Date: 1727

"Homer's Notion of the State of the Dead, was something like the ancient Philosophy of the Aegyptians, which gave the Soul a Shape like the Body, and that it was only a Receptacle of the Mind; the Mind they made to be the sublime and superior Part, and that only."

— Defoe, Daniel (1660?-1731)

Date: 1727

"They imagin'd that the Soul was not only separated by Death from the Body, but that there was a Separation of the Understanding from its Case or Vehicle, as they call'd it; so that the Soul, which was but the Image and Form of the Body, might be in Hell; the Body it self burnt to Ashes remain'd ...

— Defoe, Daniel (1660?-1731)

Date: 1727

"The Doctrine of the Soul's being a Shell or Case form'd into a Shape, as a Mould is form'd into Shape to receive the Brass or Copper, and throw out a Statue or Figure of this or that Heroe, which it is appointed to form; I say, this absurd Doctrine of the Soul, Body and Mind being three distinct...

— Defoe, Daniel (1660?-1731)

Date: 1727

"It were easie to confute these weak pretences to Chance and Incident, and to show the necessity of an intelligent Being; but that is not my work: I am not upon the Reality of such an intelligent Being, but the Reality of its ordinary and extraordinary actings, the Agents it employs, and the mann...

— Defoe, Daniel (1660?-1731)

Date: 1727

"But 'tis easily solv'd, by answering that it is but a seeming Contradiction, for both the Apparitions are visible, only not to the same Optick Powers; the Apparition in Dream is visible to the intellectual sight, to the Eye of the Soul; and the Day-light Apparition is visible to the common ordin...

— Defoe, Daniel (1660?-1731)

Date: 1727

"All the way as he walk'd his Mind was heavy, and oppress'd; and he frequently said to his Brother who walk'd with him, that he was certain he was going to London to be surpriz'd: and so strong was the foreboding Impression upon his Mind, that he once stop'd at Hornsey, and endeavoured to get a L...

— Defoe, Daniel (1660?-1731)

Date: 1727

"The Impression upon his Mind continuing, he stop'd again at Islington, and endeavour'd to get a Lodging there; but could not: so at last, when his Brother brought him word he could not get a Lodging, except where it was too publick, Well, says he, than I must go to London, and take what follows;...

— Defoe, Daniel (1660?-1731)

Date: 1727

"And from hence also it is evident that Dreams are sometimes to be call'd, and really are, Apparitions, as much as those other visible Apparitions which are seen when we are (as we call it) broad awake; that Apparition is to the Eyes of the Soul, and as it is so, it may be seen as well sleeping a...

— Defoe, Daniel (1660?-1731)

Date: 1727

"He endeavoured to wear it off of his Mind, but it [would] not do; the Impression to be sure would be strengthned by his own Guilt, and both together brought him to himself."

— Defoe, Daniel (1660?-1731)

Date: 1727

"Upon what Religious Foundation can we suggest, that the Sins of the Children should disquiet the Fathers in their Graves, or that the Souls departed can receive any Impression from the Behaviour of those in Life, subsequent to any Action those Souls departed have been concern'd in?"

— Defoe, Daniel (1660?-1731)