An Antidote Against Atheism/Book II/Chapter VI
Chap. VI.
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.
1. I 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.
But secondly, who knows but it is so with poisonous Plants as vulgarly is phansied concerning Toads and other poisonous Serpents, that they lick the venome from off the Earth? so poisonous Plants may well draw to them all the malign juice and nourishment, that the other may be more pure and defæcate; as there are Receptacles in the Body of Man and Emunctories to drain them of superfluous Choler, Melancholy, and the like.
But lastly, it is very well known by them that know any thing in Nature and Physick, that those Herbs that the rude and ignorant would call Weeds are the Materials of very soveraign Medicines; that Aconitum hyemale or Winter-wolfs-bane, that otherwise is rank poison, is reported to prevail mightily against the bitings of Vipers and Scorpions, which Crollius assenteth unto; and that that Plant that bears death in the very name of it, Solanum lethiferum, prevents death by procuring sleep, if it be rightly apply'd in a Feaver. Nor are those things to be deemed unprofitable whose use we know not yet; for all is not to be known at once, that succeeding Ages may ever have something lest to gratifie themselves in their own discoveries.
3. We come now to the Signatures of Plants, which seem no less Argument that the highest Original of the works of Nature is some Understanding Principle, then that so careful provision of their Seed, Nay, indeed, this respects us more properly and adequately then the other, and is a certain Key to enter Man into the knowledge and use of the Treasures of Nature. I demand therefore, whether it be not a very easie and genuine inference, from the observing that several Herbs are marked with some mark or sign that intimates their virtue, what they are good for, and there being such a creature as Man in the world that can read and understand these signs and characters; hence to collect that the Authour both of Man and them knew the nature of them both: For it is like the Inscriptions upon Apothecaries Boxes, that the Matter of the Shop sets on that the Apprentice may read them; nay, it is better, for here is in Herbs inscribed the very nature and use of them, not the mere name. Nor is there any necessity that all should be thus signed, though some be, for the rarity of it is the delight: for otherwise it had been dull and cloying, too much harping upon the same string. And besides. Divine Providence would onely initiate and enter mankind into the useful knowledge of her Treasures, leaving the rest to imploy our industry, that we might not live like idle Loyterers and Truants: For the Theatre of the world is an exercise of Mans wit, not a lazy Polyanthea, or book of Common places. And therefore all things are in some measure obscure and intricate, that the sedulity of that divine Spark, the Soul of Man, may have matter of conquest and triumph, when he has done bravely by a superadvenient assistance of his God.
4. But that there be some Plants that bear a very evident Signature of their nature and use, I shall fully make good by these following instances.
Capillus Veneris, Polytrichon or Maiden-hair, the lye in which it is sodden or infus'd is good to wash the head, and make the Hair grow in those places that are more thin and bare.
And the decoction of Quinces, which area downy and hairy fruit is accounted good for the fetching again Hair that has fallen by the French Pox.
The leaf of Balm, and of Alleluia or Wood-Sorrel, as also the Roots of Anthora, represent the Heart in figure, and are Cardiacal.
Wall-nuts bear the whole signature of the Head. The outward green Cortex answers to the Pericranium, and a salt made of it is singularly good for wounds in that part; as the kernel is good for the Brains, which it resembles.
Umbilicus Veneris is powerful to provoke Lust, as Dioscorides affirms. As also your several sorts of Satyrions, which have the evident resemblance of the genital parts upon them; *Sunt qui putant verum Paracelsi Satyrion esse Aron. Croll de Signaturis rerum internis. Aron especially, and all your Orchisses, that they have given names unto from some beasts or other, as Cynosorchis, Orchis Myodes, Tragorchis, and the like. The last whereof, notorious also for its goatish smell, and tufts not unlike the beard of that lecherous Animal, is of all the rest the most powerful Incentive to Lust.
The leaves of Hypericon are very thick prick'd, or [wikt:pink|pink'd]] with little holes, and it is a singular good wound-herb, as useful also for de-obstructing the pores of the body.
Scorpioides, Echium, or Scorpion-grass, is like the crooked tail of a Scorpion, and Ophioglossum, or Adders-tongue, has a very plain and perfect resemblance of the tongue of a Serpent, as also Ophioscorodon of the intire head and upper parts of the body; and these are all held very good against Poison, and the biting of Serpents. And generally all such Plants as are speckled with spots like the skins of Vipers or other venemous creatures, are known to be good against the stings or bitings of them, and are powerful Antidotes against Poison.
Thus did Divine Providence by natural Hieroglyphicks read short Physick-Lectures to the rude wit of man, that being a little entred and engaged, he might by his own industry and endeavours search out the rest himself; it being very reasonable that other Herbs that had not such Signatures might be very good for Medicinal uses, as well as they that had.
5. But if any here object, that some Herbs have the resemblance of such things as cannot in any likelihood refer to Physick, as Geranium, Cruciata, Bursa Pastoris, the Bee-Flower, Fly-Orchis, and the like, I say, they answer themselves in the very proposal of their Objection: for this is a sign that they were intended onely for ludicrous ornaments of Nature, like the flourishes about a great Letter, that signifie nothing, but are made onely to delight the Eye. And 'tis so far from being any inconvenience to our first Progenitors, if this intimation of Signatures did fail, that it cast them with more courage upon attempting the virtue of those that had no such Signatures at all; it being obvious for them to reason thus. Why may not those Herbs have Medicinal virtue in them that have no Signatures, as well as they that have Signatures have no virtue answerable to the signs they bear, which was a further confirmation to them of the former Conclusion; and still a greater provocation of their industry, if they at any time light upon Signatures of a contrary effect.
And it was sufficient that those that were of so present and great consequence as to be Antidotes against Poison, (that so quickly would have dispatch'd poor rude and naked Antiquity,) or to help on the small beginnings of the world, by quickning and actuating their phlegmatick Natures to more frequent and effectual Venery (for their long lives shew they were not very fiery) I say, it was sufficient that Herbs of this kind were both so obvious and so legibly sign'd with Characters that so plainly bewray'd their usefull virtues, as is manifest in your Satyrions, Ophioglossum, and the like. But I have dwelt too long upon this Theory; wee'l betake our selves to what follows, and what is more unexceptionably stringent and forcing.