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A26976:238

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.

Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed for B. Simons, 1682

[8], 3-72 p. · 38k words · Wing B1331 · Wing B1333 · ESTC R5878

Title page: Princeton Theological Seminary Library copy, digitized by the Internet Archive (opens the Internet Archive in a new tab)

OF THE NATURE OF SPIRITS: › Section 33-34: Ad SECT. XXXIII, XXXIV.

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.

[ Earlier:235–250 of 413

:235p. 98

And if voluntary Motion be proper to a Spirit, I think mere Fire (Solar or Ethereal) is no Spirit; But if all self-moving Power be proper to a Spirit, Fire is a Spirit. And from the Form will I denominate, while you oft tell us, that the Essence of Substance is unknown. (By Essence meaning somewhat else than that which I can fully prove to be the Form.

And if voluntary Motion be proper to a Spirit, I think meer Fire (Solar or Aethereal) is no Spirit; But if all self-moving Power be proper to a Spirit, Fire is a Spirit. And from the Form will I denominate, while you oft tell us, that the Essence of Substance is unknown. (By Essence meaning somwhat else than that which I can fully prove to be the Form.

:236p. 98

To conclude, there are these different Opinions before us.

:237p. 98–99

I. That the whole Entity or Conceptus realis of a Spirit is Virtus vitalis, and is mera sorma, ⟨p. 99⟩or rather simplex actus Entitativus; and that substantia is added not as a partial real Conceptus, but as respective, to notify that this Virtus vitalis is no Accident, but a thing that may subsist of itself. Some hold this true only of God, and some of all Spirits: If this be true, your notions of Penetrability and Indivisibility are most easily defended.

I. That the whole Entity or Conceptus realis of a Spirit is Virtus vitalis, and is mera sorma, ⟨p. 99⟩or rather simplex actus Entitativus; and that substantia is added not as a partial real Conceptus, but as respective, to notifie that this Virtus vitalis is no Accident, but a thing that may subsist of itself. Some hold this true only of God, and some of all Spirits: If this be true, your notions of Penetrability and Indivisibility are most easily defended.

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Position

Cited: :238
On this page: :235–250
Section: :219–241
Whole work: 413 passages

Cite

Richard Baxter, Of the immortality of mans soul, and the nature of it and other spirits.… (London, 1682), sect. 33-34, p. 99. EEBO-TCP A26976.

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The book

Title as printed: 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.
Author: Richard Baxter 1615–1691
Place: London
Bookseller: B. Simons
Year: 1682
Size: [8], 3-72 p.
Words: 38,499
Catalogue: Wing B1331 · Wing B1333 · ESTC R5878
Text: EEBO-TCP A26976

Passages: 413
Sections: 29

The author

Richard Baxter 1615–1691

PuritansEngland

Pastor at Kidderminster and prolific nonconformist author.

Transcription key

:249img 58

§. 1. THE Author of the Letter which I answer, being wholly unknown to me, and making me no return of his sense of my Answer, I suppose it can be no wrong to him that I publish it. I have formerly thought, that it is safer to keep such Objections, and false reasonings, from mens notice, than publicly to confute them. But now in London they are so commonly known, and published in open Discourse and Writing, that whether silencing them be desirable or not, it is become impossible. And tho I have said so much more, especially in two Books (The Reasons of the Christian Religion, and the Unreasonableness of Infidelity) as may make this needless to them that read those; yet most Infidels and Sadducees being so self conceited, and fastidious, as to disdain, or cast by all that will cost them long reading and consideration, it may be this short Letter may so far prevail against their sloth, as to invite them to read more. I would true Christianity were as common as the profession of it: There would then be fewer that need such Discourses. But alas! how numerous are th•se Christians that are no Christians, no more than a Carcass or a Picture is a man; yea, worse Christians, who hate Christianity, whose Godfathers and Godmothers ⟨image 59⟩(not Parents, but Neighbours) did promise and vow three things in their Names. 1. That they should renounce the Devil. and all his Works, the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh. 2. That they should believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith. 3. That they should keep Gods holy Will and Commandments, and walk in the same all the days of their lives. Yea, before they could speak, the mouth of these Godfathers speaking for them, did not only promise, that they should believe, but profess in the Infants name, That even then they did steadfastly believe the Articles of the Christian Faith. The Infant is said to make both the Promise and Profession by these Godfathers; who also undertake to provide, that they shall [learn all things which a Christian ought to know and believe to his Souls health, and shall be virtuously brought up, to lead a godly and a Christian life]. Whether these Godfathers ever intend to perform this, or the Parents use to expect it of them, I need not tell you: But how little most of the baptized perform of it, is too notorious.

§. 1. THE Author of the Letter which I answer, being wholly unknown to me, and making me no return of his sense of my Answer, I suppose it can be no wrong to him that I publish it. I have formerly thought, that it is safer to keep such Objections, and false reasonings, from mens notice, than publickly to confute them. But now in London they are so commonly known, and published in open Discourse and Writing, that whether silencing them be desirable or not, it is become impossible. And tho I have said so much more, especially in two Books (The Reasons of the Christian Religion, and the Unreasonableness of Infidelity) as may make this needless to them that read those; yet most Infidels and Sadduces being so self conceited, and fastidious, as to disdain, or cast by all that will cost them long reading and consideration, it may be this short Letter may so far prevail against their sloth, as to invite them to read more. I would true Christianity were as common as the profession of it: There would then be fewer that need such Discourses. But alas! how numerous are th•se Christians that are no Christians, no more than a Carcass or a Picture is a man; yea, worse Christians, who hate Christianity, whose Godfathers and Godmothers ⟨image 59⟩(not Parents, but Neighbours) did promise and vow three things in their Names. 1. That they should renounce the Devil. and all his Works, the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh. 2. That they should believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith. 3. That they should keep Gods holy Will and Commandments, and walk in the same all the days of their lives. Yea, before they could speak, the mouth of these Godfathers speaking for them, did not only promise, that they should believe, but profess in the Infants name, That even then they did stedfastly believe the Articles of the Christian Faith. The Infant is said to make both the Promise and Profession by these Godfathers; who also undertake to provide, that they shall [learn all things which a Christian ought to know and believe to his Souls health, and shall be virtuously brought up, to lead a godly and a Christian life]. Whether these Godfathers ever intend to perform this, or the Parents use to expect it of them, I need not tell you: But how little most of the baptized perform of it, is too notorious.