CHAP. II. How Purity and Impurity are mixt in all the Com∣pounds of Nature.
THere is in every Mixt a Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury, pro∣per to its nature, as we have already said above: Now all Mixt perfectly framed, is either Animal, Vegetable or Mineral. Whence we gather, that as the one is the food of the other, as it appears by the mutation of Minerals into Vege∣tables, and of Vegetables into Animals, and again from Animals into Vegetables and Minerals; so is there in every Mixt, a Salt Sulphur and Mercury, Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral, imparted to them by the Universal Spirit; for all what receives nutriment receiveth it by its like, and what is dissimilary, is expelled as an Excrement: and if the expelling faculty is not vigorous and strong enough for this purpose, there remains many Excrements in the Compounds, which occasions many Mineral Diseases in mans body, altogether unknown to vulgar Physick, and conse∣quently out of the reach of her Methodical Remedies and Pre∣scriptions.
This which I say here, cometh to pass in this manner: When the food is received into mans body, & digestion hath separated the se∣veral parts of Mixts, which contribute to its nourishment; each part doth attract out of this food, and the Animal Principles therein, that which is most proper and Analogous to its nature. But as for those other Principles, which cannot be assimilated to our sub∣stance, and are no staffe of our lives, Nature doth expell them by the ministery of that faculty which is dedicated to such an Office: But if this faculty be oppressed or debilitated, by some acciden∣tal and external cause, or by some internal disorder of our Ar∣cheus, which is the guide and director of our life and health; then do these Excrements coagulate themselves, or turn volatile, according to the Idea which the natural fermentation vitiated by this accidental disorder, imprints on them; and by this defect Page 52are all the Mines of Diseases bred and generated in us. Whence it cometh to pass, that such Diseases cannot be mastered nor expelled, but only by such as are first very well acquainted with the nature and vice of the Ferment; and secondly, with the proper and specifical remedy, which can restore our Nature, and appease those irritations of Spirits, which are caused for the most part by a preposterous or corrupt fermentation. For if the ferment be of a coagulative nature, it is necessary we be acquainted with some specifick dissolvement, which should not prejudice the Ven∣tricle: but if it be such a dissolvement, as will make an evil col∣liquation of the nutriment and parts; he that will undertake the Cure with success, must know what remedy is capable to repair that fault in Nature, and reform its disorder. Thence proceed the reiterated fits in F•avours, and their continuance often, not∣withstanding the administration of many remedies, which cannot stop their raging fury, because we are for the most part ignorant in the effects of good or bad fermentation.
If our leasure would give us leave to enlarge here upon several noble and curious inquiries, we should be taught by this Phi∣losophy the causes of several effects, altogether unknown to most men. I will give a touch only by the by, for a proof of it, upon this Question ordinarily moved: Wherefore Men before the Flood were much stronger and long-lived without comparison, then after that general inundation of the World? Two reasons of this effect and wonderfull change we can give, according to the Doctrine layd already before: The first, that as the world stood then in the beginning, there was yet no change of alteration in the nature of things; which happened since, only by the several mixtures and changes introduced in the Compounds of Nature, after the deserved Curse inflicted upon sin. The second, that the Waters, which are the general Matrixes or Wombs of several Minerals, and particularly of Salts, had not yet covered all the Earth, neither by consequence communicated the Mineral seeds, to feed the Family of Vegetables, whose vertue is thereby be∣come vitiated, and their first nature in a manner altered: Whence the Animals Family hath been made partaker of this defect, be∣cause it drawes its food and sustenance almost from Vegetables; as this chiefly appears in the Vine, which abounds in Tartar, Page 53which is its proper Salt: Now, that Tartar is a kinde of Mineral, appears by its action, working potently upon Minerals, and with great efficacy upon Metals; for, all natural action is performed by its like, and there is a proportion required between the Agent and Patient. But to avoyd here multiplying objections, I un∣derstand here by this Proportion only a genetical similitude. These things thus premised, 'twill not be very difficult to con∣ceive what is here properly understood by impurity, viz. That they are Principles of an Heterogeneous and different nature, mixt with other Principles, not of the same Family nor Category: As when Minerals become by some way or other, united to Ve∣getables or Animals: It is also very easie to observe, how Purity insinuates it self in all things, by taking the opposite or contre-part of what we have said of Impurity. But now will it be necessary to shew, how impurity may be severed or banished, since it is a Prin∣ciple of Death and Destruction, as purity a Principle of Life, as we have said here above.
