to amuse the World with empty words) Actually Perform'd divers strange
things, and, among those Resolve Compound Bodies into several
Substances not known by former Philosophers to be contain'd in them:
Men I say, seeing these Things, and Hearing with what Confidence
Chymists Averr the Substances Obtain'd from Compound Bodies by the
Fire to be the True Elements, or, (as they speak) Hypostaticall
Principles of them, are forward to think it but Just as well as
Modest, that according to the _Logicians_ Rule, the Skilfull _Artists_
should be Credited in their own Art; Especially when those things
whose Nature they so Confidently take upon them to teach others are
not only Productions of their own Skill, but such as others Know not
else what to make of.
But though (Continues _Carneades_) the Chymists have been able upon
some or other of the mention'd Acounts, not only to Delight but Amaze,
and almost to bewitch even Learned Men; yet such as You and I, who are
not unpractis'd in the Trade, must not suffer our Selves to be impos'd
upon by hard Names, or bold Assertions; nor to be dazl'd by that Light
which should but assist us to discern things the more clearly. It is
one thing to be able to help Nature to produce things, and another
thing to Understand well the Nature of the things produc'd. As we
see, that many Persons that can beget Children, are for all that as
Ignorant of the Number and Nature of the parts, especially the
internal ones, that Constitute a Childs Body, as they that never were
Parents. Nor do I Doubt, but you'l excuse me, if as I thank the
Chymists for the things their _Analysis_ shews me, so I take the
Liberty to consider how many, and what they are, without being
astonish'd at them; as if, whosoever hath Skill enough to shew men
some new thing of his own making, had the Right to make them believe
whatsoever he pleases to tell them concerning it.
Wherefore I will now proceed to my Third General Consideration, which
is, That it does not appear, that _Three_ is precisely and Universally
the Number of the Distinct Substances or Elements, whereinto mixt
Bodies are resoluble by the Fire; I mean that 'tis not prov'd by
Chymists, that all the Compound Bodies, which are granted to be
perfectly mixt, are upon their Chymical _Analysis_ divisible each of
them into just Three Distinct Substances, neither more nor less,
which are wont to be lookt upon as Elementary, or may as well be
reputed so as those that are so reputed. Which last Clause I subjoyne,
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