_MADAM,_
To conclude my discourse upon the Opinions of these two famous and
learned Authors, which I have hitherto sent you in several Letters,
I could not chuse but repeat the ground of my own opinions in this
present; which I desire you to observe well, lest you mistake any
thing, whereof I have formerly discoursed. First I am for self-moving
matter, which I call the sensitive and rational matter, and the
perceptive and architectonical part of nature, which is the life and
knowledg of nature. Next I am of an opinion, That all Perception is
made by corporeal, figuring self-motions, and that the perception of
forreign objects is made by patterning them out: as for example, The
sensitive perception of forreign objects is by making or taking copies
from these objects, so as the sensitive corporeal motions in the eyes
copy out the objects of sight, and the sensitive corporeal motions in
the ears copy out the objects of sound; the sensitive corporeal motions
in the nostrils, copy out the objects of sent; the sensitive corporeal
motions in the tongue and mouth, copy out the objects of taste, and
the sensitive corporeal motions in the flesh and skin of the body copy
out the forreign objects of touch; for when you stand by the fire, it
is not that the fire, or the heat of the fire enters your flesh, but
that the sensitive motions copy out the objects of fire and heat. As
for my Book of Philosophy, I must tell you, that it treats more of the
production and architecture of Creatures then of their perceptions, and
more of the causes then the effects, more in a general then peculiar
way, which I thought necessary to inform you of, and so I remain,
Madam,
_Your faithful Friend_
_and Servant._