When I say,[22] Warmth feeds other Creatures after a spiritual manner, not a corporeal, My meaning is, not as if heat were not corporeal, but that those corporeal motions which make heat work invisibly, and not visibly like as fire feeds on fuel, or man on meat.
Also when I say, Excercise amongst animals gets strength, I mean, that by excercise the inherent natural motions of an animal body are more active, as being more industrious.
When I say,[23] That the passage whence cold and sharp winds do issue out, is narrow, I mean, when as such or such parts disjoyn or separate from other parts; as for example, when dilating parts disjoyn from contracting parts; and oftentimes the disjoyning parts do move according to the nature of those parts they disjoyn from.
Concerning the actions of Nature, my meaning is, that there is not any action whatsoever, but was always in Nature, and remains in Nature so long as it pleases God that Nature shall last, and of all her actions Perception and self-love are her prime and chief actions; wherefore it is impossible but that all her particular creatures or parts must be knowing as well as self-moving, there being not one part or particle of Nature that has not its share of animate or self-moving matter, and consequently of knowledg and self-love, each according to its own kind and nature; but by reason all the parts are of one matter, and belong to one body, each is unalterable so far, that although it can change its figure, yet it cannot change or alter from being matter, or a part of Infinite Nature; and this is the cause there cannot be a confusion amongst those parts of Nature, but there must be a constant union and harmony betwixt them; for cross and opposite actions make no confusion, but onely a variety, and such actions which are different, cross and opposite, not moving always after their usual and accustomed way, I name Irregular, for want of a better expression; but properly there is no such thing as Irregularity in Nature, nor no weariness, rest, sleep, sickness, death or destruction, no more then there is place, space, time, modes, accidents, and the like, any thing besides body or matter.
When I speak of unnatural Motions,[24] I mean such as are not proper to the nature of such or such a Creature, as being opposite or destructive to it, that is, moving or acting towards its dissolution. Also when I call Violence supernatural, I mean that Violence is beyond the particular nature of such a particular Creature, that is, beyond its natural motions; but not supernatural, that is beyond Infinite Nature or natural Matter.
When I say, A thing is forced, I do not mean that the forced body receives strength without Matter; but that some Corporeal Motions joyn with other Corporeal Motions, and so double the strength by joyning their parts, or are at least an occasion to make other parts more industrious.
By Prints I understand the figures of the objects which are patterned or copied out by the sensitive and rational corporeal figurative Motions; as for example, when the sensitive corporeal motions pattern out the figure of an exteriour object, and the rational motions again pattern out a figure made by the sensitive motions, those figures of the objects that are patterned out, I name Prints; as for example, The sense of Seeing is not capable to receive the Print,[25] that is, the figure or pattern of the object of the whole Earth. And again, The rational Motions are not alwayes exactly after the sensitive Prints, that is, after the figures made by the sensitive motions. Thus by Prints I understand Patterns, and by printing patterning; not that the exteriour object prints its figure upon the exteriour sensitive organs, but that the sensitive motions in the organs pattern out the figure of the object: but though all printing is done by the way of patterning, yet all patterning is not printing. Therefore when I say,[26] that solid bodies print their figures in that which is more porous and soft, and that those solid bodies make new prints perpetually; and as they remove, the prints melt out, like verbal or vocal sounds, which print words and set notes in the Air; I mean, the soft body by its own self-motion patterns out the figure of the solid body, and not that the solid body makes its own print, and so leaves the place of its own substance with the print in the soft body; for place remains always with its own body, and cannot be separated from it, they being but one thing: for example; when a Seal is printed in Wax, the Seal gives not any thing to the Wax, but is onely an object patterned out by the figurative motions of the Wax in the action of printing or sealing.
When I make mention[27] of what the Senses bring in, I mean what the sensitive Motions pattern out of forreign objects: And when I say,[28] that the pores being shut, touch cannot enter, I mean, the sensitive corporeal motions cannot make patterns of outward objects.
Also when I say, our Ears may be as knowing as our Eyes, and so of the rest of the sensitive organs; I mean the sensitive motions in those parts or organs.
When I say,[29] The more the Body is at rest, the more active or busie is the Mind, I mean when the sensitive Motions are not taken up with the action of patterning out forreign objects.