Lumen de Lumine

Hence have they call’d it Venter Equi, and Fimus Equinus: but this only by way of Analogie, for there is in Horse-dung a moyst Heat, but no fire that is visible. Now then let us compare the common Vulcan with this Philosophicall Vesta, that we may see wherein they are different. First of all then the Philosopher’s fire is moyst, and truly so is that of the Kitchin too. We see that flames contract and extend themselves, now they are short, now they are long, which cannot be without moysture to maintaine the flux, and Continuitie of their parts. I know Aristotle makes the fire to be simply dry, perhaps because the effects of it are so; he did not indeed consider that in all Complexions there are other Qualities besides the praedominant one. Sure then this drie stuffe is that element of his, wherein he found his Pyrausta; but if our naturall fire were simply drie, the flames of it could not flow, and diffuse themselves as they doe, they would rather fall to Dust, or turne like their fuell to ashes. But that I may returne to my former Discourse, I say the Common fire is excessively hot, but moyst in a far inferior degree, and therefore destructive: for it preyes on the moysture of other things. On the contrary the warmth and moysture of the Magicall Agent are equall, the one temperates, and satisfies the other: it is a humid tepid fire, or as we commonly expresse our selves, Bloud-warme. This is their first, and greatest Difference in Relation to our desired effect, we will now consider their second.