"Indeed, whosoever considers the curious Inventions of Wit, the vast Comprehension and subtile Inferences of the Understanding, the wonderful Sagacity and Prospect of Prudence, the noble Endowments and Speculations of the Mind, the quick Transitions and Successions of Thoughts, together with the Bent and Subserviency of the Passions, in relation to the Circumstances of humane Life: I say, whosoever thinks on these, must readily conclude that the Spring from whence such Motions are deriv'd, must be something more Celestial than that Etherial Spirit which gives Vigor to the Animal Faculties."
— Nourse, Timothy (c.1636–1699)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Jacob Tonson
Date
1686, 1689, 1697
Metaphor
"Indeed, whosoever considers the curious Inventions of Wit, the vast Comprehension and subtile Inferences of the Understanding, the wonderful Sagacity and Prospect of Prudence, the noble Endowments and Speculations of the Mind, the quick Transitions and Successions of Thoughts, together with the Bent and Subserviency of the Passions, in relation to the Circumstances of humane Life: I say, whosoever thinks on these, must readily conclude that the Spring from whence such Motions are deriv'd, must be something more Celestial than that Etherial Spirit which gives Vigor to the Animal Faculties."
Metaphor in Context
Now because we observe in Man some Operations more refin'd, and such as cannot be deriv'd from a meer Sensitive Nature, we are taught to conclude that there is another Principle into which such Operations are resolv'd, which we call a Rational Soul. Indeed, whosoever considers the curious Inventions of Wit, the vast Comprehension and subtile Inferences of the Understanding, the wonderful Sagacity and Prospect of Prudence, the noble Endowments and Speculations of the Mind, the quick Transitions and Successions of Thoughts, together with the Bent and Subserviency of the Passions, in relation to the Circumstances of humane Life: I say, whosoever thinks on these, must readily conclude that the Spring from whence such Motions are deriv'd, must be something more Celestial than that Etherial Spirit which gives Vigor to the Animal Faculties.
(pp. 5-6)
(pp. 5-6)
Provenance
Reading in EEBO-TCP
Citation
3 editions in ODNB, 2 found in ESTC (1686, 1689, 1697).
See Timothy Nourse, A Discourse Upon the Nature and Faculties of Man in Several Essayes With Some Considerations of Humane Life (London: Printed for Jacob Tonson at the Judge’s Head in Chancery-Lane, near Fleet-street, 1686). <Link to ESTC><Link to EEBO-TCP>
See Timothy Nourse, A Discourse Upon the Nature and Faculties of Man in Several Essayes With Some Considerations of Humane Life (London: Printed for Jacob Tonson at the Judge’s Head in Chancery-Lane, near Fleet-street, 1686). <Link to ESTC><Link to EEBO-TCP>
Date of Entry
03/11/2016
