% 1 6 Of (PreferVation various Ways, about many Parts of the Body, but what Vertues thefe Things have, is worth fome Enquiry. I T hath obtained with many, that Na- ture, or the Soul of the World, hath im- preffed upon fbme certain Bodies a very dirfufive magnetick Vertue ; whereupon fome Adepts have afcribed to many of thefe Bodies a Faculty of expelling Poifons. Others con- ceit, that both artificial and natural Poifons do, by a certain Sympathy, when outwardly applied, draw away every Thing that is detrimental to the Constitution; after the Manner as Amber attracts Straws, and (as they report of the Snake-ftone) imbibe its Venom : Some others again contrive Amulets of Spices, to invigorate Nature, and fup- port her againft the Enemy. I think it proper to give my Opinion of this Matter ; with Submiffion therefore to thefe great Men, I cannot eafily come into a Belief of any Advantages to be had from this Practice j for molt, of the Efforts afcrL bed to them, is rather from the Power of Imagination, or owing to fome manifeft Pro- perty. Furthermore, it hath religioufly ob- tained ampngft many People, that Difeafes are
