Taylor, Jeremy (bap. 1613, 1667)

Ductor Dubitantium, or, The Rule of Conscience in all her General Measures Serving as a Great Instrument for the Determination of Cases of Conscience

London

Printed by R. Norton for R. Royston

1660, 1676

"In the actions of human entercourse, and the notions tending to it, reason is our eye, and to it are notices proportion'd, drawn from nature and experience, even from all the principles with which our rational faculties usually do converse."

9. (1.) There is to every state and to every part of Man given a proportionable light to guide him in that way where he ought, and is appointed to walk. In the darknesses of this World, and in the actions of common life, the Sun and Moon in their proper seasons are to give us light: In the actions of human entercourse, and the notions tending to it, reason is our eye, and to it are notices proportion'd, drawn from nature and experience, even from all the principles with which our rational faculties usually do converse. But because a man is design'd to the knowledge of God, and of things spiritual, there must spring a new light from Heaven, and he must have new capacities, and new illuminations; that is, new eyes, and a new light: For here the eye of reason is too weak, and the natural man is not capable of the things of the Spirit, because they are spiritually discerned. Faith is the eye, and the Holy Spirit gives the light, and the word of God is the lanthorn, and the spiritual not the rational man can perceive the things of God. Secreta Dei, Deo meo, & filiis domus ejus. God and Gods secret ones only know Gods secrets.
(p. 32-3)

Body::Eye

Reading Peter Goodrich's "The New Casuistry." Critical Inquiry 33, no. 4 (Summer 2007): 684. <Link to Critical Inquiry>