A26976:317
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 whereas you say, [God made man of the dust of the ground; but the body only is not man, ergo. Ans. You use your self too unkindly, to leave out half the words, Gen. 2. 7. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul; when the Text tells us the two works by which God made man, will you leave out one, and then argue exclusively against it? What if I said, [The Chandler made a Candle of Tallow, and then by another kindled it]? or [a man made an house of Bricks, and cemented them with Mortar, &c.]? will you thence prove, That he made a Candle burning without fire, or the House without Mortar? Words are useless to such Expositors.
§. 15. Page 4. you say; You know all matter is eternal.
But you know no such thing. If it be Eternal, it hath one Divine perfection: and if so, it must have the rest, and so should be God. But what's your proof?
You again (believe the Souls concentration in its body]▪ Ans. Words insignificant. It's Idem or Aliud. If Idem, then dust is Essentially Vital and Intellectual. Deny not spiritual forms, if every clod or stone have them. If Aliud, how prove you it to be there, rather than elsewhere? And if you considered well, you would not believe essential, substantial life and mind, to lye dead and unactive, so long as the dust is so.