But yet we must not understand this parity of human souls uni- versally, or in all respects. Though being of one species or com- mon nature, they are all equal, and those of them that are pur- chased by the blood of Christ are all purchased at one rate ; yet there are divers other respects and considerations, wherein there are remarkable differences betwixt soul and soul. As, (1.) Some souls are much better lodged and accommodated in their bodies than others are, though none dwell at perfect rest and ease. God hath lodged some souls in strong, vigorous, comely bodies ; others in feeble, crazy, deformed, and uncomfortable ones. The historian saith of Galba, Anima Galce male habitat ; the soul of Galba dwelt in an ill body. And a much better man than Galba was as ill ac- commodated. John wishes in behalf of his beloved Gaius, that his body might but prosper as his soul did, Epistle iii. ver. 2. Timothy had his often infirmities. Indeed the world is full of instances and examples of this kind. * If some souls had the ad- vantages of such bodies as others have, who make little or very bad use of them ; oh, what service would they do for God ! (2.) There is a remarkable difference also betwixt soul, and soul, in respect of natural gifts and abilities of mind. Some have great ad- vantages above others in this respect. The natural spirits and or- gans of the body being more brisk and apt, the soul is more vegete, vigorous, and able to exert itself in its functions and operations. How clear, nimble, and firm, are the apprehensions, fancies, and
* Tostatus, bishop of Abntam, had so strong and firm a constitution to endure se- vere studies, that he is said cervea intestina kabuisse, to have had a body of brass.
A TREATISE OF THE SOUL OF MAN. 529
memories of some souls beyond others ! What a prodigy of memory, fancy, and judgment, was father Paul the Venetian ! and Suarez, of whom Strada saith, " Such was the strength of his parts, that he " had all St. Augustine's works (the most copious and various of all " the fathers) as it were by heart, so that I have seen him, saith he " *, readily pointing with the finger to anyplace or page he disputed " of?'' Our Dr. Reynolds excelled this way, to the astonishment of all that knew him, so that he was a living library, a third university. But above all, the character given by Vivesof Budaeus is amazing, That there was nothing zaritten in Greek or Latin, which he had not turned over and examined ; that both languages were alike to him, speaking either with more facility than he did the French, his mother tongue ; and all by the penetrating force of his own natural parts, without a tutor ; " so that "f France never brought forth a man of " sharper wit, more piercing' judgment, exact diligence, and greater " learning, nor, in his time, Italy itself?^ Fcelix et fcecundum in- genium, quod in se uno invenit, et doctorem, et discipulum ! A happy and fruitful wit, which in itself found both a master and a scholar ! And yet Pasquier relates what is much more admirable of a young man, who came to Paris, in the 20th year of his age, and in the year 1445, shewed himself so excellent and exact in all the arts, sciences, and languages, that if a man of an ordinary good wit, and sound constitution, should live an hundred years, and during that time study incessantly, without eating, drinking, sleep- ing, or any recreation, he could hardly attain to that perfection. (3.) And yet a far greater difference is made betwixt one soul and another, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit of God. This makes yet a greater disparity ; for it alters and new-moulds the frame and temper of the soul, and restores the lost image of God to it ; by reason whereof the righteous is truly said to be " more excellent " than his neighbour," Prov. xii. 26. This ennobles the soul, and stamps the highest dignity and glory upon it, that it is capa- ble of in this world. It is true, it hath naturally an excellency and perpetuity in it above other beings ; as cedar hath not only a beauty and fragrancy, but a soundness and durability far beyond other trees of the wood : but when it comes under the sanctification of the Spirit, then it is as cedar over-laid with gold. (4.) Lastly, a wonderful difference will be made betwixt one soul and another, by the judgment of God in the great day. Some will be blessed, and others cursed souls, Mat. xxv. 46. some received into glory,
* Statim quo loco quaque pagina disseruerit, ea super re expedite doceniem, ab digito commonstrantem scrpc vidimus.
f Quo viro Gallia, auctiore ingenio, acriore judicio, exnetiore diligentia, majore ervdi- tione, nullum wiquam produxit : fiac vero estate nac Italia quidem. Lud. Viv. in 17. cap. da Civ. Dei.
530 A TREATISE OF THE SOUL OF MAX.
others shut out into everlasting misery ; Mat. viii. 11, 12. " Many " shall come from the East, and West, and shall sit down with " Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven ; " but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer " darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."" And that which will be the sting and aggravation of the difference which will then be made, will be this parity and equality in the nature and capacity of every soul ; by reason whereof they that perish will find they were as naturally capable of blessedness, as those that enjoy it ; and that it was their own inexcusable negli- gence and obstinacy that were there their ruin.
Inf. 4. If God be the immediate Creator, and former of the soul of man, Then sin must needs involve the most unnatural evil in it, as it is an horrid violation of the very law of nature. No title can be so full, so absolute, as that which creation gives. How clear is this in the light of reason ? If God created my soul, then my soul had once no being at all : that it had still remained nothing, had not the pleasure of its Creator chosen and called it into the being it hath, out of the millions of mere possible beings : for as there are millions of possible beings, which yet are nothing ; so there are millions of possible beings, which never shall be at all. So that since the pleasure and power of God were the only fountain of my being, he must needs be the rightful owner of it. What can be more his own, than that whose very being flowed merely from him, and which had never been at all, had he not called it out of nothing ?
And seeing the same pleasure of God, which gave it a being, gave it also a reasonable being, capable of, and fitted for moral government, by laws, which other inferior natures are incapable of; it must needs follow that he is the supreme Governor, as well as the rightful owner of this soul.