IX. This may be demonstrated, upon the same principle the antecedent paradox was; remove for any length of time, the interposition of any extrinsic agent that may contribute to warm the water, and it will always be found to be solid, that is, in a frozen state. This then being so, we may conclude, that is the state it is disposed to continue in agreeable to its nature. This is evinced by the sea under the Poles, and in the adjacent parts, being, during the whole six months the sun is absent from them, frozen to such a degree, that after the sun has revisited them, and continued its influence for the other six months, it is never totally thawed; and it is for this reason, that it has always been found impracticable to sail to China by that rout. X. The water being under this influence, is a proof _ad hominem_, that it cannot, agreeable to the doctrine of Aristotle, be cold in the highest degree, for if that was the case it must ever continue in a frozen state; so that we can only say, that by its nature it is most disposed to solidity. XI. Frozen water being easily made liquid by a moderate heat, is no proof that it is not naturally inclined to solidity. Metals may be liquified by an intense heat, but that does not shew that they are not of a solid nature; and a thing being more easily, or with more difficulty dissolved, makes no difference with respect to this mode of reasoning; and therefore the water being made liquid with a less intense heat, than is found necessary to liquify metals, does not prove, that it is not disposed in its nature to be solid as well as them. PARADOX IV. _Either all Qualities are occult, or none of them are so._ SECT. IV. XII. The school philosophers call all those qualities occult, which are not reckoned among the four elemental ones, and which do not result from the various combinations of these elemental ones, because they suppose their operations move in a line superior to those which may be supposed to proceed from humidity, dryness, cold, heat, hardness, softness, colour, favour, &c. And although it is true, that some by pursuing the system of assigning second qualities, which result from the various combinations of the first; or third qualities, resulting from the various combinations of the second; and among these third, have placed the wonderful virtues of the load-stone, the operation of purges, and others of those which they call occult, and which by these means they have attempted to reduce to manifest ones; this mode of proceeding, has been abandoned by the generality of philosophers, and with reason; for it is very clear, that combine, and recombine, the qualities of humidity, dryness, heat, and cold, in what way you will, you will not be able to find out, that they are capable of directing the load-stone to the Pole, or of causing it to attract iron.