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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:238–253 of 413

:238p. 99

II. That Spirits have two inadequate, real Conceptus, and that Substantia is the fundamental as truly as materia is in mere Bodies, and an incomprehensible purity of Substance (or that it is Immaterial, not having parts extra parts with the trine dimension) is Substantiae dispositio; (yet that this hath degrees as the Forms have, all Spirits not being of equal Purity;) And that Virtus vitalis is the partial Conceptus, viz. Formalis. And this I incline to, as to created Spirits.

II. That Spirits have two inadequate, real Conceptus, and that Substantia is the fundamental as truly as materia is in meer Bodies, and an incomprehensible purity of Substance (or that it is Immaterial, not having partes extra partes with the trine dimension) is Substantiae dispositio; (yet that this hath degrees as the Forms have, all Spirits not being of equal Purity;) And that Virtus vitalis is the partial Conceptus, viz. Formalis. And this I encline to, as to created Spirits.

:239p. 99

III. That the Conceptus formalis of Spirit is this Virtus vitalis, vel motiva, perceptiva, appetitiva, but that all Matter is essentially informed by that Vitality, and so Matter and Vitality are the inadequate Conceptus of every Substance, and that not by Composition, but as of one simple thing. And this is Dr. Glisson's and some others.

:240p. 99–110

IV. That a Spirit is both a real Substance, (as the fundamental Conceptus) and informed both by Immateriality, Penetrability, and Indiscerpibility, and also by a vital and moving Power: But that it existeth only in Bodies or Matter, and so always makes up a Compound of two Substances, (saving that God is infinite, beyond all Matter.) And that all such ⟨p. 110⟩Spirits were at first made together indivisible Individuals, both that of the least Creature and of the greatest, but changed from Body to Body, and so are parts of Animals. This I suppose is your Opinion.

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Position

Cited: :241
On this page: :238–253
Section: :219–241
Whole work: 413 passages

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Richard Baxter, Of the immortality of mans soul, and the nature of it and other spirits.… (London, 1682), sect. 33-34, p. 110. 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.

:251img 59

These Hypocrite nominal Ceremony Christians, become the great hinderance of the cure of Infidelity in the world. It is the SPIRIT by its supernatural Works, which is the great Witness of Christ, and the infallible proof of supernatural Revelation. These witnessing works of the Spirit, are these five: 1. His Antecedent Prophecies. 2. His inherent Divine impress on the Person, Works, and Gospel of Christ. 3. His concomitant Testimony in Christs uncontrolled numerous Miracles, Resurrection and Ascension. 4. His subsequent Testimony in the numerous uncontrolled Miracles of the Apostles, and supernatural gifts to the Christians of that Age. But tho the History of these be as infallibly delivered to us, as any in the world; […] the distance hindereth the belief of some, who have not this history well opened to them. 5. Therefore God hath continued to the end of the world a more excellent Testimony than miracles (thought not so apt to work on sense) even the special regenerating sanctifying work of the Spirit of Christ, on the souls of all sincere Believers: The raising of Souls to a Divine and Heavenly Disposition, and Conversation, to live to God and the common good, in the comfortable hopes of an everlasting heavenly glory, as purchased and given by our Redeemer, conquering the allurements of the world and flesh, the temptations ⟨image 60⟩of Satan, and all the flatteries and frowns of the ungodly; This is a work that none but God can do and will do, which beareth his Image and superscription.

These Hypocrite nominal Ceremony Christians, become the great hinderance of the cure of Infidelity in the world. It is the SPIRIT by its supernatural Works, which is the great Witness of Christ, and the infallible proof of supernatural Revelation. These witnessing works of the Spirit, are these five: 1. His Antecedent Prophecies. 2. His inherent Divine impress on the Person, Works, and Gospel of Christ. 3. His concomitant Testimony in Christs uncontrolled numerous Miracles, Resurrection and Ascension. 4. His subsequent Testimony in the numerous uncontrolled Miracles of the Apostles, and supernatural gifts to the Christians of that Age. But tho the History of these be as infallibly delivered to us, as any in the world; 〈…〉 the distance hindereth the belief of some, who have not this history well opened to them. 5. Therefore God hath continued to the end of the world a more excellent Testimony than miracles (thought not so apt to work on sense) even the special regenerating sanctifying work of the Spirit of Christ, on the souls of all sincere Believers: The raising of Souls to a Divine and Heavenly Disposition, and Conversation, to live to God and the common good, in the comfortable hopes of an everlasting heavenly glory, as purchased and given by our Redeemer, conquering the allurements of the world and flesh, the temptations ⟨image 60⟩of Satan, and all the flatteries and frowns of the ungodly; This is a work that none but God can do and will do, which beareth his Image and superscription.

:252img 60

But now these Hypocrites, obscure it to themselves and other unbelievers, and tempt men to say, Are not Christians as bad as Heathens? and Mahometans. Are they not as fleshly, and worldly, and false, and perjured, and malicious, and hurtful, and pernicious to others and themselves? But I answer, No, They are not: These are no more Christians, than Images are men: They are the Enemies of Christians, that under Christs banner, and in his livery and name, do the most perfidiously hate him and fight against him: Who will tell them, Inasmuch as you did it to the least of these, you did it to me. They betray him for money, as Judas, by Hail-master and a Kiss. I challenge any Infidel to find me One that seriously believeth the Gospel of Christ, as perceiving the certain Evidence of its truth, who is not a person of a holy and obedient heavenly life: How can a man sincerely believe that God sent his Son from Heaven in flesh, to Redeem man, and to bring us to Glory, and that he sealed his Doctrine by all his miracles, resurrection and ascension, and the Holy Ghost, and that he is our Head in Heaven, with whom we shall live in joy for ever; and is the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him, I say: How can a man ⟨image 60⟩believe this seriously, and not esteem, and choose and seek it, before all the shadows and vanity to this world. It is not Christians, but false hypocrites, whose lives represent Christianity, blasphemously as no better than Heathenism or Mohammedanism; It is but for worldly Interest, and Reputation, or because it is the Religion of the King, Country, or Ancestors, that they take up so much as the name and badge of Christianity. And will you judg of our Religion by its enemies? Do you not see in their drunkenness, sensuality, covetousness, ungodliness, how unlike their lives are to the baptismal Vow; and that they hate, and seek to destroy them that are serious in keeping that Vow, and living as Christians?

But now these Hypocrites, obscure it to themselves and other unbelievers, and tempt men to say, Are not Christans as bad as Heathens? and Mahometans. Are they not as fleshly, and worldly, and false, and perjured, and malicious, and hurtful, and pernicious to others and themselves? But I answer, No, They are not: These are no more Christians, than Images are men: They are the Enemies of Christians, that under Christs banner, and in his livery and name, do the most perfideously hate him and fight against him: Who will tell them, Inasmuch as you did it to the least of these, you did it to me. They betray him for money, as Judas, by Hail-master and a Kiss. I challenge any Infidel to find me One that seriously believeth the Gospel of Christ, as perceiving the certain Evidence of its truth, who is not a person of a holy and obedient heavenly life: How can a man sincerely believe that God sent his Son from Heaven in flesh, to Redeem man, and to bring us to Glory, and that he sealed his Doctrine by all his miracles, resurrection and ascensi•n, and the Holy Ghost, and that he is our Head in Heaven, with whom we shall live in joy for ever; and is the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him, I say: How can a man ⟨image 60⟩believe this seriously, and not esteem, and choose and seek it, before all the shadows and vanitie to this world. It is not Christians, but false hypocrites, whose lives represent Christianity, blasphemously as no better than Heathenism or Mahometanism; It is but for worldly Interest, and Reputation, or because it is the Religion of the King, Countrey, or Ancestors, that they take up so much as the name and badg of Christianity. And will you judg of our Religion by its enemies? Do you not see in their drunkenness, sensuality, covetousness, ungodliness, how unlike their lives are to the baptismal Vow; and that they hate, and seek to destroy them that are serious in keeping that Vow, and living as Christians?