_MADAM,_
Your _Author_ in the continuation of his discourse concerning the
Immaterial Soul of Man, demonstrating, that her seat is not bound up
in a certain place of the body, but that she pervades all the body and
every part thereof, takes, amongst the rest, an argument from Passions
and Sympathies: _Moreover_, says he,[1] _Passions and Sympathies, in my
judgment, are more easily to be resolved into this hypothesis of the
Soul's pervading the whole Body, then in restraining its essential
presence to one part thereof.--But it is evident that they arise in us
against both our will and appetite; For who would bear the tortures
of fears and jelousies, if he could avoid it?_ Concerning Passions,
_Madam_, I have given my opinion at large in my Book of Philosophy, and
am of your _Authors_ mind, that Passions are made in the Heart, but not
by an Immaterial spirit, but by the Rational soul which is material;
and there is no doubt, but that many Passions, as Fear, Jealousie &c.
arise against our will and appetite; for so may forreign Nations invade
any Kingdom without the will or desire of the Inhabitants, and yet
they are corporeal men: The same may be said of Passions; and several
parts of matter may invade each other, whereof one may be afraid of
the other, yet all this is but according as corporeal matter moves,
either Generally, or Particularly: Generally, that is, when many parts
of Matter unite or joyn together, having the like appetites, wills,
designs; as we may observe, that there are general agreements amongst
several parts, in Plagues, as well as Wars, which Plagues are not
onely amongst Men, but amongst Beasts; and sometimes but in one sort
of animals, as a general Rot amongst Sheep, a general Mange amongst
Dogs, a general Farcy amongst Horses, a general Plague amongst Men;
all which could not be without a general Infection, one part infecting
another, or rather one part imitating the motions of the other, that
is next adjoyning to it; for such infections come by the neer adhesion
of parts, as is observable, which immaterial and individable natural
Spirits could not effect; that is, to make such a general infection in
so many several parts of so many several Creatures, to the Creatures
dissolution: Also there will be several Invasions at one time, as
Plague, and War, amongst neighbouring and adjoining Creatures or Parts.
But this is to be observed, That the sensitive corporeal motions make
all diseases, and not the Rational, although the Rational are many
times the occasion, that the sensitive do move into such or such a
disease; for all those that are sick by conceit, their sicknesses
are caused by the rational corporeal motions. But being loth to make
tedious repetitions hereof, having discoursed of diseases, and passions
in my mentioned Book of _Philosophy_, I will refer you thither, and
rest,
Madam,
_Your Faithful Friend_
_and Servant._
[1] _Immort. of the Soul. Book_ 2. _c._ 10