[CHAP. VII. Of the Ignorances of the several Perceptive Organs.]
As I said, That every several composed Perception, was united to the proper use of their whole Society, as one Man; yet, every several Perceptive Organ of Man is ignorant of each other; as the Perception of Sight is ignorant of that of Hearing; the Perception of Hearing, is ignorant of the Perception of Seeing; and the Perception of Smelling is ignorant of the Perceptions of the other two, and those of Scent, and the same of Tasting, and Touching: Also, every Perception of every particular Organ, is different; but some sorts of Human Perceptions require some distance between them and the Object: As for example, The Perception of Sight requires certain Distances, as also Magnitudes; whereas the Perception of Touch requires a Joyning-Object, or Part. But this is to be noted, That although these several Organs are not perfectly, or throughly acquainted; yet in the Perception of the several parts of one Object, they do all agree to make their several Perceptions, as it were by one Act, at one point of time.
[CHAP. VIII. Of the particular and general Perceptions of the Exterior Parts of Human Creatures.]
There is amongst the Exterior Perceptions of Human Creatures, both particular sorts of Perceptions, and general Perceptions: For, though none of the Exterior Parts, or Organs, have the sense of Seeing, but the Eyes; of Hearing, but the Ears; of Smelling, but the Nose; of Tasting, but the Mouth: yet all the Exterior Parts have the Perception of Touching; and the reason is, That all the Exterior Parts are full of pores, or at least, of such composed Parts, that are the sensible Organs of Touching: yet, those several Parts have several Touches; not only because they have several Parts, but because those Organs of Touching, are differently composed. But this is to be noted, That every several part hath perception of the other parts of their Society, as they have of Foreign parts; and, as the Sensitive, so the Rational parts have such particular and general perceptions. But it is to be noted, That the Rational parts, are parts of the same Organs.
[CHAP. IX. Of the Exterior Sensitive Organs of Human Creatures.]
As for the manner, or ways, of all the several sorts, and particular perceptions, made by the different composed parts of Human Creatures; it is impossible, for a Human Creature, to know any otherwise, but in part: for, being composed of parts, into Parties, he can have but a parted knowledg, and a parted perception of himself: for, every different composed part of his Body, have different sorts of Self-knowledg, as also, different sorts of Perceptions; but yet, the manner and way of some Human Perceptions, may probably be imagined, especially those of the exterior parts, Man names the Sensitive Organs; which Parts (in my opinion) have their perceptive actions, after the manner of patterning, or picturing the exterior Form, or Frame, of Foreign Objects: As for example, The present Object is a Candle; the Human Organ of Sight pictures the Flame, Light, Week, or Snuff, the Tallow, the Colour, and the dimension of the Candle; the Ear patterns out the sparkling noise; the Nose patterns out the scent of the Candle; and the Tongue may pattern out the tast of the Candle: but, so soon as the Object is removed, the figure of the Candle is altered into the present Object, or as much of one present Object, as is subject to Human Perception. Thus the several parts or properties, may be patterned out by the several Organs. Also, every altered action, of one and the same Organ, are altered Perceptions; so as there may be numbers of several pictures or Patterns made by the Sensitive Actions of one Organ; I will not say, by one act; yet there may be much variety in one action. But this is to be noted, That the Object is not the cause of Perception, but is only the occasion: for, the Sensitive Organs can make such like figurative actions, were there no Object present; which proves, that the Object is not the Cause of the Perception. Also, when as the Sensitive parts of the Sensitive Organs, are Irregular, they will make false perceptions of present Objects; wherefore the Object is not the Cause. But one thing I desire, not to be mistaken in; for I do not say, that all the parts belonging to any of the particular Organs, move only in one sort or kind of perception; but I say, Some of the parts of the Organ, move to such, or such perception: for, all the actions of the Ears, are not only hearing; and all the actions of the Eye, seeing; and all the actions of the Nose, smelling; and all the actions of the Mouth, tasting; but, they have other sorts of actions: yet, all the sorts of every Organ, are according to the property of their figurative Composition.