"But this makes little to the clearing of the manner of their descent ... which cannot be better understood, then by considering their Union with the Body generated, or indeed with any kinde of Body whatever, where the Soul is held captive, and cannot quit her self thereof by the free imperium of her own Imagination and Will."
— More, Henry (1614-1687)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed by J. Flesher, for William Morden
Date
1659
Metaphor
"But this makes little to the clearing of the manner of their descent ... which cannot be better understood, then by considering their Union with the Body generated, or indeed with any kinde of Body whatever, where the Soul is held captive, and cannot quit her self thereof by the free imperium of her own Imagination and Will."
Metaphor in Context
8. But this makes little to the clearing of the manner of their descent [GREEK], which cannot be better understood, then by considering their Union with the Body generated, or indeed with any kinde of Body whatever, where the Soul is held captive, and cannot quit her self thereof by the free imperium of her own Imagination and Will. For what can be the cause of this cohaesion, the very essence of the Soul being so easily penetrative of Matter, and the dimensions of all Matter being alike penetrable every where? For there being no more Body or Matter in a Vessel filled with Lead then when it is full of Water, nor when full with Water then when with Aire, or what other subtiler Body soever that can be imagined in the Universe; it is manifest that the Crassities of Matter is every where alike, and alike penetrable and passable to the Soul. And therefore it is unconceivable how her Union should be so with any of it, as that she should not be able at any time to glide freely from one part thereof to another as she pleases. It is plain therefore, that this Union of the Soul with Matter does not arise from any such gross Mechanical way, as when two Bodies stick one in another by reason of any toughness and viscosity, or straight commissure of parts; but from a congruity of another nature, which I know not better how to term then Vital: which Vital Congruity is chiefly in the Soul it self, it being the noblest Principle of Life; but is also in the Matter, and is there nothing but such modification thereof as fits the Plastick part of the Soul, and tempts out that Faculty into act.
(II.xiv.8, pp. 262-3)
(II.xiv.8, pp. 262-3)
Categories
Provenance
Searching "imperium" in EEBO
Citation
Henry More, The Immortality of the Soul, so Farre Forth as it is Demonstrable from the Knowledge of Nature and the Light of Reason (London: Printed by J. Flesher, for William Morden, 1659). <Link to EEBO>
Date of Entry
03/29/2012
