Propositions and Principles of Divinity Disputed, Section 15
PRINCIPLES CONCERNING THE FACVLTIES OF THE SOVLE OF MAN. XV.
HAVING SET DOWN WHAT WE ARE to beleeue according vntounto the Scriptures, concerning the eſſence of the ſoule of man: nowe wee are to entreate of the powers thereof.
1 GOD alone is a moſt ſimple, and a moſt meere beeing. And therefore, although the eſſence of the ſoule be a ſpirituall and no bodilie ſubſtance, yet it is endued with faculties agreeable vntounto the nature of it, which, by their owne ſpirituall manner are inhaerent in the eſſence thereof, as in their ſubject.
We do not therefore allow the opinion of the PERIPATETICKS, who taught that the faculties of the ſoule, doth not differ from the eſſence of it in deed, but after a ſort.
2 And although the very eſſence and ſubſtance of the ſoule, doeth by the grace of God, continue without all change and alteration: yet the powers thereof, were created of a changeable nature.
3 Now as man was created in one of his parts like vntounto all other liuing creatures, aſwell in regarde of the ſubſtance of their bodies, as of their naturall life, (though in a far more excellent ſtate.) So it behoued, that that other part of his, ſhould bee endued with faculties meet for the preſeruation of the naturall life of his ſaid bodie, namely; with the faculties of nouriſhing, and the power of outward ſenſes: whereof, whatſoeuer might be farther ſpoken, wee leaue vntounto Phiſitians and naturall Philoſophers.
4 The other faculties are proper vntounto the ſoule of man, for the ſpirituall and immortall excellencie whereof, it is alſo (and not only for the very eſſence of the ſoule) trulie ſaid to be created according to the image of God.
5 Yet in aſmuch as the ſoule, in bringing forth the effects of theſe proper qualities, doeth vſe the inſtrument of the bodie, whereunto it is perſonallie vnited: in this reſpect alſo, man (wholie conſidered but not in part) may be truly held to be created after the image of God.
We do condemne therfore the dotage of the ANTHROPOMORPHITES, who placing the image of God in the very bodie of man, did therefore dreame, that God was a bodilie ſubſtance: as alſo the madnes of OSIANDER, who referred the ſame vntounto the incarnation of the world.
6 Theſe faculties we holde to bee two, the vnderſtanding, (which is alſo called the minde) and the will, or as ſometimes they are called in the holie Scriptures, the ſpirite and the ſoule taken in a more narrow ſignification.
7 This Image conſidered, theſe two faculties is expreſſed of PAVL, by the names of righteouſnes and true holines, whereby hee declareth the agreement which it had with the patterne, according vntounto which it was created: A wonderfull light being powred into the facultie of vnderſtanding, whereby it was endued with a moſt cleare knowledge (and ſuch as was obſcured by no darknes,) of the true God, and his diuine will: And an inward force being ingraffed into the will, whereby it was able to ſtirre vp it ſelf by holy motions, without all ſhew of reſiſtance vntounto that end, for the which man was created: the bodie, to be ſhort, beeing framed in a moſt wonderfull decent ſort, to yeeld obedience moſt redily, and without all weariſomnes vntounto the ſoule when it moued the ſame.
8 VntoUnto this agreeablenes of man with God, and to the agreement and proportion that all the partes of man, had among them ſelues, was adjoined (as it were another ſhining brightnes of the diuine Maieſtie) the dominion of all the inferiour creatures granted vntounto man: that by this meanes alſo, man might ſhine here beneath, as a preſident of the majeſtie and glory of God.
9 To the execution of this gouernment, there was giuen vntounto man, an exact knowledge (not gotten by labour and vſe, but naturallie ingraffed in him) both of the natures of all things, that he was to gouerne: and alſo of the beſt way to rule them. Wherunto of the contrary ſide, the good and right diſpoſition and inclination, which all the creatures, that were vnderunder mans gouernment had to obey man, was anſwerable: the which harmony and agreement of the whole world, MOSES doth expreſſe by the name of the goodnes, that was in eueryevery creature.
Defended by IOHN FLORIDES of Augiers.