of which makes them utter Strangers to themselves and to all the wonderful Mysteries of Gods Law and for this cause Mankind ever since he hath transgressed the Holy Laws of God and exceeded the limits and bounds of the innocent Methods and Operations of Nature hath been as it were forced and compelled to make strict and severe Laws against the wicked Enormities and Violences he committed against his own Kind and likewise to all the innocent Inhabitants of Heaven and Earth and had not some of the more Wise fixed on Mankind those Laws of retalliation viz. of Rewards and Punishments Man would quickly have destroyed the whole Creation and have raced himself off the Earth so that it is as clear as the Sun at Noon-day that if Mankind had not Dishonoured his Creation and defaced his noble Image by suffering that great and wonderful power the free and unbounded Will to enter into evil Principles and consequently Practices by vertue whereof he was Superior to all the visible Creatures of this World then we say if this had not been done Mankind would not have had any more occasion to have made Laws with promises of Rewards and Punishments than the Undergraduated Creatures of the Field have for so soon as Man had entered into Cruelty and Revenge and so broke himself off from the Commands and Laws of God and of the Heavens that he instantly became his own Law-maker and was thereby subjected to all the Influences Laws and Customs of the Sublunary Planets Stars and Constellations and is principally governed by them in all Nations and therefore as Mankind is departed from the simple Methods of Gods Law into evil Principles and Methods of Life by which means he hath rendred himself uncapable of the benevolent Influences and Powers of Gods Law and also of the sweet and fructifying Dews of the Heavenly Bodies but on the other side by his cruel and unnatural Methods of Life he is only capable to attract or draw unto himself the Venom and weak Influences out of all things Elements and Constellations for all things of this great Being or visible World are compounded of the two Grand Principles of Good and Evil and into what Man doth enter with his free unbounded Will that same Principle obtains the Government and becomes his Ascendant or Governing Constellation whether it be Good or Evil and this Grand Truth every sensible Man must grant that each principle or quality hath a Key in its own Bosom both in the Evil and in the Good to penetrate the depth of all things and to influence and to be influenced by its Similie the Good searcheth the whole Globe of the Heavens and Earth and wheresoever it findeth its Similie there it rejoyceth and is thereby strengthened The like is to be understood of the evil Genius every Star Sign and Planet hath great influence and power in his own Orb or Circle for in them all Learned in the Astral or Mathematical Science each Planet or Constellation delights and hath a Similie with its own Nature but when those great Luminaries are out of their Orbs or meet with contrary Natures then they are said to be weak and impotent and their Influences are in proportion from whence the Notion of Strength and Weakness of the Planets proceed every particulaâ—… thing both in the Heaven and in the Earth is best pleased and delighted in that which is nearest and most like it self this every one doth know more or less and therefore if Mankind would have the benevolent and sweet Influences both of the Heaven and of the Earth and of those of his own Kind too then let him with his Will enter into Temperance Patience Order and into all vertuous courses of Life and then he will quickly obtain that Blessed Magnet that will attract and influence the good in the Earth and in the Heavens and the good likewise in the whole Universe will naturally and powerfully influence him all the great Governing Stars and Constellations will befriend him with their vertuous Influences The contrary is to be understood of him who suffers his Will and Desire to enter into the Methods and Principles of evil and violent courses of Life such a one draws unto himself the Evils and Venoms out of all things both of Heaven and Earth Others object and say viz. if each Mans good and ill Fortune Health and Sickness Death and Life Honour and Dishonour Riches and the contrary do depend on the time of Birth the Ascendant Governing Stars and Constellations together with the Friendly Aspects and Configurations the Heavenly Bodies have with each other they say if this be true how comes this to pass that a Hundred Thousand Men come into the Field of Mars Fifty Thousand on a side and within the compass of one day or twelve hours time there are Slain Sixty or Seventy thousand on both sides this doth startle and amuse all Men that are ignorant of the Government and Powers of the Heaven and Earth making conclusions and measuring all things according to their narrow Capacities and Sensuality knowing nothing of Gods Law themselves nor the Simpathetical Methods of Nature for as we have mentioned before Mankind having by Disobedience and Fraud broken the Laws of God and consequently of the Heavens and the great ruling Powers thereof and therefore he is not now in the common Capacity of those Creatures that have kept their first Law and Station they were Created in so that now by the power of his free Will he is rendred capable to Create Chuse and Ordain Earthly Stars Constellations Governors and Princes in this Sublunary World or dark Earthly Globe and thereby he is become a compleat Citizen of the Earthly Regions and consequently as subject to the Influences of those Earthy Gods Governors and Princes as those Creatures are to the Heavenly Constellations and Governors that have not broken their Law but kept their first Station and as these most wonderful and amazing Luminaries Stars and Constellations do by their circular Motions Configurations and Simpathetical Operations govern and rule their Subjects or inferior Creatures that have not broken their first bounds and limits of Gods Law and a regular exact Method and Order as is most clear and manifest by every days Experience to the Vulgar The like is to be understood of the Degraded Legions or Creatures called Men who have as is mentioned before broken their Original or Heavenly Laws and so are no more subject to the Laws Orders and Methods of the Heavens and ruling Princes of their own making for so soon as Man had Degraded himself and fallen from and out of the power of the Heavenly Government and so become depraved then immediately from the same ignorant blind and wicked Principle as by Similie he did and doth to this day chuse and advance proportionable Governors and Princes to rule over them and do therethereby oblige themselves under the Penalties of cruel and severe Laws and so becomes subject to
all their Innate Influences and Commands so that it is most clear and manifest that if the Governor of any People or Prince of this or the other Nation have a mind or desire to make War or to spoil his Neighbouring Countries he can presently command his People or Subjects into Warlike postures and cause them to march into the Field where Twenty or Thirty Thousand are Slain in a Moment so that every one is subject to the good and ill Fate and Destiny of that Star or Constellation he has made his Governor and unto whose Laws he hath subjected himself This is farther demonstrated by all the under-graduated Creatures called Beasts viz. If any Person becomes Master of a Thousand Sheep Cows Horses or any other Creatures has not our Laws and Customs made him Lord over them and doth not their good and ill Fate depend only on him being unaccountable for all his Actions towards them whether good or Evil Life or Death are in and under his Power and Influence and cannot he dispose of those innocent Creatures several ways at his pleasure one part or number to the Hang-man or Butcher to be Slain all in one hour and another number to be preserved for some years and yet for all this those Creatures are Midwifed into this World not only at several times but under as various Ascendants and governing Constellations of Heaven as Mankind is so that it is clear let any Person be Born under what Ascendant or Constellation soever nevertheless he shall be compelled by the Laws of his Sublunary Gods Customs and Traditions of the Place or Country he lives in to submit and obey them For so soon as Mankind broke himself off from the innocent Influences and Government of the Law of God and the sweet Influences of the Heavenly Powers he immediately became subject to a Foreign or Tyrannical Power so that he is become altogether ignorant of all the great Mysteries Qualities and Principles his Creator hath endued him with the Eye of his Understanding and all the wonderful Faculties and Intellectual magick Powers become encircled with a dark Cloud of Ignorance so that he is now like a Ship that has neither Pilot nor Rudder tossed to and fro by the fierce invading Waves of the Sea that has no Harbour nor Centre but he is continually drawn by the dark ignorant insulting earthy Constellations Customs and Powers out of one Evil into another seeking Content and Rest in all his Undâ—…kings Enterprizes and Methods but rarely finds any Satisfation which cannot be obtained by any other way or method but only by Virtue and the Power of Regeneration that is to return and observe the Laws of God and Nature for Mankind cannot be a Subject of Heaven till he obeys and lives in and under the Laws and Influences thereof as our great Prophet and Saviour Jesus Christ or the Divine Eye or Principle hath told us His Servants ye are whom ye Obey Accept this in Answer to yours for the present from your Friend and Servant T. T. LETTER XXVIII Of the perpetual MOTION SIR I Have received yours of the 26th of May 1699 filled with complaints of the various Indispositions and Diseases that have lately invaded the Health both of your Body and Mind and the worst of all is these Intestine Enemies have not only beset you on all sides but they are numerous and powerful so that all the helps and succours that Nature with the aid and assistance either of Meats Drinks Exercises Airs or Medicines seem too short and feeble to restore you to your former Health However we shall freely give you our Advice which will be easie to be observed and practised if you will but stem the Tide of Custom and give your Mind to it viz. First We referr you to our Writings in which we have largely discoursed of the Preservation of Health also of the qualities and quantities of Meats and Drinks also of Exercises Airs and Communications where you will find both general and particular rules for Health Secondly The Foods that may be most valuable to recover and maintain your lost Health are several sorts of Pottages or Spoon-meats as Water-gruel Milk-pottage Pap made of Water and Flour or with Milk and Water Possets Bread and Milk as it comes from the Cow several sorts of Caudle made of Oat-meal Water Ale Wine or with Eggs Chocoalate all eaten with some Bread these are the principal Foods you ought to apply your self unto being easie of Digestion and are to be preferr'd before hard strong salt fat things for the Juices and Virtues are easie Distilling their Nutritive qualities in a silent Method making no noise nor give no Disturbance from whose innocent power and sweet vertues the Blood and all the motions of the Body becomes advanced into a better state of Health Thirdly Your Drink ought to be good Water or at least ways small Ale Wine allayed with Water c. Fourthly Exercise your self in open airy places and by running Rivers sides and you must above all refrain and withdraw your self from all Sedentary Business more especially that tedious and ineffectual Study of the perpetual Motion a thing that seems altogether impossible to be obtained because it doth Diametrically oppose all Gods Methods and Laws in this Visible World which you and others ought to have considered before such a Labour had been entered upon do but survey and contemplate all visible Beings and Off-springs of God and his great Powers called Stars Constellations and Elements as Earth Air Fire and Water by whom the Great Creator works all wonderful things are not their Productions and Created Beings limited in their Motions and all their Methods of Life or can any Creature break their Circle in which Gods Law hath bounded it and if the Sons and Daughters of the Elements have their set bounds and limits and cannot pass their several Periods of Time how then is it possible that we by a certain Art or Science should out-do our selves for Art and Science is but a third Birth from the Original and consequently but Grand Children now that which is endued with a perpetual Motion Old Age never overtakes them but they are as it were always Youthful and Vigorous and therefore may have the Character of Immortal and if the Off-spring and Children of the great Immortal Being be Mortal what then must the Arts and Sciences be that are produced or flowes from them as a third Birth or can that Creature which is Mortal produce that which is Immortal or Perpetual which is one and the same There is no Creature or Being in this Sublunary World that hath an Eternal Motion but only the Original or Grand Powers of God viz. the Sun Moon and innumerable Company of Stars and Constellations together with the ever teeming Elements viz. the Fire Water Earth and Air whose generating creating and preserving Motions are perpetual but their Progenies or Off-spring whose variety and number are beyond Humane Arithmetick which
exemplify others and to add divers things in divers parts of them by way of Illustration which made them spin out to such a length as you see them and was wholly designed for the Reader 's Benefit and Satisfaction but if I have been so Unhappy as to fall short of my intended Aim I am sorry for it both upon his and my own account and heartily beg his Pardon who am His highly Oblig'd and Very humble Servant Thomas Tryon THE CONTENTS LEtter 1. Of the noble Sense of Hearing with the various Uses and great Benefits thereof Letter 2. Of the Sense of Smelling with its proper Seat Nature and Uses Letter 3. Of the Sense of Tasting and wherein also the great Mysteries thereof are set forth Letter 4. Of the Sense of Seeing and of its various Uses and Benefits Letter 5. Of the Sense of Feeling with its universal Benefits and Influences over the rest Letter 6. Of Fires and the best way to make Grates whereby a less quantity of Fuel is required and yet that rendreâ—… more useful and expeditious in the Preparation of Foods and upon other occasions than our common Fires Letter 7. Of the best Methods for Tempering of Clay Making of Mortar Tyles Flooring and Bricks together with an Account of different sorts of Earths and what Herbage Fruits Seeds Grains and Trees each is applicable to Letter 8. Of Religion with the Nature and Practice thereof and that the Knowledge of God and a Man's Self is the first step to all true and undefiled Religion Letter 9. Of Dropsies and the Nature of them with some Account of what Diet and Exercises such should use as also how to Retrench Expences by a Frugal Method of Living Letter 10. Of various Opinions in Religion and the Original Cause of those great Differences Oppressions and Violences proceeding therefrom with Remedies proposed for prevention thereof Letter 11. Of the Humanity of Christ shewing the Grounds from whence the great Differences concerning it do arise how it is to be understood and the great Benefits that accrew unto Mankind from it Letter 12. Of an Afflicted Mind and shewing how it may be prevented with some other Remarks Letter 13. Of Faith Hope and Charity with the Excellency and Benefit of each and how Mankind by practising the last imitates his Creator and renders himself capable of being United to all that is Good Letter 14. Of that part of Scripture wherein God commanded or rather permitted Beasts to be Killed and Eaten with the great Error of Mankind in misinterpreting the same and how they are rightly to be understood Letter 15. Of a Soldier 's Life shewing from what Principle that Bloody Employment takes its Birth how contradictory it is to the Divine Law and destructive to the Unity and Well-being of Mankind and that all other Creatures have an equal share in those Calamities Letter 16. Of the Fountain of Darkness with the Actions Employments and Inclinations arising therefrom and how they Govern in every particular Creature when evil Principles obtain the Ascendant Letter 17. Of the Fountain of Love and Light and what Actions Inclinations Dispositions Words and Works proceed therefrom and how they Govern in each particular Creature Letter 18. Of Cleanness with the Benefits thereof and the Mischief of the contrary as also what Foods in their Nature are clean and unclean Letter 19. Of Flesh Broaths and Potages and those made of Herbs Seeds and Grains with an Account of which is most clean and affords the best Nourishment Letter 20. Of the Right and Left Hands with the great Error of Peoples teaching their Children to distinguish them by such Terms Letter 21. Of the Corpulency of the Body with the Cause thereof and how to prevent and abate it Letter 22. Of the Nature and Causes of Fevers and how in some measure to prevent them Letter 23. Of Education wherein is set forth the right true and natural way of Bringing up Children Letter 24. Of the Nature of Smells and what Scents in their Original are Clean Good and Beneficial or the contrary Letter 25. Of Predestination and how it ought to be understood Letter 26. Of Death and why all Creatures especially Mankind are unwilling to Die Letter 27. Of the Science of Astrology wherein are shewed the Causes in Nature why Persons Born at one and the same minute and under the like Constellations are of different Shapes and Forms and of various Fortunes Letter 28. Of the Perpetual Motion wherein is shewed the Impossibility of the Humane Nature's being capable of it as being Diametrically opposite to all God's Methods and Laws Letter 29. Of the noble Science of Musick with the Defects of the best Teachers of it and Methods proposed for the speediest and certainest way to attain to the highest Perfection therein to which is added somewhat concerning the Art of right Speaking and Reading Letter 30. Of Languages and the easiest way for a Person in Years to attain to the true Pronunciatiâ—… of any Foreign Tongue Letter 31. Of the Times of Eating wherein in shewed that about 8 in the Morning and 3 or 4 in the Afternoon is the most proper Season with the Reason thereof Letter 32. To a Planter of Sugar concerning the Premoting of the Cotton Manufactury in our Plantation Letter 33. To a Gentleman in Barbadoes concerniâ—… the first Settlement Growth and Decay of our Sugâ—… Plantations and the necessity they lye under of Planâ—… ing other Vegetations c. Letter 34. To a Planter touching the Manufactuâ—… of Cotton wherein the Necessity and Advantagâ—… thereof is amply considered Letter 35. Of the Making of Sugar wherein the Myâ—… stery of it from the very first Planting of the Caâ—… to its highest pitch of Refining is Explicated wiâ—… the vast Benefits that do accrew therefrom to Engâ—… land where also the Art of Distilling is handled Letter 36. Of the Burial of Birds how unaccountaâ—… it is and the Author's Conceptions thereupon Letter 37. Of Fermentation with the Nature and Oâ—… riginal Invention thereof wherein is also shewed hâ—… Pernicious and Destructive Fermented Liquors 〈◊〉 to Mankind Twenty Seven Philosophical Letters UPON Several Occasions LETTER I. Of the Sense of Hearing SIR I Perceive by your Letter that you have been mightily affected with a Consideration of the Senses in admiring the wonderful Composition of the Organs and the nice and exquisite manner of their Operation for your encouragement to proceed in so commendable and useful Speculation I shall endeavour to Suggest some hints of Meditation to you which perhaps you have not yet thought of I Shall begin with the Ear that noble and brave Sense of Hearing and descant a little upon its Use and Benefits and the great disadvantages Mankind is subjected to through the want of it it is placed in the most Intelligible part of Man It has its residence in the Head and is therefore capable to distinguish between the good and evil qualities of Sounds For Man being a compleat Image or
this great Sense of Life viz. the Feeling is universal and no part of the Body can subsist without it not so much as one moment and therefore when this Sense is Disordered or any Obstruction or Distemper invades it the whole becomes heavy dull and melancholy and Death quickly ensues so on the other side when it is in order the Motions and Circulations of the Body and Members are free from Obstructions then it is the true Pleasure of Life and all the other Senses are Subservient to this and rejoice in its Prosperity as being their Prince and King the Industry of all the others is to support and maintain this For if this Sense of Feeling sink none of the others are or can be well by the Innate Power of this Mankind and all Creatures viz. Animals distinguish between Joy and Sorrow Grief and Pain Sickness and Health Temperance and Gluttony also Hunger and Fullness Heat and Cold Weight or Lightness Hardness and Softness Fineness and Courseness Smoothness and Roughness Thickness and Thinness in a word in this Sense is apprehended and comprehended all Pleasures Touches and Embraces and as it were the very Centre of all natural Enjoyments both of the Body and Mind and therefore the great various and wonderful Powers of the whole Bows before it and with all endeavours each in its respective place to serve it with the highest diligence for the Life and Centre both of Joy Sorrow Pain and Pleasure is in this universal Sense Therefore all Powers yield their Obedience to it for this cause whensoever this Sense is Encountred or Invaded by any universal Disorder Intemperance or Uncleanness the Life of that part that suffers the Disorder immediately Perishes This the Learned call the Dead Palsy and several other Names they give this Disease which of all others is one of the most Dolorous and Melancholy which do attack and invade many Persons through disorderly Living and Intemperance Drinking and Eating both in Quantity and Quality such things that are too gross hard spirituous and of a strong fulsom Composition and Preparation from whence Juices of a proportionable Nature are Extracted which do infallibly generate thick gross Blood and impure Spirits which do as it were narrow stop and swell the Highways and natural Roads viz. The Porous Passages of the Body and the Nerves do by these thick Juices become stiff and Glewy so that the Blood and Spirits being touched with these Diseases and Infirmities cannot have their free Ingress Egress Regress and Circulation but are waylaied and stopt according to the degrees of these Obstructions the Diseases and the Distempers are more or less Now all Fumes and Vapours that many thousands of People especially Women are subject to as the Gout and all Obstructions Falling Sickness and several other cruel Maladies they are procured and likewise transferred from one Age to another for want of Wisdom Temperance and Cleanness in the Methods of Life for every Person does desire and incline to such and such Meats and Drinks Exercises and Communications according to the ruling Qualities and predominant Humours and their Equality and Inequality and the Nourishment Humours Blood Spirits and Dispositions are in proportion whence the Seed is Generated as being the Essence of all the natural Properties and Powers for this cause most or all the variety of new and old Diseases are transferred conveyed and intailed on their Posterity c. Therefore there is hardly found any Medicine capable to Câ—… them being so deeply rooted in the very Centre of Nature Now as these Diseases have encreased since Trade hath advanced so likewise have improper Compositions and Hetrogenial Preparations gotten great footing in the World bâ—… which every Age doth produce a new Off-spring of Diseases 〈◊〉 known or hardly heard of before as in this Nation since Stroâ—… Beer Ale and Wine became common Drinks and our comâ—… Foods compounded and mixed with Spices Sugar Spanish Fâ—… and several other Ingredients we say since this there aâ—… great number of cruel Distempers started up in Man's Body 〈◊〉 were not heard of before for every sort of Meat and Drâ—… hath the Key in its self to seek embrace and feel out its own likeness and hath an Innate Power in its Bosom or Centre to generate an Off-spring of its own Nature in proportion to the Nourishment such a thing affords as the Gout Stone Rhumatism Rickets and many Leprous or Scabby Diseases which within 70 80 100 or 200 years have been Midwifed into our Nation Now it is to be observed that all the other four Senses when they have gratified themselves and taken Pleasure even to the highest degree of Luxury Do slip their Necks out of the Collar as the Proverb has it leaving all their evil Works and Deeds of Darkness to this poor and most deplorable Sense of Feeling who is bound under the Iron Gates of various severe and intollerable Diseases all their malignant Influences the Taste Smell Hearing and Seeing shut their Gates and take their Rest but the Feeling is rarely ever quiet or easy Sleep and Rest gives them Resurrection and a new Life but the Feeling remains uneasy every Member and Joint akes and the whole Body is Indisposed Sleep being nothing else but a Transitory Death or an Occultation to a Renovation and therefore no Man nor other Creature can Subsist and Live except they Die near or altogether a third part of the time that is alotted them So that our Lives are a constant or continual Dying this being Matter of Fact why should Mankind be so fearful and timerous of Death seeing he that Lives 100 years is Dead more than 30 of it which time is an unaccountable to him as those that are really in Eternity where there is neither Time nor Place Near and Far off being altogether the same and no Man would be more concerned to Die than he is to Sleep if he had not broken the Law of his Maker by invading and bringing Desolation on all the Host of Heaven and Earth which is the Secret and Original of Mankinds Fear and the true cause of his Uneasiness and Perplexity for in this World there is no Creature that Lives without a continual Dying or becoming as it were Invisible Do not all the Herbs Fruits Seeds and Grains and whatever else appears in Bodies Shapes and Forms They we say do daily Die that they may be capable to reinvest themselves in new vigorous Bodies and do not all the Beasts of the Field every moment as it were enter into Death that they may be able to maintain a short Momentary Life though the Beasts do not enter so deeply into Death as Man Their Sleep being but a kind of waking in comparison of Mans for what Creature in the World is so drowsy and heavy as Man Nor is there any thing that sleeps so sound and deep or do require so much as he except some few that are called by the name of Sleepers whose Nature Original
Thinking to you will be as prejudicial as hard â—…king will be to another In my Opinion the best Method 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 settle your Affairs limit your self to a convenient Compedâ—…y and spend your days in such Company as is most suitable 〈◊〉 your Humor and Disposition and as much as you can avoid 〈◊〉 being Agitated and Suspended between the Extreams of 〈◊〉 and Fear I mean as to the Affairs and Business of this World for when those Passions have got the Possession of Weak 〈◊〉 Crasy Natures they not only wound the Health continue 〈◊〉 advance Diseases but becloud and darken the Minds Intelâ—… Powers and pure Spirits for when the Human Properties 〈◊〉 Weak and Distempered the Natural Spirits are in proportiâ—… Weak and Languid This Sir with my best Respects be pleased to accept from Your assured Friend T. T. LETTER XIII Of Faith Hope and Charity SIR I Have yours of the 8th instant and shall Answer the Contents as well as I am aâ—…le your desire is to know the Original and True Ground of Faith Hope and Charity and which of the three is most Essential to Man and most like unto God Now Faith Hope and Charity have three Grounds or Originals froâ—… whence their variety doth proceed viz. From the grand Fountains or Principles in Mens Souls the first carries in iâ—… Power Courage Fierceness Violence Covetousness c. from the second arises Love Good-will Mercy Compassion c. aâ—… this has the Name and Nature of Goodness Virtue c. From the third proceeds Wordly-Mindedness Intemperance Disorde Vain-Games Laughing Jesting c. Now according to the Custom of each Country or Place and as these three have obtaâ—…ed the Government in the Soul from thence springs Faith Hope and Charity if the Inclinations of a Man be kindled in the first then such an one hopes to Kill Destroy and Oppress his Fellow Creatures but if the Divine Fountain of God's Love and Liâ—… obtains the Government then such do Hope Will and Deâ—… not only the Preservation of themselves but also the Peace aâ—… Well-being of the whole Creation but if the Soul be kindâ—… with the Spirit of this World and subjected to its Governmâ—… then a Man's Hopes are Worldly and Selfish from this Degâ—… racy of Man from the Unity of the Original Forms Principâ—… and Powers and his not distinguishing the Nature and Operaâ—…on of each doth not only arise the wonderful Varieties and Coâ—…fusions in Opinions but also the variety of Faith Hope aâ—… Charity each according to the Power of that Form that has â—…tained the Ascendant in the Soul together with the Custom 〈◊〉 Countries and the Dictates of their Priests and Teachers every Quality or Principle that has obtained the Government Labouring with its highest diligence to accomplish its own Work 〈◊〉 strengthen its Victory by violently Resisting and Opposing 〈◊〉 that is contrary to its self if it were not so how is it poâ—… for a Man to believe he doth God good Service and hope foâ—… Reward in this World and another for Killing those of his 〈◊〉 Kind and Oppressing all others and at the same time 〈◊〉 Death for a Vain Idle or empty Opinion Faith or Hope Igâ—…rance and Living under base Customs and divided Forms 〈◊〉 the Original of most Mens Faith and Hope they are Airy Principles and of evil Consequences if they have not their Birth from Love and Light Charity is an Essential Power oâ—… Divine Virtue Nothing does so much Resemble God and recommend Man to him for he gives freely to all his Off-spring without Respect of Person and receives nothing Charity is the only thing whereon our Eternal Happiness as well as Temporal depends as is clear by the Judgment pronounced on the Goats on his Left Hand by our Saviour Christ he doth not Condemn them because they had not Faith nor Hope or that they were Turks Iews Infidels Christians or distinguisht by any other Name or Modes of Religion but their Sentence was possitive for not having Charity not rightly and liberally disposing their Gifts the Lord had endued and entrusted them with and made them Stewards of I was an Hungry Naked and in Prison and you relieved me not c. Charity is Substantial the first and last true Step in Religion 'T is a cheap and easy Religion that consists in Faith Hope and a few good Words but Charity touches to the Quick and trys what Metal a Man is made of by this you shall know you are of God if you Love one another all the rest is but a Lip-service a vain â—…rivolous Dream and Shadow of Worship having no Agreement with God nor Foundation in Nature being Invisible Qualifications as St. Iames 〈◊〉 Faith and Hope are dead without Works Jesus Christ in the State of his Humiliation Taught nothing more than this Doâ—…ne as his whole Practice was doing Good so his Preaching 〈◊〉 a continual Inculcation of Love and Charity for in whomâ—…ver these Essential Virtues dwell and enjoy-their free Exerâ—…se and Vegitation no Question is to be made but such have 〈◊〉 sufficient Portion of those Invisible and Sublime Virtues of â—…th and Hope I am Sir Your Unfeigned Friend T. T. LETTER XIV Of GOD's Permission for the Eating of Flesh. SIR 〈◊〉 â—…m extreamly pleased that my Answer to your last met with 〈◊〉 so good a Reception which encourages me to hope you â—…ll find no less satisfaction in what I shall briefly observe concerning the Question you make how those Scriptures which intimate God to have commanded or permitted Beasts and under graduated Creaturs to be Killed and Eateâ—… are to be understood In Answer whereunto it is to be considered that Man had long before such Command or Permission Eaten of the Tâ—… of Knowledge the Tree of Good and Evil whereby he had separated and estranged himself from the Unity of God's Light and Love so that the Spirit of his Understanding became Blind and he grew an utter Stranger to himself and his own Composition which is called a Degeneracy or Fall which subjected him to the influence of the divided Powers or Forms and became totally Ignorant of the Primitive and Original state of Unity wherein he was Created by which means Wrath and Violence gained the Ascendant over Man's Will and Affections according to the Dignification and Power of each calling Good Evil and Evil Good subduing all the Desires and Faculties of the Soul 〈◊〉 the Tyranny and Obedience of the Wrathful Fiery Envious Powers and Forms where each Quality or Principle Industriously oppose and domineer over one another till the prevailing and superior Quality issues forth its Command which may in oâ—… Sense be called the Command or Permission of God given iâ—… Wrath and Fierceness as a Punishment for the Violation of his Pure and Primitive Law of Love and Light It is manifest thâ—… all the Cruelty and Barbarity we see daily Exercised in destroâ—…ing the Peace and Well-being of one another And Inferior Creatures who were Created for
and desire to be made manifest that is to be known to its self which cannot be any other way but by being cloathed with a Corporeal Body for a Spirit or an Inâ—…e Power cannot become Individual if it be not cloathed with a suitable Body they being like a Circle in which all the Spiritual invisible Principles and Powers do act and become â—…nown to themselves and thereby be made capable of Joy Hoâ—… Fear and Sorrow It is likewise to be understood as was before mentioned that the Spirit of each Creature is before the Body and the Desire the Cause and Original thereof and as the Learned Apostle Paul saith the Body is Dead without the Spirit and 〈◊〉 Spirit is not nor cannot be known to its self nor Enjoy or Sâ—…fer without the Body and every particular Creature or Being is endued with all the Principles Properties and Qualities of the Eternal Father or Invisible Fountain of Unity and are all the true and natural Sons thereof and therefore each Sensitive Creature doth from an Innate Disposition and Spiritual Inclination desire to be like its Father that hath Begotten it for the Son doth contain the true Nature and Properties of the Father and therefore not only Man but all other inferiour Creatures are the Likeness and Image of him from whence they proceed and had their Birth each according to its Kind and Graduation and as the Original Forms and Powers were more equal or unequal inferior or superior whence proceed the great and wonderful variety of visible Creatures both in the Animal Vegitable and Mineral Kingdoms in this World for accordiâ—… 〈◊〉 the degrees equality and inequality of the Spiritual Quaâ—… and Powers such were the Desires which did naturally 〈◊〉 vehemently attract a proportionable Matter out of all thiâ—… for a Covering our Body and that Sal Nitral or Spiritual Poâ—… and Virtue that did Predominate or had the Ascendant Sigâ—… the Body with a Character and the Inclinations Dispositioâ—… Shapes Figures and Forms were accordingly so that the â—…dation of the variety of Bodies and Complexions proceed 〈◊〉 the degrees of the Invisible or Spiritual Powers And for this Cause it is no wonder that every Creature 〈◊〉 hath obtained that high degree of Sensation and is thereby caâ—…le of enjoying or suffering either Pleasure or Pain 〈◊〉 with the highest diligence endeavour to avoid all Violence 〈◊〉 and Death and desire to Live for Ever seeing that 〈◊〉 sprung from the eternal and unsearchable Fountain of Unity for every Creatures Actions Inclinations and Desires are all â—…cording to the Composition of the Spiritual Properties and 〈◊〉 lities all which have an eternal Original whence the great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Desire in all Creatures do spring and arise of Living 〈◊〉 Ever and notwithstanding the Inferiors have no cause of Dread nor Sense on them of any World or being after this either Good or Evil nevertheless they fear and dread all kinds of â—…rt Violence Oppression and consequently shun and avoid â—…th with as much Cunning and Wisdom as Men and do 〈◊〉 the highest Diligence Industry and Prudence endeavour to â—…serve themselves and Off-spring nay they rather exceed 〈◊〉 besides they have not transgressed their natural Law and â—…fore they cannot be oppressed with any fear of Pain or Sorâ—… after this Life but the Original of all fear of Hurt Violence 〈◊〉 Death doth proceed from the Spirit or Spiritual Powers 〈◊〉 hath cloathed or incircled themselves in Matter or Corpoâ—… Bodies which the Spiritual Properties and Powers would preserve and keep as an Habitation for Ever for by means of 〈◊〉 Corporeal Body or Matter the variety of the Spiritual Proâ—…ties are encircled and so become a Self-subsisting Creature known to its self as was mentioned before and is thereby renâ—…ed capable both of Pain and Pleasure Joy or Sorrow for that which is Eternal doth naturally desire what is like it self 〈◊〉 therefore those Spiritual Beings and Powers that have the like motion and Sensation of all Creatures cannot by all the â—…ning Rhetorick in the World be perswaded on any account oâ—… be made willing to Die or be separated from their Bodies 〈◊〉 nothing is able to abliterate those Inclinations Dispositions and Qualifications of the Spiritual Powers cloathed with material Bodies they received from the Grand or Eternal Fountain the Father and Creator of all Beings so that the natural Disposition 〈◊〉 Desire of all Sensitive Creatures is to preserve their Bodies 〈◊〉 Ever which is like themselves and according to their Oriâ—…al Natures for no Spiritual Power can 〈◊〉 contrary to its 〈◊〉 and its Original Fountain or Father that Made or Created it And for this Cause the Under-graduates do all of them fear and dread Hurt Violence and Oppression or any thing that seems to tend to put a Period to their Lives as the like Actions 〈◊〉 Mankind and much more if it be possible for as they know 〈◊〉 Hurt nor do no Injury to their Knowledge but Live within the Limits of the Law their Creator prescribed them For this Cause all or most of the inferior Creatures do fear all kinds of Violence more than Mankind for the more harmless and innocent any Creature is the greater is the Opposition between the Species of Hurtfulness and Violence so that the Creaâ—… Fears and Calamities are thereby encreased and all Opâ—… is the harder to be undergone For this Cause the more innocent a Creature is the greater 〈◊〉 and Evil it is to Oppress that Creature and therefore Man's Violence Oppression and Killing the Beasts is an extraordinary Evil and Sin against God and his Law for Killing stands in eternal Opposition to the Creating Power of God which proceeds from Eternity to Eternity and this Eternal Spiritual preserving Power being the compleat Life and Essential Being of all Creatures whence proceeds and springs an eternal desire of Life or to Live for Ever according to its Innate Nature so that it is the greatest Sin that can be committed against that wonderful Mystery and Creating Power of God as being most opposite not only to the Creation but also to all the Eternal Spiritual Powers that are cloathed with material Bodies for the true Life Power Motion and Actions of all visible Bodies â—…esides in the Spirits which hath an eternal Original as was mentioned before and therefore not willing to be oppressed hurt oâ—… to have its Body any way destroyed for the Body is the Sâ—…rits natural Right and will not part with it unless necessity compeâ—…s And for these Reasons the highest Evil and Punishment that can be done to Mankind is to put a Period to Life and therefore the Laws of most Countries do not indict or compel Meâ—… to Die but only on the committing of great Evils The continuation of Life is strangelâ—… precious in the Central Qualities and Spiritual Powers of every Corporeal Creature and will not Man choose a miserable troubled laboâ—…ious Life of Vexation rather than a short and easy Death and this Desire and earnest