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THIS is the only reason why, when the corporeal Organs or Instruments are vitiated or impeded, the SOUL cannot explicate its own Faculties, according to the Words of Solomon^[6]; The corruptible Body presseth down the Soul, and the earthly Tabernacle weigheth down the Mind. Which Truth may serve to obviate two Objections; viz. That of Childrens being destitute of the SOUL, and that of the SOUL’s growing up with Youth, and declining with Age, or Sickness: Since, tho’ it less displays itself in Infancy, Sickness, and Dotage, yet it still is, and continues furnished with its proper Faculties, and that from the Beginning of Life, until its End; neither does the SOUL in its Substance ever suffer the least Diminution, but only by the Ineptitude of the Instrument or Organ, it may be hindered in the Discharge of its Functions, and Execution of its Offices.

AND tho this divine Substance can contract nothing of Vice, Spot, or Contagion from the Concretion of the corruptible Body: yet as a thick Cloud obscures the Sun-Beams, and overcasts its Light; or, as by holding a versicolour Glass to our Eyes, Matters appear different from what they really are: So the Intemperature of the Body obscures the Light of Reason, and overshadows the Intellects of the Mind, which of course obstructs the Functions of the Soul. Hence it is, that a delirious or drunken Man thinks he sees double, or two things, tho’ one be the only Object of his Eyes: And as, for this reason, melancholick Persons imagine Absurdities, and feign Dreams to themselves; so cholerick Persons grow insensibly hot, and are suddenly incensed by the Fumes of noxious Humours oppressing the Brain.