The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 02 (of 11) — Thomas Hobbes — John Shaqi
The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 02 (of 11)
Thomas Hobbes · en
14. From what hath been said in the foregoing chapter, it is not
hard to distinguish between things _spiritual_ and _temporal_. For
since by _spiritual_, those things are understood, which have their
foundation on the authority and office of Christ, and, unless Christ
had taught them, could not have been known; and all other things are
temporal; it follows, that the definition and determination of what
is _just_ and _unjust_, the cognizance of all controversies about
the _means of peace_ and _public defence_, and the examination of
doctrines and books in all manner of _rational science_, depends
upon _the temporal right_; but those which are _mysteries of faith_,
depending on Christ’s word and authority only, their judgments
belong to _spiritual right_. But it is reason’s inquisition, and
pertains to _temporal right_ to define what is _spiritual_, and what
_temporal_; because our Saviour hath not made that distinction. For
although St. Paul in many places distinguish between _spiritual_
things and _carnal_ things; and call (Rom. viii. 5: 1 Cor. xii.
8-10) those things _spiritual_, which are of the _spirit_, to wit,
the _word of wisdom_, _the word of knowledge_, _faith_, _the gift of
healing_, _the working of miracles_, _prophecy_, _divers kind of
tongues_, _interpretation of tongues_; all supernaturally inspired
by the Holy Ghost, and such as the _carnal_ man understands not, but
he only who hath known the mind of Christ (2 Cor. ii. 14-16); and
those things _carnal_, which belong to worldly wealth (Rom. xv. 27);
and the men _carnal men_ (1 Cor. iii. 1-3): yet hath he not defined,
nor given us any rules whereby we may know what proceeds from
natural reason, what from supernatural inspiration.
[Sidenote: The word of God many ways taken.]