A26976:280
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
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.
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.
But now supposing all this answered, what will it avail us to a Life of Retribution, if all return to one Element, and be there immerged as Brooks and Rivers in the Sea? If we lose our Individuation; and all the Souls that have existed, be swallowed up of one, where are the Rewards and Punishments of each individual. And we have reason to judg it will be thus, rather than otherwise, because we see every thing tends to its own Centre, the Water to the Sea, and all that was of the Earth to the Earth, from whence they were taken. And Solomon saith, The spirit returns to God that gave it. Every thing then returning to its own Element, Joseth its Individuation. ⟨p. 17⟩For we see all bodies returning to the earth, are no more individual bodies, but earth: Have we not reason then to judg the same of Spirits returning to their own Element? And what happiness then can we hope for, more than a deliverance from the present calamity? or what misery are we eapable of, more than what is common to all?
But now supposing all this answer'd, what will it avail us to a Life of Retrobution, if all return to one Element, and be there immerged as Brooks and Rivers in the Sea? If we lose our Individuation; and all the Souls that have existed, be swallowed up of one, where are the Rewards and Punishments of each individual. And we have reason to judg it will be thus, rather than otherwise, because we see every thing tends to its own Centre, the Water to the Sea, and all that was of the Earth to the Earth, from whence they were taken. And Solomon saith, The spirit returns to God that gave it. Every thing then returning to its own Element, Ioseth its Individuation.