Two Treatises on the Nature of the Elements and the Fifth Essence (1621) - Page 20

ON THE ELEMENTS

14 ...from the beginning original: "ab initio" God had granted to it, whether it be air, water, or earth; yet this does not happen without a medium meaning an intermediary substance or a balancing force. For it is necessary that the density of water be tempered by the subtleness of air, and its humidity balanced by the dryness of the earth. Then, finally, you will have a prepared Matter, which can be rendered luminous and LIVELY by the benefit of fire. But more could be said of these things, which must be passed over for the sake of brevity, so that we may be led more quickly to the subject at hand.

CHAPTER III.

How the economy of sublunary referring to the earthly realm below the orbit of the moon things is perfected through the mutual action and passion the philosophical concept of acting upon something and being acted upon in return; the "give and take" of natural forces of the four Elements.

Come then, Reader, let us now investigate the virtues of Air, and likewise of the other elements. Just as the three elements are dead without Fire, so also is Fire without the other three. From this, learn to admire the wisdom of God, who made nothing in vain. For just as Fire is life itself, it lives indeed in the air; and no differently does air live in fire, and water in the earth,