the Planetary Worlds.
25
Book I.
it is impoſſible ever to come to the Knowledge of its Nature, yet this we may venture to aſſert (there being ſcarce any Doubt of it) that their Growth and Nouriſhment proceeds from ſsome liquid Principle. For all Philoſophers argee that there can be no other way of Nutrition; ſome of the Chief among them having made Water to be the Original of all Things: For whatſoever’s dry and without Moiſture, is without Motion too; and without Motion, it’s impoſſible there ſhould be any Increaſe. But the Parts of a Liquid being in continual Motion one with another, and inſinuating and twiſting themſelves into the ſmallest Places, are thereby very proper and apt to add not themſelves only, but whatſoever elſe they may bring along with them, to the Increaſe and Growth of Bodies. Thus we ſee that by the Means of Water the Plants grow, bloſſom, and bear Fruit; and by the Addition of that only, Stones grow together out of Sand. And there’s no doubt that Metals, Cryſtals, and Jewels,
it is impoſſible ever to come to the Knowledge of its Nature, yet this we may venture to aſſert (there being ſcarce any Doubt of it) that their Growth and Nouriſhment proceeds from ſsome liquid Principle. For all Philoſophers argee that there can be no other way of Nutrition; ſome of the Chief among them having made Water to be the Original of all Things: For whatſoever’s dry and without Moiſture, is without Motion too; and without Motion, it’s impoſſible there ſhould be any Increaſe. But the Parts of a Liquid being in continual Motion one with another, and inſinuating and twiſting themſelves into the ſmallest Places, are thereby very proper and apt to add not themſelves only, but whatſoever elſe they may bring along with them, to the Increaſe and Growth of Bodies. Thus we ſee that by the Means of Water the Plants grow, bloſſom, and bear Fruit; and by the Addition of that only, Stones grow together out of Sand. And there’s no doubt that Metals, Cryſtals, and Jewels,
have
