The Living Temple

Nor is any thing here said intended as a reflection on such as being unfurnished with a ¹notion of created intelligent spirits that might distinguish them from the most subtle matter, have therefore thought them capable of being involved in the same common notion therewith, thinking them material; and yet, in the mean time doubted not their immortality, much less the existence of a Deity, the Author and Former of them and all things. For they are no way guilty of that blasphemous nonsense, to make them consist of necessary self-subsistent matter, every minute particle whereof is judged eternal and immutable, and in themselves, for ought we can find asserted, destitute of reason, and which yet acquire it by no one knows what coalition, without the ⟨p. 120⟩help of a wise efficient that shall direct and and order it to so unimaginable an improvement. The persons do only think more refined matter capable of that impression and stamp; or of having such a power put into it by the Creators all-disposing hand, Wherein, to do them right, though they should impose somewhat hardly upon themselves if they will make this estimate of the natural capacity of matter; or if they think the acts and power of reason in man altogether unnatural to him. Yet they do in effect the more befriend the cause we are pleading for (as much as it can be befriended by a mis-apprehension; which yet is a thing of that untoward genius, and doth so ill consort with truth, that it's never admitted as a friend in any one in respect, but it repays it with a mischievous revenge in some other, as might many ways be shown in this instance, if it were within the compass of our present design.) It being evident that if any portion of matter shall indeed be certainly found the actual subject of such powers, and to have such operations belonging to it, there is the plainer and more undeniable necessity and demonstration of his power and wisdom, who can make any thing of any thing, and who shall then have done that which is so altogether impossible, except to him to whom all things are possible. There is the more manifest need of his hand to heighten dull matter to a qualifiedness for performances so much above its nature; To make the loose and independent parts of so ⟨p. 121⟩fluid matter cohere and hold together, that, if it were once made capable of knowledge, and the actual subject of it;