A39675:24
Pneumatologia, a treatise of the soul of man
Pneumatologia, a treatise of the soul of man wherein the divine original, excellent and immortal nature of the soul are opened, its love and inclination to the body, with the necessity of its separation from it, considered and improved, the existence, operations, and states of separated souls, both in Heaven and Hell, immediately after death, asserted, discussed, and variously applied, divers knotty and difficult questions about departed souls, both philosophical, and theological, stated and determined, the invaluable preciousness of humane souls, and the various artifices of Satan (their professed enemy) to destroy them, discovered, and the great duty and interest of all men, seasonable and heartily to comply with the most great and gracious design of the Father, Son, and Spirit, for the salvation of their souls, argued and pressed / by John Flavel ...Pneumatologia, a treatise of the soul of man wherein the divine original, excellent and immortal nature of the soul are opened, its love and inclination to the body, with the necessity of its separation from it, considered and improved, the existence, operations, and states of separated souls, both in Heaven and Hell, immediately after death, asserted, discussed, and variously applyed, divers knotty and difficult questions about departed souls, both philosophical, and theological, stated and determined, the invaluable preciousness of humane souls, and the various artifices of Satan (their professed enemy) to destroy them, discovered, and the great duty and interest of all men, seasonable and heartily to comply with the most great and gracious design of the Father, Son, and Spirit, for the salvation of their souls, argued and pressed / by John Flavel ...
London: printed for Francis Tyton, 1685
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 yet I know mens labours prosper not according to the art and elegance of the composure, but according to the divine blessing which pleaseth to accompany them. Ruffinus ⟨image 5⟩tells us of a learned Philosopher at the Council of Nice, who stoutly defended his Thesis against the greatest Wits and Scholars there, and yet was at last fairly vanquished, by a man of no extraordinary parts: of which Conquest the Philosopher gave this candid and ingenuous account, Against words (said he) I opposed words, and what was spoken, I overthrew by the art of speaking; But when instead of words, power came out of the mouth of the Speaker, words could no longer withstand truth; nor man oppose the power of God.
And yet I know mens labours prosper not according to the art and elegancy of the composure, but according to the divine blessing which pleaseth to accompany them. Ruffinus ⟨image 5⟩tells us of a learned Philosopher at the Council of Nice, who stoutly defended his Thesis against the greatest Witts and Scholars there, and yet was at last fairly vanquished, by a man of no extraordinary parts: of which Conquest the Philosopher gave this candid and ingenuous account, Against words (said he) I opposed words, and what was spoken, I overthrew by the art of speaking; But when instead of words, power came out of the mouth of the Speaker, words could no longer withstand truth; nor man oppose the power of God.
O that my weak endeavours might prosper under the like influence of the Spirit upon the hearts of them that shall read this inartificial, but well-meant Discourse.
I am little concerned about the Contempts and Censures of fastidious Readers. I have resolved to say nothing that exceeds Sobriety, nor to provoke any man, except my dissent from his unproved Dictates must be his provocation.