Nor in a _secret cloyster_ doth Hee keepe These virgin-spirits, vntill their marriage-day; Nor locks them vp in chambers, where they sleep, Till they awake, within these beds of clay. Nor did He first a certaine number make, Infusing part in _beasts_, and part in _men_, And, as vnwilling further paines to take, Would make no more then those He framèd then. So that the widow _Soule_ her _body_ dying, Vnto the next-borne _body_ married was; And so by often changing and supplying, Mens' _soules_ to beasts, and beasts to men did passe. (These thoughts are fond; for since the bodies borne Be more in number farre then those that dye; Thousands must be abortiue, and forlorne, Ere others' deaths to them their _soules_ supply.) But as _God's handmaid_, _Nature_, doth create Bodies in time distinct, and order due;[105] So God giues _soules_ the like successiue date, Which _Himselfe_ makes, in bodies formèd new: Which _Him selfe_ makes, of no materiall thing; For vnto angels He no power hath giuen, Either to forme the shape, or stuffe to bring From _ayre_ or _fire_, or _substance of the heauen_. Nor He in this doth _Nature's_ seruice vse; For though from bodies, she can bodies bring, Yet could she neuer soules from Soules _traduce_, As fire from fire, or light from light doth spring. OBJECTION:--THAT THE SOULE IS EXTRADUCE. Alas! that some, that were great lights of old, And in their hands the _lampe_ of God did beare;[106] Some reuerend Fathers did this error hold, Hauing their eyes dim'd with religious feare! For when (say they) by Rule of Faith we find, That euery _soule_ vnto her _body_ knit, Brings from the mother's wombe, the _sinne of kind_, The roote of all the ill she doth commit. How can we say that God the _Soule_ doth make, But we must make Him author of her sinne? Then from man's soule she doth beginning take, Since in man's soule corruption did begin. For if God make her, first He makes her ill, (Which God forbid our thoghts should yeeld vnto!) Or makes the body her faire forme to spill,[107] Which, of it selfe it had no power to doe. Not _Adam's body_ but his _soule_ did sinne And so her selfe vnto corruption brought; But the poore _soule_ corrupted is within, Ere shee had sinn'd, either in act, or thought: And yet we see in her such powres diuine, As we could gladly thinke, _from God she came_; Faine would we make Him Author of the wine, If for the dregs we could some other blame. [Footnote 105: Misprinted in 1608 and 1622 edition 'other:' correctly, as above, in 1599 edition. G.] [Footnote 106: Holy Scriptures. G.] [Footnote 107: = Spoil. G.] THE ANSWERE TO THE OBIECTION.