A10663:497
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.
The other and greater Grief is Intellectual, which in Solom•us phrase is, A wounded spirit; so much certainly the more quick and piercing, by how much a spirit is more vital then a body, besides the anguish of the soul, finds always, or works the same sympathy in the body, but outward sorrows reach not ever so far, as the spiritual and higher part of the soul. And therefore we see many men out of a mistake, that the distress of their souls hath been wrought by a union to their bodies, have voluntarily spoiled this, to deliver and quiet that.
The other and greater Griefe is Intellectuall, which in Solom•us phraise is, A wounded spirit; so much certainely the more quicke and piercing, by how much a spirit is more vitall then a body, besides the anguish of the soule, findes alwayes, or workes the same sympathy in the body, but outward sorrowes reach not ever so farre, as the spirituall and higher part of the soule. And therefore we see many men out of a mistake, that the distresse of their soules hath beene wrought by a union to their bodies, have voluntarily spoiled this, to deliver and quiet that.
The causes of this Passion, are as in the former, whatsoever hath in it power to disturb the mind by it's union thereunto. There are then two Conditions in respect of the Object, that it be Evil and Present. Evil first, and that not only formally in it ⟨p. 221⟩self; but apprehensively to the understanding. And therefore we see that many things which are in their Nature Evil; yet out of the particular distemper of the Mind, and deceitfulness in them, may prove pleasant thereunto. And this is the chief Corruption of this Passion, I mean the misplacing, or the undue suspending of it: For although strictly in its own property, it be not an advancement of Nature, nor adds any perfection; but rather weakens it; yet in regard of the reference which it bears either to a superior Law, as testifying our Love unto the Obedience, by our grief for the breach thereof: or to our consequent Carriage and Actions, as governing them with greater Wisdom and Providence, it may be said to add much perfection to the mind of man, because it serves as an inducement to more cautelous living.