The history of philosophy, in eight parts by Thomas Stanley.

Sect. XI.

PLato asserts,* 1.1 That the Author of the World made the mundane, and all other rationall souls, in one Cup, and of the same Elements; the universall soul being most perfect, ours least: whose parts we may observe by this division: Man, the chain that ties the World to∣gether, is placed in the midst: and as all mediums participate of their extreams, his parts correspond with the whole World; thence called Microcosmus. In the World is first Corporeall Na∣ture, eternall in the Heavens; corruptible in the Elements, and their compounds, as Stones, Mettals, &c. Then Plants. The third degree is of Beasts. The fourth rationall souls. The fifth Angeli∣call minds. Above these is God, their origine. In man are likewise two bodies; one eternall, the Platonists Vehiculum coeleste, imme∣diately inform'd by the rational soul: The other corruptible, sub∣ject to sight, consisting of the Elements: Then the vegetative fa∣culty, by which generated and nourished. The third part is Sensitive and motive. The fourth Rational; by the

Latine Peripateticks believ'd the last and most noble part of the Soul: yet, above that is the Intellectuall and Angelick; the most excellent part whereof, we call the Souls Union, immediately joyning it to God, in a manner resembling him; as in the other Angels, Beasts, and Plants. About th••se Platonists differ, Pro••lus and Porphyrius only allow the rationall part to be Immortall▪ Zenocrates and Speusippus the sensitive also; Numenius and Plo∣tinus the whole Soul.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In ••imaco.