Chapter 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.