A39675:45
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 for its self-reflecting and considering Power, it seems in many to be a power received in vain. It is with most Souls as it is with the Eye, which sees not it self, though it see all other Objects. There be those that have almost finished the course of a long life (wherein a great part of their time hath lain upon their hands as a cheap and useless Commodity,1 which they knew not what to do with;) who yet never spent one solemn, entire hour in discourse with their own Souls. What serious heart doth not melt into Compassion over the deluded Multitude, who are mocked with Dreams, and perpetually busied about Trifles? Who are, (after so many frustrated attempts both of their own, and all past Ages) eagerly pursuing the fleeing shadows, who torture and rack their brains, to find out the Natures and Qualities of Birds, Beasts, and Plants; indeed any thing rather than their own Souls, which are certainly the most excellent Creatures that inhabit this World. They know the true value and worth of other things, but are not able to estimate the dignity of that high-born Spirit which is within them. A Spirit which (without the addition of any more natural Faculties or Powers; if those it hath be but sanctified and devoted to God) is capable of the highest Perfections and Fruitions, even complete Conformity to God, and the satisfying Visions of God throughout eternity. They Herd themselves with Beasts, who are capable of an equality with Angels. O what compassionate tears must such a consideration as this draw from the eyes of all that understand the worth of Souls!
And for its self-reflecting and considering Power, it seems in many to be a power received in vain. It is with most Souls as it is with the Eye, which sees not it self, though it see all other Objects. There be those that have almost finished the course of a long life (wherein a great part of their time hath lain upon their hands as a cheap and useless Commodity,1 which they knew not what to do with;) who yet never spent one solemn, entire hour in discourse with their own Souls. What serious heart doth not melt into Compassion over the deluded Multitude, who are mockt with Dreams, and perpetually busied about Trifles? Who are, (after so many frustrated attempts both of their own, and all past Ages) eagerly pursuing the fleeing shadows, who torture and rack their brains, to find out the Natures and Qualities of Birds, Beasts, and Plants; indeed any thing rather than their own Souls, which are certainly the most excellent Creatures that inhabit this World. They know the true value and worth of other things, but are not able to estimate the dignity of that high-born Spirit which is within them. A Spirit which (without the addition of any more natural Faculties or Powers; if those it hath be but sanctified and devoted to God) is capable of the highest Perfections and Fruitions, even compleat Conformity to God, and the satisfying Visions of God throughout eternity. They Herd themselves with Beasts, who are capable of an equality with Angels. O what compassionate tears must such a consideration as this draw from the eyes of all that understand the worth of Souls!