The nature and immortality of the soul proved in answer to one who professed…

The which appears likewise in those whose memory fails, and in whom the vestigia of things is wore out; the habits they had contracted, and manner of working in their several acts being forgotten, what silly Animals are they? Whereas were the Soul such as represented, who could rob it of its Endowments? It's true the debilitating of a hand, may impede a manual labour; but raze what hath formerly ⟨p. 16⟩been done out of the Memory, and you render Man a perfect Brute, or worse: for he knows not how to give a signification of his own mind.

The which appears likewise in those whose memory fails, and in whom the vestigia of things is wore out; the habits they had contracted, and manner of working in their several acts being forgotten, what silly Animals are they? Whereas were the Soul such as repesented, who could rob it of its Endowments? It's true the debilitating of a hand, may impead a manual labour; but rase what hath formerly ⟨p. 16⟩been done out of the Memory, and you render Man a perfect Bruit, or worse: for he knows not how to give a signification of his own mind.

And indeed, I know not any thing wherein Man excels the Beasts, but may be referred to the benefit of Speech and Hands, capable of effecting its Conceptions; nor find any better way to attain a right knowledge of our selves, but by beholding our selves in Adam, and enquiring, what Nature had endued him with, which will fall far short of what we now admire in our selves.

And indeed, I know not any thing wherein Man excels the Beasts, but may be referred to the benefit of Speech and Hands, capable of effecting its Conceptions; nor find any better way to attain a right knowledg of our selves, but by beholding our selves in Adam, and enquiring, what Nature had endued him with, which will fall far short of what we now admire in our selves.