Wetness, which is the Interior or Innate Property, or Nature of Water, is, in my opinion, caused by some sort of Dilatations or Extenuations. As, all Droughts, or Dryness, are caused by some sorts of Contractions; so, all Moistures, Liquors, and Wets, by Dilatations: yet, those Extenuations, or Dilatations, that cause Wet, must be of such a sort of Dilatations, as are proper to Wet; viz. Such a sort of Extenuations, as are Circular Extenuations; which do dilate, or extenuate, in a smooth, equal dilatation, from the Center, to the Circumference; which Extenuations, or Dilatations, are of a middle Degree; for otherwise, the Figure of Water might be extended beyond the Degree of Wet; or, not extended to the Degree of Wet. And it is to be observed, That there is such a Degree as only causes moistness, and another to cause liquidness, the third to cause wetness: for, though Moistness and Liquidness are in the way of Wetness; yet, they are not that which we name Wet: also, all that is Soft, or Smooth, is not Wet; nor is all that is Liquid, or Flowing, Wet: for, some sorts of Air are liquid and flowing, but not wet: nay, Flame is liquid and flowing, but yet quite opposite from wet. Dust is flowing, but neither liquid or wet, in its Nature. And Hair and Feathers are soft and smooth, but neither liquid, nor wet. But, as I said, Water is of such a Nature, as to have the Properties of Soft, Smooth, Moist, Liquid, and Wet; and is also of such flowing Properties, caused by such a sort of Extenuating Circles as are of a Middle or Mean Degree: but yet, there are many several sorts of Liquors, and Wets, as we may perceive in Fruit, Herbs, and the like: but, all sorts of Wets, and Liquors, are of a watry kind, though of a different sort. But, as I have said, all things that are Fluid, are not Wet; as, Melted Metal, Flame, Light, and the like, are fluid, but not wet: and Smoak and Oyl are of another sort of Liquidness, than Water, or Juyce; but yet they are not wet: and that which causes the difference of different sorts of Waters, and Watry Liquors, are the differences of the watry Circular Lines; as, some are edged, some are pointed, some are twisted, some are braided, some are flat, some are round, some ruff, some smooth; and so after divers several Forms or Figures: and yet are perfect Circles, and of some such a Degree of Extenuations or Dilatations.
[CHAP. XV. Of the Alteration of the Exterior Figurative Motion of Water.]
As I formerly said, The Figurative Motions of the Innate Nature of Water, is a sort of Extenuating; as being an equal, smooth Circle: which is the cause Water is rare, fluid, moist, liquid, and wet. But, the Exterior Figurative Motions of the watry Circle, may be edged, pointed, sharp, blunt, flat, round, smooth, ruff, or the like; which may be either divided, or altered, without any alteration of the Innate Nature, or Property: As for example, Salt-water may be made fresh, or the Salt Parts divided from the watry Circle: The like of other sorts of Waters; and yet the Nature of Water remains.
[CHAP. XVI. Of OYL, and VITRIOL.]
The Exterior Figurative Motions of Oyl, are so much like those of Water, as, to be fluid, smooth, soft, moist, and liquid, although not perfectly wet: but, the Interior Figurative Motions of Oyl, are of that sort of Fire, that we name a Dull, Dead Fire: and the difference between Salt Waters,
Vitriol or the like, and Oyl, is, That the Exterior Figurative Motions of Vitriol and Salt Waters, are of a sort of Fire; whereas it is the Interior Figurative Motions of Oyl, or the like, that are of those sorts of Fire; and that is the reason that the fiery Motions of Oyl cannot be altered, as the fiery Motions of Vitriol may. But this is to be noted, That although the Interior Figurative Motions of Oyl, are of such a sort of fiery Motions; yet, not just like those of Vitriol; and are not burning, corroding, or wounding, as Vitriols, Corrosives, and the like, are: for, those are somewhat more of the Nature of bright shining Fires, than Oyls.