A39675:88
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.
(4.) Lastly, we have here the Nexus, Copula, tie or band, by which it is united with the body of man, viz. the breath of his (i.e. of mans) nostrils. It is a most astonishing mystery to see heaven and earth married together in one person. The dust of the ground and an immortal spirit clasping each other with such dear embraces and tender ⟨p. 8⟩love. Such a noble and divine guest, to take up its residence within the mud-walls of flesh and blood. Alas, how little affinity, and yet what dear affection is found betwixt them!
(4.) Lastly, we have here the Nexus, Copula, tye or band, by which it is united with the body of man, viz. the breath of his (i.e. of mans) nostrils. It is a most astonishing mysterie to see heaven and earth married together in one person. The dust of the ground and an immortal spirit clasping each other with such dear embraces and tender ⟨p. 8⟩love. Such a noble and divine guest, to take up its residence within the mudd-walls of flesh and blood. Alas, how little affinity, and yet what dear affection is found betwixt them!
Now that which so sweetly links these two different natures together, and holds them in union, is nothing else but the breath of our nostrils, as the Text speaks: It came in with the breath; whilst breath stays with us, it cannot go from us; and as soon as the breath departs, it departs also. All the rich Elixirs, and Cordials in the world, cannot persuade it to stay one minute after the breath is gone. One puff of breath will carry away the wisest, holiest, and most desirable soul that ever dwelt in flesh and blood. When our breath is corrupt, our days are extinct, Job 1•.1. Thou takest away their breath, they dye, and return to their dust, Psal. 104.29