6127Century I.
IT is certain, that of all Powers in Nature, Heat is the chief;
both in the
1199. Frame of Nature, and in the Works of Art. Certain it is likewiſe, that
22Experiment
Solitary,
touching the
Power of Heat. the effects of Heat, are moſt advanced, when it worketh upon a Body with-
out loſs or diſſipation of the matter, for that ever betrayed the account.
And therefore it is true, that the power of Heat is beſt perceived in Diſtil-
lations, which are performed in cloſe Veſſels and Receptacles. But yet
there is a higher degree; For howſoever Diſtillations do keep the Body in
Cells and Cloyſters, without going abroad, yetthey give ſpace unto Bodies
to turn into Vapor, to return into Liquor, and to ſeparate one part from
another. So as Nature doth expatiate, although it hath not full liberty;
whereby the true and ultime operations of Heat, are not attained: But
if Bodies may be altered by Heat, and yet no ſuch Reciprocation of Rare-
faction, and of Condenſation, and of Separation, admitted; then it is like
that this Proteus of Matter, being held by the Sleeves, will turn and change
into many Metamorphoſes. Take therefore a ſquare Veſſel of Iron, in form
of a Cube, and let it have good thick and ſtrong ſides; put it into a Cube of
Wood, that may fill it as cloſe as may be, and let it have a cover of Iron as
ſtrong (at leaſt) as the ſides, and let it be well Luted, after the manner of
the Chymiſts; then place the Veſſel within burning Coals kept quick kindled,
for ſome few hoursſpace; then take the Veſſel from the Fire, and take off
the Cover, and ſee what is become of the Wood, I conceive, that ſince all
Inflamation and Evaporation are utterly prohibited, and the Body ſtill turn-
ed upon it ſelf, that one of theſe two Effects will follow, Either that the
Body of the Wood will be turned into a kinde of Amalagma, (as the Chy-
miſts call it,) or, that the finer part will be turned into Air, and the groſſer
ſtick as it were baked, and incruſtate upon the ſides of the Veſſel, being
become of a denſer matter, than the Wood it ſelf, crude. And for another
tryal, take alſo Water, and put it in the like Veſſel, ſtopped as before; but
uſe a gentler Heat, and remove the Veſſel ſometimes from the fire; and
again, after ſome ſmall time, when it is cold, renew the heating of it, and
repeat this alteration ſome few times; and if you can once bring to paſs,
that the Water which is one of the ſimpleſt of Bodies, be changed in Co-
lour, Odor, or Taſte, after the manner of Compound Bodies, you may
be ſure that there is a great work wrought in Nature, and anotable entrance
made in ſtrange changes of Bodies, and productions; and alſo a way
made to do that by Fire, in ſmall time, which the Sun and Age do in
long time. But if the admirable effects of this Diſtillation in cloſe, (for
ſo we call it) which is like the Wombs and Matrices of Living Creatures,
where nothing expireth nor ſeparateth: We will ſpeak fully, in the due
place. Not that we aim at the making of Peracelſus Pigmeys, or any ſuch
prodigious follies; but that we know the effects of Heat will be ſuch, as
will ſcarce fall under the conceit of Man, if the force of it be altogether
kept in.
1199. Frame of Nature, and in the Works of Art. Certain it is likewiſe, that
22Experiment
Solitary,
touching the
Power of Heat. the effects of Heat, are moſt advanced, when it worketh upon a Body with-
out loſs or diſſipation of the matter, for that ever betrayed the account.
And therefore it is true, that the power of Heat is beſt perceived in Diſtil-
lations, which are performed in cloſe Veſſels and Receptacles. But yet
there is a higher degree; For howſoever Diſtillations do keep the Body in
Cells and Cloyſters, without going abroad, yetthey give ſpace unto Bodies
to turn into Vapor, to return into Liquor, and to ſeparate one part from
another. So as Nature doth expatiate, although it hath not full liberty;
whereby the true and ultime operations of Heat, are not attained: But
if Bodies may be altered by Heat, and yet no ſuch Reciprocation of Rare-
faction, and of Condenſation, and of Separation, admitted; then it is like
that this Proteus of Matter, being held by the Sleeves, will turn and change
into many Metamorphoſes. Take therefore a ſquare Veſſel of Iron, in form
of a Cube, and let it have good thick and ſtrong ſides; put it into a Cube of
Wood, that may fill it as cloſe as may be, and let it have a cover of Iron as
ſtrong (at leaſt) as the ſides, and let it be well Luted, after the manner of
the Chymiſts; then place the Veſſel within burning Coals kept quick kindled,
for ſome few hoursſpace; then take the Veſſel from the Fire, and take off
the Cover, and ſee what is become of the Wood, I conceive, that ſince all
Inflamation and Evaporation are utterly prohibited, and the Body ſtill turn-
ed upon it ſelf, that one of theſe two Effects will follow, Either that the
Body of the Wood will be turned into a kinde of Amalagma, (as the Chy-
miſts call it,) or, that the finer part will be turned into Air, and the groſſer
ſtick as it were baked, and incruſtate upon the ſides of the Veſſel, being
become of a denſer matter, than the Wood it ſelf, crude. And for another
tryal, take alſo Water, and put it in the like Veſſel, ſtopped as before; but
uſe a gentler Heat, and remove the Veſſel ſometimes from the fire; and
again, after ſome ſmall time, when it is cold, renew the heating of it, and
repeat this alteration ſome few times; and if you can once bring to paſs,
that the Water which is one of the ſimpleſt of Bodies, be changed in Co-
lour, Odor, or Taſte, after the manner of Compound Bodies, you may
be ſure that there is a great work wrought in Nature, and anotable entrance
made in ſtrange changes of Bodies, and productions; and alſo a way
made to do that by Fire, in ſmall time, which the Sun and Age do in
long time. But if the admirable effects of this Diſtillation in cloſe, (for
ſo we call it) which is like the Wombs and Matrices of Living Creatures,
where nothing expireth nor ſeparateth: We will ſpeak fully, in the due
place. Not that we aim at the making of Peracelſus Pigmeys, or any ſuch
prodigious follies; but that we know the effects of Heat will be ſuch, as
will ſcarce fall under the conceit of Man, if the force of it be altogether
kept in.
THere is nothing more certain in Nature, than that it is impoſſible for
33100. any Body to be utterly annihilated; but that as it was the work of the
44Experiment
Solitary,
touching the
Impoßibility
of Annihile-
sion. Omnipotency of God, to make Somewhat of Nothing: So it requireth the
like omnipotency, to turn Somewhat into Nothing. And therefore it is well
ſaid by an obſcure Writer of the Sect of the Chymiſts, That there is no ſuch
way to effect the ſtrange Tranſmutations of Bodies, as to endeavor and urge
by all means, the reducing of them to Nothing. And herein is contained
33100. any Body to be utterly annihilated; but that as it was the work of the
44Experiment
Solitary,
touching the
Impoßibility
of Annihile-
sion. Omnipotency of God, to make Somewhat of Nothing: So it requireth the
like omnipotency, to turn Somewhat into Nothing. And therefore it is well
ſaid by an obſcure Writer of the Sect of the Chymiſts, That there is no ſuch
way to effect the ſtrange Tranſmutations of Bodies, as to endeavor and urge
by all means, the reducing of them to Nothing. And herein is contained