actions were nourishing actions, and therefore were most proper for the Interior Parts; and, for proof, the whole Human Body becomes faint and weak, when they are hindred, either by some Interior Irregularity, or through some Exterior Occasion, from their sleeping actions. The Opinion of the Major Part, was, That sleeping actions are actions of rote, and not such altering actions as digesting actions, and nourishing actions, which are uniting actions. Besides, that the reason why the Interior actions are not sleeping actions, was, That when the Exterior Parts move in the actions of Sleep, the Interior Parts move when the Exterior are awake; as may be observed by the Human Pulse, and Human Respiration; and by many other Observations which may be brought.
[CHAP. VI. Whether all the Creatures in Nature, have Sleeping and Waking Actions.]
Some may ask this Question, Whether all Creatures have sleeping Actions? I answer, That though sleeping actions are proper to Human Creatures, as also, to most Animal Creatures; yet, such actions may not any ways be proper to other kinds and sorts of Creatures: and if (as in all probability it is) that the Exterior Parts of a Human Creature have no such sleeping actions, it is probable that other kinds and sorts of Creatures move not at any time, in such sorts of actions. But some may say, That if Nature is poysed, all Creatures must have sleeping actions, as well as waking actions. I answer, That though Nature's actions are poysed, yet that doth not hinder the variety of Nature's actions, so as to tye Nature to particular actions: As for example, The Exterior Parts of Animals have both sleeping and waking actions; yet that doth not prove, that therefore all the Parts or Creatures in Nature, must have sleeping and waking actions. The same may be said of all the actions of an Animal Creature, or of a Human Creature; nay, of all the Creatures of the World: for, several kinds and sorts of Creatures, have several kinds and sorts of Properties: Wherefore, if there be other kinds and sorts of Worlds besides this, 'tis probable that those Worlds, and all the Parts, or several kinds and sorts of Creatures there, have different properties and actions, from those of this World; so that though Nature's actions are poysed and balanced, yet they are poysed and balanced after different manners and ways.
[CHAP. VII. Of Human Death.]
Death is not only a general Alteration of the Sensitive and Rational Motions, but a general Dissolution of their Society. And as there are degrees of Time in Productions, so in Dissolutions. And as there are degrees to Perfection, as from Infancy to Manhood; so there are degrees from Manhood to Old Age. But, as I said, Death is a general Dissolution, which makes a Human Creature to be no more: yet, some Parts do not dissolve so soon as others; as for example, Human Bones; but, though the Form or Frame of Bones is not dissolved; yet the Properties: of those Bones are altered. The same when a Human Creature is kept by Art from dissolving, so as the Form, or Frame, or Shape may continue; but all the Properties are quite altered; though the Exterior Shape of such Bodies doth appear somewhat like a Man, yet that Shape is not a Man.
[CHAP. VIII. Of the Heat of Human Life, and the Cold of Human Death.]
There are not only several sorts of Properties belonging to several sorts of Creatures, but several sorts of Properties belonging to one and the same sort of Creature; and amongst the several sorts of Human Properties, Human Heat is one, which Man names Natural Heat: but, when there is a general alteration of the Human Properties, there is that alteration of the Property as well of his Natural, as Human Heat: but, Natural Heat is not the cause of Human Life, though Human Life is the cause of that Natural Heat: so that, when Human Life is altered or dissolved, Human Heat is altered or dissolved: And as Death is opposite Actions to that Man names Life; so Cold is opposite Actions to that Man names Heat.