A26976:84
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
OF THE NATURE OF SPIRITS: › Section 3-4: Ad SECT. III. & IV.
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.
§ 2. Your 4th Section I had rather not have seen. 1. You dislike that I say, that [a self-moving Principle I dare not say is proper to a Spirit.] I hope Ignorance is never the worse for being confessed: All are not so wise as you. I deny it not; but I am not certain that Stones, Earth, and other heavy things, move not to the Earth by a self-moving Principle. I am not sure that if a Stone in the Air fall down, it is by a Spirits motion, and that God hath not made Gravitation, and other aggravative motion of Passives, to be an Essential self-moving Principle. Few men I think have thought otherwise. And yet I am not sure that all Stones and Clods are alive. If you are, bear with our Ignorance; for that is no Error.
§ 2. Your 4th Section I had rather not have seen. 1. You dislike that I say, that [a self-moving Principle I dare not say is proper to a Spirit.] I hope Ignorance is never the worse for being confest: All are not so wise as you. I deny it not; but I am not certain that Stones, Earth, and other heavy things, move not to the Earth by a self-moving Principle. I am not sure that if a Stone in the Air fall down, it is by a Spirits motion, and that God hath not made Gravitation, and other aggravative motion of Passives, to be an Essential self-moving Principle. Few men I think have thought otherwise. And yet I am not sure that all Stones and Clods are alive. If you are, bear with our Ignorance; for that is no Errour.
§ 3. When I say [I consent not to Campanella de sensu rerum, or Dr. Glisson, that would make all things alive by an Essentiating Form in the very Elements.] Here you talk of foul play, to make one part fish, and the other flesh; one part of Matter self-moved, and other not.]
Ans. But, worthy Sir, the foul play is yours, that seem to tell your Reader that I do so, which I never do: That is scant fair play. I said not that Spirits are Matter, and I do but say I am ignorant whether Gravitation be from the Motion of a Spirit thrusting down the Stone, &c. or from an Essential Principle in the Matter. May not one be ignorant where he cannot choose? I cannot but much difference the motus aggregativus, such as Gravitation causeth, which is only the tendency of the parts to the whole, that they may there rest from motion, from the natural motion of known Life, which abhorreth cessation: I take Motus to be no Entity, but a mode of Substance; to be in motion or quiescence, are several modes of it; and that mode which is most stated, most showeth nature. I see no contradiction in it, that a Stone should fall without Life: I dare not say, that God cannot make a Rock or Clod to fall by an intrinsic Principle of Gravitation, without vital motion. And yet I am most inclined to your Opinion: But the stream of Dissenters obligeth such a one as I am to more modesty than must be expected from one of your degree.