The life of Aromaticall things, _viz._ of Muske, Amber Gryse, Civet, and whatsoever yeelds a strong, good, and sweet smell is nothing else but that gratefull odour: for if they lose this they are dead and of no use. [Sidenote: The life of sweet things.] The life of sweet things, as of Sugar, Honey, Manna, Cassia, and such like is in their tinging, and subtile sweetnesse, for if that sweetnesse bee taken from them by distilling, or subliming they are dead, unprofitable, and nothing worth. [Sidenote: The life of Rozzens.] The life of all Rozzens, as Amber, Turpentine, Gumme, is the muciliginous shining fatnesse, which gives that excellent vernish to them all: for when they will yeeld no more vernish, and lose their shining, they are dead. [Sidenote: The life of Plants.] The life of Hearbs, Roots, Apples, and other such like fruit, is nothing else but the liquor of the Earth, which they lose of their own accord, if they do but want water, and Earth. [Sidenote: The life of Wood.] The life of Wood is a certaine Rozzen, for any wood if it want Rozzen can live no longer. [Sidenote: The life of Bones.] The life of Bones is the liquor of Mummie. [Sidenote: The life of flesh.] The life of flesh, and blood is nothing else but the spirit of Salt, which preserves them from stinking, and putrefaction, and is of it selfe as water separated from them. [Sidenote: The life of every Element.] Now concerning the life of Elements, you must know that the life of Water is its running. For when by the coldnesse of the Firmament it is congealed into ice, it is dead, and its mischievousnesse is taken from it, that nobody can bee drowned in it. [Sidenote: What the life of Fire is.] The life of Fire is Aire, for Aire makes fire burne with greater vehemency, and heate: Also there cometh forth from all Fire a kind of Aire, which will blow out a candle, and drives up a feather, as you may dayly see before your eyes. Wherefore the flame of Fire is choaked if it bee so stopt up, that it can neither receive in Aire, and let out its own Aire. [Sidenote: What the life of Aire is.] The Aire lives by, and of it selfe, and gives life to all other things. [Sidenote: What the life of Earth is.] The earth of it selfe is dead, but the Element of it is an invisible, and secret life. [Illustration: *decorative divider*] OF THE NATVRE Of Things. _THE FIFTH BOOK._ _Of the Death, or ruine of all things._ [Sidenote: What Death is.] [Sidenote: The preparation of Mercury Sulphur and Antimony.]