Page:A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More.djvu/97

Rh ; but now there is not any ineptitude in any thing, which is a sign that the fluidness of the Matter is guided and determined by the overpowering counsel of an Eternal Mind, that is of a God.

If it were not needless, I might now instance in sundry kinds of Flowers, Herbs and Trees: but these Objects being so obvious, and every mans phansy being branched with the remembrance of Roses, Marigolds, Gilly-flowers, Pionyes, Tulips, Pansies, Primroses, the leaves and clusters of the Vine, and a thousand such like, of all which they cannot but confess, that there is in them beauty and symmetry and grateful proportion; I hold it superfluous to weary you with any longer Induction, but shall pass onto the three Considerations behind, of their Seed, Signatures and Usefulness, and shall pass through them very briefly, the Observables being very ordinary and easily intelligible.

 

1. Providence argued from the Seeds of Plants. 2. An Objection answered concerning stinking Weeds and poisonous Plants. 3. The Signature of Plants an argument of Providence. 4. Certain Instances of Signatures. 5. An Answer to an Objection concerning such Signatures in Plants as cannot referre to Medicine.

Say therefore, in that every Plant has its Seed, it is an evident sign of Divine Providence. For it being no necessary Result of the Motion of the Matter, as the whole contrivance of the Plant indeed is not, and it being of so great consequence that they have Seed for the continuance and propagation of their own Species, and for the gratifying of mans Art also, industry and necessities (for much of Husbandry and Gardening lies in this) it cannot but be an Act of Counsel to furnish the several kinds of Plants with their Seeds, especially the Earth being of such a nature, that though at first for a while it might bring forth all manner of Plants, (as some will have it also to have brought forth all kinds of Animals) yet at last it would grow so sluggish, that without the advantage of those small compendious Principles of generation, the grains of Seed, it would yield no such births; no more then a Pump grown dry will yield any water, unless you pour a little water into it first, and then for one Bason-ful you may fetch up so many Soe-fuls.

2. Nor is it material to object, That stinking Weeds and poisonous Plants bear Seed too as well as the most pleasant and most useful: For even those stinking Weeds and poisonous Plants have their use. For first, the Industry of Man is exercised by them to weed them out where they are hurtful. Which reason if it seem slight, let us but consider, that if humane Industry had nothing to conflict and struggle with, the fire of mans Spirit would be half extinguish'd in the flesh; and then we shall acknowledge that that which I have alledged is not so contemptible nor invalid.  Rh