Date: 1667

"For, though Man's Soul, and Body are not onely one natural Engine (as some have thought) of whose motions of all sorts, there may be as certain an accompt given, as those of a Watch or a Clock"

— Sprat, Thomas (bap. 1635, d. 1713)

Date: 1711

"While Passions in their Breasts ungovern'd rage, / Distract the Mind, and War intestine wage, / Reason divine from her high Throne descends, / Lays by her Scepter, and her Pow'r suspends."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1711

"Th' infernal Guest, where'er she comes, inspires / The People's Breasts with fierce Phrenetick Fires."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1711

"Passions impatient of the Rein, disown / Reason's Dominion, and usurp her Throne."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1711

"Thy subtile Sons, O Rome, to recompense / Their Loss of Pow'r, did Means succesful find / To found a wider Empire o'er the Mind."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1711

Popes, "Who, as erroneus, Nature's Light asperse; / The Judgment, which our Senses pass, reverse; / And by th' usurp'd Authority of Heav'n / Repeal the just Decrees by Reason given: / Who Schemes of new Religion have enjoined, / Impos'd Belief, enslav'd the free-born Mind, / And artful by the man...

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1711

"Know, hardy Atheists, who insulting say / Some populous Realms to Gods no Homage pay, / And therefore Nature's universal Law / Imprints not on the Mind Religious Awe; / That those, who no superior Being own, / Are more from Beasts by Shape, than Reason known."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1711

"The scorcht and pathless Desarts of the Brain, / Want proper Caves and Cells to entertain / A Crowd of airy Forms and long Ideal Train."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1711

"These active Liquors, which Admission find / Thro' the strait Paths, and leave the coarse behind, / Swift to the inmost Rooms their Passage beat, / And crowd around the Soul's Imperial Seat."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1711

"Of subtile Matter form'd, refin'd and bright, / As Light'ning sprightly, and serene as Light, / Watching their Soveraign's Nod, they ready stand / Apt to perform the Mind's supream Command."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)