Chapter 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

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_.

THE _First_ of which, according to the most learned _Fortunius[20] Licetus_, &c. may be ascribed to the MOTHER, as chiefly proceeding from the Power of her _Menstruum_. The _Second_ may (by the same Authority) be ascribed to the _Power_ and _Spirit_ of the _Paternal Seed_; but it is the more generally received Opinion, that the _vegetative Soul_ is generated from the _Commixture_ of both Seeds with the _Menstruum_, and therefore as much to be ascribed to the _one_, as to the _other_, PARENT: And that also the _sensitive SOUL_ proceeds from the proper _natural Faculty_ of the organiz’d _Fœtus_, as the _rational SOUL_ doth from the immediate _Infusion_ of the great CREATOR. Touching which _Infusion_, I desire not to meddle with the _Controversy_ that has so long subsisted betwixt _Philosophers_ and _Divines_: Only as I have noted in _Chap._ iv. the Opinion of the greatest _Masters of Nature_; so if, in _this_, we could, from the Dictates of _Faith_ and _Religion_, as well as from the Maxims of _natural Philosophy_, set the Matter in a clearer _Light_, I humbly presume it would not be _disagreeable_: Since the _Principles_ of EITHER, taken separately, are in themselves _mysterious_, and can never be fully comprehended by _some_; whereas, _both_ taken jointly, I mean, the Arguments of the _one_, to reinforce the Positions of the _other_, may be satisfactory to _all_.

IN order to which, I _first_ observe; That the _Influx_ of celestial Bodies exerts its Power very efficaciously in all _Sublunaries_ and _Inferiours_. Hence, touching the _four Humours_ of our Bodies, MARS is thought to excite the _yellow Bile_, as SATURN exasperates _Melancholy_; and LUNA to encrease _Phlegm_, as SOL and JUPITER govern the _Blood_.

SECONDLY, I observe, That the Power and _Influence_ of the PLANETS lies effectually in _Metals_, _Stones_, _Gems_, _Herbs_, _Roots_, and all _Subterranean Bodies_; as _Gold_, _Silver_, _Copper_, _Iron_, _Tin_, _Lead_, and whatever is contained in the _Bowels of the Earth_, whether it tend to _Use_ or _Necessity, Profit_ or _Pleasure_; the _Virtues_ and _Increase_ of them all proceeding from their _peculiar_ STARS.

THIS we may easily conceive, by considering that GOD, who made all things for his singular, great, and good Ends, would never have exhibited to us such a fair and spacious _Heaven_, such a _Course_, _Order_, _Continuation_, and _Series_ of STARS to delight and feed our _Eyes_, like an empty _Shadow_, or an idle _Picture_: But, to the contrary, the _Trees_, the _Roots_, the _Branches_, the _Seas_, the _Rivers_, the _Streams_, and whatever runs thro’ the Veins of the _Earth_, or graces the Surface of _Sea_ or _Land_; yea, whatever is, or may be distinguished by the Variety of _Things_ or _Names_, together with our _Bodies_, and their implanted _Humours_, HE subjected to the _Heavens_, that they might perceive some superiour _Impulse_, _Motion_, and _Agitation_ from the STARS, and experience the Utility of their _Effects_.

HENCE the learned _Arabians_ ascribed the _Bodies_, _Actions_, and _Dispositions_ of Men to STARS and SIGNS: As _Proclus_ teacheth, that _Superiours_ and _Inferiours_ are manifestly _one_ in the _other_. But these _Inferiours_ are defin’d, some to be SOLAR, others LUNAR; on which the SUN and MOON make strong _Impressions_, like those of the STARS and SIGNS they are under. In reference to which, they distribute the _human Body_ among the _Planets_ and _Signs_ of the ZODIACK; and most ingeniously demonstrate, that as the _Triplicities_ of those _Signs_ answer one another, and agree in _Celestials_, so they also concur in the _Members of the_ BODY; which Observation, daily _Experience_ also confirms. As for example: By a _Coldness_ of the FEET, the _Belly_ and _Breast_ are affected; and these _Members_ answering to the same _Triplicity_, any proper _Medicine_ apply’d to the _one_, helps the _other_; as by warming the _Feet_, the Pain of the _Belly_ ceaseth.

WHEREFORE, if we consider the many _occult Qualities_, and _secret Influences_ of celestial Bodies, besides these _three_ which are manifest to us, namely, _Heat_, _Light_, and _Motion_, we shall readily and rationally agree with _Astrologers_, as well as _Philosophers_, in this Point; that the _celestial Bodies_ concur with other _natural Causes_, in the regular _Procession_ of all the different Steps of the _Conformation_ and _Constitution_ of human CONCEPTION.

MOREOVER, in the Work of _Animation_, they concur not only _physically_, but _efficiently_; not as formal, final, or material _Causes_, but meerly by _Action_; upon which Great _Efficient_, all other _Causes_ depend. And yet they concur _efficiently_ not as the only particular, immediate, and proximous _Agents_, but as the common remote, physical _Agents_, moving _physically_. Now this _Aristotle_ also plainly teacheth, saying; that, “As this _inferiour World_ hath Existence from _superiour Beings_, so all worldly Existences must necessarily be ordered and directed by _those_, as the common _efficient Cause_ of all _Sub-celestials_.”

BUT I would farther observe, that the only ACTION of _those Bodies_ in this Work, is to dispose and govern all proper, special, and singular _Causes_ pertaining to _Nature_, preserving them _physically_; that is, by their _Motion_, _Light_, and _Heat_.

THE reason I call _those Bodies_ the remote, not the proximous _Agents_ in the Work, is, because they do not in _Substance_, _Motion_, or _Light_, immediately reach or touch the FOETUS; but only, by their secret _Qualities_ and _Influences_, extended to these inferiour ORBS, penetrate through, and affect the WOMB, tho’ never so closely shut up: By which means, the _Spirit_ and _Power_ of the SEEDS, the _Faculties_ of the _Womb_, and all concurring _Causes_ are fomented, govern’d, promoted, preserv’d, and determin’d.

HOWEVER, in this _Constitution_, (whatever _natural Causes_ may be advanc’d) the great GOD is indisputably and undeniably the prime and principal _Efficient_: for all other _Causes_, whether proximous or remote, without his _Concurrence_, would be but vain and insufficient, for the following Reasons.

I. HE is the only primary AGENT, not _physical_, because not acting _physically_; not operating by _Motion_, because _immoveable_: but without _Motion_, and all other _physical Helps_, he powerfully and clearly displays HIMSELF, most eminently officiating by his own _All-sufficiency_, and Appointment of _Nature_.

II. HE likewise, as the prime, common, remote, and physical CAUSE, governs and directs all _other secundary Causes_ supereminently, which are subjected to, and dependent upon HIMSELF; in constituting, organizing, and fomenting the _CONCEPTION_.