Aristotle [pseud.]

Aristotle's Masterpiece, or, The Secrets of Generation Displayed in all the Parts Thereof

London

Printed for W.B. and are to be sold by most booksellers in London and Westminster

1694

"For although the Soul is said to reside in one place, it operates in every part, exercising every Member, which are the Souls Instruments, by which she manifesteth her power; but if it so happen, that any of the Organical parts are out of Tune, the work is confused."

It has caused many disputes amongst the Learned, especially Philosophers, in what part of the Body the Soul chooses to reside; and some have given their Opinion, that its residence is in the middle of the Heart, and from thence communicates its self to every part; which Solomon, in the Fourth of his Proverbs, seems to assert, when he says, Keep thy Heart with all thy diligence, because Life proceedeth there from : but many curious Physicians searching the Works of Nature in Man's Anatomy, &c. do give it as their Opinion, that its chief Seat is in the Brain, from whence proceed the Senses, Faculties and Actions, diffusing the operation of the Soul, through all parts of the Body, whereby it is enlivened with heat and force; but it doth communicate particular force to the Heart by Arteries, Carotides, or sleepy Arteries, that part upon the Throat; the which, if they happen to be broke, or cut, cause Barrenness, and if stopped, an Apoplexy; for there must necessarily be some ways, thro' which, the Spirits Animal and Vital, may have intercourse, and convey Native Heat from the Soul. For although the Soul is said to reside in one place, it operates in every part, exercising every Member, which are the Souls Instruments, by which she manifesteth her power; but if it so happen, that any of the Organical parts are out of Tune, the work is confused, as it may appear in case of Idiots, Mad-men, &c. Though in some of them, the Soul by forcibly working, recovers her supernatural vigour, and they become right, after a long dispondency of Mind, and in some it is lost in this Life: For as Fire under Ashes, nor the Sun obscured from our sight by thick Clouds, afford not their full lustre, so the Soul overwhelmed in moist or faulty matter, is darkned, and Reason thereby overclouded; and altho' Reason shines less in Children, than in those that are arrived to maturity, yet no Man must imagine that the Soul is an Infant, and grows up with the Child, for then would it again decay; but it suits it self to the weakness of Nature, and the imbecility of Body, wherein it is placed, that it may the better operate. And as the Body is more and more capable of receiving its influence, so it shews its self in its proper lustre, having force and endowments at the time it enters the former Child in the Womb, for the substance of it can receive nothing less: and thus much to prove that the Soul comes not from the Parents, but is infused by God. And the next thing now to be handled is its Immortality, and thereby I shall demonstrate the certainty of its Resurrection.
(pp. 36-8)

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Aristotle's Masterpiece, or, The Secrets of Generation Displayed in all the Parts Thereof ... Very Necessary for all Midwives, Nurses, and Young Married Women (Printed for W.B. and are to be sold by most booksellers in London and Westminster, 1694).

01/08/2004