Upload
love2readlove2read24
View
219
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 1/30
218
The f o u l a
f m p l e fubftancey
S E C T .
I I I .
The n a t u r a l immor ta l i ty o f the f o u l
f hewn
f r o m its being a
Jimple
or
uncompoundedfubflance;
what this
immortality imports.
A F T E R
w h a t has been f a i d ,
it
m i g h t
not
perhaps
be
im p r o p e r
to
e x a m in e
the
ar
g u m e n t s t h a t are g e n e r a l l y b r o u g h t to mew
t he ma te r i a l i t y
of the
f o u l ,
or the objections
agaihft its b e in g i m m a t e r i a l , u p o n w h i c h
o u r p re jud ices m a k e
us lay
great ftfefs;
for
t h o u g h w h e n
a
t h i n g
is
once p roved t rue ,
we need not m u c h conce rn ourfe lves w i t h
w h a t
is
f a id
againft i t, fince
t he re canno t
be
c o n t r a r y t r u t h s ; yet (as h a th been la te ly
wel l obferved) f ince objections f o u n d e d u p o n
pre jud ices ga in ea fy admi t tance,
and few
words ferve to m a k e t h e m
u n d e r s t o o d ,
i t
w i l l
not be amifs to
take no t ice
of t h e f e :
bu t th i s may be done w i t h m o re eafe and
clearnefs
a
l i t t l e f a rt he r o n . W h e re fo re t ha t
w e
may the
be t ter
underftand the
na tu re
of
th e h u m a n f o u l , let us n e x t confider the con-
4 fequences
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 2/30
t h e r e f o r e n a t u r a l l y i m m o r t a l .
219
fequences of
its
being a
fimple
or uncompound-
ed fu b j la n c e ; for i f i t we re ma de u p o f par ts ,
as m a t te r is , i t m i g h t be contend ed tha t i t
cou ld na tu ra l l y be re fo l ved in to
thefe
parts
a g a i n ,
b y the
action
o f f o m e th ing o r o the r
u p o n i t : whereas i f i t h a th no par ts, o r is b u t
one
fingle uncompounded
t h i n g , w e
{hall
be
fatisfied i n our o w n w a y , th a t i t is l iab le b u t
to one cha ng e, o r ca fua l ty , v i z . to be
a n n i
h i l a t e d ,
or to be
destroyed
b y a B e in g to
whofe p o w er th a t e ffec t is co m pe tent . I n o r
d er to th is , a n d to he lp us to get the bet ter
o f fome o f ou r p re jud ices , w h er eb y w e are
ftill a p p ly in g the properties o f m at te r to f p i -
r i t , b y w h i c h , i n p r o p r i e ty w e
mould
a lways
m e a n i m m a t e r i a l fubftance
( a ) ;
I fhall p r e -
mife
t he fo l l ow ing ob fe rva t ions .
I I . N o
(a) M r . Locke, in his controverfy with the Bifhop o f
Wortefter mentioned above, endeavours to juftify his
ufing
the word fp ir i t for a thinking fubftance, without
excluding materiality out of i t , by the authority of V ir
gil and Cicero: where he
fays
" Whether they
thought righ t in this [that the foul might be only a
fubtil matter, which might come under the name of
aura, or ignis or at her,] I do not fay : that is not the
e'
queftion;
but whether they
fpoke
properly, when they
{<• called an adive thinking fubflance, out of which they
excluded
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 3/30
2 2 0 T h e f o u l a J tmp le fub f tance>
I I .
N o
fubjlance
or being can have a
n a t u
r a l tendency to a n n i h i l a t i o n , or to become no
t h i n g .
T h a t a b e i n g w h i c h o nc e
exifts
f h o u l d
ceafe to e x i f t , is a re al ef fect , a n d m u f l b e
prod uce d b y a rea l
c a u f e :
b u t th is caufe co uld
not
be p lan ted i n the n a tu re o f an y
fubfiance
o r
B e i n g ,
to become a tende ncy o f i ts n a
t u r e ;
fox i t could not be a f r e e
caufe; other-
w i f e i t muf t be a B e in g i t fe l f , th e fubject o f
the a t t r i b u te f reed om , an d the re fo re n o t t he
pro pe r t y o f ano ther Be ing ' , no r a
necejfary
caufe, fo r fu c h a caufe is on ly th e e f fec t o f
fbmediing
i m p o f i n g t h a t
nece f f i t y ,
and fo no
caufe at a l l . Necefary caufes and pqjjive p o w -
ei excluded only grofs and palpable matter,
fpir i tus ,
fp i -
ritj
fefc." Bu t w ith
fubmifiion,
I think no
man
ever
before defended
the
propriety of an
expreflion, exclufivc
of the truth of it , in a philofophical controverfy. I f the
acceptation o f a word is fuch as determines the
queftion,
without farther argument, as in this cafe, to
juftify
the
propriety of it
then,
is to make the common ufe of
lan
guage decide in points of philofophy. I f Cicero or V ir
gil had wrong ideas as to the immateriality of the foul,
though they
exprefled
thefe wrong ideas right, that doth
not mend the matter. The difpute between the Bifhop
and M r . Locke, was, whether matter could th in k, and
not the
claffical
acceptation of the word
fpiritus.
ers
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 4/30
t h e r e fo r e n a t u r a l l y
i m m o r t a l .
221
e n
deny t he t h i ng t hey
feem
to expre fs . T h i s
efFecl therefore m u f l be the opera t ion and e f
fic iency o f an oth er B e in g ab ex t ra . O ne o f
o u r pre jud ices here is , tha t w e im a gi ne Beings
may have a na tura l tendency to change the i r
n a tu re ; bu t t hen t he i r na tu re w o u ld be i n c o n -
fiftent, and deftructive o f
i t f e l f f ^
an d the fam e
arg um en t m a y be app l ied here to the na tu ra l
ftate o f b e in g , i n ge ne ral , as was a pp l ied at
N ° 1 4 . o f th e firft fe&ion to the ftate of reft
o r m o t i o n o f m a t te r i n particular; f ince that
is b u t one pa rt icu lar caufe o f the n a tu ra l ftate
o f be ing . F o r a tend en cy to perfevere i n the
fam e f ta te o f na ture, an d a tend enc y to chan ge
i t ,
are
cont rad ic to r ies ,
a n d
impoffible
to be
p lan ted in the fame fubjedr. a t o n c e : o r ( no t
to urge the contradiction) i f t he laft p reva i led ,
the remain ing in the fame f ta te , for any g iven
t i m e , w o u ld be im po f f i b l e . W e fo rge t t he
t ru e caufe o f a l l thefe tendenc ies , the w i l l o f
Go d ,
w h i c h i t is ab fu rd t o fuppoie con t ra ry
(b)
The natures of things
are
only the ideas in the d i
vine
intellect, confiftent
to be made
fubfift
together in
the fame fubjedt, extra
intelleftum;
but the idea of a
ten
dency
deftrudive
of that nature (». e. of
thofe
other ideas)
muft have been inconfiftent
with
them;
which points out
(10 us the origin of the contradiftion,
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 5/30
2 2 2 T h e f o u l a J i m p l e f u b f t a n c e ,
t o i tfe l f . T h e tend en cy i n m a t ter to per feverc
i n the fam e ftate o f re f t o r m o t i o n is n o th in g
b u t the w i l l o f t he Cre a to r , w h o p re fe rves a l l
t h i n gs i n t he i r ex i ft ence , an d m anne r o f e x -
iftence ( c j :
no r can w e have recour fe to a n
o ther cau fe fo r t he p re fe rva t ion o f immate r ia l
fubftance i n its ex i f tence and m a n n e r o f e x -
i f t e n c e ;
t a k in g m an ne r o f ex i ft ence i n a la rger
f en fe , (becaufe b ei ng aftive i t can change
the f tate of i ts cogi tat ion
(cf).
T he re f o re , as
I
f a i d ,
thefe tendenc ies are or ig ina l ly to be
a fc r ibed to the w i l l o f G o d , an d i t is ab fu rd to
(c) Definant jam Phikfophi cont'inuati motus exquirere
caujam7
alia
qulppe
agnofcenda eft nulla
prater prlmam
Warn,
qua run modo
motum,
fed res omnes in ejfe fuo con-
fervat
j Deum fc i l .
Opt. Max.
nee
alia
ratione perfeverat
motus,
quam qua continuatur corporis alicujus Jigura, co
lor, aut alia quavis iftiufmodi
affeHionum,
qua
femper
eadem permanerent, nife
vis aliqua externa
eas
turbaverit.
Introducl. ad Ver. Phyfic. Left . 11.
(d ) The firft exiftence of matter, and every change
in the manner of its exiftence, requires an immaterial
Caufe. And though every change of the manner of the
exiftence of fp ir it, doth not immediately proceed from
the power of G od, being
a£tive
itfelf in changing the
ftate of its cogitation; yet the having received this acti
vity fhews it no lefs dependent on the w i l l of the Crea
tor, than if it were preferved in one continued ftate of
inactivity.
%
^-iuppofe
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 6/30
t h e r e f o r e n a t u r a l l y i m m o r t a l .
223
f u p p o f e t h e m c o n t r a r y . W h a t w e f u pp o f e a
tendency of nature to a change in mater ia l
t h i n g s , is b u t t h e g r a d u a l effeSi o f an e x ter io r
caufe,
o r
immaterial
p o w e r , w o r k i n g a c h an g e
i n th e m , as w h e n i ro n expo fed to the a i r is
g r a d u a l l y confumed t o r u f t , w h i c h is
m i s
ta k e n fo r a na tura l tend ency , becaufe o f the
flownefs a n d imp erce pt ib lenefs o f the op era
t i o n (e). A n o th e r o f ou r p re jud ices is , th a t
w e argue f r o m a change o f acc idents o f th e
fame fub f tan ce , to a change o f the fub f tance
i t fe l f , ( t h o u g h a change o f f ub ftance is i m
pro pe r ly ca lled a ch a n g e ) : an d becaufe fome
ex ter io r t h i n g is ftill e f fe ct ing thefe changes o f
acc iden t s, i n f u c h m a te r i a l
objects
as we are
m o f t f a m i l i a r w i t h , w e im a g i n e t h a t i m m a
te r ia l fub f tanc e o r be ing m a y have a na tu ra l
t endency t o decay o r become n o th ing . B u t
m e t h i n k s w e
mould
qu i t t h i s p re jud ice , when
w e fee, t h a t even th is change o f acc idents o f
(e)
Philcfophers obferve
this is
efFe&ed
by a fermen
tation,
which,
by the
laft
fe&ion,
is no natural power
of matter. " For air (fays Sir If. Newton, Opt. p. 355-)
abounds with acid vapours fit to promote fermentations,
as
appears by rafting of iron and copper in i t , the
k ind
ling of fire by blowing, and the beating of the heart by
jjieans of
xefpiration,
na tu ra l
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 7/30
2 2 4 <^>e f o u l a f i m p l e f u b f t a n c e .
n a tu ra l bod ies is n o t e ffed ted w i t h o u t the c o n
c urre nc e o f A l m i g h t y P o w e r .
I I I . N o be ing, though i t ha th po w er , can
have
fuch
po w er as to an n ih i l a t e i t f e l f : f o r
th e n i t o u g h t to have p o w e r to e ffed t th a t i t
mould
have n o p o w e r , w h i c h is c o n t r a d i c t o r y ;
fince
w e a re fo rce d to fuppo fe the th in g
f t i l l
r e m a i n i n g ,
w h i c h w e f u p po f e t a k e n a w a y .
I f a cau fe p ro d uce th an
ef fedt ,
i t mu f f have
po w er t o f i n i f h t ha t e f fed t ; o t h e rw i fe i t cou ld
not be the caufe o f
i t :
an d i n th is cafe i f i t
had power to f in i fh the ef fedt , the ef fedt could
n o t be fin ished, th a t p o w e r ftill re m a in in g .
I t is therefore the fame
contradiction
to f u p
po fe tha t a be ing fh o u ld an n ih i la te i t fe l f , as
tha t i t f h ou ld create i t f e l f ; na m e ly , t h a t i t
Jhou ld acl when i t is not. Y e t w e con t rad t a
p re jud i ce , w h i c h makes us fancy t ha t a Be ing
co u ld p u t an en d to i t fe l f , as w h e n a m a r l
gives h im fe l f a dead l y w o u n d . B u t i t is b e g
g i n g t h e q u e f t io n t o f a y t h a t a m a n a n n i h i l
a tes h im fe l f i n fuch a c a f e ; a n d i t is f r o m
fuch in f tances on ly tha t we con t rad t t h i s p re
j u d i c e .
T h e f trength o f t he m an 's a r m d o th
tha t , w h i c h w i t h t he fub fequen t e f fi ciency o f
o ther
caufes, brings
o n t h e e n d o f l i f e ; w h i c h
i t
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 8/30
therefore
n a t u r a l l y i m m o r t a l . 2 2 5
i t is n o t a l low e d is th e en d o f be ing , m o re
th a n the cha ng e o f figure o r polition i n m a t
te r is t he a n n ih i l a t i o n o f m at te r . I n th e
pre fe n t cafe , b y fu p p o f i t i o n , no cau fe co -o pe
rates, befides t he p o w e r o f t he being i t f e l f ;
a n d the re is n o tendency to an n ih i l a t i o n i n
t h e na tu re o f any be ing w i t h o u t t he e f f ic iency
o f fome o th er caufe , b y w h a t wa s fa id juft
n o w , N ° 2 . bu t ch ie f l y , b y w h a t is f a i d
t h e r e , i t is G o d w h o pre ferves a l l th in gs i i i
being a n d ex i f ten ce : the ref ore n o being can.
a n n ih i la te e i ther i tfe l f , o r any o th er be ing ,
w i t h o u t i t Were fuppo fed able t o re f i l l i n f i n i t y
o f po w er , w h i c h con f t an t l y p re fe rves t h e m .
I V . I t w i l l be f a i d , fince finite Beings
have no t endency t o a n n ih i l a t i o n , the re w i l l
be need o f no power to pre ferve them in the i r
n a tu ra l ftate. B u t t o th is i t is an fw ere d firft,
that any being ( th is f tone for in f tance) as
exi f l ing t h is m i n u t e , h a t h n o neceffary
c o n
ne x io n w i t h i t f e l f , as e x i f l i n g t he nex t . T h i s
i s o f t he na tu re o f a l l con t ingen t
be ings;
eve ry m in u te o f t he i r
exiftence
i s i ndepen
d e n t o f a l l the re f t , an d there fore
mufi
depend
upon fomething elje : fo r th e i r ex i ftence b y
th e te r m s, is n o t ab fo lu te ly independ ent o f
V o l .
I . Q _ a l l
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 9/30
2 2 6 'The f o u l a J imp le fub f l ancey
a l l
t h i n g s ;
o t he rw i fe i t w o u ld no t be con t i n
gen t , b u t nece f fa ry . I f t he existence o f a
be ing th i s m in u te in fe r re d i ts ex i f tence the
n e x t , i t w o u l d be a
phyfical contradiction
t h a t any t h i n g t h a t h ad eve r once ex i f t e d ,
fhould
ever ceafe to
e x i f t ;
a n d contingent
exiftence w o u l d be the caufe o f
necejfary
ex
i f t ence ; wh ich i s
a b f u r d .
A n d f e c o n d l y , th is
b r ings us , b y ano ther k i n d o f re a fo n in g , t o
w h a t w a s
afierted
N ° 2 . an d w h i c h is t h e
ch ie f an fwe r t o t h i s ob jec t i on , t ha t t he non -
ten d en cy o f beings to cha ng e th e i r ftate, or
th e i r tend ency to per fevere i n the i r be ing a n d
ex i f t ence , ha th n o o the r cau fe b u t t h e w i l l
o f G o d ; an d tha t t ende ncy is b u t t h i s
c o n
t i n u e d a ct o f h is w i l l e x e r t e d , a n d t a k i n g
e ffect. I t w o u ld be ab fu rd the n to fa y , be -
caufe the tend en cy o f beings to re m a in i n
th e i r fta te o f ex i f tenc e, fuppofes the c o n f t a n t
c o n c u rr e n ce o f t h e w i l l a n d p o w e r o f G o d ;
t he re fo re fu ch a tend ency fuperfedes th e w i l l
a n d p o w e r o f G o d i n t h e i r a c tu a l p r e f e rv a -
t i o n : a n d ye t the ob jec t ion comes j u f t t o
t h i s .
W e f a w i n th e
laft
f e c t i o n , w h e n
f p e a k i n g o f t h e cohefion o f m a t t e r , t h a t i t
i s a c o n t i n u a l p o w e r i m p r e f l e d , w h i c h c o n
stitutes
t h e f o l i d i t y o f i t . A n d g e n e r a l ly ,
fince
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 10/30
t h e r e f o r e n a t u r a l l y i m m o r t a l .
227
fince to w i l l a n d to do, is the fam e th in g to
in f i n i t e p o w e r , the p re fe rva t ion o f a l l t h ings ,
Whether m a te r ia l o r im m a te r i a l , is t he f ame ,
or equa l to
a
cont inued creat ion. A c o n t i n u e d
a d :
o f t he w i l l is a co n t i nu ed
a c t :
a f u f -
penfion o f a n a£l o f t he w i l l is i t f e l f a p o f i -
t i ve
a d ,
(as w i l l appear i n the ne x t
f ed l i on ) .
A n d the re fo re the p re fe rva tion o f
being,
a n d
its a n n ih i l a t i o n , requ i re as
pofitive
an a£t ,
as i ts c reat ion.
V . T h e f e t h i n g s b ein g p r e m i f e d , i t a p
pears th a t a l l fub f tan ce eq ua l ly , as w e l l m a
te r ia l as im m a te r i a l , ca nn o t ceafe to e x i f t b u t
b y a n
effect
o f i n f i n i t e P o w e r . A n d t h e
o n ly re m a in in g change i t can be l iab le to
f r o m the agency o f any fecond
caufe,
is in
i ts acc id ents, o r f u c h propert ies as are n o t
necef fa ry t o i t , as fu ch a fu b f t a n c e ; b u t
w h i c h be ing a l te red , i t rema ins ft i l l a f u b
ftance w i t h t he fame fun d am en ta l and fpe c i -
fic prop ert ies i t ha d
b e f o r e ;
t h a t is , f till th e
fame fub f t ance .
V I .
A l l th e
changes
o f t h i s k i n d , w h i c h
h a p p e n to m at te r , are e f fec ted i n i t , becaufe
i t is a fub f tance c om po un d ed o f pa r t s , a n d
Q j j
aga in
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 11/30
228 The
f o u l a fimph f u b j l a n c e ,
aga in
divisible
in to par ts , each o f w h i c h is a
f o l i d ,
e x t e n d e d ,
d i v i f i b l e ,
f i g u r e d f u b f t a n c e ;
o r h a th the
ejjentlal
p roper ties o f the w h o le ,
o f w h i c h i t is a p ar t , as m u c h as the w h o le
h a t h . F o r i n a n y indivifible o f m a t te r , f u p -
pofing
f u ch were
po f f i b l e ,
we can conceive
n o change po f f ib le : becau fe i t w o u ld i m p l y
a
c o n t r a d i c t i o n .
I t co u ld no t be chang ed in
ibl idi ty
o r
extenfion ;
t ha t w o u ld be t o change
i t i n q ua n t i t y , w h i c h cou ld on l y be e ffected
by ad d ing parts to i t , w h i c h is no change i n
itfelf; o r b y t a k i n g p arts f r o m i t , w h i c h b y
fuppofition
i t h a th no t . I t co u ld n o t be
c h a n g e d i n f ig u r e o r d i m e n f i o n s , w i t h o u t a
change o f t he po f i t i on o f pa r ts , w h i c h i t h a th
n o t . I f i t f h ou ld be
f a i d ,
t h a t i t m i g h t b e
c ha ng ed f r o m re f t to m o t i o n , o r f r o m m o
t i o n to re f t , t h i s is no change o f t h is i n d i v i
f i b l e
confidered
a lone, b u t a chang e o f i t
confidered w i t h r e la t i o n t o fomething
e l f e ;
t o w i t , o the r pa r t s , t he d i f tan ce be twe en
w h i c h an d i t i s chang ed . E ve n i n abfo lu te
mot ion noth ing is effected b u t a d e t e r m i n a t i o n
of the inac t iv i t y , o r re f i f tance, to one par t
m o r e t h a n a n o th e r , w h i c h is n o
intr inf ic
m u
ta t i on o f f ub ftance o r f ub f t an t i a l p ro pe r
ties ( f ) .
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 12/30
t h e r e f o r e n a t u r a l l y i m m o r t a l .
229
tIes /)•I n
fliort, this
indivil ible
c o u l d u n
dergo no change in
itfelf,
n o n o t f r o m a n y
p o w e r ,
( f)
In abfolute or real motion, the force, moment or
refiftance, is only determined to one
fide,
I think, or
receives
a
particular d irection, but
is
not
changed
in quan
t i ty , unlefs we take it relatively, or w ith
refpect
to a
terminus
a
quo. By N ° 12. of the firft
fe&ion,
if we
fix on fuch a terminus, the refiftance of matter is end-
lefly
increafible. In receding from the terminus of re ft,
i t may always receive another degree of celerity, and
therefore w i l l make another degree of refiftance. Th is
is becaufe of the degree of refiftance it made to receive
that celerity. I t could not make two degrees of refif
tance to be ftopt,
utyfefs
it had made two degrees of re
fiftance to be put up into that motion.
So,
that the in -
creafe of moment fuppofes a previous repetition of equal
refiftances
to equal changes. And therefore this refiftance
taken abfolutely, is always the fame, as much as the in
activity
is, as in N° 13. of that fection. However, in
cafe one
mould
be tenacious of the contrary, not much
depends
on this. But having mentioned moment
as
art
affection
of real motion in matter, let me be permitted
to explain, and
reftrain a
l itt le, what M r.
Locke hath ad
vanced concerning the motion of all finite fpirits. la
Book 2. chap. 23.
feet. 17
and
18.
having enumerated
the primary ideas peculiar to body and
fp i r i t ,
as contra-
diftinguifhed to each other, he makes mobility common
to them
both;
which
he
illuftrates
and
defends,
fed:. 19,
20
and
2 i .
He hath before afcribed
motivity,
or
a
power
of putting body into motion by thought, to fp irit, as one
Qf
the ideas peculiar to
it}
fo that by mobility he
feems
0=3 »
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 13/30
2 3 0
'The
f o u l a fimple f u b f t a n c e ,
po w e r , b u t a change o f f ub f t anc e , o r
a n n i
h i l a t i o n ,
w h i c h is n o t a change p ro pe r l y
f p e a k i n g .
to mean a capacity in
fpirit
of being
moved,
by
fome-
thing ab extra, and not the power of moving, which is
included in
motivity •
efpecially fince he makes mobility
common to both matter and fpirit. W h ic h , w ith
fub-
miflion, I th ink is very wrong, and tends to confound
the natures of the two fubftances he would diftinguifh.
W e fay a thing is moveable, which can be moved by a
orce applied ab extra: thus a table or a chair is move
able. And
confequently
we
call
a thing immoveable
wh ich
310
force applied, or that we can apply, is
able
to
move:
thus a houfe or a mountain is faid to be immoveable.
N ow a fubftance that no way impedes motion, but ef
fects i t , can w ith no propriety, I th in k, have the capa
city of mobility afcribed to i t , as i t is afcribed to body,
a fubftance which refills motion, and no way effects i t ,
and therefore wants an external mover. T o make
fp i
rit material, and fo at once both to caufe and hinder mo
t ion, is a plain
contradiction.
Spirit, i t is true, flops
motion ; but it is by the fame liv ing efficacy, by which
It
begins it
•
not by a deadnefs and
refi/iance
in it
felf
to
le
moved.
Befides, a fpirit when it moves, hath no mo
ment,
as body
hath,
proceeding from its vis inertia. I t
cannot be faid to refifl: being brought from motion to reft
or from reft to motion ; fince i t effects thefe changes. I f
I t moved circularly, i t could have no centrifugal force.
W hen a man walks, his fpirit moves his body; but is
not moved by it . I f both were moved, there would be
no mover. N ay, even in the journey betw ixt Londm
3nd
Oxford, where the man's fp iri t is not the mover,
but the horfes move the coach, his body and all, his fpiri t
doth
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 14/30
t h e r e f o r e n a t u r a l l y i m m o r t a l .
231
Speak ing :
I f the m at te r o f o u r bodies w ere
fuch an i nd i v i f i b l e , w e cou ld be affedted w i t h
none o f t he
viciffitudes
we a re now
affe&ed
w i t h
j
bu t ou r m a te r ia l pa r t w o u ld be as i n -
dhTo luble as n o w ou r t h i n k in g p a r t i s, w h i c h
is indeed
affedted
w i t h the changes o f th e
doth not impede the motion, or
make the
draught
heavierj
or is not properly a moved. So that, in effe£r, mobility
doth not belong in common both to body and fpirit. Nor
farther, can motion belong to
both,
but in very different
fenfes. M r . Locke fays, fe£t. 19 ' ' For having no other
ideaof
motion,
but change of diftance with other beings
that are confideredas at re ft ; and find ing that fp irits,
& c ." I t is true, fpirits change
place,
and motion in this
fenfe is competent to all finite fp irits. But in this m o
tion they are not moved but movers ; which is the d iftinc-
tion endeavoured to be
confounded.
Sceptical people con
clude from this, that whatever moves is material. But
i t w i l l not follow that whatever moves, as a mover, is
material, and has the relations of matter. For in the
idea of the motion of body, a
moved.,
and not a mover is im
plied
•
and the
affections
of moment,
reft/iance,
and ten
dency to move in the fame J iraight and uniform
direSiioTit
are necefiarily included. Were there but one body in
the
Univerfe,
thefe
affections
would infeparably attend
its
m ot ion;
and yet then the relation of
diftance
would
never fhew motion. The diftinflion of ubi and in loco,
which M r . Locke obferves, feci.
z i .
to be of little ufe to
our conception,
was
introduced probably, to fignify that
body and fpirit occupy fpace after a different
manner;
though we cannot conceive that difference of manner.
( X j , b o d y ,
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 15/30
2 3 2 T he f o u l a J lmple f u b f i a n c e ^
b o d y , b u t w i t h o u t a n y f u n d a m e n t a l c ha ng e
or a l te ra t ion i n i ts o w n fub f tance .
4
V I I . A l l th e ch an ge s t h e n w h i c h h a p p e n
to m a t te r , are ef fected in i t , becaufe i t is a
fubftance
co m po un d ed o f pa r ts , an d aga in
divifible i n to par ts , each o f w h i c h is a f o l i d ,
d i v i f i b l e , ex tended , f i gu red fub f t ance , o r ha th
th e ejjential p rope rt i es o f t he who le o f w h i c h
i t is a p a r t , as m u c h as t he w h o le h a t h .
B u t fu re ly th is can never be fa id o f
aSlive
percept ive Jiibjiance t h a t i t is c o m p o u n d e d o f
par ts ,
w h i c h a r e
l ikewife a fl ive
percept ive
fob/lances^ w e fh o u ld th e n have as m a n y
di f ferent percept ions and confc ioufnef fes as
the re we re dirlerent par ts o f the
f o u l :
no r
c o u ld f u c h parts fubjecT: a n adtive percept ive
f u b fta n c e t o m o r t a l i t y , o r c o r r u p t i o n , t h o u g h
f e p a r a t e d ; fo r the fe par ts cou ld no t be o ther
th a n ac l ive percept ive fub f tances , as m u c h as
th e w h o le is w h o fe parts the y a re , an y m o re
th a n t he pa rts o f m a t t e r co u ld be u n fo l i d
o r un ex ten d ed . Par ts o f an y fub f tance
muf t
be o f t he fame fub f tance , b y the te rms , a n d
o f th e f a m e n a tu re w i t h th e w h o l e , o f w h i c h
th e y a re
p a r t s ;
d i f f e r in g o n l y f r o m t h e w h o l e
j n m o r e o r
lefs,
bu t n o t i n na tu re an d f u n
d a m e n t a l
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 16/30
t h e r e f o r e n a t u r a l l y i m m o r t a l .
233
damental p r op e r t i e s ; o the rw i fe the fubjlance
o f thefe p a r t s w o u ld no t be t he fame w i t h
tha t o f t he w h o l e : o r the y w o u ld be par ts
o f t he fame fub f tance , and n o t o f the fam e
f u b f t a n c e , w h i c h i s
c o n t r a d i c t o r y .
T h i s is
i m p l i e d ,
I f ay , b y the te rm s , w h e n w e fay
f a r t s o f th e f a m e f ub fta n c e ; for that is the
fame fub f t ance confidered as h a v i n g par ts i n
i t ; w h e r e , b y t h e f u p p o f i t i o n , t he fub f tance ,
a n d there fore the fu b f ta n t ia l p roperties i n
th e pa r ts , a re th e fam e as i n the w h o le .
T h a t w h i c h adds w e i g h t t o t h is r e a fo n in g is ,
0iat
as i t appe ared i n the
h f t f t c J i o n ,
t ha t ac
t i v i t y a n d pe rce pt iv i ty can belong only to i m
m a t e r i a l f u b f t a n c e ; f o i t fhall be f h e w n i n
th e n e x t , t h a t they muft alw ay s belong to i f ,
o r a re in feparab le f r o m i t . T h e re fo re , i f t h is
fub f tan ce h a th par t s , every pa r t m u f t be ac
t i ve an d pe rcep tive . A n d t he
actual
fepara-
t i o n o f fu ch parts co u ld never be the c o r r u p
t i o n ,
o r dea th ,
o f ac t i ve ,
pe rcep ti ve , o r l i v in g
fub f tance , bu t ra ther the genera t ion o f many .
V I I I .
A l i v i n g f u b ft a n c e c o u l d n o t
confift
o f o ther l i v in g fub f tance s, as a dead fub f tanc e
m a y be th e aggregate o f othe r dead fubf ta nc es ,
Vipon th is fa r ther accou nt . Deadnefs is a
mere
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 17/30
2 ? 4-
T h e f o u l a
f i m p l e
f u b f t a n c e ,
mere negat ion, a n d do th not w a n t a p r in c i p le
o f i n d i v i d u a l i t y , t o r e f t r a i n a n d a p p r o p ria t e
i t to an y pa r t o f th e aggregate . I t w o u ld be
ab fu rd t o f ay , t he
deadnefs
o f every p a rt is
i ts o w n par t i cu la r , o r i n d i v id u a l deadne fs ,
wh i ch can be a f c r i bed t o no o the r
p a r t ;
a n d
the deadnefs o f the who le i s l i kew i fe i t s i n d i
v i dua l deadne fs , wh i ch muf t be d i f f e ren t f r o m
the deadnefs o f a l l the par ts . I t w o u l d be
a b f u r d ,
I fay , to fpea k thu s . B u t activity
be ing a pojitive
power,
wan t s a p r i n c i p l e o f
i n d i v i d u a l i t y ;
or the
activity
o f a n y p a r t ,
m u f t as ce r ta i n ly be t he p o w e r o f t h a t p a r t ,
an d n o t o f an oth er , as its fubftance is th e
fub f tanc e o f i t o n ly , and n o t t h e fub f tanc e
o f ano the r . O r i f w e confider t he a c t i v i t y
o f a ny par t as a p ro p e r t y , i t m u f t have th a t
pa r t , i n e xc lu f i o n o f a l l o the rs , as th e f u b -
ject of i ts i n h e l i o n . A n d w e m a y r ea f on t h e
fam e w a y w i t h t he pe rcep t i v i ty . I f eve ry
p a r t w e r e p e r ce p tiv e , n o t h i n g c o u l d h i n d e r
th e percep tions f r o m be ing d i f fe ren t , a nd as
m a n y as t he pa rts . T h u s neceffarily there
w o u l d be a
confufion
a n d m u l t i p l i c i t y o f dif
f e ren t activities a n d percept iv it ies i n ac t i ve
percept ive fubf tances that confifted o f o the r
ac t ive percept ive par ts . A n d i f w e can ftop
a t
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 18/30
therefore naturally immortal 235
at the fe par ts , o f wh ich we have been fpeak-
i n g ,
it
is
w e l l :
b u t
i f
w e are forced to a l lo w
o f
a&ive
percept ive
fubftances
t ha t do no t
c o n f i f l of p a r t s ; w h y f h o u l d w e c o n te n d at
a l l f o r f a r t s i n f u c h
fubftances
f r o m t h e b e
g i n n i n g
?
A n d
i f
w e c o n te n d f o r p a r t s a t a l l ,
w h a t rea fon can t he re be g iven fo r f l o p p in g
at the fe par ts , an d n ot co nte nd ing fo r o the r
a n d o t h e r p a rts i n i n f i n i t u m , w h i c h w i l l m a k e
t h e a b f u r d i t y
monftrous?
A n d i n e i the r ca fe ,
th e activity and pe rcep t i v i t y o f the whole c o u ld
never be one f imple a n d u n c o m p o u n d e d a c
t i v i t y a n d
p e r c e p t iv i t y ;
o r be in d iv i d u a l to
i t ,
i n o p p o f i t i o n to th e p a r t s : b u t c o n t r a r i l y , t h e
activity
a n d p e r c e p t iv i ty o f each p a r t w o u l d
h av e its p r i n c i p l e o f i n d i v i d u a l i t y i n t h a t p a r t ,
i n op p o f i t i o n to the whole ; a nd a l l toge ther ,
t he y w o u ld appea r va r ious , con fu fed ,
and
d i v i d e d ; and one in d iv id u a l l i v in g being co u ld
neve r re fu l t f r o m th e m . I f i t f ho u ld be f a i d ,
t ha t t he ac t i v i t y and percep t i v i t y o f each p a r t
wou ld no t be d i f f e ren t f r om tha t
of
another
;
it is as
i f
w e f h o u l d f a y , t h e
fubjeds of
i n -
h e f i o n of the fe proper t ies wou ld no t be
dif
f e ren t t h e one f r o m the o the r ,
or
t h a t
thefe
par ts are b u t one a n d th e fam e pa r t , or t h a t
t h e f o u l
is
no t m ade u p
of
par ts ,
or
is i n d i -
v i f ib le . IX The
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 19/30
2 3 6 T h e f o u l a f t m p h f u b j l a n c e ^
I X . T h e p arts o f
ac t i ve ,
percept ive fub-
ftance, i f i t co u ld have a n y ,
muf t
be
alfo
ac t ive and percept ive f rom th is
c o n f i d e r a t i o n ,
t h a t t o fuppo fe i t o th e rw i fe i s t o a l l o w tha t
act iv i ty an d pe rcep t i v i ty may re fu l t f r o m the
jo in in g toge ther dead in e r t p a r t s ; w h i c h i s t h e
f a m e
c o n t r a d i c t i o n ,
w he the r w e a l l ow i t i n
ma te r i a l o r immate r i a l f ub f t ance : f o r i t i s t o
m a k e t h e
effect perfecter
th a n the caufe , b y
fuppofing pe rcep t i v i t y and fpon tane i t y bo th
o f m o t i o n and t h o u g h t , an d rea fon i t f e l f , t o
a r i fe f r o m the mere
add i t i on ,
o r
j u n c t i o n ,
o f
th in g s dead an d ine r t , to o th er th in gs eq ua l ly
dead an d i ne r t. W e
mall
f ee , when we come
aga in t o fpeak o f M r . Locke's Juper added p r o
pe r t y o f l i f e , fen fe , and fpon taneous m o t i o n ,
th a t i t co u ld have n o
fubjedt
o f
i n h e f i o n ,
b e -
fides t he m ere ju n c t i o n o f dead par t s to dead
p a r t s :
b u t t h a t
junction
o r a dd i tio n , w h i c h
is i t f e l f a p r op er t y , fhould be the fubject o f
another p roper ty , i s aga in f t fen fe and rea fon.
Th e re fo re aga in , i f an
active
pe rcep ti ve f u b
ftance ca n have par ts , the y m u f t o f neceffity
be a&ive an d perceptive . A n d i f the fe par ts
a re ind iv i f i b le , w e are a t l e n g th come t o i n -
divifible
l i v in g fubf tances -} a n d as. f u c h , no t
l iab le
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 20/30
t h e r e fo r e n a t u r a l l y i m m o r t a l . 237
l iab le to any change excep t a n n ih i l a t i o n . B u t
he w h o con tends , t ha t l i v in g fub f tance muft
be co m po un d ed o f pa rts , canno t co n f i d en t l y
w i t h
h imfe l f
be fuppo fed to f l o p any w he re ,
b u t m u f t r a t h e r
affert
th a t the fe pa rts are ftill
d i v i f i b l e i n t o o the r p a r t s : i n w h ic h cafe he
m u f t l i k e w i f e f a y , t h a t e ach p a r t , i n a n y d i -
v i f i o n , o r fu b d iv i f io n , is ac tive an d percept ive ,
fo r the rea fon
ju f t
n o w a f f igned , v i z . becaufe
o t h e r w i f e th e w h o l e c o u l d n o t be
active
a n d
p e rc ep tiv e. T h i s w o u l d b e t o m u l t i p l y l i v
i ng be ings
end le f l y , inftead
o f
fhewing
t ha t
t hey a re m o r ta l and co r rup t i b l e . N o r co u ld
h e m a k e a n i n d i v i d u a l l i v i n g f o u l o u t o f a
c o m p o f i t i o n o f th efe . T h e
confcioufneffes
r e f u l t i n g f r o m t h e activity an d pe rcep t i v it y
o f each par t w o u ld be va rious an d in f i n i t e .
F r o m w h a t is a lre ady f a i d , we cannot be at
a
lofs
f o r an an fwe r , i f an y one fh o u ld be
f o
humourfome
as to fa y, th a t active pe rce p
t ive f ub f tance m a y be com po un d ed o f
d i f f i -
milar
par ts ,
fome
o f w h i c h o n l y are
a d i v e ,
an d o thers in e r t : fo r t he f i r f t f o r t o n ly , fe -
c lu d in g the la f t , w o u ld be ac tive fub f tance .
X . T h u s a l i v i n g fub f tance mad e up o f
dead parts is a
c o n t r a d i c t i o n ;
and a l i v i n g
l
fubf tance
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 21/30
2 3 8
T h e f o u l a
Jtmple
f u b f t a n c e ,
f ub f tanc e m ad e u p o f l i v in g par ts , is n o t one
l i v i ng fub f t ance , bu t as
many dift inct
l i v i ng
fub f lances , as there are
d i f t i n c l :
l i v i ng par t s
i n i t . A n d in de e d t h i s compofit ion a n d d i -
v i f i b i l i t y o f l i v i n g f u b fta n c e m u l l i n fe r t h e
fa m e confequences , as i f w e fu pp of ed m at te r
a t h i n k i n g l i v i n g f u b fta n c e : t h e fa m e m u l
t i p l i c i t y , o r r a the r i n f i n i t e va r i e ty o f c o n fc i -
ou fne fs and pe rcep t i on , muf t be as w e l l i n
th e on e cafe as the oth er . B u t th is is n o t
o n l y
fa l fe ,
as p la in l y appears f r o m th e
f i m -
p l i c i t y o f ou r con fc iou fne fs an d pe rce p t i on ,
b u t c a n n o t
pofl ibly
be o f an y fe rv ice to th o fe
w h o aiTert th e f ou l's m o r t a l i t y ; f o r fince every
p a r t m u f t be a l i v i n g p a r t i n t o w h i c h e i th e r
fub f tanc e , be i t m a t te r o r fp i r i t , is d i v i f i b le ,
becau fe a l i v ing who le cou ld never be made
u p ou t o f an y nu m be r o f dead pa r ts . T h e y
m u f t neceffarily o f cour fe b y th i s fup po fed d i v i -
fibility, m u l t i p l y l i v in g be ings w i t h o u t en d ,
or a t laft ftop at indivifible l i v i ng fub f l ances ,
wh ich a re l i ab le to no
effential
a l t e r a t i o n , a n d
ca n never ceafe to be b y a n y o th er m ea ns
t h a n a n n i h i l a t io n . A n d f r o m h e n ce i t
f o l
l o w s ,
t h a t parts an d d i v i f i b i l i t y a re n o t a f
f ec t i ons con f i f t en t w i t h adive pe rcep t i ve f ub
ftance, w h i c h m u f t be one , an d
f i m p l e ,
I w i t h o u t
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 22/30
t h e r e f o r e n a t u r a l l y i m m o r t a l .
239
w i t h o u t c o m p o f i t i o n .
D iv i j ib i l i ty
is
fuch
a n
a f fec t ion o f fub f tance, as mews on the one
h a n d ,
t ha t m a t t e r ,
becaufe d i v i f i b l e ,
cannot
t h i n k , o r b e a l i v i n g f u b f t a n c e ; a n d o n t h e
o the r , t ha t fpir i tual f ub f tance , becaufe t h i n k
i n g , ca n n o t be d iv i f ib le , o r have par ts .
X L T h e h u m a n f o u l t h e n , hav ing no par ts ,
muf t
be
indifToluble
i n i ts na ture,
by
a n y t h i n g
tha t h a th no t po w er to d e f t r oy o r an n ih i l a t e i t .
A n d fince i t ha th no t a na tu ra l t endency to
a n n i h i l a t i o n , n o r a
power
to ann ih i la te i t fe l f ,
n or ca n be a n n ih i la te d b y a n y being fin ite ly
p o w e r f u l o n l y ; w i t h o u t a n i m m e d i a te a ct o f
t h e om n ip o te n t C rea to r t o an n ih i l a t e i t , i t
m uf t endlejly abide a n active p e r c e p t i v e f u b
ftance, w i t h o u t e i the r f e a r or hopes of d y in g
th rough a l l e t e rn i ty . W h i c h i s, i n o the r
w or d s , t o be im m o r ta l as to the agency o f
a l l n a tu ra l , o r f econd
cau fes ;
i . e. n a tu ra l l y
i m m o r t a l .
A n d th is is th e i m m o r t a l i t y w h i c h
the A th e i f t , an d rea l l y i n the gene ra l w h a t
al l m e n i n f i f t mof t u p o n . W e infi ft to have
i t p ro v e d i n o u r o w n w a y ; a n d d e m a n d t h a t
i t may be
fhewn
i m m a t e r i a l ,
f imple
and u n -
co m p o u n d e d i n its na ture , as a p ledge and
fe cu r i t y th a t i t is never to d ie . L u c re t iu s
places
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 23/30
2 4 0 7%e f o u l a
J imple
f u h j l a n c e .
p laces the m o r t a l i t y o f i t in i ts b e in g
m a t e r i a l ;
an d w h e n he imag ines he ha th p roved t h a t ,
he adds , as t he c r i t e r i on o f im m o r t a l i t y , t ha t
f u c h a
fubftance mu f t
be
f imple
w i t h o u t p a rts ,
becaufe a change or
lofs
o f par ts is the death
o f t h a t t h i n g ( g ) . I t is t r u e , t h e i m m a t e r i
a l i t y o f t he fo u l is a fa t i s f y in g p lea fan t c o n
t e m p la t i o n , e fpecia lly w h e n w e pe rceive t ha t
i t is impoffible tha t ever mat te r can become
active o r pe rc ip ien t , b y an y p ow e r , o r i n a n y
th e leaft degree, a n d i n confequence o f th is
d i f cove ry com e to t he kn ow led ge o f f eve ra l
o t h e r
m o i l
w e i g h t y a n d u f e f u l t r u t h s :
b u t we re t he re no t m ore d i rec t a n d p ro pe r
p roo fs , t he end le fs d u ra t i on o f t he h u m a n
f o u l w o u l d r e m a i n p re ca rio us . T h e
Athe i f l
a r t f u l l y feeks th e lea f t d i rec t a n d
remoteft
k i n d o f p roof ; b o th becaufe he
thinks
(g ) A t neque transferri fib'i parteis, nee tribui vul t ,
Immortale quod eft quicquam : nee dijjluere h i lum^
N a m
quodcunque
fuis
mutatum
finibus
exit-,
Continuo hoc mors ̂ f l i l l ius quod f u i t ante.
L i b . 3. ver.
516:
And after at ver. 807. he fays,
Praterea qutscunque manent
a terna,
necejje [ft.,
Au t quia fu n t folido cum corpore, refpuere iclus,—:
A ut idea durare
eetatem pojfe
per omnem,
Plagarum quia fu n t
expert ia;
Jicut inane [ft t
£>uadmanet intaclum> neque ab iclufrangitur hiluml
. i t
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 24/30
t h e re f o r e n a t u r a l l y i m m o r t a l .
241
i t ha rd ef t to be g i ve n , and becaufe, w h e n
g i v e n ,
i t proves n o t
e n o u g h ;
f o r i f t ha t
o n
l y co u ld be g i ve n , he w o u ld n o t w an t o the r
fubter fuges, the
laft
o f w h ic h I {ha l l endea
vour to p revent in the nex t
f e f t i o n .
I ndeed
th e
neceffary perfections
o f th e D e i t y , w h i c h
f land engaged fo r , an d de m and ou r appear
ance i n a fecond pe r iod j an d the nature o f
ou r rat io na l p leafures an d
d ef ires,
w h i c h
{hew
t ha t we were
defigned
by an i n f i n i t e l y ra t i o
n a l be ing fo r endlefs ex i f tenc e, are the th in g s
that g ive the fan<5tion o f de m on f t ra t i on t o
t h e i m m o r t a l i t y o f t h e
f o u l .
N o very great
ftrefs could elfe be la id u p o n th e fimplie ity
o r divifibil i ty o f i ts fub ftan ce ; fince fu re ly
w e m a y fay , i t w o u ld be as eafy f o r O m n ip o
tence to def t roy a
ample
fub f tan ce , as fo r fe
c o n d caufes to d i f fo lve a co m po un d ed one.
Let
i t be
con f i de red ,
tha t im m a te r ia l i t y is as
cer ta in ly competent to the fou ls o f brutes ,
as
o f m e n : bu t the argume nts pro v in g the laft
i m m o r t a l , , f r o m the ra t iona l na tu re , an d the
neceffary perfect ions o f the D e i ty * are a l toge
t he r i ncompe ten t t o t h e m . A n d i t h a th been
th e
conftaiit
end eavour o f the Sceptic to { h e w
a p a r i t y , and ru n a pa ra l le l , be tween the fe
V o l . I .
R t w s
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 25/30
242
T h e f o u l a
Jimple fubftance->
t w o
fpecies ( h ) . Be l ides ,
F ro m w h a t h a t h
been fa id in t he la f t
f ed t i on ,
i t is p la in , th a t
even
(h) And many good men (as was faid in the end of
the laft fe£Hon) are needlefly terrified left every thing
fhould not be different in thefe two
fpecies;
hence they
fight againft the immateriality of brute-fouls,
as the mojl
dreadful phenomenon
philofophy could difcover. Thus a
learned and pious Author (fee the Book called The proce
dure, extent, and limits of
human
Underftanding, p. I J J ,
174.)
fays,
<c
They who hold fenfitive perception in
brutes to
be an
argument of the immateriality of their
*' fouls, find themfelves under a neceflity of allowing
ic
thofe fouls to
be
naturally immortal
likew ife:
and they
are fo
embarraffed
in thinking how to difpofe of thofe
4< irrational immortal fouls after the diffolution of their bo-
dies, and what fort of immortality to conceive for them,
that they imagine them all to return to the great foul
or fpirit of the
wor ld;
or by a metempfychofis to pafs
tc into the bodies of fucceeding
animals;
and then when
u
they
have done
their work,
at the end
of
the world,
they
are to
be
difcharged out of
being, and again reduced
to
their primitive nothing." Let me ask, ifthisbeagood
argument, that we are not to allow brutes to be actuated
by an immaterial fubftance (though reafon evinces i t) , be-
caufe we cannot te ll how the Creator difpofes of thefe
fouls, after the difTolution of their bodies? Why Jhould
any man
embarrafs
himfelf about this ? Cannot the thing
be done without his contrivance
?
O r when their little
bodies were formed w ith fuch
inexpreflible
art and pow
er, was this point left to the determination of
Philcfo-
phers ?
Here i t
is
forgot that by natural immortality , no
More
can be meant,
than
that a being
fhould
exift as
long
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 26/30
t h e r e f o r e n a t u r a l l y i m m o r t a l .
243
even com po un d ed , o r ma te r i a l
fubftanceSj
are not
d i f l o l v e d ,
a nd m u c h
lefs
cou ld the y
be
long as God doth not extinguifh it -7 or as long as he fup-
ports and preferves i t : and thus there's no being but what
is naturally immortal. Even our bodies might be thus
immortal, God fo w illing it . Nay, otherwife there is
no being at all but what is naturally
mortal.
By natural
immortality cannot be meant that any being of itfelf, and
abftra£ting from the wi l l and concurrence of God, would
remain for ever. No being is thus immortal. How ab-
furd is it, when all immortality is founded on the wil l
and defign of G od, to feek for a demonftration of it irt
the nature of the created being Itfelf
The Author continues, " But i f thefe fouls are once
granted to be immaterial, it is utterly inconceivable
that they mould not naturally have the fame immor-
<c tality w ith thofe which are human ; fince we cannot
w ith any fenfe or confiftency diftinguifh two different
kinds of immortality for created fpirits. I f the foul
tc of brutes is immortal, that cannot, when feparated,
,c be thought to remain altogether in a tate of utter in-
activity and infenfib ility, which communicated fenfe
and activity to matter while in conjunction w ith it.
And if fo, they muft be fenfible of happinefs or mife-
ryj and, in fome
degree,
liable to rewards and
punith-
ments as eternal as their fouls." Here let me
obferve,
that the human foul being rational, and the brute foul not,
the one a moral agent', and the other not, is the foundation
of a very confiftent and folid
diftincSion,
I conceive, be
tween the one and the other, as to immortality; fofar-js
i t from being utterly inconceiveable Here immortality
R 2
feems
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 27/30
244 fflje f o u l a fimple fubjlance,
be
d e f t r o y e d ,
w i t h o u t
the
i m m e d i a t e p o w e r
o f
God: and
n a t u r a l agency,
or the
7iatural
powers
feems
w ho lly founded upon
immaterial i ty,
wh ich is ex
tremely w rong . Betides,
an
agent
not
moral, though
capable
of
pleafure
or
pain,
is not
capable
of
rewards and
punifhments, by the very terms, I fuppofe. Moreover,
brutes have not the nobleft k in d of ac tivity , even here,
Jn
a
flate
of
u n i o n ;
viz. the
comm and over their paft
perceptions; and fo this Author cannot argue for that
fpecies of
activity
in their foul when feparated. T h a t
which communicated activity
to
matter when
in
con
junction w i t h
i t,
cannot indeed be utterly,
nor
any w a y ,
inac tive, when feparated from it. But if this be fo w i t h
refpecl
to the brute
f o u l ;
why is it all along faid with
refpecT:
to the
human foul
by
this A u th or, that thought
and perception is the joint aclion of matter and fp ir i t in
ejfential
union,
as he
chufes
to
exprefs
it
?
He who al
lows thought to be the action, or
effe£t
of matter (though
but as
a
partial caufe,
or
co-efficient) will hardly
be
able
to prove the
neceflary activity
of feparate fpirits. He
concludes, " W h a t heightens the abfu rdity of this way
of
th ink ing
is,
that
in
imagining
the
fouls
of
brutes
to be
imm ater ia l ,
men
mu f t necefTarily diftinguifli
a
great variety of them both in nature and degree; one
11
fort for birds, another for beafts, and another for fifties.
iC
And
thefe m uft
be all
fubdivided again into very
dif-
ferent fpecies of immaterial fouls, according to the
different forts there are under each of thefe general
heads.
Nay,
every
fly and
infeft muft
on
this
fup-
<c pofition have fome fort
of
immaterial foul, even dow n
to the
cheefe-mite ;
and what is yet more abfurd is,
cc
that
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 28/30
therefore naturally immortal. 24.5
powers
of
matter^
is
( l i ke chance) on ly
a
n a m e
for our
i gnorance ,
or at
leaft
for our
i n a t -
that there muft be an infinite variety of immortalities
Ci
imagined to
luit
the rank and condition of every in-
*'
dividual, l iv ing,
fenfible
creature." No certainly
(fay
I ) not one fpecies of immortality needs be im a
gined, but all le ft to the
wifdom
and power of the Crea
tor , who, as ha th been obferved before, doth not dif-
dain to
manifeft
the wonders of his knowledge and pow
er in the na rrow bounds of thefe infect-bodies, nay, to
aftuate
their furprizing
mechanifm
continually. We are
not fo much
as
certain o f their
immor ta l i t y ;
for the im
material ity, f rom wh ich it is here infe rred, is not conclu-
f i ve ; unlefs this Autho r
fhews
how. A nd when he hath
done tha t, he
will
have done no harm to
pbilofophy.
La f t -
l y , why is the abfurd ity fo much heightened by different
fpecies of immaterial fouls, more than by different fpecies
of material bodies
?
T here is really no abfurd ity here but
this, that we chalk out a method for Om nipotence, and
then reckon every deviation from that method abfurd;
and
fo, if
matter
of facT:
did not convince
us,
we might
prove
the
exiftence
of fo
many different fpecies
of ma
terial bodies impoflible. W h a t
is
here faid
to
heighten
the ab furdity,
viz.
that m en mu ft diftinguiih a great va
riety
of
immaterial fouls both
in
nature
and de
gree, for infedts, fillies,
birds
and bea'ls,
ought rather
perhaps
to be
looked upon as
a
very great beauty
of the
creation, and
that w hich lhews
the
vying fcale
of
imm a
ter ia l beings maintained.
It
would be a wide gap,
if
there
were nothing between dead matter and the human
fo u l ;
when
we fee
fuch
a
gradation
of
workmanihip and per
i l
3
f eft ion.
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 29/30
246 The f o u l a J im p l e fubftance>
i n a t t e n t i o n .
I f
t h e n ,
w i t h o u t h is a f t ,
a
ha i r
cou ld n o t f a l l f r o m ou r head , w h i c h is t rue
i n
fe&ion
maintained from
rude,
unformed
earth,
through all
the fpecies of plants and animals, up to the human body,
And
fince
the
fcale
of immaterial Beings is thus carried
up to the human foul, it cannot certainly end there.
Another late Author, I th ink, fpeaks more rationally
(Dr. Thomas Burnet's
Demonjlration,
&c. p. 92.)
Hence, fays he, it w i ll follow, by
neceffary
confe-
quence, that every
rational, fenfible,
and living crea-
ture muft be endued with fbme immaterial principle,
which is the caufe of all their rational, fenfible, or
animal operations, & c." And below,
—
Thus much
we may fay with
fafety,
that it is not inconfiftent
<c w ith reafon, that there may be feveral degrees and
orders of immaterial
beings,
with different powers and
faculties, according to their different
ends;
and that
fuch of thefe
as
are made to
aftuate
bodies, may be
a put into different bodi.es, according to their different
iC
capacities; and when the immaterial beings are fepa-
<c
rated from thefe bodies, fo that the bodies are
dead,
*' it is not inconfiftent to imagine, that they may tranf-
migrate into other
bodies,
and when they have fin ifhed
that courfe they were made for, they may either at
laft
be annihilated, or i f they are capable of any re-
ward, God may have provided proper recompences
for them, according to their feveral natures and capa-
'c
cities. There is nothing in
all
this but what is rea-
*' fonable." Now if even we can conceive more ways
poflible,
and not inconfiftent, how they may be difpofed
of} where is the
abfurdity
confequent upon allowing
them
8/11/2019 The Natural Immortality of the Soul
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-natural-immortality-of-the-soul 30/30
t h e re f o r e n a t u r a l l y i m m o r t a l . 2 4 7
in a l i tera l and phyfical f e n f e ; our fouls, tho'
c o m p o u n d e d , muf t end ure fo r ever, w i t h o u t
h is
a<5t
to
diffolve
t h e m .
them to
be immaterial ?
Though, as this
laft
Author
well
obferves a little before, it is
none
of our buftnefs to deter
mine what becomes of them after death.
W e
mould
never
diilemble
any truth for fear of its
confequences. I t is
direclly impoflible
that truth
mould
have any
bad
confequences. The things we are afraid
of may
be
but our
own
particular prejudices;
and
I think
it is fo in the
prefent
cafe, w ith refpecT: to the immateri
ality of the brute foul.
Befides,
i f we deny thefe to be
immaterial,
we deny the
moft
convincing argument for
the immateriality of the human foul, taken from the
neceflary inactivity
of matter. And thus this learned
and pious Author, while he is zealous to
eftablifh
the
immortality of the foul, becaufe of its
being immaterial^
goes
in
effeir.
a great way to deny that very immateri
al i ty; and thus feems to defeat his own
defign.
The
Sceptick, though he is never confident with
himfelf,
is
yet very
clear-fighted
to difcover thefe
inconliflencies
in
his Adverfaries; and fails not to improve
them to his own
purpofes.
R
4 S E C T .