A10663:248
A treatise of the passions and faculties of the soul of man With the…A treatise of the passions and faculties of the soule of man With the…
A treatise of the passions and faculties of the soul of man With the several dignities and corruptions thereunto belonging. By Edward Reynolds, late preacher to the honourable society of Lincoln's Inn: and now rector of the Church of Braunston in Northamptonshire.A treatise of the passions and faculties of the soule of man With the severall dignities and corruptions thereunto belonging. By Edvvard Reynoldes, late preacher to the honorable society of Lincoln's Inne: and now rector of the Church of Braunston in Northamptonshire.
London: printed by R. Hearne and John Norton for Robert Bostock, 1640
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And herein, methinks, may consist another proportion between the strength of Love and Death; for as in Death nature doth collect and draw in those spirits, which before lay scattered in the outward parts, to guard and arm the heart in its greatest conflict; uniting all those languishing forces which are left, to testify the natural love which each living creature beareth to its own conservation: so doth Love draw and unite those Spirits which administer either to the Fancy or Appetite, to serve only for the nourishing of that Affection, and for gazing upon that treasure whereunto the Heart is wholly attracted. Which Spirits, being of a limited power and influence, do therefore with the same force, whereby they carry the mind to the consideration of one thing, withdraw it from all other that are heterogeneall; no determined power of the Soul being able to impart a sufficient activity unto diverse ⟨p. 105⟩independing operations, when the force of it is exhausted by one so strong; and there being a sympathy, and as it were, a league between the faculties of the Soul, all covenanting not to obscure or hinder the Predominant Impressions of one another. And therefore as in Rome when a1 Dictator was created, all other Authority was or that time suspended; so when any strong Love hath taken possession of the Soul, it gives a Supersedeas and stop unto all other employments. It is therefore prescribed as a Remedy against inordinate Love.
And herein, methinkes, may consist another proportion betweene the strength of Love and Death; for as in Death nature doth collect and draw in those spirits, which before lay scattered in the outward parts, to guard and arme the heart in its greatest conflict; uniting all those languishing forces which are left, to testifie the naturall love which each living creature beareth to its owne conservation: so doth Love draw and unite those Spirits which administer either to the Fancie or Appetite, to serve onely for the nourishing of that Affection, and for gazing upon that treasure whereunto the Heart is wholly attracted. Which Spirits, being of a limited power and influence, doe therefore with the same force, whereby they carry the mind to the consideration of one thing, withdraw it from all other that are heterogeneall; no determined power of the Soule being able to impart a sufficient activity unto diverse ⟨p. 105⟩