The Sceptical Chymist | Page 6

I am most inclin'd to, shall be

intelligibly explicated, and duly prov'd to me; what I have hitherto
discours'd will not hinder it from making a Proselyte of a Person that
Loves Fluctuation of Judgment little enough to be willing to be eas'd of
it by any thing but Error.

PHYSIOLOGICAL
CONSIDERATIONS
Touching
The experiments wont to be employed to evince either the IV
Peripatetick Elements, or the III Chymical Principles of Mixt Bodies.
Part of the First Dialogue.
I Perceive that divers of my Friends have thought it very strange to hear
me speak so irresolvedly, as I have been wont to do, concerning those
things which some take to be the Elements, and others to be the
Principles of all mixt Bodies. But I blush not to acknowledge that I
much lesse scruple to confess that I Doubt, when I do so, then to
profess that I Know what I do not: And I should have much stronger
Expectations then I dare yet entertain, to see Philosophy solidly
establish't, if men would more carefully distinguish those things that
they know, from those that they ignore or do but think, and then
explicate clearly the things they conceive they understand,
acknowledge ingenuously what it is they ignore, and profess so
candidly their Doubts, that the industry of intelligent persons might be
set on work to make further enquiries, and the easiness of less
discerning Men might not be impos'd on. But because a more particular
accompt will probably be expected of my unsatisfyedness not only with
the Peripatetick, but with the Chymical Doctrine of the Primitive
Ingredients of Bodies: It may possibly serve to satisfy others of the
excusableness of my disatisfaction to peruse the ensuing Relation of
what passed a while since at a meeting of persons of several opinions,
in a place that need not here be named; where the subject whereof we

have been speaking, was amply and variously discours'd of.
It was on one of the fairest dayes of this Summer that the inquisitive
Eleutherius came to invite me to make a visit with him to his friend
Carneades. I readily consented to this motion, telling him that if he
would but permit me to go first and make an excuse at a place not far
off, where I had at that hour appointed to meet, but not about a business
either of moment, or that could not well admit of a delay, I would
presently wait on him, because of my knowing Carneades to be so
conversant with nature and with Furnaces, and so unconfin'd to vulgar
Opinions, that he would probably by some ingenious Paradox or other,
give our mindes at least a pleasing Exercise, and perhaps enrich them
with some solid instruction. Eleutherius then first going with me to the
place where my Apology was to be made, I accompanied him to the
lodging of Carneades, where when we were come, we were told by the
Servants, that he was retired with a couple of Friends (whose names
they also told us) to one of the Arbours in his Garden, to enjoy under its
coole shades a delightful protection from the yet troublesome heat of
the Sun.
Eleutherius being perfectly acquainted with that Garden immediately
led me to the Arbour, and relying on the intimate familiarity that had
been long cherish'd betwixt him and Carneades; in spight of my
Reluctancy to what might look like an intrusion upon his privacy,
drawing me by the hand, he abruptly entered the Arbour, where we
found Carneades, Philoponus, and Themistius, sitting close about a
little round Table, on which besides paper, pen, and inke, there lay two
or three open Books; Carneades appeared not at all troubled at this
surprise, but rising from the Table, received his Friend with open looks
and armes, and welcoming me also with his wonted freedom and
civility, invited us to rest our selves by him, which, as soon as we had
exchanged with his two Friends (who were ours also) the civilities
accustomed on such occasions, we did. And he presently after we had
seated our selves, shutting the Books that lay open, and turning to us
with a smiling countenance seemed ready to begin some such
unconcerning discourse as is wont to pass or rather waste the time in
promiscuous companies.

But Eleutherius guessing at what he meant to do, prevented him by
telling him, I perceive Carneades by the books that you have been now
shutting, and much more by the posture wherein I found Persons
qualifi'd [Errata: so qualify'd] to discourse of serious matters; and so
accustom'd to do it, that you three were before our coming, engag'd in
some Philosophical conference, which I hope you will either prosecute,
and allow us to be partakers of, in recompence