An Introduction to the Teutonic Philosophy, Title page – Translator to the reader
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE TEVTONICK PHILOSOPHIE. Being A Determination concerning the Original of the Soul: vi… Whether it be immediately created GOD, and infus'd into the Body; or tranſmitted from the Parent.
By C. HOTHAM, one of the Fellows of Peter-Houſe.
At the cloſe of the Diſpute held in the publique Schooles of the Univerſity of Cambridge, at the Commencement, March 3. 1646.
Engliſhed by D.F.
LONDON: Printed by T.M. & A.C. for Nath. Brooks at the Angel in Corn-hill. 1650.
To the Author.
SIR,
TRanſlations are things very difficult, eſpecially where the Notion is uncouth: Yet hath this been my chief inducement to adventure upon this aſſay; my aim being to make the Notion familiar, by a tranſplanting into our Native ſoile. One thing I am happy in, that I have but one Judge, your ſelf; unto whoſe ſenſe if I have arrived, I have done well, and diſvalue the cenſure of the Critical world, as incompetent. But be the Author once dead, 'tis leſs dangerous to put to ſea in an egge-ſhel, then Tranſlate under the controll and ſubjection of the various ſtormy cenſures of each peeviſh fancy, when the deciſive Pole-ſtar is hid.
In the uncaſing your ſenſe from the Latine skin, I know you will think I have torne fleſh and all away. But I muſt therein be pardoned, becauſe ſome Expreſſions and Elegancies in it are ſo peeviſh, that they walk dull, heavy, and without grace, when ſtript of their native attire, except honoured with a coſtly circumſcription; in making of which according to my uſual botchery, I have ſometimes hid from your view their moſt comely parts. For in truth in is very hard to write good Engliſh; and few have attained its height in this laſt …rie of Books, but Mr. M…lton.
As to the matter and Author of the Teutonick Philoſophy, which you here abbreviate, though you know I alwayes affected it and him, yet durſt never ſaile into the Ocean of his vaſt Conceits with my little Scull; me thought the reading of him was like the ſtanding upon a precipice, or by a Canon ſhot off, the waft of them lickt up all my brains.
I confeſſe, your Introduction hath made me ſomething more ſteddy, and his Notions more familiar; and I have found ſome inkling of them in Scripture, ſo have ſhaken hands with leſſe ſuſpition.
But may nothing ever appear more glorious to any man, or fuller of light, then the ſweet, humble, contemned life of our Saviour! Its true, the ſacred Writ is not plentifull in delivering the naturall frame and principles of the Soul, though the value of it is ſufficiently laid open by the price payed for its redemption, and the Meſſenger ſent to ſeeke it: So that drop of knowledge may perhaps be reſerved to make up the full ſea promiſed theſe laſt times. In my opinion, whoever reades this Scheme of the Worlds creation, and birth of the Soul, may make excellent uſe of it, reviewing his noble deſcent from thoſe eternall Eſſences, and ſhame to bemire himſelfe in that ſwine-like refreſhment of wallowing in cold dirty mire.
Our noble Genealogy ſhould minde us of our Fathers houſe, make us weary of the tutelage under hairy Faunes and cloven-footed Satyres, the rulers and inſtructers of our diſſolute youth, and riper yeares (though clothed by Archimago in Angelick garment) whoſe ſpell I hope is neer an end, & put on thoughts of eſcape out of this beaſtial ſlavery, into the Kingdome prepared for us.
As for this little Determination, methinks I ſee the fate of it, that it will be thought a fitter Preface to Ovid's Metamorphoſes, then an Introduction to any thing that is ſerious: ſo rude and barbarous is the eſteem of vulgar men, of any thing beyond their capacity.
Give me leave to ſet forth this one Paradoxe: That the nearer any book or Notion approacheth the Truth, the eaſiler and with more applauſe it may be contradicted, becauſe that in all conteſt the Vulgar being Judge, (by vulgar I mean the wiſeones of the world) the appeal is either to Reaſon, or Senſe, which are but the rulers and guides of the night, dim lights, ſet up far diſtant from Truths ſtately manſion, to lead poor groping ſouls in this worlds affairs. The bringing of Truth to their teſt, is like gold to a candle-light, in which all the impoſtures that can be named may be hid, maugre its diſcovery. No, it's a due temper of the Soule that muſt give light to ſuch diſquiſitions; which only harboureth, acknowledgeth, judgeth, and receives that ſpriteful vivacious eſſence of Truth. When the law of God hath rub'd off all the ſcales of the Serpent from our eyes, then ſhall we ſee and judge. He that doth my words, (ſaith our Saviour) ſhall know whether I ſpeak of the truth.
Ceaſe ſhining, O ye Sun and Moon, and thou Eternal Archetype of all light! Vain mortal men have with the ſteele and flint of a Major and Minor Propoſition ſtruck out a fire and light directive of you all: This dark lanthorn of a Syllogiſtical deduction, is made paramount to all; all elſe dim tapers, that are not mov'd in its Ecliptick.
This ſeems harſh; but yet if well obſerved, is a Gangrene ſpread through all Chriſtian religion. I will not ſay it, but it may be it is true, that the rigid addiction to this foundation hath nicknam'd many holy truths, and men, that believe God yet to be alive & ſpeak, and that he hath not forſaken his Scepter, devolved all the rule of Orphan mankinde to this dangerous vertible principle.
But may that State ever proſper, whoſe wiſe hands mould a generous freedome productive of noble conceits, dreſſing a fit Stage for our Saviours ſecond coming; who, ſhould he come as formerly in ſubmiſſion to mans power, would be found in the inquiſition or under the laſh of ſome dire Decree; ſo all-comprehenſive and omniſcient is every preſent age of all truth, dividing it from falſhood to a haire in their grave Councels; with penalty of huc uſque & non ultra.
But to return to my Paradox: Eliſha's ſervant having no other comfort then what humane reaſon afforded, bemoans his maſters certain ruine by the hand of the Aſſyrians; The Prophet opens his eyes, he ſees help enough: certainly this was no conjuring trick, nor prophetick viſion, but what was reall, though the ſervant ſaw it not before.
But had now ſome great Philoſopher and maſter of reaſon, been ſtanding by, and a diſpute inſtituted betwixt him and the Prophet, concerning the Hoſt and the Chariots, the Townſemen of Dothan being Judges, had it not been eaſie to have made the Prophet ſeem a foole, and the people believe his eyes chim'd? He might have askt where the Hoſt was; and when the Prophet had deſign'd the place, the Philoſopher taking with him a competent number of the by-ſtanders, might have gone and ſtood in the ſame place, and ſung his triumphal ſong: Non dantur duo corpora in eodem loco, nec penetratio dimenſionum; ergò deceptus es: with many ſuch fine devices; and have tript up the poor Prophets credit, with acclamation of the people. And ſuch is and will be the fate of all deep Diſcoveries, and high Repreſentations, brought before that ignorant Tribunal of Senſe and Vulgar reaſon.
But I am out of my way: Be the Author what he will, or his ſucceſſe; or yours the Propoſer: ſeeing my ignorance hath ſet me far out of the reach of ſuch high things, I ſhall content my ſelf with an uſuall effect of admiraton, ſilence; rather then approve, or diſapprove: And wiſh the world would make uſe of that excellent rule of Saint. Auſtin, Ʋt tamdiu verſemur in diligenti conſideratione quod legitur, uſque dum ad regnum charitatis interpretatio perducatur. However, may Gods bleſſing water the deſires of every heart that is zealous for good, and the advancement of Gods kingdome in individuis. For fruitleſſe are the hopes, and the labour vain of all that will build living houſes of dead ſtones: but give the ſtones once life, and they will creep into a building: Sympathy and union are the convertible effects of life. Therefore let all wiſe men ſtand ſtill at Perez-Ʋzzah, and conſider.
Sir, I have now in ſome meaſure ſatisfied the engagement laid upon me, with many others, in your unlocking the door to theſe Myſteries, by ſetting it yet wider open for all Engliſh-men that pleaſe to enter and ſatisfie their curioſity: If you accept my paines, I am reingaged, and muſt remain
Yours obliged, Ʋnus ex multis.