Chap. 43. The gathering of Spirits.
IF the rational spirits should enter into a figure newly created, altogether, and not by degrees, a Childe (for example) would have as much understanding, and knowledge in the womb, or when it is new-born, as when it is inlarged and fully grown. But we finde by experience there are several sorts and degrees of knowledge and understanding, by the recourse of spirits: which is the reason, some figures have greater proportion of understand∣ing and knowledge, and sooner then others; yet it is increased by degrees, according as rational spirits increase. Like as chil∣dren, they must get strength before they can go. So Learning and experience increase rational spirits, as Food the sensitive: But experience and Learning is not alwayes tyed to the eare; for every Organ and Pore of the body is as several doors to let them in and out: For the rational spirits living with the sensitive spirits, come in, and go out with them, but not in equal propor∣tion, but sometimes more, sometimes fewer: this makes un∣derstanding more perfect in Health then in sicknesse, and in our middle age, more then in the latter age: For in age and sick∣nesse there is more carried out, then brought in. This is the rea∣son, Children have not such understanding, but their reason increaseth with their years. But the resional spirits may be similized* 1.1 to a company of Good-fellows, which have pointed a meeting; and the company coming from several places, makes their time the longer ere their numbers are compleated, though many a brain is disappointed; but in some figures the rooms are not commodious to move in, made in their Creation, for want of help: those are Changelings, Innocents, or Natu∣ral Fools.
The rational spirits seem most to delight in spungie soft and liquid matter; as in the Blood, Brain, Nerves, and in Vegetables; as not onely being neerest to their own nature, but having more room to move in. This makes the rational spirits to choose the Head in Animals, for their chief room to dance their Figures in:* 1.2 for the Head is the biggest place that hath the spun∣gy Materials; thus as soon as a figure is created, those rational Spirits choose a Room.