T he Earth is of great worth in its quality, and dignity: in this Element, the other three, especially the fire, rest. It is the most excellent Element to conceale, and discover those things which are intrusted to it: it is grosse, and porous, heavy in respect of its smallnesse, but light in respect of its Nature; it is also the Center of the world, as also of the other Elements; through its Center passeth the axell tree of the world, and of both poles. It is porous, as wee said, as a spunge, and brings forth nothing of it selfe, but all things whatsoever the other three distil, and project into it, it receives, keeps all things that are to be kept, brings to light all things that are to be brought to light. It brings forth (as wee said before) nothing of it selfe, but it is the receptacle of other things, and it is that, in which every thing that is brought forth, doth abide, and by heat of motion is putrefied in it, and is multiplied by the same, the pure being separated from the impure: That which is heavy in it is hid, and the heat drives that which is light unto its superficies. It is the nurse, and matrix of all seed, and commixtion. It can indeed[Pg 84] doe nothing else, then preserve the seed, and what is made of it, till it be ripe. It is cold, dry, tempered with water; visible without, and fixed; but within invisible, and volatile. It is a virgin, and the C............