Book I. L gether

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Part'll.
gether in the compofition, yet every one of them follows and refembles one of the elements which is moft predominant : for all {tones, being* earthy, are naturally heavy, and are fo hardened with drynefs that they cannot be melt- ed ; — but metals are watery, and may be melted, which naturalifts and che- mifts find to be true, viz,, that they are compofed or generated of a vifeous water, or watery argent vive. Plants have fuch an affinity with the air, that unlefs they are out in it, and receive its benefit, they neither flouriffi nor increafe. So alfo animals, as the Poet finely expreffes it — -
“ Have, in their natures, a moft fiery force,
“ And alfo fpring from a celellial fource:”
and fire is fo natural to them that, being extinguiffied, they foon die.
Now, amongft {tones, thofe that are dark and heavy, are called earthy — thofe which are tranfparent, of the -watery element , as cryftal, beryl, and pearls — thofe which fwim upon the water and are fpongious, as the pumice- ftone, fponge, and fophus, are called airy — and thofe are attributed to the element of fire, out of which fire is extracted, or which are refolved into fire ; as thunder-ftones, fire-ftones, affieftos. Alfo, amongft metals ; — lead and filver are earthy ; quickfilver is watery •, copper and tin, airy \ gold and iron, fiery. In plants, alfo, the roots refemble earth — the leaves, water — flowers, the air — and feed, the fire, by reafon of their multiplying fpirit. Befides, fome are hot, fome cold, fome moift, others dry, borrowing their names from the qualities of the elements. Amongft animals, alfo, fome are, in compa- rifon of others, earthy, becaufe they live in the very bowels of the earth, as worms, moles, and many other reptiles ; others watery, as fifh ; others which always abide in the air, therefore airy ; others, again, fiery, as falamanders, crickets ; and fuch as are of a fiery heat, as pigeons, oftriches, eagles, lions, panthers, &c. &c.
Now, in animals, the bones refemble earth — vital fpirit, the fire — flefh, the air — and humours, the water ; and thefe humours alfo refemble the elements, viz. yellow choler, the fire — the blood, the air — phlegm, the water — and
black
Chap. V. TALISMANIC MAGIC. 83
black choler, • or melancholy, the earth. And, laftly, in the foul itfelf, the underloading refembles the fire— -reafon, the air— imagination, the water— and the fenfes the earth. And thefe fenfes again are divided amongft them- felves, according to the elements : for the fight is fiery, bee aide it cannot per- ceive without the help of fire and light — the hearing is airy, for a found is made by the firiking of the air — the fmell and tafte refemble water, without the moifture of which there is neither fmell nor tafte — and, lafily, the feeling is wholly earthly, becaufe it takes grofs bodies for its objecl. The a6lions, alfo, and operations of man are governed by the elements : for the earth fig- nifies a flow and firm motion ; the water, fearfulnefs, fluggiflinefs, and remilf- nefs in working ; air fignifies cheerfulnefs, and an amiable difpofition ; but fire, a fierce, working, quick, fufceptible difpofition. The elements are, therefore, the firft and original matter of all things ; and all things are of and according to them ; and they in and through all things diffufe their virtues.-
CHAP. V.
THAT THE ELEMENTS ARE IN THE HEAVENS, IN THE STARS, IN DEVILS, ANGELS, INTELLIGENCES, AND, LASTLY, IN GOD HIMSELF.
IN the original and exemplary world, all things are all in all ; fo alfo in this corporeal world. And the elements are not only in thefe inferior things *, but are in the heavens, in liars, in devils, in angels, and likewife in God himfelf, the maker and original example of all things.
Now it mull be underllood that in thefe inferior bodies the elements are grofs and corruptible *, but in the heavens they are, with their natures and virtues, after a celellial and more excellent manner than in fublunary things : for the firmnefs of the celellial earth is there without the grolfnefs of water ; and the agility of air without exceeding its bounds ; the heat of fire without burning, only Ihining, giving light and life to all things by its qeleftial heat,— -Now
L 2 amongft
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