A DISCOURSE OF WATERS.
Shewing the particular Natures, various Uses, and wonderful Operations both in Food and Physick, the All-wise Creator hath Endued this Cleansing Element with.
Published for the Benefit of Mankind.
- I. Of Rain-Water.
- II. River or Running-Water.
- III. Spring or Fountain-Water.
- IV. Well or Pump-Water.
- V. Pond or Standing-Water.
THE Element of Water is not inferior to any other of the Elements, neither is Nature wanting to work wonderfully [Page 2] thereby; there is so great Necessity of Water, that without it no Animal can live, nor any Herb or Plant bring forth; for in it is the Seminary Vertue of all things, especially of Animals, whose Seed is manifestly Watrish. The Seeds also of all Herbs and Plants, although they are Earthy, must notwithstanding be rooted in moisture before they can be fruitful. The great and illuminated Prophet Moses tells us, that before the Creation, when the Earth was without Form, the Spirit of the Lord moved on the Face of the Waters; and in another place, that the Plants did not grow, because God had not caused it to Rain upon the Earth. Nay, so great is the Efficacy of this cleansing Element, that the spiritual Regeneration cannot be performed without it, as our Saviour Christ himself testified to Nicomedus; and very great have the Vertues of it been in Religious Worship in former Ages, among the Prophets and Wise Men in Expiations and Purifications. Innumerable are the Benefits, and so various the Uses thereof, both in the Generation, Nourishment and Increase of things, that some of the Wise Men have concluded, that Water [Page 3] was the beginning of all things, and first of all Elements, and the most Potent, because it hath the mastery over all the rest, for it swalloweth up the Earth, extinguishes Flames, ascends on high, and by a most wonderful Divine Hand, and the stretching forth of the Clouds, challengeth the Heavens for its Throne, whence falling down in gentle Showers and refreshing Dews, as from Natures choicest Limbeck, impregnated with Coelestial Vertues, it becomes the cause of all things that grow in the Earth.
Nor is there scarce any part of Nature more full of Wonders than these liquid Regions. Josephus tells us of a River near Sina, which runneth with a full Channel all the Sabbath-Day, and then on a sudden it ceaseth, as if the Spring were stopped, and all the six days you may pass over it dry-shod; but again on the seventh-day (no Man knowing the reason of it) the Waters return in abundance as before; wherefore the Inhabitants thereabouts call it the Sabbath days River. The Gospel testifies of a Sheep-Pool, into which whosoever stopped first, after the Waters were troubled by the Angel, was made whole of whatsoever Disease he had.
Many secret and admirable Vertues the Creator hath endued this Element with, as in all Ages hath been manifested; for it being pure and clear in its own Nature, it is the only and alone thing by which all external things are purified, purged and cleansed: But if it be adulterated or incorporated with any other Liquor or Juice, then it becomes less pure, and will not so well perform its Office, yet it may make them better and more useful. Though it be a vulgar Proverb— As weak as Water: Yet I must tell you, Water is more strong and sublime that most imagine, for it contains a most ravishing and excellent Spirituous Balsamick Vertue, whence proceeds that pure sweet refreshing Quality, whereby it hath Power by its innate Vertue to digest and purifie all sorts of Food: Also, in all Preparations it is so Innocent and Friendly that it dissipates the gross phlegmy Bodies, and preserves the more essential Parts and Vertues, and keeps the Spirituous Parts living.
It is not only the most plentiful and truly pleasant of all Drinks, but it supplies Nature with its friendly Moisture, and relieves Thirst beyond all other Liquors [Page 5] or Juices: It is so Simple, and endued with such Equality, that it insinuates its Vertue into all parts of the Body in an insensible way; it makes no Noise, nor causes any Tumults in the Brain, nor awakens any Inequality in the Body, but imparts its meek Life as it were in silence.
And as Bread hath the first place of all Food, and may justly be called Concord, or a thing which God and his Handmaid Nature, hath befriended with all the united good Vertues both of the Vegetable and Animal Kingdoms, and therefore no sort of Food is comparable thereunto, nor will gratifie Nature to the degree as it ought, without the help and mixture of Bread; though yet it is not the strongest of all Foods, nor hath the greatest Nourishment, but it is the most equal in its parts, and stands nearest the Unity, for which cause it is so much desired, and justly esteemed the Staff of Life; and we are taught to Pray for all outward Accommodations needful for our Bodies under that significant denomination of Our daily Bread, it being, besides its own nutritive faculty, a proper Ingredient to qualifie the Inequality ofmost other sorts [Page 6] of Food, and is the Foundation to all good Nourishment: The like is to be understood of Water, that being the Radix of all moist Nourishment, which mixt or incorporated with any kind of Juices, renders them fit and profitable for Mankind.
Nay, (if we may fly our Contemplations to an higher pitch) there is a Sympathetical agreement, or some Analogy between this External Water and that Internal, of which our Saviour Christ told the Woman of Samaria, that if she did drink, she should never thirst: This Internal Super-essential Water sustaineth every Being, and is the Radix and Life of the outward Water, which contains some Shadows of the secret Influences of the Water Internal; for which reason the Prophets and good Men of old have frequently compared the one with the other, and expressed the one by the other, and also have made use of Water in Religious Mysteries as a sign of Cleansing and Purifying the Soul from Sins, and for curing Diseases, &c. as the Scriptures▪ do testifie.
Thus much I thought fit to say of Water in general, to stir up men to praise [Page 7] and admire the Goodness and Wisdom of the All Creator, for the manifold Uses, Vertues and Benefits wherewith he hath endued this Element. But now let us consider the several sorts of Water.
Of Rain-Water and its Nature.
I name this Water first, because for several Reasons it is the best of all, if not defiled by Accidents, as by Tiles of Houses, or the Vessels 'tis kept in. For,
1st. It is a light pure thin Water.
2dly. It is drawn up into the Clouds by the power and vertue of the sweet Influences of the Sun Beams.
3dly. Being carried to and fro with the Clouds by Gods Divine Power, it hath thereby had the greater benefit of Motion.
4thly. 'Tis endued with wonderful Vertue from the Element of Air, and the sweet Influences of the Coelestial Bodies, whereby it is made more Spirituous than other Waters, and of a fat unctious Quality, of a light friendly mild Nature and Operation: Thus it mollifies the harsh Earth, making it light and tender, and causes all Plants to multiply and grow [Page 8] far better than any Artificial Watrings can do; Rain Water being (among its other Vertues) like a Ferment or Leaven, that makes the hard compacted Earth more spirituous and penetrable, giving Life and Motion to all the Vegetable Kingdom.
5thly. Rain-Water is not only exhaled by the Beams of Heaven from the most clear and subtle Fountains, and impregnated with the Coelestial Influences, but also is, as it were, strained with the Airy Motions and Winds, which fill it with a Saline and Balsamick Vertue, when it descends (like the Tears of a repenting Sinner) in gentle reviving Showers, that give Vertue and Power to all Vegetables, and restore the gasping parched Earth and languishing Nature to the briskness of the Spring and Joys of Autumn.
6thly. This is the lightest of all Waters, it cools and heats quickly; it oppresses not the Stomach, or any other part of the Body, but passeth suddenly into the Ʋreters, having neither in Colour, Smell nor Taste any manifest Quality; it bindeth not the Belly as some other Waters do, and is the best to be used in all Physical Operations, if it be well received, [Page 9] and afterwards kept from defilement.
7thly. It is to be preferred before all other Waters in House-wifery, for it Boyls all sorts of Meats better and sooner, and makes them easier of Concoction; as likewise it Brews and Washes to greater advantage than others.
Rain-Water hath likewise various other Uses and excellent Vertues, viz.
It is a good remedy for all sorts of sore Eyes, they being washed often with it; or if a little white Bread be put into the Water with a small quantity of white Sugar, and then made boiling hot, being stirred all the time, then applied in the manner and form of a Pultess every two or three hours.
This Water is also good to wash all sorts of Wounds and Sores, and if it be done often, it mightily forwards the Cure.
The best Seasons to receive this Water in, are March, April, May, June, and July, it being put into Glass Bottles; let them stand in the Windows of airy Rooms, or without Doors open, that the [Page 10] Air may have its free Influence on them, which will preserve and keep the fine thin spirituous Qualities living; which if they are stopped, will in a short time become stagnated.
This Water doth likewise make an excellent Pultess against the Gout, Pains in the Sides and other Infirmities of the like Nature.
Take one Quart of this Water, half a Pint of Ale, a little Balm, Parsly and Mint, of each an equal quantity cut small, and as much good Bread as will make it thick; then add to this two Ounces of the best Sugar, mix them well, then make it boiling hot, stirring it all the time it is on the Fire; then it is done, spread this Pultess indifferent thick on a Linnen Cloath as warm as Milk from the Cow, apply it every two or three hours, for one, two, or three Days, as we have treated more largely in the Good House-Wife made a Doctor.
Of River-Water.
This is next in Goodness, whose Original is Fountain or Spring Water, and [Page 11] yet there is rarely any Spring Water so good for common and general use at the Fountain-Head as in the River. For,
1st. Rivers or running Waters have great advantages by passing through various Soils and sorts of Earth, from whence it drains or sucks in a certain Ʋnctious Vertue, or Saline Fatness, which the surface of the Earth does plentifully contain, and from which Vegetation does chiefly proceed.
2dly. This sort of Water has the benefit of Motion, with the benevolent Influences of the Sun, and the Element of the Air, which purge it from its harsh earthy Qualities, and as it were open its Body, enduing it with a pure Spirituous, Airy and Balsamick Vertue, of a warming friendly Nature and Operation: This is the chief reason why River-Water is of a softer milder Nature, and will perform all Preparations in House-wifery to more advantages than Spring-Water taken from the Fountain-Head; for there most Waters retain a Saturnine earthy Quality, which the Influences of the Sun and Air, with the help of Motion, do destroy.
3dly. The New-River that supplies London, [Page 12] is some of the best Water in England (except Thames Water) it being a cut or made River that runs on the Surface of the Earth for above twenty Miles, and is not sed or increased by hungry Springs, as many other Rivers are that run through Vallies, which is their own Natural way, but Land-Floods sometimes fall into it, which augment its Vertue and Goodness, for they are the richest of Waters, draining and sucking into themselves the fat Saline Vertue of the Earth: For this reason most Vallies that lie between the Hills are so fruitful; for the Waters that run off the Hills do wash or carry away the Salintral Vertue into them, and there it centers; and thus Hills come not to be so fruitful as Valleys or Plains, by reason of such disadvantages: Whereas on the contrary, do not Land Floods, and the overflowing of Rivers, make Meadows fruitful from the same causes? For when the Waters retire and sink away, they leave behind them the Saline or Spiritual Quality, that does Muck such Ground, as tho' it had been over-spread with substantial Dung. And indeed the very same is to be understood when a Man dungs his [Page 13] Land, it is not altogether the gross substance or matter that enricheth the Land, but it is the before-mentioned fat Saline Quality, which the moisture of the Earth receives, and the Rains wash out of the Dung; for if you lay a load of Dung in a heap, and let it lie a Week, two or three, and then remove it clean away from that place, and spread it thick in another place, yet that spot which the Dung lay on two or three Weeks, will be more enriched than where the gross substance is spread; for the Earth, with the help of the Rains and Dews, sucked into it self the Salintral Vertue of the Dung. Therefore in most Fields, where such heaps of Dung do lie for a while before they are spread, both the Grass and Corn is not only greener, but also much stronger, and more in quantity than in other places of the Field.
4thly. River-Water, for the Reasons aforesaid, is better for Men and Beasts to drink of, than Springs or Pump-Water; it boyls all sorts of Herbs, Fish and Flesh better, and makes better and wholsomer Pottages; it brews Beer and Ale to more Advantage, both in Quality and Quantity, and washes all sorts of Linnen and [Page 14] Woollen with less Pains, Charge and Damage to the things. This Water seems to be pretty equal in its parts, having no manifest 'Taste, but a certain friendly mild sweetness predominates; and there is as much difference between the Nature and Operation of River-Water and Pump or Well-Water, as there is between Beer and Ale; and the Excellency of the latter above the former, I shall demonstrate in its proper place.
Of Spring or Fountain-Water.
There are various sorts of this Water, some Better, some Worse, according to the Nature of the Earth it passes through: If Springs or Fountains proceed from a Chalky Earth or some sorts of hot Sands, or run near the surface of the Earth, they are thereby endued with a meek soft friendly nature and operation, without any manifest harshness; but those that run in the deep Bowels of the Earth, and through cold hungry stony places, are more hard and Saturnine; neither so wholsome for Man or Beast to drink, nor to be used in Housewifery. But though it be thus at the [Page 15] Fountain-Head, yet if the same run long afterwards through various soils in the open Air, &c. It may become very good for all uses, as aforesaid.
And Note: Whereas some River-Water will look of a wheyish whitish Colour, caused either by its long running without being fed by Plenty of Springs, or else by Landfloods, yet in either case it is not the worse to be liked, but rather the better; for all such Water is of great vertue, of a very mild fat opening Quality, caused by the saline vertue; which People not understanding, do often refuse either to drink or use in Housewifery, calling it dirty muddy Water; whereas the whiter any Waters look, the better they are for most uses, especially when Land-floods shall be the occasion of it, as appears by the Instances of Valleys and Meadows thereby enricht, which I mentioned but now.
Of Pump or Well-Water.
These likewise are capable of several degrees, better or worse, according to the nature of the Earth from whence they arise; but they are generally of a cold hungry [Page 16] hard nature, nothing so good as the former; and such Springs as lie deepest in the Bowels of the Earth, are of a lean Saturnine Quality, in comparison of that Water which runs near the surface, being deprived of that saline Nature which irritates Vegetation; for most Earths, after you come two or three yards deep, are of a hard cold hungry Quality, and if a quantity of such Earth be exposed to the open Elements, and laid two or three foot thick, there will hardly any sort of Vegetable grow on it, until the Sun and Coelestial Influences have endued it with a Salnitral Vertue; and as the Earth is, so is the Water, viz. of the same Nature, Gold and Hungry.
2. Such Waters want the Coelestial Influences and Air, nor have the benefit of Motion, or but in a very small degree; hence they are more unwholsome than the others before treated of, and generally bind the Body, and are subject to obstruct Nature, neither will they perform the like good Offices in Housewifery.
The like is to be understood of most or all Purging Waters, which of late have been so mightily cryed up for their Purgative [Page 17] Vertues. Now those Waters in general are Cold, Harsh, and Earthy, of a lean hungry Quality; being as it were wholly destitute of that Saline Nature, and Coelestial Vertue, that other Waters are impregnated with, that run on the surface of the Earth, as is before-mentioned.
Therefore the Purgative Qualities in these Waters do chiefly proceed from Coldness, Weight, and the not being accustomed to the drinking of Water, for when Nature is overcharged either with Drink or Food, she useth all possible Means and Methods, to discharge her self of those burdens; for this cause the common drinking of such Quantities of these Waters do prove dangerous, and many hundreds have found the remedy worse then the Disease by a full Experience.
The first Finders and Drinkers of these Waters, did live and use them more regular and temperately, which by degrees most have degenerated from all sober Methods, into the highest Degrees of all kinds of Debauchery.
Now as this Noble Element is the Original Foundation, and Spring-head of all [Page 18] moist Nourishment; therefore it is not to be doubted, but that it is the only drink ordained both for Man and Beast, all other Liquors being not only Inferior, but as it were unnatural and disagreeing; the common Use and Drinking of all fermented Drinks, do generate the Stone, Gout, all Obstructions of the Ureters, Feavers, and a thousand Evils, which are not known in those Countries where the Natives Drink Water; and if English People would be so wise to Drink Water more, especially the Women, great numbers would certainly find the Benefit thereof; by being cured of various Diseases both of the Body and Mind.
This Liquid Region is the Menstrum of the great World, which doth impregnate all things with Vertue, Power, and Strength, and it is the only Moisture that is most agreeable to that digesting Liquor of Man's Sromack called the Menstrum, whose Office it is to temper and digest our Foods, and as Water has no manifest taste or predominate Quality, viz. it is neither Astringent, Salt, Bitter, Sharp, nor Sweet; and therefore it bows and assimilates it self to all things, even as the Menstrum [Page 19] of Man's Stomack to all Foods, for this cause Water being drank after Sweet, Bitter, Salt, or Sharp Food, it still retains its intire natural Taste.
The like is to be understood in Sickness, when the Pallate has lost or forfeited its Taste as to all made Drinks, but still Water is the same as in Health; the Reason is plain, good Water hath in it no extream Qualities, so that it bedues the Body with its mild and friendly Moisture, giving Life and Power by Vertue of the fine, spirituous, thin, sweet, Vapours of the Air, which are the refreshing Zephirus of Nature, and keeps the Elements of the Bodies free from heat and disorders; which renders the Body full of Spirits, brisk, vigorous and sprightly, which pleasant Condition is seldom or never felt by them, that give themselves to the drinking of Strong Liquors; therefore the common use of them are Friends to Vitiousness, and Mortal Enemies to Vertue, and there is nothing doth deprave Mankind, and separate him from God and all goodness more, then the continu-Gormandizing of unclean gross Food, and Guzzelling down Strong Drink into their foolish Hogs-heads.
Strong Drink doth render the Drinkers thereof lyable to all kind of Evil, but Water keeps the Body in due temper, and the Mind Sedate, and fortifying a Man Sedate, and fortifying a Man against many Evils, and makes the Body pleasant, healthful, and fit to discharge all the Functions both of the Body and Mind, for it is the Meats and Drinks that are simple and natural, that renders the Spirits many in Quantity, and fine in Quality, from whence arises lightsomeness to the Body, and Vigour to the Mind.
Of Ponds or Standing-Waters.
Such standing-Waters as are in a kind of springy Grounds are the best, but still much inferior to running-Waters, because they have not the benefit of Motion, nor the like advantage of passing through various Soils. Such Pools or Waters as are chiefly maintained by Rain or Landfloods are better or worse, according as the season is wet or dry; for in dry seasons they not only become thick and slimy, but awaken a gross fulsome Saturnine Quality in the muddy Earth, that [Page 21] suffocates the pure thin spirituous parts; so that such Waters become of a strong gross Earthy taste and smell, which is altogether contrary to the Nature of Water, and such Waters are not wholsome for Men nor Beasts. Some Husbandmen do suppose these Waters to be very good for Cattle to drink, having no other reason but that they will rather drink them than others; which is no reason at all; for this came through Custom and Use; which makes any sort of Water familiar to Nature; and those Cattle that are used to drink Pond-Water, will refuss better Water for that, for two Reasons; First, Because their Stomachs and Pallates are adulterated, and made familiar to it, so that they cannot distinguish the evil taste from the good, Secondly, Because such Pond-Waters are of an hotter and warmer Nature than others, and Cattle used to them will for that very cause refuse others, just as men that accustom themselves to warm Beer cannot drink cold without some trouble to the Mouth and Teeth, though cold Beer and Ale is warmer in Operation, and will more cheer the Stomach, and make the Spirits more [Page 22] brisk than the hot, because no fermented Liquors, whether they be Beer Ale, Cyder or Wine, will admit of the heat of fires, without violence to the pure spirituous parts; they are so volatile, that they will presently evaparate; therefore warm Beer or Ale will sooner become flat than that which has not been warmed; for when the spirituous parts are evaporated or suffocated, the sweet brisk Balsamick Vertue dyes.
But this hot sulpherous Quality in Pond-Water, which through custom most Cattle like, is of an evil Nature and Operation, because the spirituous vapours of the Air cannot so easily penetrate through its gross thickness, whence it dulls the edge of the Appetite and Stomach, breeds gross thick Blood, often is the occasion of many Diseases, and very injurious to the Milk of Cows. Besides, do not Pools and standing-Waters generate various sorts of Vermine and Insects, which is caused through the Contraction of gross thick fulsom Matter for want of Motion, all which running Waters are not subject to.
But although Water be Natures common [Page 23] drink for Man as well as Beasts, yet since now a days Men generally betake themselves to other Liquors, we shall briefly treat of them likewise.
The Excellent Vertues and Ʋses of Cold Water-Gruel made as followeth, viz.
Take one Quart of Water, two small Spoonfuls of New Ground or beaten Oatmeal, stir or brew it well together, then it is done;—This is not only a brave noble exhilerating Drink for general Use, and most agreeable to all Persons, to allay all droughty, hot, feaverish Indispositions; but the constant Use thereof, does not only preserve Mankind from the following Diseases, but Cures them too, when they have already invaded the Body; this cleansing Liquor fortifies the Stomach, fines the Blood, gives it a free Circulation, generates brisk lively Spirits, being a good Remedy against Fumes and Vapours; likewise purgeth powerfully by Urine, prevents and Cures the Gravel, Stone, Gout, and all sorts of Obstructions of the Ureters; and more especially this is an excellent Liquor for Women and Children [Page 24] to make their constant drink, and for such as gives Suck, frees their Milk from heat, Windiness and other Crudities; I could produce many living Testimonies of its success, but it is needless, since every one's Experience that tries it, will soon confirm the Truth of what is here delivered. It is the Consideration of the Publick Good it may do to many thousands that languish under miserable Circumstances as to their Health, that prompts me to Publish the excellent Vertues of this Cleansing Gruel, but whether you will practise or observe these Methods or not, I have done my Duty in offering my Talents that God hath given me, and therefore am satisfied.