Philosophical Letters: or, modest Reflections upon some Opinions in Natural PhilosophyNewcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Philosophy
Philosophical Letters: or, modest Reflections upon some Opinions in Natural Philosophy
Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Newcastle, William Cavendish, Duke of, 1592-1676; Philosophy
Your _Author_ relates,[1] how by some the _Immortal Soul is divided
into two distinct parts; the Inferior or more outward, which by a
peculiar name is called the Soul, and the other the Superior, the
more inward, the which is called the bottom of the Soul or Spirit, in
which Part the Image of God is specially contained; unto which is no
access for the Devil, because there is the Kingdom of God_: and each
part has distinct Acts, Proprieties, and Faculties. Truly, _Madam_, I
wonder, how some men dare discourse so boldly of the Soul, without any
ground either of Scripture or Reason, nay, with such contradiction to
themselves, or their own opinions; For how can that be severed into
parts, which in its nature is Individable? and how can the Image of
God concern but one Part of the Soul, and not the other? Certainly,
if the Soul is the Image of God, it is his Image wholly, and not
partially, or in parts. But your _Author_ has other as strange and
odd opinions as these, some whereof I have mentioned in my former
Letters, the Souls being a Light, her Figure, her Residence, and many
the like: Amongst the rest, there is one thing which your _Author_
frequently makes mention of;[2] I know not what to call it, whether
a thing, or a being, or no-thing; for it is neither of them; not a
substance, nor an accident; neither a body, nor a spirit; and this
Monster (for I think this is its proper name, since none other will
fit it) is the Lacquey of the Soul, to run upon all errands; for the
Soul sitting in her Princely Throne or Residence, which is the orifice
of the stomack, cannot be every where her self; neither is it fit she
should, as being a disgrace to her, to perform all offices her self
for want of servants, therefore she sends out this most faithful and
trusty officer, (your _Author_ calls him _Ideal Entity_) who being
prepared for his journey, readily performs all her commands, as being
not tied up to no commands of places, times or dimensions, especially
in Women with Child he operates most powerfully; for sometime he
printed a Cherry on a Child, by a strong Idea of the Mother; but this
Ideal Entity or servant of the Soul, hath troubled my brain more, then
his Mistress the Soul her self; for I could not, nor cannot as yet
conceive, how he might be able to be the Jack of all offices, and do
Journies and travel from one part of the body to another, being no body
nor substance himself, nor tyed to any place, time, and dimension,
and therefore I will leave him. Your _Author_ also speaks much of the
Inward and Outward Man; but since that belongs to Divinity, I will
declare nothing of it; onely this I say, that, in my opinion, the
Inward and Outward man do not make a double Creature, neither properly,
nor improperly; properly, as to make two different men; improperly, as
we use to call that man double, whose heart doth not agree with his
words. But by the Outward man I understand the sinful actions of flesh
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