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

About this Item

Title
The history of philosophy, in eight parts by Thomas Stanley.
Author
Stanley, Thomas, 1625-1678.
Publication
London :: Printed for Humphrey Moseley and Thomas Dring :
1656.
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Subject terms
Philosophy, Ancient -- Early works to 1800.
Philosophy -- History.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A61287.0001.001
Cite this Item
"The history of philosophy, in eight parts by Thomas Stanley." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A61287.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 16, 2024.

Pages

Sect. XI.

THe Angelick Mind desires to make these Idea's perfect; which can onely be done by means opposite to the causes of their imperfection, these are Recession from their Principle, and mixti∣on with a contrary Nature: Their Remedy, separation from the unlike Nature, and return and conjunction (as far as possible) with God. Love, the desire of this Beauty, excites the Mind to conversion and re-union with him. Every thing is more perfect as nearer its Principle; This is the first Circle. The Angelick Mind, proceeding from the Union of God, by revolution of intrinsecall knowledge returneth to him. Which with the Antients is Venus adulta, grown to perfection. Every Nature that may have this

Page 104

conversion, is a Circle; such alone are the Intellectuall and Rati∣onall, and therefore only capable of felicity, the obtaining their first Principle, their ultimate end and highest good. This is pecu∣liar to Immortall Substances, for the Materiall (as both Plato∣nists and Peripateticks grant) have not this reflection upon them∣selves, or their Principle. These, (the Angelick Mind and Rati∣onall Soul) are the two intelligible Circles; answerable to which in the corporeall World are two more; the tenth Heaven immoveable, image of the first Circle; the Celestiall Bodies, that are moveable, image of the second. The first Plato mentions no, as wholly different and irrepresentable by corpo∣reall Nature: of the second in Timaeo he saith, That all the Cirles of this visible Heaven (by him distinguished into the fixed sphere and seven Planets) represent as many Circles in the Rationall Soul.

Some attribute the name of Circle to God; by the antient Theologists called Coelus; being a Sphear which comprehends all; as the outmost Heaven includes the World.

In one respect this agrees with God, in another not; the property of beginning from a point and returning to it, is repugnant to him; who hath no beginning▪ but is himself that indivisible point from which all Circles begin, and to which they return: And in this sence it is likewise inconsistent with materiall things, they have a beginning, but cannot return to it.

In many other Properties it agrees with God; He is the most perfect of beings; this of figures; neither admit addition: The last Sphear is the place of all bodies, God of all Spirits: the Soul (say Platonists) is not in the Body, but the body is in the Soul, the Soul in the Mind, the Mind in God, the outmost Place; who is there∣fore named by the Cabalists 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

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