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"Now these Imperfections are not intrinsick, but accidental to the Soul, nor do they argue its corruptibility or mortality, any more than the spots and clouds we see in some Diamonds, do prove them to be less durable then others which are more limpid and transparent."

— Nourse, Timothy (c.1636–1699)

Author

Nourse, Timothy (c.1636–1699)

Work Title

A Discourse Upon the Nature and Faculties of Man

Place of Publication

London

Publisher

Printed for Jacob Tonson

Date

1686, 1689, 1697

Metaphor

"Now these Imperfections are not intrinsick, but accidental to the Soul, nor do they argue its corruptibility or mortality, any more than the spots and clouds we see in some Diamonds, do prove them to be less durable then others which are more limpid and transparent."

Metaphor in Context

As therefore the Reasonable Soul is in Nature and Operation distinguish'd from, and transcendently superiour to the Animal, so in the next place 'tis very probable that it has not its Original from the course of Nature, but from the immediate hand of God. This was a great question heretofore betwixt St. Augustine and St. Hierome; and was prosecuted by the later with so much heat, as made him seem to transgress the bounds of Christian Charity: But 'tis not my business in this Discourse to make use of Theological Arguments, or to interpose betwixt the Fathers in their Disputes; they are at rest, and let their works follow them: Thus much is obvious to our Observation; That in the Generation of Bruits, we find every Animal does beget its like, not only in specie or kind, but in disposition and inclination of Nature. Fighting Cocks will beget a race like themselves, so will Dogs, Horses, &c. and so constant and regular is Nature in those productions, that it seldom or never varies; but in the Generation of Man we oft-times experiment the contrary: simple men are frepuently the Fathers of great Hero's, and wise men may leave their Goods and Lands to their Sons without being able to Entail them upon the better part of their Possessions. Solomon had a Rehoboam, and an Achitophel may have an Ideot for his Son: From whence it follows that such different dispositions must proceed from some Principle, which lies not within the compass of Generation, and the ordinary course of Nature. 'Tis true; Education does many times change the course and stream of Nature: Nevertheless we observe, how vicious inclinations are so predominant in some, that no Example nor Precepts of Virtue, no hopes of Honour, no Culture of Art can ever reclaim them: But let the force of Education be what it will, in drawing men from their Natural inclinations towards Vice or Virtue, 'tis certain that men vary extreamly from other Animals in the Propagation of their Race. It has been reported of a great Family in this Kingdom, that Father and Son have alternately been wise and weak, and this for several Generations; and which is something more remarkable also, those who pass'd under the character of being men of parts, had all of them one and the same Christian Name, as those of the contrary denomination hapned all of them to have another. Now in this and many such like cases 'tis evident, that this difference of Nature could not proceed from Education, since all had the same means of Instruction and Breeding; nor yet from Generation, since all Animals produce others of the same Natural propensities with themselves: It remains therefore that it was deriv'd from some other Principle, from whence all Moral and Intellectual acts proceed, and such as was superiour to the Agents of Nature, which could be no other then the Rational Soul, form'd by the hands of God, and infus'd into the living creature. Now these Imperfections are not intrinsick, but accidental to the Soul, nor do they argue its corruptibility or mortality, any more than the spots and clouds we see in some Diamonds, do prove them to be less durable then others which are more limpid and transparent.
(pp. 8-10)