180 ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING 



into a dream. Thus the stomach may be oppressed by a 

 gross internal vapor, as well as by an external weight; 

 whence those who have the nightmare dream that a weight 

 is laid upon them, with a great concurrence of circum 

 stances. So, again, the viscera being equally tossed by the 

 agitation of the waves at sea, as by a collection of wind in 

 the hypochondria, hence melancholy persons frequently 

 dream of sailing and tossing upon the waters; and instances 

 of this kind are numerous. 



The second part of the doctrine of union, which we 

 call impression, is not yet reduced to an art; and but oc 

 casionally mentioned by writers. This also has two parts: 

 as considering, 1st, how, and to what degree, the humors 

 and constitution of the body may affect the soul, or act 

 upon it; and 2d, how 7 and to what degree, the passions 

 and apprehensions of the soul may affect and work upon 

 the body. The first of these we sometimes find touched 

 in medicine; but it has strangely insinuated itself into re 

 ligion. Physicians prescribe remedies for the diseases of 

 the mind, viz., madness, melancholy, etc., as also to cheer 

 the spirits, strengthen the memory, etc. ; but for diet, choice 

 of meats and drinks, washings, and other observances relat 

 ing to the body, they are found immoderately in the sect 

 of the Pythagoreans, the Manichean heresy, and the law of 

 Mahomet. There are, also, numerous and strict ordinances 

 in the ceremonial law, prohibiting the eating of blood and 

 fat, and distinguishing the unclean animals from the clean 

 for food.&quot; Even the Christian religion, though it has thrown 

 off the veil of ceremonies, still retains the use of fasting, ab 

 stinence, and other things that regard the subjection and 

 humiliation of the body; as things not merely ritual, but 

 advantageous. The root of all these ordinances, besides 

 the ceremony and exercise of obedience, is, that the soul 

 should sympathize and suffer with the body. And if any 

 man of weaker judgment thinks that such macerations ques- 



12 Deut. xii. 



