A26976:375
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.
§. 31. But if you hold, That we have now distinct Spirits, which are individual ⟨p. 56⟩Substances, why should you fear the loss of our individuation, any more than our annihilation, or specific alteration? If God made as many substantial individual Souls, as men, is there any thing in Nature or Scripture, which threateneth the loss of Individuation? I have showed you, and shall further show you enough against it.
§. 31. But if you hold, That we have now distinct Spirits, which are individual ⟨p. 56⟩Substances, why should you fear the loss of our individuation, any more than our annihilation, or specifick alteration? If God made as many substantial individual Souls, as men, is there any thing in Nature or Scripture, which thteatneth the loss of Individuation? I have shewed you, and shall further shew you enough against it.
§. 32. You say, page 7. Every thing returneth to its element, and loseth its individuation: Earth to Earth, Water to the Sea, the Spirit to God that gave it. What happiness then can we hope for more than deliverance from the present calamity; or what misery are we capable of, more than is common to all?
Ans. 1. Bodies lose but their Composition, and Spiritual forms. Do you think, that any Atom loseth its individuation? If it be still divisible in parts infinitas, it is infinite. And if every Atom be infinite, it is as much, or more than all the world; and so is no part of the world; and so there would be as many Worlds, or Infinites, as Atoms. It is but an aggregative motion which you mention. Birds of a Feather will flock together, and yet are Individuals still. Do you think any dust, or drop, any Atom of Earth or Water, loseth