"For as in the Body Politick, the Prince, (whom Seneca calls the Soul of the Commonwealth.) receiveth no Passages of State, or false Ones, where there is Negligence, or Disability in those subjectate Inquirers, (whom Xenophon terms the Eyes and Ears of Kings.) In like Manner the Soul of Man being as yet an absolute and independent Worker, but receiving all her Motions from the Information of the bodily Instruments, must continue like a meer rasa Tabula, if they out of Indisposition or Disability be weakened"
— Hales, John (1584-1656)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for E. Curll
Date
1720
Metaphor
"For as in the Body Politick, the Prince, (whom Seneca calls the Soul of the Commonwealth.) receiveth no Passages of State, or false Ones, where there is Negligence, or Disability in those subjectate Inquirers, (whom Xenophon terms the Eyes and Ears of Kings.) In like Manner the Soul of Man being as yet an absolute and independent Worker, but receiving all her Motions from the Information of the bodily Instruments, must continue like a meer rasa Tabula, if they out of Indisposition or Disability be weakened"
Metaphor in Context
[...] And hence it is, that the sundry Diseases of the Body do oftentimes slacken, yea sometimes consume, and quite extirpate the deepest Impressions, and most infixed and settled Habits of the Soul. For as in the Body Politick, the Prince, (whom Seneca calls the Soul of the Commonwealth.) receiveth no Passages of State, or false Ones, where there is Negligence, or Disability in those subjectate Inquirers, (whom Xenophon terms the Eyes and Ears of Kings.) In like Manner the Soul of Man being as yet not an absolute and independent Worker, but receiving all her Motions from the Information of the bodily Instruments, must continue like a meer rasa Tabula, if they out of Indisposition or Disability be weakened. The Soul hath not in it self that eminent Weakness, which is observable in many Men, but only as it is overshadowed, and eclipsed, with the Interposition of earthly, and sluggish Organs. In the Operations of Men's Souls, there are two Defects; one, an Imperfection of them; the other, an Inequality of them. [...]
(p. 7)
(p. 7)
Provenance
Searching "tabula rasa" in ECCO
Citation
Only 1 entry in ESTC (1720).
Hales, John. A Discourse of the Several Dignities, and Corruptions, of Man's Nature, Since the Fall. Written by the Ever Memorable Mr. John Hales ... Now First Publish'd from his Original Manuscript (London: Printed for E. Curll, 1720). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO>
Hales, John. A Discourse of the Several Dignities, and Corruptions, of Man's Nature, Since the Fall. Written by the Ever Memorable Mr. John Hales ... Now First Publish'd from his Original Manuscript (London: Printed for E. Curll, 1720). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO>
Date of Entry
10/09/2006
Date of Review
01/12/2012
