Campbell, John (1708-75)

Hermippus Redivivus: or, The Sage's Triumph over Old Age and the Grave

London

J. Nourse

1744

"The first Man knew them by his Reason; but it was this same Reason that blotted them again from his Mind; for having attained to this Kind of natural Knowledge, he began to mingle therewith his own Notions and Ideas."

[...] He arrives at this, through the Knowledge he has of the true Medicine. By this Means he is able to ward off whatever may impeach, or hinder, the Animal Functions, or destroy the Temperature of his Nature; by this he is enabled to acquire the Knowledge of whatever God has left within the Cognizance of Man: The first Man knew them by his Reason; but it was this same Reason that blotted them again from his Mind; for having attained to this Kind of natural Knowledge, he began to mingle therewith his own Notions and Ideas. By this Confusion, which was the Effects of a foolish Curiosity, he rendered imperfect even the Work of his Creator; and this Error it is that the Sage labours to redress. The rest of Animals act only by their Instinct, by which they preserve themselves, as at their first Institution, and live as long now, as when the World first began. Man is yet a great deal more perfect; but has he still preserved that Prerogative we mentioned, or has he not lost long ago the glorious Privilege of living a thousand Years, which with so much Care, he should have studied to preserve? This then it is, that the true Sages have retrieved; and, that you may no more be led into Mistakes, let me assure you, that this is the Philosophers Stone, which is not a chimerical Science, as some half-read People fancy, but a Thing solid and sound. On the other hand, it is certainly known but to a few, and indeed it is impossible it should be known to most Part of Mankind, whom Avarice or Debauch destroy, or, whom an impetuous Desire of Life kills.
(pp. 99-100)

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At least 7 entries in ECCO and ESTC (1744, 1748, 1749, 1760, 1771).

See Johann Heinrich Cohausen, Hermippus Redivivus: or, The Sage's Triumph over Old Age and the Grave, trans. John Campbell (London: J. Nourse, 1744). <Link to ECCO> <Link 1748 edition in Google Books>

Text from 1748 printing.

10/26/2011