moyst body there must be a certain proportion (or Ratio substantiae) of quantity; it must neither be too thick, or too thin. Water therefore in its purity is unapt to moysten, because it is too thick; so ayr in its absolute state is too thin to adhere to any body, that it reaches unto. If ayr in its mixt nature, through which it is rendred of a far thicker consistence, is nevertheless not yet thick enough to adhere to the sides of another substance, much less in its purity. Who ever hath really perceived the moysture of Ayr? I daily hear peo∣ple say, hang such a thing up to dry in the ayr; but yet I never heard any say, hang it up in the ayr to moysten, but wet it in the water. This drying Faculty of the ayr Peripateticks assert to be ac∣cidental

to it, namely through the permixtion of exhalations with the ayr. Alas, this is like to one of their Evasions: Do we not know, that the ayr in its lowest region is rather accidentally moyst, because of its imbibition of vapours, copiously ascending with the fire or heat, tending out of the water to its element? Is not the heat more apt to conveigh vapours, that do so narrowly enclose it, then earth, which of it self permits free egress to fire? yea where an Ounce of Exhalations ascends, there arises a Pint of Vapours. Wa∣ving this, I state the case concerning the second Region of the Ayr, or of the top of Mountains, where according to their own judgment, neither Vapours, or ••xhalations are so much dispersed, as to be ca∣pable of drying or moystning any ex rinsick body; even here do wet things dry quicker then below, because the ayr here is much freed from that irrigation of waterish moysture, which the vapours contribute to the lowermost Region, as impelling all extraneous va∣pours and exhal••tion to a body. Moreover, I will give you a rea∣son for it. To dry is to dissipate and disperse moysture or dampish∣ness adhering to any substance; but the ayr being a most subtil bo∣dy, doth through its subtility attenuate the water, which attenua∣ted fals off from that body, whereunto it first hung, and is then im∣bibed by the ayr, which it doth afterwards detrude to its proper place. Lightness with tenuity is the form and first quality of ayr. What lightness is, I have set down before. Tenuity is a continuous expar∣sion and diffusion into all dimensions. As water is weighty with crassitude, so contrariwise (as it were) is air light with tenuity. I prove that ayr is light, because all aerial bodies, as Cobwebs, Fea∣thers, although they are complicated, yet being cast forth into the ayr, their parts are diffused from the Center to the Circumfe∣rence.

Grease, Tallow, Oyl, Wax, &c. these bodies, because they do much participate of Ayr, when melted, and dropt upon the ground, do spread themselves into broad splatches, not contracting them∣selves like earth or water, into close round bodies, but rather con∣trariwise. Gunpowder, when kindled, Smoak, breathes of living Creatures, Vapours, Exhalations, Dust, &c. are all diducted from their Center to the Circumference, through the natural motion of the air inclosed within their bodies. The Ayr, if condensed (as they say, but improperly) is in a counter-natural state; for then it makes use of violence; ergo its diffusion to the Circumference is natural

to it. That the air is tenuous, or confisting of thin parts expanded in continuity into all dimensions, its rupture doth signifie; for were it contiguous, every subtil, exhalation, or wind would not move it, but might easily transpire through its porosity without concussing it; but it being continuous, is compelled to break; which rupture causes both its commotion, and sound. Hence it is that the least breath moves the air, and makes a sound in it. The reason why the water is mo∣ved, or at any time a sound is made in it, is, because it being con∣tinuous, is subject to ruptures, which disposeth it to both; but nei∣ther happens to fire or earth, because they are porous, and only con∣tiguous. Lastly, Its being and preservation is impossible without this relative form: For through it the Ayr doth moderate, balance, and is subservient to it self and other Elements. Water is weighty with crassitude, and through its so being, it compasses the earth so narrowly, that the fire is unable of striking through its continuity for to meet the earth; wherefore Ayr being light with tenuity doth diffuse and expand the body of water, and so the fire is led to the earth by the conduct of the Ayr. Again, water being of that weight would move to an infinitum, and the lightness of fire is insuffici∣ent to stay it, because water is heavy and thick (and therefore con∣trary to fire, which is light and rare) and through that quality must necessarily expel the fire; wherefore air is requisite for to balance its weight, and having partly the same nature with water, and part∣ly different (yet not contrary) is alone capable of mixing with the water. Ayr is partly of the same nature with water, because they are both continuous, and so do thereby immediately at their first conjunction pervade each other, and come to an exact union. This I will illustrate to you by an Example. Affuse Spirits of Wine to Water, you see they will mixe exactly in a moment; for you may presently after tast them equally at the bottom of the Glass, and at the top. Now, it is evident, that Spirits of Wine are very ayry and fiery, and therefore, because continuous, mingle in∣stantly with the water. But fire refuseth to mixe with it, because it is contiguous and light, and altogether contrary as it were. It is different, because it moves to the Circumference, and water to the Center; Pray observe the wisdom of Nature: this is most necessi∣ty; for although they are both continuous, how could they mix un∣less the one did move to the Center, and the other from it, where∣by they come to meet one another in an instant? Did they move

both to the Center, they could not mix or meet together; for be∣ing then supposed to be of an equal weight, that, which was under∣most, would remain undermost; much in the manner of two Horses going both one pace, one before the other, about in a Mill, who will hardly meet, unless the one turnes its gate, and go con∣trarily to the other, and so they do immediately confront one ano∣ther. Hence it is that wine mixes quicker by far with water, then one kind of water doth with another. By this you may discern the absolute necessity of these motions in the Elements, both for mix∣tion, and their mutual conservation.

VIII. The first quality of fire is Levity with Rarity. Rarity is a subtility, or minority of parts, whereby its minima's are contigu∣ous one to the other. Who ever doubted of the lightness of fire; Doth not fire diffuse its heat equally from its Center to the Circumference? Doth not the fire in a Torch cast its light circu∣larly from its Center? That fire abhors a continuity, we perceive by its burning; for we see that the flames in Spirits of Wine do ter∣minate into points, which points make a roughness, whereas were the fire continuous, its terms would be smooth, like unto those of Water and Ayr. Doth not the fire work through the smallest pores? ergo through its contiguous points. Hence it is that fire passes, where ayr is shut out. Its relative nature is constituted by its contiguity of parts; for through it, it is fitted for the embracing of earth; were it continuous and light, it would shun the earth; or if admit∣ted into the earth, the earth would disrupt and expel it, like as it disrupts and expels Ayr. Wherefore through its porosity and con∣tiguity it enters the earth, and the earth enters it, each opening its pores at this friendly reception: Nevertheless, supposing that contiguity had no contrariety to continuity, yet would the Ayr not be light enough to sustain the weight of the body of earth; besides, there must be two gravities conceived for one lightness, and two or three continuities for one contiguity; so that of absolute necessity a fourth Element must be added, that might be answering to the earths gravity and density, through its levity and rarity. That, which is light and rare, is more vibrating, and by far of greater activity and energy, then that, which is light and thin. Summarily, let us take a view of all their first qualities, and compare them toge∣ther. Water and Ayr do communicate in a perfect friendship, and so doth Earth and Fire; water and earth, ayr and water, fire and

ayr, are all beholding to one another, yet not in the same respect, but divers. Water and Fire at an immediate contact are absolutely disagreeing, but mediately accompanying other Ele∣ments, prove good friends; the same Law is between Earth and Ayr. Observe, although I have explained their forms by more words then one, yet apprehend that in their sense they move a sin∣gle concept. Levity with Rarity is really distinct from Levity with Tenuity; their operations, and manner of operating being also dif∣ferent; for Levity with Rarity is more penetrating, vibrating, and of a stronger force; and therefore Fire exceeds the Ayr in Le∣vity. The like is to be understood of the Earth and Water: to wit, that the former is more weighty then the latter. These concur equally to the constitution of one another, of the world, and of its parts; the one contributeth as much as the other, and therefore they are of an equal dignity, and time.