Philosophumena; or, The refutation of all heresies, Volume I
David Hume · en
But if one power draws near to another, the unlikeness of (the things
in) juxtaposition effects a certain movement and activity formed from
the movement, by the coming together and juxtaposition of the meeting
[Sidenote: p. 212.] powers. For the coming together of the powers comes
to pass like some impression of a seal struck by close conjunction
for the sealing of the substances brought up (to it).[253] Since then
the powers of the three principles are boundless in number and the
conjunctions of the boundless powers (also) boundless, there must
needs be produced images of boundless seals. Now these images are the
forms[254] of the different animals.
From the first great conjunction then of the three principles came into
being a certain great form of a seal, (to wit) heaven and earth. And
heaven and earth are planned very like a matrix having the navel[255]
in the midst. And if, he says, one wishes to have this design under his
eyes, let him examine with skill the pregnant womb of any animal he
pleases, and he will discover the type of heaven and earth and of all
those things between which lie unchangeably below. And the appearance
of heaven and earth became by the first conjunction such as to be like
a womb. But again between heaven and earth boundless conjunctions of
powers have occurred. And each conjunction wrought and stamped[256]
nothing else than a seal of [Sidenote: p. 213.] heaven and earth like a
womb. But within this (the earth) there grew from the boundless seals
boundless multitudes of different animals. And into all this infinity
which is under heaven there was scattered and distributed among the
different animals, together with the light, the fragrance of the spirit
from on high.