_Existence_, as the _Immortality_ of the SOUL. This I esteem a Piece of
the grossest _Impiety_, to think _that_ spiritual Substance _Mortal_ and
_Frail_, which is inspir’d in _Man_ by the Divine _Will_ and _Command_,
proceeding immediately from the very Substance of GOD himself: Since if
Man be made after the _Image_ of GOD, to express his _Similitude_, he
must needs participate of his _Nature_, and consequently be a
_Fellow-Sharer_ of Eternity: And if the _human_ SOUL be Partaker of the
divine _Essence_ or _Substance_, as GOD is _eternal_ and incapable of
_Decay_, so it must needs be _eternal_, and free from all _Corruption_.
MOREOVER, GOD form’d and made all other _Things_ for the sake of _Man_,
but _Him_ he made for his _own sake_, and therefore like unto HIMSELF;
for which reason, he was pleas’d to agglutinate _Immortality_ to
_Mortality_, and _Divinity_ to _Humanity_: By which Means, the _divine_
NATURE incorporates, as it were, with the _human_, and the _human_ is
united to the _divine_.
HENCE we may clearly see how marvellously GOD has been affected towards
us from the _Beginning_; how much he delighted in us, and desired the
entire _Fruition_ and full Enjoyment of our perpetual _Familiarity_, and
eternal _Fellowship_; which _Truth_ Christ[7] (the Wisdom of the
_Father_) confirms by his own _Testimony_.
AND such is still the great Love and Propension of GOD towards _Man_,
that all Things (thro’ his _Grace_) are communicated to _him_ by his
only _SON_;[8] and that more especially because we are conditional
_Sharers_, equal _Inheritors_, and _Joint-Heirs_ with him, agreeable to
the[9] _Apostles Phrase_; and whatever is express’d in _CHRIST_, may
also be in _Man_: Since as _he_ is _eternal_, and lives for ever, so
_Man_ (by his _Grace_ and _Merits_) does the same; for _he_ having
sufficiently bruised _Satan_’s Head, led _Captivity_ Captive, and
conquer’d _Death_, rose again, and became the _Prince_ and _Captain_ of
so glorious a _VICTORY_, that all _Men_, by virtue of that _Triumph_,
might be raised up again at the Last Day, and _that_ to participate of
an IMMORTALITY of _Welfare_ or _Woe_.
[Illustration]
CHAP. V.
_Of the_ FACULTIES _of the SOUL_.
P_lato_, _Alcinous_, and many other learned Men, do agree, that the
_heavenly Spirit’s Composition_, mixing _Fire_, _Air_, _Earth_, and
_Water_, made of them all, put together, _one_ BODY; which they
subjected to the Service of the _SOUL_, assigning the several
_Provinces_ of the _one_, to the sundry _Faculties_ of the _other_: To
the _meaner_ of them, mean and low _Places_; as to _Anger_, the
_Midriff_; to _Lust_, the _Womb_, &c: but to the more _noble Senses_,
the _HEAD_, as the _Tower_ of the whole _Body_.
AS they divide these SENSES into _external_ and _internal_; so they
subdivide the _external Senses_ into _five_: To which are allotted as
many proper _Organs_ or _Subjects_, being so order’d, that they which
are placed in the more eminent _Parts_ of the _Body_, have the greater
Degree of _Purity_.
FOR the _Eyes_, placed in the uppermost part, are the most _pure_, and
have an Affinity with the Nature of _Fire_ and _Light_. The _Ears_ have
the second Order of _Place_ and _Purity_, and are compar’d to the _Air_.
The _Nostrils_ take the third Order, and have a middle Nature betwixt
_Air_ and _Water_. Then the _Organ_ of _Tasting_, which is _grosser_,
and most like to the Nature of _Water_. And, lastly, _Touching_ being
diffus’d through the whole _Body_, is compar’d to the _Grossness_ of
_Earth_.
AND of these, the more _pure SENSES_, are those which perceive their
_Objects_ farthest off; as first _Seeing_, then _Hearing_, then
_Smelling_, which are all more pure than _Taste_, which doth not
perceive but what is _nigh_: whereas the _Touch_ perceives _both Ways_;
it perceives _Bodies nigh_: And as _Sight_ discerns by the _Medium_ of
the _Air_; so the _Touch_ perceives, by the _Medium_ of a _Pole_, Bodies
_hard_, _soft_, _dry_, _moist_, &c.
NOW this Sense of _Touching_, is common indeed to all _Animals_:
However, ’tis certain that _Man_, in this, as well as in the Sense of
_Tasting_, excels all others: whereas, in the other _three_, he is
exceeded by some _Brutes_, as by a _Dog_, which _hears_, _sees_, and
_smells_ much more acutely than MAN. Besides, the _Lynx_, and _Eagle_,
see more acutely than _Man_, or any other _Creature_ in the World.
AS to the _interiour SENSES_, they are (according to _Averroes_) divided
into _Four_; whereof the _first_ is called the _Common Sense_, because
it collects and perfects such _Representations_ as are drawn-in by the
_external SENSES_. The _second_ is the _Imaginative Faculty_, which
retains those receiv’d _Representations_, and presents them to the
_third Faculty_ of _internal SENSE_; which is call’d the _Cogitative
Faculty_, _Phantasy_, or _Power_ of _Judging_: Because it perceives and
judges by the _Representations_ received, what Nature or Kind of Thing
that is, of which the _Representations_ are made; and commits those
_Things_ thus discerned and adjudged, to the _fourth Faculty_ of _Inward
SENSE_, the _Memory_, to be kept there, and retain’d by it.
AND these _Four SENSES_ have their respective _Organs_ in the _Head_:
_Common Sense_ and _Imagination_ possess the two former _Cells_ of the
BRAIN, as the _Cogitative Faculty_ doth the highest, and middle Part of
the _Head_; the _Memory_ taking up the hindmost Part thereof.
THE _Organs_ of SPEECH and VOICE are as many as the inward _Muscles_ of
the THORAX, betwixt the _Ribs_, _Breasts_, _Lungs_, _Arteries_,
_Wind-pipe_, the Bending of the _Tongue_, and all Parts and _Muscles_,
serving for Respiration, or Breathing: But the proper and immediate
_Organ_ of SPEECH, is the _Mouth_, in which are fram’d _Words_ and
_Sentences_, by the _Tongue_, _Teeth_, _Palate_, _Lips_, &c. above the
_sensitive_ SOUL, which expresseth its _Powers_ by the _Organs_ of the
Body. The _incorporeal Mind_ possesseth the highest Place, and hath a
_double Nature_; the _one_ called the _Contemplative_, the _other_ the
_Active Intellect_, because of their respective _Faculties_.
ACCORDING to the _three-fold Order_ of its Faculties there are _three
APPETITES_ in the SOUL. The _first_ is _natural_, which is an
Inclination of Nature unto its End. The _second_ is _Animal_, which is
divided into _irascible_ and _concupiscible_, relating to _Anger_ and
_Desire_. The _third_ is _intellective_, and is call’d the WILL; which
(from its own deprav’d Quality) is affected with _four PASSIONS_, as the
_Body_ sometimes also is. The _first_ is called _Oblectation_; the
_second_, _Effusion_; the _third_, _Ostentation_; the _fourth_, and
last, is what we commonly call ENVY. And
THESE _four PASSIONS_ arising from a deprav’d _APPETITE_ of _Pleasure_;
its _Grief_ or _Perplexity_ doth occasion as many contrary _PASSIONS_:
viz. _Horror_, _Sadness_, _Fear_, and _Sorrow_ at another’s _Good_,
without its own _Hurt_; which is call’d ENVY, being a _Sadness_ at
another’s _Prosperity_, as _Pity_ is a certain kind of _Sadness_ at
another’s _Misery_ or _Adversity_.
BUT not to insist on these _Topicks_, I shall only add a few Words upon
the _PASSIONS of the Mind_; which are nothing else than certain
_Motions_ or _Inclinations_, proceeding from the _Apprehension_ of any
Thing, as of _Good_ or _Evil_, &c.
THESE APPREHENSIONS are of three different Sorts, _viz._ _Sensual_,
_Rational_, and _Intellectual_. And according to _them_, there are
_three_ Sorts of PASSIONS in the _Soul_; the _first_, following the
_sensual_ APPREHENSION, respects a temporal _Good_ or _Evil_, under the
Notion of _Profit_ or _Loss_, _Defence_ or _Offence_, &c: and they are
called _Natural_ or _Animal Passions_.
THE _second_ following the _Rational_ APPREHENSION, respects _Good_ or
_Bad_, under the Notion of _Virtue_ or _Vice_, _Praise_ or _Disgrace_,
&c: and they are called _Rational_ or _Voluntary Passions_.
THE _third_, following the _Intellectual_ APPREHENSION, respects _Good_
or _Evil_, under the Notion of _Truth_ or _Falsehood_, _Justice_ or
_Injustice_, &c: and this Sort is call’d _Intellectual Passions_.
BUT these _three_ different Sorts proceed all from the _Energy_ of the
SOUL; which is divided into _Concupiscible_ and _Irascible_, both
respecting _Good_ and _Evil_, tho’ under different Notions: which
Division affords us _eleven_ PASSIONS of the Mind, _viz._ _Love_,
_Hatred_, _Desire_, _Horror_, _Joy_, _Grief_, _Hope_, _Despair_,
_Boldness_, _Fear_, and _Anger_; all which might be particularly
defin’d: But as _that_ is more the _Philosopher_’s than the
_Physician_’s Business, I shall proceed to that which is more strictly
my _Province_.
[Illustration]
CHAP. VI.
_Of the_ HUMANE BODY.
BESIDES what has been said in the preceding _Chapters_, touching the
_SOUL_, its _Powers_ and _Faculties_; when we duly consider the
beautiful _Form_ and amiable _Figure_ of the BODY, so nicely adapted to
the sublime _Qualities_ of the SOUL, with its curious _Structure_, and
majestick _Stature_, erected to _Heaven_, whither its natural Tendency
leads; besides the proportionable _Symmetry_ and exact _Commensuration_
of all its _Parts_: Surely we cannot, I hope, without the greatest
Amazement, contemplate and admire the incomparable _Art_, and
incomprehensible _Skill_, of the great ARTIFICER: And with magnificent
_David_[10], break out in _Eulogies_ of Praise, and ardent
_Exclamations_ of Love and Admiration.
BUT more especially: _first_, when we distinctly view the slender
_Filaments_, the minute _Vessels_, the elaborate _Contextures_, and
various _Configurations_ of the different ORGANS of this BODY.
_Secondly_, When we duly consider the Power of its natural _Faculties_,
the Situation of the _Entrails_, the Rise of the _Nerves_ from the
_Brain_, the Ducts or Conduits of the _Arteries_ from the _Heart_, and
the Original of the _Veins_ from the _Liver_. _Thirdly_, When we call to
remembrance, and ponder what I have been hinting upon, to wit, the
_Power_ of the natural _Faculties_ of the SOUL, by which they execute
their relative _Functions_; besides, the _Ætherial Spirit_ (the Seat and
Vehicle of our _natural Heat_) dividing it self into a _three-fold
Diversity_, and appropriating to itself as many _Residences_, viz. the
_Animal_ in the _Brain_, the _Vital_ in the _Heart_, and the _Natural_
Spirit in the _Liver_: And then again, how these _three_, by a
Fomentation of _native Heat_, and _nutritious Humours_, cherish and
refresh the whole BODY supplying every _Part_ with requisite Strength
and Vigour. _Fourthly_, When at last we contemplate that Piece of
incomprehensible _Artifice_, which gives a respective _Species_ and
_Form_ to every particular _Part_, and implants a peculiar _Faculty_ in
every distinct _Member_, inducing such an Excellency into the whole
BODY; that is, the _Formation_ and _Delineation_ of the FOETUS in the
_Womb_.
THIS is such a great and curious _Master-piece_, that all _Others_, as
well as the _Physician_, will find it not only their _Duty_, but also
their great Satisfaction and Pleasure, to know and examine into this
inimitable MACHINE of the divine _Architect_.
THE great _Galen_ was converted at a _Dissection_, and durst not but
acknowledge a _Supreme Being_, upon that Survey of his admirable
_Handy-work_; saying,[11] “_How much is it our special Duty therefore to
admire the Wisdom and Providence of the Workman? Since, tho’ it is far
more easy to set forth in Words the Beginning of Things, than to form
the Work; yet our Expressions and Words fall so much short of the Wisdom
of him that made us, that we are not able to explain, what gave him so
little trouble to make._”
AND as _this_ was a Man who had not been too _devout_, so if the most
_Profligate_ would seriously weigh and consider the elegant
_Constitution_ of such a vast Variety of different _Textures_, the
Nicety of these _Organical Works_, the Curiosity of these
_Embroideries_, and the Exactitude of these _Figures_, which appear and
seem rather to be fitted for Admiration than Use; they would readily
conclude with that great _Naturalist_, that these Things are the evident
_Characteristicks_ of some divine and omnipotent POWER, in that they are
no ways to be accounted for by such _natural Causes_, as may be thought
sufficient to explain the _Phænomena_ of ignobler Beings.
THIS BODY, therefore, being the Vessel and Receptacle of the SOUL, the
Engine and Instrument, in and through which it operates; I judge it to
be our incumbent _Duty_, to take special Care, and nice Observation of
both SOUL and BODY: Since (in this Life) the _one_ cannot consist
without the _other_, or discharge its respective _Offices_; the _one_
always requiring the _Ministry_ and _Assistance_ of the _other_, which
the _omniscient_ ARTIFICER has so wisely ordered and ordained from all
Eternity.
HOWEVER yet, I cannot agree with St. _Cyprian_, that the animated and
sensible Body is only used by the SOUL, as mechanical _Instruments_ are
by the _Workman_; since I think a more proper _Simile_ may be drawn from
the _Sun_ and _Moon_: For tho’ the _Moon_ borrows LIGHT of the _Sun_,
she is not altogether devoid of such a _Power_ or _Influence_ as is
proper to herself, being guided and sustained by a _peculiar Motion_,
whilst she absolves her _own Circle_; taking LIGHT from the _Sun_, no
otherways than as a _Looking-Glass_, polish’d _Brass_, or _Copper_,
takes Splendor or _Refulgency_ from an opposite _Fire_ or _Light_: For
notwithstanding she exhibits no _Light_, unless illuminated by the
_Sun_; however yet, she is not idle or desidious in accomplishing her
_monthly Course_, and measuring her own _Space_ of the Heavens, and that
without any Assistance of the _Sun_. So the SOUL invigorates and affords
Strength to the BODY, which however is not altogether without its own
implanted _Faculties_ and natural _Powers_; the _four Qualities_ of
_Humours_, with which ev’ry BODY abounds, capacitating and adapting it
to all Things within its own _Sphere_.
FARTHER, as the _Sun_ suffers ECLIPSES, and is obscured by the
Intervention of the _Moon_; and the _Moon_ again (in like manner) is
eclipsed and obscured by the Objection or Interposition of the _Earth_,
the _Sun_ always running thro’ the _Ecliptick Line_ in the same Degree,
and the Moon in _opposite Degrees_: So BODY and SOUL are subject to
their own Impediments and _Eclipses_; sometimes _defending_, and
sometimes _offending_ one another; both _sympathizing_ mutually, and
_participating_ equally of one another’s _Portion_. As it is evident
from the very Words of our _dying_ SAVIOUR, who, by reason of his Human
Weakness, broke out into these[12]Words, _My Soul is exceeding
sorrowful, even unto Death_: Which _Death_, in the next _Verse_, he, in
a manner, deprecates of the FATHER. For though he was not yet insulted,
or laid hands upon, yet his whole _Mind_ and _Thoughts_ running upon his
approaching _Danger_, he was seiz’d with such Horror and Trepidity, as
express’d a _bloody Sweat_, which streamed from his _whole Body_: so
that the Acerbity of his _Grief_ must (of consequence) have been
communicated to _both Parts_; and beginning in the SOUL, did thence
redound into the BODY.
HENCE arises a rational and natural _Argument_, that as SOUL and BODY do
not only _act_ in and thro’ one another, but also _suffer_ mutually,
always _sympathizing_ with each other, and bearing equal _Share_ in the
_Troubles_, _Misfortunes_, and _Inquietudes_ of this Life; and that as
they _both_ inseparably constitute the MAN: So, by reason of that
natural _Sympathy_, and proximous _Affinity_, as the SOUL enjoys
_Immortality_, the renew’d BODY (by the Mystery of the RESURRECTION)
will be a future _Partaker_ of the _same Reward_; and consequently the
_whole Man_ must enjoy _one_ and the _same State_ of _Beatitude_; or
_otherways_, as he shall have promerited. Whence I proceed to
[Illustration]
CHAP. VII.
_Of the Formation of the_ EMBRYO.
THE _spirituous Substance_ of both SEEDS, by its own generative and
active _Qualities_, in a well disposed WOMB, produceth a small
_Consistence_ within the Space of _Seven Days_, call’d the GENITURA;
which contains three[13] _Bullæ_ (so term’d by _Physicians_)
superlatively MINUTE, design’d for the _three Spermatick Members_: The
_one_ containing the purer Part of the _Seed_, full of _Vital Spirit_,
for the _Heart_; the _other_, the more thick and pinguid Part, full of
_Natural Spirit_, for the _Liver_; and the _third_, the more cold and
crude Part, full of _Animal Spirit_, for the _Brain_.
ACCORDING to[14] _Hippocrates_’s Definition of the GENITURA, it appears
the _likest_ of any Thing to a raw immature EGG, inclosing a certain red
_Liquor_, with some pale-colour’d _Fibres_, of the finest _Contexture_,
not unlike the _Filaments_ of a small _Spider’s Web_, wrap’d up with the
said red thick BLOOD in the _Pellicule_.
BUT in this place I must farther observe, that the abovesaid _spirituous
Substance_, in which the effective Virtue of CONCEPTION resides, is
endued with _four_ distinct _Faculties_, which perfect as _many_
different _Operations_, all subordinately effected in the _Constitution_
of the CONCEPTION, _viz_.
I. THE _animatïve_ or _vivificating_ Faculty of the MENSTRUUM, called by
some the first _Constitutive Faculty_ of _Conception_, operating, as
above, in _Seven Days_; which is otherwise term’d the Time of
_Spumification_, _Lactation_, or _Coagulation_.
II. THE _separative_ or _severing Faculty_ of the Parts of the grosser
_Materials_ of the _Conception_, destinated for the respective
_Constitution_ of the different _Organical Members_; which, being the
Work of the next _Eight_ or _Ten Days_, is perfected about the 15th or
17th _Day_ from CONCEPTION; and this is called the Time of _Lineation_
or _Ramification_, when the GENITURA receives the Name of EMBRYO.
III. THE _collocative_ or _ordinating Faculty_ of all the severed
material Parts of the different _Members_, disposing and placing them
according to the _Law of Nature_, in due Order, Figure, and Situation;
which, happening the following[15] _Twelve_ or _Fifteen Days_, about the
27th or 32d Day from _Conception_, is called the Time of
_Carnification_; when the Embryo receives the Name of FOETUS.
NOW according to the Maxims of _Astrology_, as all _inferiour Bodies_
are govern’d and influenced by _Superiours_, so the _Seven Planets_ have
Dominion over the _Man_, not only from the Day of _Birth_, but also from
the Moment of _Conception_; yet not _All_ at one and the same Time, but
every _one_ in their _Order_, reigning each its _peculiar Month_.
According to which Principles, SATURN reigns the _first_ Month,
suppeditating the humid and liquid _Substance_ of the GENITURA and
EMBRYO, through his frigid and siccid _Quality’s_ due _Coagulation_ for
generating the _Man_; by virtue of whose _Siccity_ the _uterine
Retentions_ also happen.
IV. THE _formative_ and _figurating Faculty_ of all the _Members_ of the
Body, imparting their respective _Shape_, _Figure_, and natural _Form_,
to every particular _one_; which being the Work of the next _Eight_ to
_Eighteen Days_, is perfected about the 35th, to the 50th Day from
CONCEPTION, and is called the Time of _coarticulate Formation_, when the
FOETUS, or CYEMA, is stil’d _Infant_.
AND in this, the _second Month_, JUPITER is supposed to exert his Power
in the _Seed_, by his calid and humid _Qualities_; and thereby to vivify
the _Spirits_, strengthen the _Members_, and give Augmentation and
Growth to the whole FOETUS: So that the _interior Members_ are not[16]
only conspicuous, but also _Legs_ and _Arms_ appear perfectly
delineated, and are (at this time) distinctly _visible_; when also the
_Head_ takes its Distance from the _Shoulders_, the _Arms_ from the
_Sides_, and the _Legs_ are plainly parted.
BUT, however, the above-mention’d _Four remarkable Times_ may be also
thus distinguished; _viz._ The _first_ perfects the Work of
_Spumification_ and _Coagulation_; the _second_ the _Vegetative_; the
_third_ the _Sensitive_; and the _fourth_ begins the _Rational
Operation_: Altho’ _this_ cannot yet be discern’d, because of the
_Redundancy_ of HUMOURS.
FROM the beginning of this _Chapter_, ’tis evident that the more
_noble_, or _three chief Parts_ take the _first beginning_ to FORMATION,
tho’ perhaps last _perfected_, which forthwith distribute their
respective _Branches_ to the whole _Body_; as the HEART sends forth the
_Arteries_, the LIVER the _Veins_, and the BRAIN the _Spinal Marrow_,
with all their other _Dependencies_: And according to _Aristotle_, (who
says, _there must be a different_ MATTER _to every different_ FORM); So
indeed every distinct _Part_ of the Body is _form’d_ of a different
Substance, according to the different _Nature_ and singular
_Disposition_ of every particular _Part_.
HOWEVER, I shall not here pretend to go much farther in describing the
FORMATION, it being more the _Philosopher’s_ than the _Physician’s_
Business: But whatever farther Progress _others_ may attempt, I judge it
a most difficult and ambiguous Matter; for who can be so well vers’d in
those _Indiscoverables_? Or, who can pretend to know sufficiently what
is done in those _Obscurities_? The _Series of Nature_ being profounder
than our _Understandings_, is consequently above our nicest and exactest
_Scrutinies_: Which Consideration makes me astonished at the _Logical
Dissertations_ that some Men offer on these _Principles_, even on the
most minute _Particles_, and smallest _Proportions_, rashly and
inconsiderately assigning every respective _one_ of these, a _precise
definite Time_ for their FORMATION.
I HAVE often been inclin’d to think, that such SCIOLISTS have not read,
or at least not consider’d the Words of the[17] _Preacher_; _As thou
knowest not what is the Way of the_ SPIRIT, _nor how the Bones do grow
in the Womb of her that is with Child; even so thou knowest not the
Works of_ GOD _that maketh all_. Neither do I find that the wise[18]
_Hebrean_ ever enter’d upon such _Syllogisms_, who (to the contrary)
testifies that _the Counsel of_ GOD _is not to be known_; _that our
Thoughts are miserable, and our Devices uncertain_. Upon which
Authority, I say, in this Case, as _that Labour_ is commendable which
can be compar’d to _Possibilities_, so to dive into those _Things_,
which exceed our _Judgments_, and admit of no possible _Comparison_, is
nothing better than _Folly_. Wherefore All that is further requisite, or
possible for us, is to contemplate and admire the _Greatness_ and
_Elegancy_, the _Sublimity_ and _Profundity_ of this wonderful and
amazing Work of FORMATION; which _Subject_ (we find) hath been the
frequent Contemplation of _the Royal Prophet_[19], particularly
expressing himself, in the most eloquent and sublime Terms, according to
the _divine Light_ of his illuminated Understanding: Saying, _Thou hast
possessed my Reins: Thou hast ordered me in my Mother’s Womb. I will
praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvellous are thy
Works, and that my Soul knoweth right well. My Substance was not hid
from thee, tho’ I was made in secret, and curiously fashioned in the
lowest Parts of the Earth. Thine Eyes did see my Bones, yet being
imperfect; and in thy Book were all my Members written; which Day by Day
were formed, when as yet there was none of them._ Whence I proceed in
order, to
[Illustration]
CHAP. VIII.
_Of the Animation of the FOETUS._
THE _human Fœtus_ being duly form’d and organiz’d about the 50th Day at
the latest, as we observed in the preceeding _Chapter_, it remains to be
_animated_, and that with a three-fold SOUL, _viz._ a _vegetative_, a
_sensitive_, and a _rational Soul_.