Archidoxa ex Theophrastia : Pars I

On the Mysteries of the Microcosm original: De Mysterijs Microcosmi

[the nature of the] senses; what brings them forth, and what drives and moves them, and in what form they may be assisted.

Thirdly, how all power divides itself within the body, and how it distributes and transforms itself within every limb, according to the nature of that specific limb, and yet initially it is a single nature.

Therefore, we speak first of this, as is seen in sight, hearing, sensitivity, and taste original: Gustu. In such examples, the eyes have an origin in their matter from which they develop—as is discussed in Concerning the Composition of the Body original: De Corporis compositione—likewise the others just mentioned.

But sight does not come from the seed Somen; the biological essence or generative material used in reproduction from which the eye comes, nor hearing from that which makes the ears grow, and sensitivity is also not from the flesh, nor taste original: Gustus from the tongue, nor reason from the brain: Rather, these physical organs are merely a container and a chest original: Casten into which the senses are placed. This is also not to say that they wait for the grace of the Creator original: Schöpffer—as if they were not part of human nature and were poured in by God out of grace (which is sometimes said when a person is born blind, so that the great works of God original: Magnalia Dei might be recognized); that is not how it should be understood.

For these things just mentioned have their "body" within them, intangible and imperceptible, just as the physical body is perceptible. And every human being is composed of two: from the natural body original: ex corpore naturæ and from the spiritual body original: ex corpore spirituali. Matter original: Materia provides the body, blood, and flesh; the Spirit original: Spiritus provides hearing, sight, sensation original: Sensum, sensitivity, and taste. But if a person is born mute, who hears nothing, it arises in them from the lack of the