ESSAY VI. 397 Well, but let us imagine, that a common human soul had a native power to move some quantity, suppose six feet of matter indefinitely ; yet till it he united particularly by the will of God to a certain individual body, this individual quantity of matter, which is moveable by it is not particularly determined : Then every spirit hasthe liberty ofa widerange indeed, and may move indifferently six feet of matter, any where through the world, or what six feet of matter it pleases ; it may rove from place to place through the earth, and by moving so much matter succes- sively may cause strange alterations in the material system, and distribute blessings or mischiefs through the universe. Again, Is it reasonable for us to suppose, that any spirit, as Adam's for instance, should be essentially, naturally, and of itself able to move any six feet of matter in the universe, where it pleases ; and yet that it should from the very moment of its ex- istence be confined and restrained to move only the body of Adam ? And that as soon as it is created, and come into being, it should he cut off from its own proper essential power and liberty of moving any thing indefinitely of six square feet, and be limited only to move that very six feet of flesh and blood ? Can we suppose the spirit of, man, even innocent man, in the glory of his creation-state, should be formed in such bondage, and brought into being under such a narrow restraint of its own natural powers ? Was man, who was made after the image of God, created in a state of such imprisonment, with his native faculties so far cramped and confined ? Or if we should so far consent, that the Platonic philosophy is true, as to suppose that a spirit, which was naturally able to move any parts of matter before, is thurst down into this body of six feet, and confined to it as a prison, wherein it can move only its own house as a snail does ; then a dismission from the body would surely restore it to its native power of moving six feet of matterany where : And why thenmight it not by its own will and power assume another body, or why may it not re- assume its own body again, and set the muscles, blood and juices into all their proper vital motions ? Or if it could not do that for want of skill in the construction of, animal nature, yet why may it not put the dead body in the gross into motion, and become a ghost with a moving carcase, and, fright the world ? And yet it might secure itself from the assaults of men, by raising the body into the air when it pleases, upon the first view of danger. Besides, would not this opinion give to a wicked spirit such a release at the death of the body, by restoring' it to its native power of moving six feet of matter, as to enable it to do an unknown quantity of mischief in theworld ? How many spirits go o ut of the body full of rage and revenge, and what murders would t hey commit? A good spirit indeed, when released from the body, would 1
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