A10663:64
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.
Concerning the Latitude of this Faculty, it hath there in a double prerogative above others▪ one, in the multiplicity of Operations; another, in the framing of Objects. To the former of these, I reduce the Thoughts; which, by reason of their quickness and volubility, and withal, their continual interchanges and successions, are the most numberless operations of the Soul of man: where, by Thoughts, I understand those springings and glances of the heart, grounded on the sudden representation of sundry different objects; for when the Mind begins once to be sixth, and standing, I call that rather Meditation than Thought. This multiplicity of Thoughts is grounded first upon the abundance of their Objects; and next, upon the quickness and activity of Apprehension; that is the matter, this the form of those Thoughts which I now speak of. The abundance of Objects is seen in this, that it includes all the varieties of species belonging to other faculties; as that knowledge which the Schools call Philosophia prima, doth within its own limits draw in, in some sort, all the several Objects of particular Sciences. There are Thoughts belonging unto the Will, ⟨p. 23⟩flying and pursuing Thoughts, Wishings, and Loathings; and there are Thoughts belonging to the Understanding, assenting and dissenting Thoughts, Belief and dis-opinion: There are Thoughts likewise proceeding from Anger, fiery and revengeful Thoughts; from Envy, knowing and repining Thoughts; from Joy, sweet and refreshing Thoughts; from Conscience, comforting and affrightful Thoughts; and so in all other faculties. And for the quickness of Working, the motions of the Thoughts show it, in the concurrence of these two things, suddenness of journey, and vastness of way; while like Lightning they are able to reach from one end of Heaven unto another, and in one light and imperceptible excursion, leave almost no part of the Universe untravelled.
Concerning the Latitude of this Facultie, it hath there in a double prerogative above others▪ one, in the multiplicitie of Operations; another, in the framing of Objects. To the former of these, I reduce the Thoughts; which, by reason of their quicknesse and volubilitie, and withall, their continuall interchanges and successions, are the most numberlesse operations of the Soule of man: where, by Thoughts, I understand those springings and glances of the heart, grounded on the sudden representation of sundry different objects; for when the Mind begins once to be fixt, and standing, I call that rather Meditation than Thought. This multiplicitie of Thoughts is grounded first upon the abundance of their Objects; and next, upon the quicknesse and activitie of Apprehension; that is the matter, this the forme of those Thoughts which I now speake of. The abundance of Objects is seene in this, that it includes all the varieties of species belonging to other faculties; as that knowledge which the Schooles call Philosophia prima, doth within its owne limits draw in, in some sort, all the severall Objects of particular Sciences. There are Thoughts belonging unto the Will,