A philosophical essay declaring the probable causes whence stones are produced in the greater world from which occasion is taken to search into the origin of all bodies, discovering them to proceed from water and seeds : being a prodromus to a medicinal tract concerning the causes and cure of the stone in the kidneys and bladders of men / written by Dr. Thomas Sherley ...

Section the Third.

[ 37] THe Doctrine I am now about to af∣firm, is no Novel conceit; but so Ancient, that we shall find that it was held, [and by them transmitted to Po∣sterity] not only by Plato, Timaeus Locrus, Parmenides, Pythagoras, &c. Philoso∣phers of the Academick, and Italick Sect; but also by Orpheus, Thales the Milesian, and also by Mochos, and San∣choniathon, the great, and Ancient Phoe∣nitian Philosophers; nay, by that Di∣vinely illuminated Man, Moses.

[ 38] I urge this point of the Antiquity of the Doctrine I am now going to affirm, because I know it is the custom of some Men, to disgust any Philosophical truth, that cannot shew it self to be as ancient as Aristotle's time; but to please such, let them consider, that the Hypothesis we intend to make use of in this ensuing Dis∣course, beareth an equal Date with the World, and was at first deliver'd to Man by the Ancient of Dayes himself.

This Doctrine then [which hath of

late years been revived, and assumed by the Noble Helmont, and other great wits,] I now am come to lay down, and explain; and in the next place shall endeavour to prove, and confirm it; first, by rea••on, then by experiment, and lastly, by Au∣thority.

The Hypothesis is this, viz. That [ 40] stones, and all other sublunary bodies, are made of water, condensed by the power of seeds, which with the assistance of their fermentive Odours, perform these Transmutations upon Matter.

That is, that the matter of all Bodies [ 41] is originally meer water; which by the power of proper seeds is coagulated, condensed, and brought into various forms, and that these seeds of things do work upon the particles of water, and alter both their texture, and figure; as also, that this action ceaseth not, till the seed hath formed it self a Body, exactly corresponding with the proper Idea, or Picture contained in it. And that the true seeds of all things are invisible Be∣ings, [though not incorporial;] this I affirm, and shall endeavour to prove.

But to make this the better to be un∣derstood, [ 42] I shall praemise some generals,

and then descend to particular proofs of what I assert.

[ 43] First then, nothing is produced by chance, or accident. And therefore in every Generation, or Production, there must necessarily be presupposed some kind of seed which hath a power, or fa∣culty, to alter the Matter, and dispose it to such a Being, and Form, as God and Nature have design'd to produce.

[ 44] Secondly, all seeds (in some degree)▪ are endow'd with Life, and a power of acting: for nothing that is not Vital can promote it self to perfection. And if Bodies are distinguishable from their in∣ternal Efficients, and are specificated by them, then must they be allowed to con∣tain a seed.

[ 45] These positions will not [p••rhaps] be denyed to Animals, nor Vegetables; because their supposed feed is visible. For the seed [or rather, sperm] of per∣fect Animals, is an efflorescence of the best parts of the blood [elaborated in the Testicles] and impregnated with Spirits from all parts of the Body; in which resideth the vis Plastica, or Effici∣ent; [and this indeed is the real seed, or geniture, though it be invisible] which containeth in it self the Image, or Type

of the thing to be made; which it per∣forms by a Fermental Odor, or Aura, and by breathing upon those proper juices it finds in a Female Womb; it first coagu∣lates them, and then by degrees expli∣cates it self, working this Female Mat∣ter into a Body exactly corresponding with its own pre-conceived Figure: the grosse body of the Male-seed all this while being but a vehicle, to convey with safety this subtile fermentative breath to its proper place of action; which being done, the body of the sperm is ejected from the Womb, as useless to Genera∣tion.

That this is so, hath been proved by [ 46] the industrious and curious dissection of divers sorts of Beasts, made at several seasons after their Conceptions; and continued till the formation of the foetus; and yet no Vestigiae, or foot-steps of the Male-sperm could be found in the womb. This is asserted by that incomparable Man, Dr. Harvy; to whom I refer him that desireth further satisfaction in this point.

The sperm of Man, if but for a mo∣ment [ 47] it be exposed to the touch of the ex∣ternal Air, becomes dead, and unproli∣fick; and that by reason of the subtilty

of the spermatick ferment, [it being ve∣ry apt to desert the body of the seed.] This is a truth so generally known, that the Virtue of that Lady is justly suspect∣ed by all rational Men, who pretended to have Conceived with Child, by at∣tracting the seed of a Man which floated in a Bath, wherein she Bathed her self.

[ 48] As to Vegetables; They also take their beginnings, are propagated, and do fru∣ctifie, from the like invisible cause; viz. a fermentative Odor, [or Aura] which also contains the Idea of the Plant to be produced.

The body of the Seed, or Grain [which is the Casket that contains this invisible Workman] being committed to the Earth [its proper Womb] is softened by the Nitrosulphurous juice of the soyl; that the Vis Plastica [which is the Effici∣ent of the Plant] may, being loosened from its body, be at Liberty to act. Which being done, the body of the seed, or Grain, is destroyed; according to the sacred Writ: [Except Seed, committed to the ground, dye, it produceth no fruit:] But the Architectonick Spirit being now at Liberty, ferments, by its Odor, the Liquors it finds in the Earth, converting

them into a juice, fit to work the Plant out of it, which it by degrees performs. [This Liquor in the Earth, is by Para∣celsus, and Helmont, by a Barbarous name, call'd Leffas Terrae; and is the proximate matter of all Vegetables.] For proof of what I seem to have with some boldness asserted in this place; Let any sort of Grain be put for a small time in an Oven, [or any analogous hea••,] that the external warmth may suscitate and excite this ferment of the Seed to take wing, and desert its body; This Grain, though entire to sight, if it be committed to the Earth, shall never by any Art be brought to produce its like.

As Vegetables, and Animals have their [ 49] Original from an invisible Seminal Spirit, or breath; so also have Minerals, Metals, and Stones.

To this purpose Dr. Iordan tells us, [ 50] There is a Seminal Spirit of all Minerals in the Bowels of the Earth, which meet∣ing with convenient Matter, [what that is, we shall shew in its place] and Ad∣juvant Causes, is not idle, but doth pro∣ceed to produce Minerals, according to the Nature of it, and the Matter which it meets withal; which matter it works upon as a Ferment, and by its motion

procureth an actual heat, as an Instru∣ment to further its work; which actual heat is increased by the fermentation of the Matter.

[ 51] The like we see in making of Malt, where the Grains of Barley being moyst'ned with water, the Generative Spirit in them is dilated, and put in Action; and the superfluity of the water being remo∣ved [which might choak it] and the Barley laid up in heaps, the Seeds gather heat, which is increased by the contigui∣ty of many Grains lying one upon ano∣ther. In this work Natures intent is to produce more individuals, according to the Nature of the Seed; and therefore it shoots forth in spires; but the Artist abuses the intention of Nature, and converts it to his ends, that is, to increase the Spirit of his Malt.

[ 52] The like we find in Mineral Substan∣ces, where this Spirit, or Ferment, is resident, as in Allom, and Copperas-Mines; which being broken, exposed, and Moystned, will gather an actual heat, and produce much more of these Mine∣rals than else the Mine would yield; as Agricola, and Thurniser do affirm, and is proved by common experience. The like is generally observed in Mines, as

Agricola, Erastus, Libavius, &c. do avouch out of the daily experience of Mineral Men; who affirm, that in most places they find their Mines so hot, as they can hardly touch them; although it is likely, that where they work for perfect Minerals, the heat, which was in fermentation whilst they were yet in breeding, is now much abated, the Minerals being now grown to their per∣fection. And for this heat we need not call for the help of the Sun, which a lit∣tle Cloud will take away from us; much more the body of the Earth, and Rocks; nor for subterranean fires. This imbred heat is sufficient, as may appear: also by the Mines of Tinglass, which being dig∣ged, and laid in the moyst Air, will become very hot; so Antimony and Sublimate being mixed together, will grow so hot as that they are not to be touched. If this be so in little quantities, it is likely to be much more in great quantities, and huge Rocks. Heat of it self differs not in kind, but only in degree, and there∣fore is inclined no more to one Species, than to another; but as it doth attend, and serve a more worthy Superiour, such as this Generative Spirit is. Thus far he.

Moreover, that Minerals, and Me∣tals have their proper Seeds, hear fur∣ther [ 53] what a Mystical Chymist, (but a very rational Man) Cosmopolita sayes, Semen Minerale, vel Metallorum, creat na∣tura in visceribus terrae; propterea non cre∣ditur tale semen esse in rerum natura, quia invisible est.

Nature doth Create the Mineral, or Metalline Seed, in the B••wels of the Earth; therefore it is not believed, that there is such a Seed in Nature, be∣cause it is invisible.

And the same Au∣thor again, thus: Et quam praerogativam vegetabilia prae Metallis habent, ut Deus illis semen inderet, & haec immeritò exclu∣deret? Nonne ejusdem dignitatis Metalla apud Deum, cujus & arbores? Hoc pro certo statuatur, nihil sine semine crescere; ubi enim nullum est semen, res est Mortua; that is,

And what prerogative have Vege∣tables above Metals, that God should put Seed into them, and undeservedly exclude these? Are not Metals of the same dignity with God that Trees are? This may be held for certain, that no∣thing doth increase without Seed: for where there is no Seed, that thing is Dead.

So that it is plain, you see, by the afore-cited Authorities, that Minerals,

and Metals have Seed, & that this Seed is invisible; and that it works by the help of its ferment, or as a ferment. That stones grow, common experience teach∣eth us; as also the tenth History al∣leadged, in the first Section of this pre∣sent Essay; and consequently must be endowed with seed, and ferment; so that here is, at least, an analogous way of production to that of Animals, and Vegetables (which we have declared above) and was the thing we intended here to prove.

But before I proceed, that I may be [ 55] the more clearly understood, I shall de∣clare what I understand by the Ferment of the seed. The word Fermentum, which signifieth Leaven, is by •• some esteem'd to be quasi fervimentum, or a thing made hot; and generally is used to denote, not only a turgescence, and di∣latation of the parts of Matter, (as in Leavened Bread, &c.) but also signifieth the working of any sort of Liquor, till it become Maturated, and exalted into a generous, and sprightly Drink. Fer∣mentation is thus defined by the Learn∣ned Dr. Willis: Fermentatio est motus in∣testinus particularum, seu principiorum cujusvis corporis, cum tendentia ad per∣fectionem

ejusdem Corporis, vel propter mu∣tationem in aliud;

Fermentation is an in∣testine [or intire] motion of the Princi∣ples, or particles, of which day Body consists, with an intent to perfect the said Body, or change it into another.

Fer∣ments then are subtile, tenuous Bodies, [which we generally call Spirits; for as to Leaven, Yeast, &c. they are but the cloathings of these Spiritual, and finer Substances; as we before shewed the Grains of Vegetables, and the Sperm of Animals were:] which fine subtile breath (the Ferment) hath an expansive power; by which, being im∣mersed in any Matter, or Substance, it desiring to dilate it self, variously agi∣tates the small particles of that matter it is joyned to, and making Excursions through all parts of the Subject it is re∣sident in, it adhering intimately to every small part of the Matter, doth first by the peculiar motion it hath put them in∣to, alter and break the particles into new shapes, and sizes; and then by con∣veneing together with them, constitute a new texture of that Matter; and thus a new Concrete is made by the power of the Ferment.

So that, in truth, the Ferment of a

Seed, [I mean Natural Ferment] is not any Substance distinct, or separable from the Seed it self; since it is connatural [ 56] with it, and intimately the same, [and is indemonstrable à priore, as well as the Seed, and may be thus defined.

A Ferment is an Expansive, Elastick, [ 57] or Springy power of the Seed of any thing; by which motion of its self it also moveth the smallest particles of that Matter in which it is immersed: by which motion also [which is of divers kinds, according to the variety of Seeds] the particles of Matter acquire new shapes, sizes, and postures amongst themselves; and so a new texture of the whole is produced, agreeable to the pe∣culiar Nature of the Seed, and corres∣pondent to its Idea; [which Idea we shall explain in its place.]

We have likewise declared often, that [ 58] seeds do operate by Odors, or scents; which we think is not said without cause: for if it be well observed, it will be found, that no seeds do generate; but in the time of their acting upon the Mat∣ter there are specifick Odors produced; that is, while they are in Fermentation, and the work incompleat: for, when the Concrete is perfected, the Odor is

much abated: [as, not to instance in artificial things, making of Malt, the fermenting of Beer, and Wine, in the Barrel, and the leavening of Dough, &c.] for 'tis observable, that the Grains of Wheat, or other Vegetables, sown in the ground, when their invisible seed begins to ferment, do send forth Odors; so also the Eggs of Birds, on which the Hen hath sat. And that Minerals, and Metals, whilst in their making they do send forth such plenty of stinking Odors, that many times the workmen in Mines are suffocated therewith, no body can be ignorant. Now these Odors are fine and subtile Effluviums, [or small parti∣cles of the Matter now put into motion by the power of the seed, Ferment: which having extricated themselves from their Companions, and roving in the Air, do at last strike against those parts of our Noses that are fitted by Nature to be sensible of the touch of such very small Bodies.

[ 59] Odors then are a sign of Fermentation begun, and are nothing but small parti∣cles of Matter got loose from their Fel∣lows, begun to be alter'd, and specifi∣cated by the seed; and therefore are ve∣ry various, according to the diversity of

seeds, and their Ferments, from whence they proceed.

Having before declared, that all Bo∣dies [ 60] proceed, and are made from Semi∣nal Beings; and that the real seeds, and Ferments of things are invisible; and having declared, what I would have un∣derstood by a seedy Fermen••, and Odor; and also having hinted above, that all Bodies are Materially [and Primarily] nothing but water; I shall now endea∣vour to prove the same more fully, and clearly; the which I shall do by three sorts of Arguments. The first is groun∣ded upon tha•• Philosophical Axiom; viz. Quaesunt prima in Compositione, sunt ulti∣ma in resolutione: Et quae sunt ultima in resolutione, sunt prima in Compositione.

That which is first in the Composition, is last in the resolution: And those things which are last in the resolution, the same are first in the Composition.

The second Ar∣gument is grounded upon another axiom commonly received. That is, Nutrimur iisdem quibus constamus.

We are Nouri∣shed by those things of which we are con∣stituted, or made.

The third argument shall be to shew, and prove a necessity of all Bodies being formed out of wa∣ter; because neither the four Elements

of the Peripateticks, nor the Tria Prima, or three Principles of the Chymists, can possibly concur to the constituting of Bo∣dies, as either the Efficient, or Prima∣ry Matter; they being themselves but great disguised Schemes of one and the same Catholick Matter, Water, from whence they were made, and into which they are ultimately to be resolved, and uniformly to be reduced, either by Art, or Nature. All which assertions I hope to prove, both by Experiment, and Reason, and shall likewise endeavour to strengthen by good and sufficient Autho∣rities.

Notes

• Dr. Harvy. de generat. ex Ov••.
• Dr. Iordan of Natural Bathes. Cap. 2. p. 58, 59.
• Nov. Lum. Chym. Tract. 6. p. 319.