Peripateticall institutions. In the way of that eminent person and excellent philosopher Sr. Kenelm Digby. The theoricall part. Also a theologicall appendix of the beginning of the world. / By Thomas White Gent.

LESSON V.

Of the Elements.

1. WE have deduc'd, therefore, out of the most simple notion of Quantity, dissected by the on∣ly differences of more and lesse, the Rarest body, hot, in the highest degree, and dry, but not in the highest degree; the Den∣sest, dry, in the highest degree, and cold, but not in the highest degree; a Heavy or lesse rare body, moist, in the highest degree, but not so hot; lastly, a Moderately dense body, cold, in the highest degree, but temperately moist.

2. These same bodies, in as much as Motion proceeds from them to others, are active; but, in as much as they sustain the action of others, they are passive; chang'd, thus, in Name, not Nature.

3. This property also, of an Element, they have, that they cannot be compoun∣ded of other things, and all things else are compounded of them: they being esta∣blisht out of the first Differences which, of necessity, are found in others. There are, therefore, four ELEMENTS.

4. You'l object; Since Rare and Dense vary the Quantity, by the very nature of Quantity there will be infinite degrees; and, thence the number of the Elements will neither be four nor, indeed, finite. 'Tis answer'd; Men do not determine the kinds of things, according to the fruitful∣nesse of Nature; but, by grosse and sensi∣ble differences, according to the slownesse of our Apprehension.

5. Thus, therefore, a Rare body, which makes it self and other things be seen, we call Fire: One that has not this vertue, and yet hinders not other things from making themselves seen, we call Aire: A Dense body, which absolutely excludes light, we term Earth: One that partly admits it and partly repells it, we term Water.

6. Not, that wise men esteem these ve∣ry bodies to be truly Elements, which we are conversant with round about us: But that, these mixt bodies obtain that name, out of the predominancy of some Element in them, which they would deserve, if, drein'd from all dregs, they were entirely refin'd into the nature of the Predomi∣nant.

7. The Elements, therefore, are Bodies

distinguisht, purely, by the differences of rare and dense: and they are collected in∣to four kinds or heads, under the terms we have given them.

8. Moreover, 'tis evident, that no bounds or figures do, properly, belong to the Elements, out of their own princi∣ples, that is, precisely by their own nature: for, since they are nothing but quantita∣tive bodies, affected with such a rarity or density; the nature of Quantity still re∣mains, which is every where divisible and terminable, and consequently, figurable as one pleases.

9. But, whether there be not some greatest possible bulk in every one of the Elements, out of the very nature of densi∣ty, depends upon Metaphysicall princi∣ples. Neverthelesse, out of their common operation, a Sphericall figure is most agree∣able to Earth and Fire. To Fire, because its nature being to diffuse it self, with the greatest celerity, out of a little matter in∣to a great breadth, it must of necessity spread it self on all sides, that is, into a Sphear.

10. To Earth, as being the Basis & foun∣dation, about which moist bodies diffuse themselves; and, by so doing, mold it into a Globe.

11. But, that Fire flames up like a Pyra∣mid, proceeds from the resistance of the Aire incompassing it, which 'tis forc'd to penetrate with a sharp point.

12. Again; since the Elements are op∣pos'd to one another, only by the differen∣ces of rare and dense: 'tis evident, their transmutation into one another is no∣thing else but rarefaction and condensa∣tion.

13. 'Tis plain, too, that dense things, being forc'd against rare, do compresse them, and, if there be no way to escape, do necessarily condense them: which con∣densation, if it be enough both in time and degree, will, of necessity, change that which is condens'd, into that Element to which such a density is proper.

14. But, a rare body compress'd, if it get out, diffuses it self a main out of those straights: whence, if any dense body, that is rarifiable, stick to it, it carries it away with it, and rarifies it: 'Tis plain, therefore, that 'twill turn it into the nature of the ra∣rer Element; if the other circumstances concurre which are necessary to Action.

15. Out of all which, we may collect, that one Element cannot be chang'd into another, without being transferr'd

through all the intermediate degrees: as if you should endeavour to rarifie Earth into Fire; first you must raise it into Wa∣ter, then into Aire, and at length into Fire.

16.* 1.1 For, as we have demonstra∣ted, above,* 1.2 concerning velocity, that a Movable cannot be rais'd out of one into another determinate de∣gree, but in time: so, with the same la∣bour, the same may be made evident, con∣cerning density; since, the nature of Quantity is equall and constant in both; and Velocity is nothing but A certain density of Motion.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Less. 3.
• * 1.2

  Numb. 13.