241207Century X.
Oyntment, ſuch Ingredients as do make the Spirits a little more groſs or
muddy, whereby the Imagination will fix the better.
muddy, whereby the Imagination will fix the better.
The Body Paſſive, and to be wrought upon, (I mean not of the Ima-
11955. ginant) is better wrought upon (as hath been partly touched) at ſome times
then at others; As if you ſhould preſcribe a ſervant about a ſick perſon,
(whom you have poſſeſſed that his Maſter ſhall recover) when his Maſter is
faſt afleep, to uſe ſuch a Root, or ſuch a Root. For Imagination is like to
work better upon fleeping men, then men awake; as we ſhall ſhew when we
handle Dreams.
11955. ginant) is better wrought upon (as hath been partly touched) at ſome times
then at others; As if you ſhould preſcribe a ſervant about a ſick perſon,
(whom you have poſſeſſed that his Maſter ſhall recover) when his Maſter is
faſt afleep, to uſe ſuch a Root, or ſuch a Root. For Imagination is like to
work better upon fleeping men, then men awake; as we ſhall ſhew when we
handle Dreams.
We finde in the Art of Memory, that Images viſible work better then other
22956. conceits; As if you would remember the word Philoſophy, you ſhall more
ſurely do it by imagining that ſuch a Man (for Men are beſt places) is read-
ing upon Ariſtotles Phyſicks, then if you ſhould imagine him to ſay, I will
go ſtudy Philoſophy. And therefore this obſervation would be tranſlated to the
ſubject we now ſpeak of; for the more luſtrous the Imagination is, it filleth
and fixeth the better. And therefore I conceive, that you ſhall in that Experi-
ment (whereof we ſpake before) of binding of thoughts, leſs fail, if you tell
one that ſuch an one ſhall name one of twenty men, then if it were one of
twenty Cards. The Experiment of binding of thoughts would be diverfified
and tried to the full: And you are to note, whether it hit for the moſt part,
though not always.
22956. conceits; As if you would remember the word Philoſophy, you ſhall more
ſurely do it by imagining that ſuch a Man (for Men are beſt places) is read-
ing upon Ariſtotles Phyſicks, then if you ſhould imagine him to ſay, I will
go ſtudy Philoſophy. And therefore this obſervation would be tranſlated to the
ſubject we now ſpeak of; for the more luſtrous the Imagination is, it filleth
and fixeth the better. And therefore I conceive, that you ſhall in that Experi-
ment (whereof we ſpake before) of binding of thoughts, leſs fail, if you tell
one that ſuch an one ſhall name one of twenty men, then if it were one of
twenty Cards. The Experiment of binding of thoughts would be diverfified
and tried to the full: And you are to note, whether it hit for the moſt part,
though not always.
It is good to conſider upon what things Imagination hath moſt force:
33957. And the rule (as I conceive) is, that it hath moſt force upon things that have
the lighteſt and eaſieſt motions; and therefore above all upon the Spirits of
Men, and in them upon ſuch affections as move lighteſt: As upon procuring
of Love, binding of Luſt, which is ever with Imagination upon Men in
fear, or Men in irreſolution, and the like: Whatſoever is of this kinde
would be throughly enquired. Tryals like wiſe would be made upon Plants,
and that diligently: As if you ſhould tell a man that ſuch a Tree would die
this year, and will him at theſe and theſe times to go unto it, to ſee how it
thriveth. As for inanimate things, it is true, that the motions of ſhuffling
of Cards, or caſting of Dice, are very light motions; and there is a folly
very uſeſul, That Gameſters imagine, that ſome that ſtand by them, bring
them ill luck. There would be tryal alſo made, of holding a Ring by a
thred in a Glaſs, and telling him that holdeth it before, that it ſhall ſtrike ſo
many times againſt the ſide of the Glaſs, and no more; or of holding a Key
between two Mens fingers without a charm; and to tell thoſe that hold it,
that at ſuch a name it ſhall go off their fingers. For theſe two are extream
light motions. And how ſoever, I have no opinion of theſe things, yet ſo
much I conceive to be true, That ſtrong Imagination hath more force upon
things living, or that have been living, then things meerly inanimate; and
more force like wiſe upon light and ſubtil motions, then upon motions vehe-
ment or ponderous.
33957. And the rule (as I conceive) is, that it hath moſt force upon things that have
the lighteſt and eaſieſt motions; and therefore above all upon the Spirits of
Men, and in them upon ſuch affections as move lighteſt: As upon procuring
of Love, binding of Luſt, which is ever with Imagination upon Men in
fear, or Men in irreſolution, and the like: Whatſoever is of this kinde
would be throughly enquired. Tryals like wiſe would be made upon Plants,
and that diligently: As if you ſhould tell a man that ſuch a Tree would die
this year, and will him at theſe and theſe times to go unto it, to ſee how it
thriveth. As for inanimate things, it is true, that the motions of ſhuffling
of Cards, or caſting of Dice, are very light motions; and there is a folly
very uſeſul, That Gameſters imagine, that ſome that ſtand by them, bring
them ill luck. There would be tryal alſo made, of holding a Ring by a
thred in a Glaſs, and telling him that holdeth it before, that it ſhall ſtrike ſo
many times againſt the ſide of the Glaſs, and no more; or of holding a Key
between two Mens fingers without a charm; and to tell thoſe that hold it,
that at ſuch a name it ſhall go off their fingers. For theſe two are extream
light motions. And how ſoever, I have no opinion of theſe things, yet ſo
much I conceive to be true, That ſtrong Imagination hath more force upon
things living, or that have been living, then things meerly inanimate; and
more force like wiſe upon light and ſubtil motions, then upon motions vehe-
ment or ponderous.
It is an uſual obſervation, That if the Body of one murthered be brought
44958. before the Murtherer, the wounds will bleed afreſh. Some do affirm, That
the dead Body, upon the preſence of the Murtherer hath opened the eyes;
and that there have been ſuch like motions as well where the party murthered
hath been ſtrangled or drowned, as where they have been killed by wounds.
It may be that this participateth of a miracle, by Gods juſt judgment, who
uſually brings murthers to light. But if it be Natural, it muſt be referred to
Imagination.
44958. before the Murtherer, the wounds will bleed afreſh. Some do affirm, That
the dead Body, upon the preſence of the Murtherer hath opened the eyes;
and that there have been ſuch like motions as well where the party murthered
hath been ſtrangled or drowned, as where they have been killed by wounds.
It may be that this participateth of a miracle, by Gods juſt judgment, who
uſually brings murthers to light. But if it be Natural, it muſt be referred to
Imagination.
The tying of the point upon the day of Marriage, to make Men impo-
55959.
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