1. That the soul is very precious. What Job saith §1of Wisdom, I may fitly apply to the soul. Man knows not the price thereof, it cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious Onyx, or the Sapphire, the gold and the Chrystal cannot equal it, and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold, Job 28.13, 16, 17. The soul is the glory of the Creation. The inscription of it may be [Greek or Hebrew], The soul is a beam of God; it is a sparkle of celestial brightness, as Damascene calls it; it is (according to Plato,) a Glass of the Trinity. There is in the soul an Idea, and resemblance of God: an Analogy of Similitude not proportion as the Schoolmen speak. If David did so admire the rare texture and workmanship of his body, Psal. 139.13, 15. I am wonderfully made, I was curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. If the Cabinet be so curiously wrought, what is the Jewel? how richly and gloriously is the soul embroidered! it is divinely inlaid and enamelled. The body is but the sheath, Dan. 7.15. I was grieved in the midst of my body, in the Chaldee it is, in the midst of my sheath. The most beautiful body is but like a velvet sheath, the soul is the blade of admirable metal. The soul is a ⟨p. 454⟩sparkling Diamond set in a rig of clay. [Greek or Hebrew], &c. The soul is a vessel of honour*; God himself is served in this vessel. The soul is the bird of Paradise that soars aloft: it may be compared to the wings of the Cherubims, it hath a winged swiftness to fly to heaven. The soul is Capax beatitudinis, capable of communion with God and Angels*. The soul is Gods house he hath made to dwell in, Heb. 3.6. The Understanding, Will, and Affections are the three stories in this house. What pity is it that this goodly building should be let out, and the Devil become Tenant in it. The preciousness of the soul is seen in two particulars.
1. That the soul is very precious. What Job saith §1of Wisdom, I may fitly apply to the soul. Man knows not the price thereof, it cannot be vallued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious Onyx, or the Saphire, the gold and the Chrystal cannot equal it, and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold, Job 28.13, 16, 17. The soul is the glory of the Creation. The inscription of it may be 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, The soul is a beam of God; it is a sparkle of celestial brightnesse, as Damascen calls it; it is (according to Plato,) a Glasse of the Trinity. There is in the soul an Idaea, and resemblance of God: an Analogy of Similitude not proportion as the Schoolmen speak. If David did so admire the rare texture and workmanship of his body, Psal. 139.13, 15. I am wonderfully made, I was curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. If the Cabinet be so curiously wrought, what is the Jewel? how richly and gloriously is the soul embroydered! it is divinely inlaid and enamel'd. The body is but the sheath, Dan. 7.15. I was grieved in the midst of my body, in the Chalde it is, in the midst of my sheath. The most beautiful body is but like a velvet sheath, the soul is the blade of admirable mettal. The soul is a ⟨p. 454⟩sparkling Diamond set in a rig of clay. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, &c. The soul is a vessel of honour*; God himself is serv'd in this vessel. The soul is the bird of Paradise that soars aloft: it may be compared to the wings of the Cherubims, it hath a winged swiftnesse to fly to heaven. The soul is Capax beatitudinis, capable of communion with God and Angels*. The soul is Gods house he hath made to dwell in, Heb. 3.6. The Understanding, Will, and Affections are the three stories in this house. What pity is it that this goodly building should be let out, and the Divel become Tenant in it. The preciousnesse of the soul is seen in two particulars.
- *Macarius.
- *Bern.
