A26976:57
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.
Of the name Vita, there is a Controversy, which must be distinguished from that de re. If it be true that Dr. Glisson saith, that every Atom of matter hath in it a Motive Principle without Composition, then the Motive Virtue is the Form of all Matter as well as of Spirit. If all be to be called Living or Spirit, which hath a Virtus Motiva for its Essential Form, then Ignis (or Aether) is Vital and Spirit; for it hath an Essential Motive Principle as its Form. Therefore the Question whether Ignis or Aether) be Life or Spirit, is but a question de nomine (such as too many usually in Disputes manage, as if it were de re.) It is no Life or Spirit, if by those names you mean only Sensitive and Intellectual Natures: But it is Life and Spirit, if by that name you mean only an Essential Formal Motive Principle.
Of the name Vita, there is a Controversie, which must be distinguished from that de re. If it be true that Dr. Glisson saith, that every Atom of matter hath in it a Motive Principle without Composition, then the Motive Virtue is the Form of all Matter as well as of Spirit. If all be to be called Living or Spirit, which hath a Virtus Motiva for its Essential Form, then Ignis (or Aether) is Vital and Spirit; for it hath an Essential Motive Principle as its Form. Therefore the Question whether Ignis or Aether) be Life or Spirit, is but a question de nomine (such as too many usually in Disputes manage, as if it were de re.) It is no Life or Spirit, if by those names you mean only Sensitive and Intellectual Natures: But it is Life and Spirit, if by that name you mean only an Essential Formal Motive Principle.
I have oft professed that I am ignorant whether Ignis and Vegetative Spirit be all one (to which I most incline) or whether ⟨p. 21⟩Ignis be an Active Nature, made to be the Instrument by which the three Spiritual Natures, Vegetative, Sensitive and Mental work on the three Passive Natures: And though I was wont to think, that what I knew not my self, all men of great Learning knew, specially such as you, in the points which you have with singular industry studied; yet now experience hath banished that modest Error, and convinced me that other men must be content with an humble Ignoramus as well as I.