But for the third faculty of the soul,1 which is reason: therein men excel all creatures in this visible world: and it is profitable for us to know what God hath done for us in our souls, generally considered above all other creatures; and so man excels in respect of his reasonable soul,
1. In that he can conceive of things by the light of understanding, as well as by sense. This light is admirable, whether we conceive of it as proceeding from GOD, who shines upon the soul, as the Sun doth upon the body: or whether we believe it to be a light conferred upon the understanding; by which, from within, it discerns things.
2. In that it can conceive of things that never were in the senses; as, things absent, that never were seen, yea, things, altogether immaterial; as, Angels, and virtues, and vices.
3. In that it can conceive of the nature of God, and discern God from his works.
4. In that it can conceive of things by a discerning reflection; as, it can conceive of it self, and understand, that it doth understand.
5. In that it can distinguish between good and evil, truth and falsehood; I say, of the moral goodness of things: whereas the fantasy can judge only of so much of the natural goodness of things, as they show to the outward senses.
6. In the largeness of the extent of our understanding. For, the understanding can, in a small ⟨p. 458⟩moment of time, go almost over the world, and view it all, as it were, at once: whereas the senses are forced in within a narrow compass.
7. In that it can invent things that never were in being: and thus we see daily, what strange things, for number and skill, are invented for the use of the life of man, by art and skill of mans understanding, in every calling of men.
8. In that the reasonable soul governs and appoints, and crosseth, and fetters, and alters, and rectifies the other faculties of vegetation and sense; and, in respect thereof, can turn, and tame, and rule, and order all sorts of other creatures.
9. In that, by begetting with strange variety, it can make known what images are within, whether begotten by the senses, or by the mind it self.
10. In that it is the faculty by which only true blessedness is apprehended and attained.
11. In that mans understanding is made, after a sort, all things.
But for the third faculty of the soule,1 which is reason: therein men excell all creatures in this visible world: and it is profitable for vs to know what God hath done for vs in our soules, generally considered aboue all other creatures; and so man excells in respect of his reasonable soule,
1. In that hee can conceiue of things by the light of vnderstanding, as well as by sense. This light is admirable, whether we conceiue of it as proceeding from GOD, who shines vpon the soule, as the Sunne doth vpon the body: or whether wee beleeue it to be a light conferred vpon the vnderstanding; by which, from within, it discerns things.
2. In that it can conceiue of things that neuer were in the senses; as, things absent, that neuer were seen, yea, things, altogether immateriall; as, Angels, and vertues, and vices.
3. In that it can conceiue of the nature of God, and discern God from his works.
4. In that it can conceiue of things by a discerning reflexion; as, it can conceiue of it selfe, and vnderstand, that it doth vnderstand.
5. In that it can distinguish between good and euill, truth and falshood; I say, of the morall goodnes of things: whereas the phantasie can iudge onely of so much of the naturall goodnes of things, as they shew to the outward senses.
6. In the largenes of the extent of our vnderstanding. For, the vnderstanding can, in a small ⟨p. 458⟩moment of time, go almost ouer the world, and view it all, as it were, at once: whereas the senses are forced in within a narrow compasse.
7. In that it can inuent things that neuer were in beeing: and thus wee see daily, what strange things, for number and skill, are inuented for the vse of the life of man, by art and skill of mans vnderstanding, in euery calling of men.
8. In that the reasonable soule gouerns and appoints, and crosseth, and fetters, and alters, and rectifies the other faculties of vegetation and sense; and, in respect thereof, can turn, and tame, and rule, and order all sorts of other creatures.
9. In that, by begetting with strange variety, it can make knowne what images are within, whether begotten by the senses, or by the minde it self.
10. In that it is the faculty by which onely true blessednes is apprehended and attained.
11. In that mans vnderstanding is made, after a sort, all things.
- 1Of the faculty of reason in the soul, and wherein it excels.Of the faculty of reason in the soule, and wherin it excels.
