A26976:288
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.
§. 1. IT is your wisdom in Cases of so great moment, to use all just endeavours for satisfaction; and I think you did but your duty, to study this as hard as you say you have done. But 1. I wish you had studied it better; for then you would not have been a stranger to many Books which afford a just solution of your Doubts, as I must suppose you are, by your taking no notice of what they have said. 2. And I wish you had known, that between the solving of all your Objections, and taking all on Trust from men, or believing as the Church believeth, there are Two other ways to satisfaction (which must be conjunct): 1. Discerning the unanswerable evidences in Nature and Providence, of the Souls future Life. 2. And taking it on trust from Divine Revelation; which is otherwise to be proved, than by believing as the Church by Authority requireth you.
I have written on this Subject so much •• ready, that I had rather you had told me, why you think it unsatisfactory, than desire me to transcribe it, while Print is as legible as Manuscript. If you have not read it, I humbly offer it to your consideration. It is most in two Books: The first which I entreat you to read, is called, The Reasons of the Christian Religion: the other is called, The Unreasonableness of Infidelity. If you think this too much labour, you are not so hard or faithful a Student of this weighty Case, as it deserveth, and you pretend to be. If you will read them (or the first at least), and after come to me, that we may fairly debate your remaining Doubts, it will be a likelier way for us to be useful to each other, than my going over all the mistakes of your Paper will be. And I suppose you know, that we have full assurance of a multitude of Verities, against which many Objections may be raised, which no mortal man can fully solve, especially from Modes and Accidents. Nay, perhaps there is nothing in the World which is not liable to some such Objections. And yet I will not neglect, your writing.
I have written on this Subject so much •• ready, that I had rather you had told me, why you think it unsatisfactory, than desire me to transcribe it, while Print is as legible as Manuscript. If you have not read it, I humbly offer it to your consideration. It is most in two Books: The first which I intreat you to read, is called, The Reasons of the Christian Religion: the other is called, The Unreasonableness of Infidelity. If you think this too much labour, you are not so hard or faithful a Student of this weighty Case, as it deserveth, and you pretend to be. If you will read them (or the first at least), and after come to me, that we may fairly debate your remaining Doubts, it will be a likelier way for us to be useful to each other, than my going over all the mistakes of your Paper will be. And I suppose you know, that we have full assurance of a multitude of Verities, against which many Objections may be raised, which no mortal man can fully solve, especially from Modes and Accidents. Nay, perhaps there is nothing in the World which is not liable to some such Objections. And yet I will not neglect, your writing.