_MADAM,_
You will have my opinion of the Book that treats of _the Pre-existence
of Souls_, and the _Key that unlocks the Divine Providence_; but I
have told you heretofore, that there are so many different opinions
concerning the Soul, as I do not know which to embrace, for the
multiplicity confounds my choice: and the cause of these various
opinions, in my simple judgment, is, that most men make no difference
between the Divine, and Natural Soul. As for the Natural Soul, humane
sense and reason may perceive, that it consists of Matter, as being
Material; but as for the Divine Soul, being not material, no humane
sense and reason is able naturally to conceive it; for there cannot
possibly be so much as an Idea of a natural nothing, or an immaterial
being, neither can sense and reason naturally conceive the Creation of
an Immaterial substance; for as the Creation of material Creatures,
as of this World, belongs to Faith, and not to Reason, so doth also
the Creation of Immaterial substances, as Spirits; nay, it is more
difficult to understand a Natural Nothing to be made out of nothing,
then a Natural Something out of nothing. And as for the _Progress
of Immaterial Souls_, which the same _Author_ mentions, I cannot
conceive how No-thing can make a Progress, and therefore I suppose,
it is an Improper, or Metaphorical expression. The truth is, what is
Immaterial, belongs not to a Natural knowledg or understanding, but is
Supernatural, and goes beyond a natural reach or capacity. Concerning
_the Key of Divine Providence_, I believe God did never give or lend
it to any man; for surely, God, who is infinitely Wise, would never
intrust so frail and foolish a Creature as Man, with it, as to let
him know his secret Counsels, Acts, and Decrees. But setting aside
Pride and Presumption, Sense and Reason may easily perceive, that Man,
though counted the best of Creatures, is not made with such infinite
Excellence, as to pierce into the least secrets of God; Wherefore I am
in a maze when I hear of such men, which pretend to know so much, as
if they had plundered the Celestial Cabinet of the Omnipotent God; for
certainly, had they done it, they could not pretend to more knowledg
then they do. But I, _Madam_, confess my Ignorance, as having neither
divine Inspirations, nor extraordinary Visions, nor any divine or
humane learning, but what Nature has been pleased to bestow upon me;
Yet in all this Ignorance, I know that I am, and ought to be,
Madam,
_Your humble and_
_faithful Servant._