The Description of a New World, Called the Blazing-WorldNewcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Science
The Description of a New World, Called the Blazing-World
Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Science fiction; Utopias -- Fiction; Voyages, Imaginary -- Early works to 1800
again, Whether Spirits were not like Water or Fire? They answered, that
Water and Fire was material, were it the purest and most refined that
ever could be; nay, were it above the Heavens: But we are no more like
Water or Fire, said they, then we are like Earth; but our Vehicles are
of several forms, figures and degrees of substances. Then she desired to
know, Whether their Vehicles were made of Air? Yes, answered the
Spirits, some of our Vehicles are of thin Air. Then I suppose, replied
the Empress, That those airy Vehicles, are your corporeal Summer-suits.
she asked further, Whether the Spirits had not ascending and
descending-motions, as well as other Creatures? They answered, That
properly there was no ascension or descension in Infinite Nature, but
onely in relation to particular parts; and as for us Spirits, said they,
We can neither ascend nor descend without corporeal Vehicles; nor can
our Vehicles ascend or descend, but according to their several shapes
and figures, for there can be no motion without body. The Empress asked
them further, Whether there was not a World of Spirits, as well as there
is of Material Creatures? No, answered they; for the word World implies
a quantity or multitude of corporeal Creatures, but we being Immaterial,
can make no World of Spirits. Then she desired to be informed when
Spirits were made? We do not know, answered they, how and when we were
made, nor are we much inquisitive after it; nay, if we did, it would be
no benefit, neither for us, nor for you Mortals to know it. The Empress
replied, That Cabbalists and Divine Philosophers said, Mens rational
Souls were Immaterial, and stood as much in need of corporeal Vehicles,
as Spirits did. If this be so, answered the Spirits, then you are
Hermaphrodites of Nature; but your Cabbalists are mistaken, for they
take the purest and subtilest parts of Matter, for Immaterial Spirits.
Then the Empress asked, When the Souls of Mortals went out of their
Bodies, whether they went to Heaven or Hell; or whether, they remained
in airy Vehicles? God's Justice and Mercy, answered they, is perfect,
and not imperfect; but if you Mortals will have Vehicles for your Souls,
and a place that is between Heaven and Hell, it must be Purgatory, which
is a place of Purification, for which action Fire is more proper then
Air; and so the Vehicles of those Souls that are in Purgatory, cannot be
airy, but fiery; and after this rate there can be but four places for
human Souls to be in, viz. Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, and this World; but
as for Vehicles, they are but fancies, not real truths. Then the Empress
asked them, Where Heaven and Hell was? Your Saviour Christ, answered the
Spirits, has informed you, that there is Heaven and Hell, but he did not
tell you what, nor where they are; wherefore it is too great a
presumption for you Mortals to inquire after it: If you do but strive to
get into Heaven, it is enough, though you do not know where or what it
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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