A26976:175
Of the immortality of mans soul, and the nature of it and other spirits.…
Of the immortality of mans soul, and the nature of it and other spirits. Two discourses, one in a letter to an unknown doubter, the other in a reply to Dr. Henry Moore's Animadversions on a private letter to him, which he published in his second edition of Mr. Joseph Glanvil's Sadducismus triumphatus, or, History of apparitions by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for B. Simons, 1682
OF THE NATURE OF SPIRITS: › Section 22-27: Ad Sect. 22. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27.
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.
But you are offended that I say those Greek Fathers spake tolerably and informingly, and you say, It was mischievously, inducing men to believe the Soul mortal. For Light may be blown out, and hot Iron cooled. Ans. Alas! What dry Philosophy is this of Fire? Is any thing annihilated when the Candle goeth out? Was there not an invisible active principle moving your supposed sulphureous particles, which was as immediate an Agent as your Soul is of Sensation or Intellection: which remaineth the same? But indeed it is Air and not Sulphur which is the first and nearest Recipient of the illuminating Act, and is Conjux Ignis, I suppose you'll say, The Spirit of the World doth this. Ans. Call it by what name you will, It is a pure active Substance, whose form is the Virtus motiva, illuminativa & calefactiva; I think the same which when it operateth on due seminal matter is Vegetative. But the World hath Spiritual Natures more noble than this; viz. sensitive and intellective.
But you are offended that I say those Greek Fathers spake tolerably and informingly, and you say, It was mischievously, inducing men to believe the Soul mortal. For Light may be blown out, and hot Iron cooled. Ans. Alas! What dry Philosophy is this of Fire? Is any thing annihilated when the Candle goeth out? Was there not an invisible active principle moving your supposed sulphureous particles, which was as immediate an Agent as your Soul is of Sensation or Intellection: which remaineth the same? But indeed it is Air and not Sulphur which is the first and nearest Recipient of the illuminating Act, and is Conjux Ignis, I suppose you'l say, The Spirit of the World doth this. Ans. Call it by what name you will, It is a pure active Substance, whose form is the Virtus motiva, illuminativa & calefactiva; I think the same which when it operateth on due seminal matter is Vegetative. But the World hath Spiritual Natures more noble than this; viz. sensitive and intellective.
§ 5. Ad Sect. 26. You say against the Fathers, [When we enquire into the distinct Nature of things we must bid adieu to Metaphors.] Ans. When I am ignorant of my own Ignorance, I will hear you, I am far from dreaming that I have one formal ⟨p. 75⟩