_MADAM,_
I will leave the Controversie of Free-Will and Necessity, which your
_Author_ is discoursing of,[1] to Divines to decide it, onely I say
this, that Nature hath a natural Free-will and power of self-moving,
and is not necessitated; but yet that this Free-will proceeds from God,
who hath given her both will and power to act freely. But as for the
question, whether there be nothing in the Universe, but meer body?[2]
I answer, My opinion is not, that there is nothing in the world but
meer Body; but that Nature is purely material or corporeal, and that
there is no part of Nature, or natural Creature, which is not Matter,
or Body, or made of Matter; also, that there is not any thing else
mixt with body, as a copartner in natural actions, which is distinct
from Body or Matter; nevertheless, there may be supernatural spiritual
beings or substances in Nature, without any hinderance to Matter or
corporeal Nature. The same I may say of the natural material, and
the divine and supernatural Soul; for though the divine Soul is in
a natural body, and both their powers and actions be different, yet
they cause no ruine or disturbance to each other, but do in many cases
agree with each other, without incroachment upon each others powers or
actions; for God, as he is the God of all things, so the God of Order.
Wherefore it is not probable, that created Immaterial or Incorporeal
beings should order Corporeal Nature, no more then Corporeal Nature
orders Immaterial or Incorporeal Creatures. Neither can, in my opinion,
Incorporeal Creatures be clearly conceived by Corporeals, although
they may really exist and subsist in Nature; onely, as I said before,
it is well to be considered, that there is difference betwixt being
in Nature, and being a part of Nature; for bodiless things, and so
spiritual substances, although they may exist in Nature, yet they
are not natural, nor parts of Nature, but supernatural, Nature being
meerly corporeal, and Matter the ground of Nature; and all that is
not built upon this material ground, is nothing in Nature. But you
will say, The divine Soul is a part of Man, and Man a part of Nature,
wherefore the divine Soul must needs be a part of Nature. I answer,
Not: For the divine Soul is not a part of Nature, but supernatural, as
a supernatural Gift from God onely to Man, and to no other Creature:
and although in this respect it may be called a part of Man, yet it is
no natural or material part of Man; neither doth this supernatural Gift
disturb Nature or natural Matter, or natural Matter this supernatural
Gift. And so leaving them both, I rest,
Madam,
_Your faithful Friend_
_and Servant._
[1] _Of the Immortality of the Soul. l._ 1. _c._ 3.
[2] _Lib._ 2. _c._ 2.