inaElivityof Matter, &c. 201

But when the body, folded up in this smallvolume, and its immaterial Mover, were firstunited, is not a point so easily to be deter-mined. Possibly the Jeminal atom y thoughexisting from the first creation of matter thefame individual system, is not yet informedby its immaterial inhabitant , till it comesthrough various changes, to be at last depo-sited in the proper receptacle of the parentanimal. At least it doth not appear that onewho should fay this, could be shewn to af-firm anything absurd or impious. It shouldnot give us a low notion of the human foul,that it is shut up in such a diminutive system,or so long hindered from the improvementand exercise of the powers it is endued with:great and small are but comparative in thisc ase, and not absolute. If the body, of whathulk soever, were without eyes, ears, andthe sense offeeling, it would be as much shutup, and the exercise of its faculties as muchimpeded as in its original state. But thechief argument against this absurd opinionof the generation of souls (and that equivo-cal, if I may so fay) is the consideration thatthe soul is immaterial: for it is as absurd thatimmaterial substance should generate imma-terial