Ray [formerly Wray], John (1627–1705)

The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation

London

Printed for Samuel Smith

1691

"Thirdly, Let us hence duly learn to prize and value our Souls; is the Body such a rare Piece, what this is the Soul? the Body is but the Husk or Shell, the Soul is the Kernel; the Body is but the Cask, the Soul the precious Liquor contained in it; the Body is but the Cabinet; the Soul the Jewel; the Body is but the Ship or Vessel, the Soul the Pilot; the Body is but the Machine or Engine, the Soul that [GREEK: cudok?], that actuates and quickens it; the Body is but the dark Lanthorn, the Soul of Spirit is the Candle of the Lord that burns in it."

Thirdly, Let us hence duly learn to prize and value our Souls; is the Body such a rare Piece, what this is the Soul? the Body is but the Husk or Shell, the Soul is the Kernel; the Body is but the Cask, the Soul the precious Liquor contained in it; the Body is but the Cabinet; the Soul the Jewel; the Body is but the Ship or Vessel, the Soul the Pilot; the Body is but the Machine or Engine, the Soul that [GREEK], that actuates and quickens it; the Body is but the dark Lanthorn, the Soul of Spirit is the Candle of the Lord that burns in it: And seeing there is such difference between the Soul and the Body in respect of Excellency, surely our better Part challenges our greatest care and diligence to make Provision for it. Bodily Provision is but half Provision, it is but for one Part of a Man, and that the meaner and more ignoble too, if we consider a future Estate of endless duration after this Life, the Bodily Provision will appear to be, I do not say quarter Provision, but no Provision at all in comparison, there being no proportion between so short a period of time, and the infinite Ages of Eternity. Let us not then be so foolish as to employ all our thoughts and bestow all out time and pains about cherishing, accommodating, and gratifying our Bodies, in making Provision for the Flesh to fulfill the Lusts thereof, as the Apostle phraseth it; and suffer our Souls to lie neglected, in a miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked condition. Some Philosophers will not allow the Body to be an essential Part of Man, but only the Vessel or Vehicle of the Soul; Anima cujusque est quisque. Though I would not be so unequal to it, yet I must needs acknowledg it to be but an inferior Part: it is therefore to be treated, so dieted and provided as to render it most calm and compliant with the Soul, most tractable and obsequious to the dictates of Reason; not so pampered and indulged, as to encourage it to cast its Rider, and to take the Reins in to its own Hand, and usurp Dominion over the better part, the [GREEK to enlemguinau?], to sink and depress it into a sordid compliance with its own Lusts, Atque affigere humi Divinae particulum aurae.
(pp. 239-40)

Plant::Husk or Shell Plant::Kernel Container::Cask Liquid::Liquor Architecture::Cabinet Mineral::Jewel Vehicles::Ship or Vessel Population::Pilot Machine::Engine Light::Lantern Light::Candle

Reading (in the British Library)

23 entries in ESTC (1691, 1692, 1701, 1704, 1709, 1714, 1717, 1722, 1727, 1735, 1743, 1744, 1750, 1756, 1758, 1762, 1768, 1777, 1798).

Ray, John. The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation. Being the Substance of Some Common Places Delivered in the Chappel of Trinity-College, in Cambridge. (London: Printed for Samuel Smith, at the Princes Arms in S. Pauls Church-Yard, 1691). <Link to ESTC>

06/22/2014