205171
NATURAL
HISTORY
HISTORY
Century IX.
IT is certain, That all Bodies whatſoever, though they
11Experiments
in Conſort,
touching
Perception in
Bodies Inſen-
ſible, tending
to Natural
Divination or
Subiil Tryals. have no Senſe, yet they have Perception: For when
one Body is applied to another, there is a kinde of Electi-
on, to embrace that which is agreeable, and to exclude
or expel that which is ingrate: And whether the Body
be alterantor altered, evermore a Perception precedeth
Operation; for elſe all Bodies would be alike one to an-
other. And ſometimes this Perception in ſome kinde
of Bodies is far more ſubtilthen the Senſe; ſo that the Senſe is but a dull thing
in compariſon of it. We ſee a Weather-glaß will finde the leaſt difference of
the Weather in Heat or Cold, when Men finde it not. And this Perception
alſo is ſometimes at diſtance, as well as upon the touch; as when the Load-
ſtone draweth Iron, or Flame fireth Naphtha of Babylon a great diſtance off.
It is therefore a ſubject of a very Noble Enquiry, to enquire of the more ſubtil
Perceptions; for it is another Key to open Nature, as well as the Senſe, and
ſometimes better: And beſides, it is a principal means of Natural Divination;
for that which in theſe Perceptions appeareth early, in the great effects
cometh long after. It is true alſo, that it ſerveth to diſcover that which is
hid, as well as to foretel that which is to come, as it is in many ſubtil Tryals:
As to try whether Seeds be old or new, the Senſe cannotinform; but if you
boil them in Water, the new Seeds will ſprout ſooner. And ſo of Water,
the taſte will not diſcover the beſt Water; but the ſpeedy conſuming of it,
and many other means which we have heretofore ſet down, will diſcover it.
So in all Phyſiognomy, the Lineaments of the Body will diſcoverthoſe Natural
Inclinations of the Minde, which Diſſimulation will conceal, or Diſcipline
will ſuppreſs. We ſhall therefore now handle onely thoſe two Perceptions
which pertain to Natural Divination and Diſcovery, leaving the handling
11Experiments
in Conſort,
touching
Perception in
Bodies Inſen-
ſible, tending
to Natural
Divination or
Subiil Tryals. have no Senſe, yet they have Perception: For when
one Body is applied to another, there is a kinde of Electi-
on, to embrace that which is agreeable, and to exclude
or expel that which is ingrate: And whether the Body
be alterantor altered, evermore a Perception precedeth
Operation; for elſe all Bodies would be alike one to an-
other. And ſometimes this Perception in ſome kinde
of Bodies is far more ſubtilthen the Senſe; ſo that the Senſe is but a dull thing
in compariſon of it. We ſee a Weather-glaß will finde the leaſt difference of
the Weather in Heat or Cold, when Men finde it not. And this Perception
alſo is ſometimes at diſtance, as well as upon the touch; as when the Load-
ſtone draweth Iron, or Flame fireth Naphtha of Babylon a great diſtance off.
It is therefore a ſubject of a very Noble Enquiry, to enquire of the more ſubtil
Perceptions; for it is another Key to open Nature, as well as the Senſe, and
ſometimes better: And beſides, it is a principal means of Natural Divination;
for that which in theſe Perceptions appeareth early, in the great effects
cometh long after. It is true alſo, that it ſerveth to diſcover that which is
hid, as well as to foretel that which is to come, as it is in many ſubtil Tryals:
As to try whether Seeds be old or new, the Senſe cannotinform; but if you
boil them in Water, the new Seeds will ſprout ſooner. And ſo of Water,
the taſte will not diſcover the beſt Water; but the ſpeedy conſuming of it,
and many other means which we have heretofore ſet down, will diſcover it.
So in all Phyſiognomy, the Lineaments of the Body will diſcoverthoſe Natural
Inclinations of the Minde, which Diſſimulation will conceal, or Diſcipline
will ſuppreſs. We ſhall therefore now handle onely thoſe two Perceptions
which pertain to Natural Divination and Diſcovery, leaving the handling