A26976:97
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.
Do you think that only the Anima Mundi animateth all Animals? I think you do not; else all Apparitions should be but by one Soul. Besides an Anima Universalis, there must be a particular (or singular) Soul in every Man, Beast, Bird, &c. There must be more than the Universal Soul, to make you write, speak, do better than others: And if so, how am I sure that nothing under the Universal Spirit moveth descendentia gravia? In motu projectorum (another instance of my Ignorance) there is sure some causality in Anima singulari projicientis. The Universal ⟨p. 39⟩Cause is ever one, but excludeth not subordinate Moving Causes. My old Friend Mr. Sam. Got (on Mosis Philos.) supposeth each Element to have its special Spirit: I am not so well skilled in such things, as to come to that certainty which others pretend to: I think to an equal common Motion an Universal Cause may suffice; but when Motions differ, I know not the different Causes so well as some think they do. How you answered Judge Hale of the Rundle in the Water, I know not: But you that think Fire in the Sun to be no Spirit but Matter, I am confident will never make me believe, that Fire and Sun are moved only by the Universal Mover, without any motive principle in themselves. Your Metaphys. c. 13. I have perused, and am past doubt of a Spiritual Moving Power: But two things I see not proved; 1. That there are not particular Moving Principles subordinate to the more Universal. 2. That the God of Nature hath not put into the passive Elements, a strong inclination of the parts to union with the whole, and to aggregative Motion when forcibly separated; which Inclination Dr. Glisson calleth their Essential Life; but I think is somewhat that deserveth not that name. I have not read ⟨p. 40⟩your Vol. Philos. nor Adnot am. nor Answer to Judge Hale.
Do you think that only the Anima Mundi animateth all Animals? I think you do not; else all Apparitions should be but by one Soul. Besides an Anima Vniversalis, there must be a particular (or singular) Soul in every Man, Beast, Bird, &c. There must be more than the Universal Soul, to make you write, speak, do better than others: And if so, how am I sure that nothing under the Universal Spirit moveth descendentia gravia? In motu projectorum (another instance of my Ignorance) there is sure some causality in Anima singulari projicientis. The Universal ⟨p. 39⟩