Part 16

The Question being stated, _Whether the Restoring-Bed, was a Fleshy Bed_; All the Parts of my Mind, after many Disputes, agreed, That it could not be a Fleshy Bed, by reason the nature of Flesh is so corruptible, dissolvable, and easie to be dissolved, that it could not possibly be of such a lasting nature, as is required for _Restoring-Beds_. But yet, they agreed, they were like Flesh, for Softness, or Spunginess; as also, for Colour. Also, they agreed, That the Animal _Restoring-Bed_, was of such a Nature or Property, that it could dilate and contract, as it had occasion; in so much, that it could contract to the compass of the smallest, or extend to the magnitude of the largest Animal. Also, they did agree, That it was somewhat like the Stomack of a Human Creature, or of the like Animal, that could open and shut the Orifice; and that when an Animal Creature was put into the _Restoring-Bed_, it would immediately inclose the Animal: and when it had caused a perfect Restoration, the _Restoring-Bed_ would open it self, and deliver it to its own Liberty.

XI.

Another Question amongst the Parts of my Mind concerning _Restoring-Beds_, or _Wombs_, was: _That in case there were such Restoring-Beds in Nature, as in all probability there were; Where could those Restoring-Beds be?_ viz. _Whether there were any in this World? If not in this World, in any other World?_

The Minor Parts were of opinion, There were none in this World; but, that there were some in other Worlds.

The Major Part's Opinion, was, That there were such Beds; but, that Human Creatures would not know them, though they could perceive them: nor, if they could perceive them, could they tell how to make use of them.

At last they all agreed, That those _Restoring-Beds_ were in the Center of the World: but, where the Center is, no Human Creature, no, not the most Subtile and _Learned Mathematicians, Geometricians_, or _Astrologers_, could, with their most Laborious Arts, and Subtile Observations, know; and therefore, unless by a special Decree from God, no such Restoration can be made.

XII.

The Parts of my Mind were very studious to conceive where the Center of the World was: Some of the Parts of my Mind was of opinion, That there were four Centers, _viz._ A Center in the Earth, a Center in the Air, a Center in the Sea, and a Center in the Element of Fire.

Upon which Opinion, the Parts of my Mind divided into Minor and Major Parts.

The Minor Parts were of opinion, That there were Centers in all the Four Elemental Parts; and that the _Restoring-Beds_, were only of four Kinds: but yet, there might be many several sorts of each particular Kind; and that each particular Kind, with all the several Sorts, was produced in each particular Elemental Center.

The Major Part was of opinion, That there might be infinite Centers, if there were infinite Worlds: also, there might be many Centers in this World; for, every round Globe hath a Center. But, their Opinion concerning the _Restoring-Beds_, was, That they were in the Center of the Globe of our whole World, and not of any of the Parts of the World: for, the _Air_ could have but an uncertain Center; neither could the _Water_ have a very solid Center; and the _Earth_ was too solid to have a Center, consisting of the Four kinds of Elements: neither could the Elemental _Fire_ have such a Center, as to breed such different kinds and sorts of _Beds_, as the _Restoring-Beds_ are, because many of them are quite of a different nature from the nature of Elemental Fire: wherefore, it must be the Center of the World, which must consist of all the Elemental kinds.

XIII.

After the former _Argument_, the Parts of my Mind were very studious in conceiving, where the Center of the whole Universe of this our World, might be: at last they all agreed, It was the _Sea_, which is the Watry Element: for, the _Sea_ is inclosed with the _Airy, Fiery_, and _Earthy_ Parts of the Universe, and therefore must be the Center. And, though the Sea was the Center of the World; yet, there was a Center of the Sea: so that, there was a Center in a Center; in which Center, were the _Restoring-Beds_.

XIV.

After the former Conceptions, the Parts of my Mind were very studious, to conceive where the Center's Center might be. But, they could not possibly conceive it, by reason they could not possibly imagine how large, and of what compass the Sea may be of: for they did verily believe, that the utmost extension of the Sea, is not, as yet, known to Human-Kind: for, that Circle about which the Ships of _Cavendishe_, and _Drake_, did swim, might be, in comparison to the whole Body of the Sea, but such a Circle as a Boy may occasion, with throwing a small Stone, or such like thing, into a Pond of Water.

XV.

The last Conception of my Mind, concerning _Restoring-Beds_, was, That the Parts of my Mind did conceive, That the Center of the whole Universe, was the Sea; and in the Center of the Sea, was a small Island; and in the Center of the Island, was a Creature, like (in the outward Form) to a great and high Rock: Not that this Rock was Stone; but, it was of such a nature, (by the natural Compositions of Parts) that it was compounded of Parts of all the principal Kinds and Sorts of the Creatures of this World, viz. Of _Elemental, Animal, Mineral_, and _Vegetable_ kinds: and, being of such a nature, did produce, out of it self, all kinds and sorts of _Restoring-Beds_; whereof, some sorts were so loose, that they only hung by Strings, or Nerves: others stuck close. Some were produced at the top, or upper parts: others were produced out of the middle parts; and some were produced from the lower parts, or at the bottom. In short, the Opinion of the Parts of my Mind, was, That this Rocky Creature was all covered with its own Productions; which Productions were of all Kinds and Sorts: not that they were numerous; but, various Productions: also, that these various Productions, were _Restoring-Beds_: for, the nature of this Rocky Creature, is as lasting as the Sun, or other Planets; which was the reason that those Productions are not subject to decay, as other Productions are: nor can they produce new Creatures; but only restore former Creatures; as, those that had been Produced, and were partly Dissolved.

THE CONCLUSION.

After the Wisest Parts of my Mind had ended their _Arguments_, there being some of the Dullest, and the most Unbelieving, or rather, Strange Parts of my Mind, that had retired into the _Glandula_ of my Brain, which is a kind of a Kernel; which they made use of, instead of a Pulpit: out of which, they declared their Opinions, thus:

_Dear Associates_, We, that were not Parties of your Disputations, or Argumentations, concerning _Restoring-Beds_; being retired into the _Glandula_ of the Brain, where we have been informed by the Nerves, and Sensitive Spirits, of your wise Opinions, and subtile Arguments,

Considering that your Conclusion was as improbable, if not as impossible, as the Chymical _Philosophers-Stone_, or _Elixir_; We desire you (being Parts of one and the same Society) not to trouble the whole Society, in the search of that, which, if it was in Nature, will never be found. But to prevent, that your painful Studies, and witty Arguments, be not buried in Oblivion; We advise you, To perswade the Sensitive Parts of our Society, to record them, so that they may be divulged to all the Societies of our own Kind or Sort of Creatures; as _Chymists_ do, who, after they have wasted their Times and Estates, to gain the _Philosophers-Stone_, or _Elixir_; write Books to teach it to the Sons of Art: which is impossible, at least, very improbable, ever to be learn'd, there being no such Art in Nature: but, were it possible such an Art was to be obtained; yet, when obtained, the Artist would never divulge it in Print. But, those great Practitioners, finding, after much Loss and Pains, nothing but Despair, write Books of that Art; which, instead of the _Elixir_, did produce _Despair_; which again, though produced by Art, did produce, naturally, that Vice, named _Malice_; and _Malice_, being a Pregnant Seed, sowed upon the Fertile Ground of their Writings, produces so much Mischief, that many men of good Estates, have been undone, in following their Rules in _Chymistry_: And if your Books should be as succesful as _Chymistry_ hath been (I dare not say, among _Fools_; but) amongst Credulous Men; your Books will cause as much Mischief as theirs have done; not by the ways of _Fire_, but by the ways of _Water_: for, your Books send men to Sea, a much Cooler Element than _Fire_; but, more Dangerous than _Chymical Fire_, unless _Chymical Fire_ be _Hell-Fire_.

Upon which Discourse, the rest of my Thoughts were very angry, and pull'd them out of their Pulpit, the _Glandula_; and not only so, but put them out of their Society, believing they were a Factious Party, which, in time, might cause the Society's Dissolution.

FINIS.