A new treatise of natural philosophy, free'd from the intricacies of the schools adorned with many curious experiments both medicinal and chymical : as also with several observations useful for the health of the body.

CHAP. III. Of the Vegetative Life, common to Man and Plants.

THe Life of Plants appears from their growth which supposeth Nutrition, and both these suppose a Birth, and this implies a Generation: For whatsoever grows in a vital manner, and by Nature is nourished; so likewise whatsoever is nourished, hath a birth, and every thing that is born, is begotten. We will there∣fore begin to speak of Man's generation, and of the first forming of him.

The Generation we here speak of, is the production of a thing out of Seed, under this generation are comprehended. Conception and Birth, as Separation and Death are included in the Corruption of things. This is that which is not found in the Works of Nature, whose concep∣tion is made in the mind of the Artificer, and its Formation depends upon his hand, but all that is external to the work, which may be afterwards broken and divided; when in the mean time it cannot be said that we take away Life from it, or bring Death upon it. So that whatsoever is Begotten, to speak

properly, Lives, and whatsoever lives is produced out of Seed: Now Seeds are created from the beginning, and by the Author of Nature ingrafted into every Plant, and kind of Tree bearing fruitful Seed: So we see that there is a perpetual propagation and encrease of individuals in every Species in the Earth, as well as in the Waters and in the Air.

All and the only difficulty remains in explaining the Nature of this Seed, and the manner of its propagation. These two are Mysteries in Nature, which seem to surpass all humane reason: Nevertheless I will give you my medita∣tions of them. And first of all, I suppose we may consider Seed in general, and as it is to be found, as we have said, in Met∣tals, Plants, Animals, and Man. For after this manner being looked upon in general, it is nothing else but a Medium disposed by God to the propagation of these four several kinds in the World, so that one Substance as to its kind pro∣duces its like in the same kind; as Met∣tal is produced from Mettal, and a Plant from another Plant, &c. From whence appears the fanciful Folly of Chymists, who strive to multiply Mettals without a Mettallick Seed, and to produce Gold without its peculiar Seed: For the same

thing that in general Seed, is in re∣spect of the four named generals; the same in special, is Seed in respect of the individuals which are produced of it.

For indeed to produce Plants, the Seed is only to be sought for in the vege∣table Kingdom: So in like manner to produce Corn Seed is required, that is, a grain of Corn; to produce an Apple, there is need of the kernel of an Apple, or at least a Sien of it, which contains in it part of the Spirits and seminal Cor∣puscles, which insinuate themselves into the wild Stock of the Tree in which they are ingraffed or inoculated, and pro∣duce the same effect that a grain does which is thrown into Earth fit to receive it.

This is that vegetative Seed which we here speak of; and in this regard we consider Man, as he is partaker of the life of this Species, and begotten out of Seed. Nevertheless we are to distin∣guish the two substances in Man; (viz.) the material part, which is his Body; and his spiritual part, which is his Soul, Created by God, whereas the other is begotten. So that we here speak of Man onely, as he is a material Compound, without medling with his Soul which is immortal.

These things being supposed, I turn me to the two difficulties, which I have obliged my self to explain, and I design them a peculiar Chapter.