If then, all souls, both good and bad, do teach With general voice, that souls can never die; 'Tis not Man's flattering Gloss, but Nature's Speech, Which, like GOD's Oracle, can never lie. [Sidenote: 5. _Reason._ From the general desire of Immortality.] Hence, springs that _universal_ strong desire, Which all men have, of Immortality: Not some few spirits unto this thought aspire, But all men's minds in this, united be. Then this desire of Nature is not vain! "She covets not impossibilities!" "Fond thoughts may fall into some idle brain; But one Assent of All, is ever true!" From hence, that general care and study springs, That _launching_ and _progression_ of the Mind, Which all men have, so much of Future things, As they no joy, do in the Present find. From this desire, that main Desire proceeds, Which all men have, surviving Fame to gain; By tombs, by books, by memorable deeds; For She that this desires, doth still remain. Hence, lastly, springs Care of Posterities! For things, their kind would everlasting make! Hence is it, that old men do plant young trees, The fruit whereof, another age shall take! If we these rules unto ourselves apply, And view them by reflection of the mind; All these True Notes of Immortality, In our hearts' tables, we shall written find! [Sidenote: 6. _Reason._ From the very doubt and disputation of immortality.] And though some impious wits do questions move, And doubt "if souls immortal be or no?" That _doubt_, their immortality doth prove! Because they seem immortal things to know. For he which reasons, on both parts doth bring, Doth some things mortal, some immortal call; Now if himself were but a mortal thing; He could not judge immortal things, _at all_! For when we judge, our Minds we Mirrors make, And as those glasses, which material be, Forms of material things do only take (For Thoughts or Minds in them, we cannot see); So when we GOD and Angels do conceive, And think of Truth (which is eternal too), Then do our Minds, immortal Forms receive, Which if they mortal were, they could not do. And as if beasts conceived what Reason were, And that conception should distinctly shew; They should the name of _reasonable_ bear (For without Reason, none could reason know). So when the Soul mounts with so high a wing, As of eternal things, She _doubts_ can move, She, proofs of her eternity doth bring; Even when She strives the contrary to prove. For even the _thought_ of Immortality, Being an act done without the body's aid, Shews, that herself alone could move, and be, Although the body in the grave were laid.