Popular errors, in generall poynts concerning the knowledge of religion having relation to their causes, and reduced into divers observations / by Jean D'Espaigne.

CHAP 13. Of certain questions which are indifferent in which the one ought the rather to be deli∣vered then the other.

THere be disputable matters, w^ch ar not so indifferent or so well ballāced but that the weight of the one will turne the scales. Its a disputable point, whether the terrestriall Paradise be as yet subsi∣stent. The negative hath more appearance. Its a question not necessary, whether the Arch of the alliance was burnt when the Babylonians fired the temple. the affirma∣tive is the most certain, namely we do imploy it to convince of falsenesse the hi∣story

of the Macchabees, which relates that this Arch was sound at the return from the Captivity. Behold here one more im∣portant, to wit, whether the spirits, and namely the soule of man, are purely imma∣teriall essences. Certain ancient Theo∣logians followed also by some moderne Divines, deny it, and give it a sub∣stance as that of the aire subtil and imper∣ceptible, but notwithstanding in some sort materiall: to which it is very hard to subscribe. This is the most considerable of all, whether the humane soule be immedi∣ately produced from God, and by him in∣fused into the body, or whether it draws its effence from his Progenitors, who trans∣mit it to their children by naturall propa∣gation, the first of these two opinions is without doubt the more receiveable and the most worthy of a Christian. I set aside the disputes touching the salvation of A∣dam and Solomon, in which the most fa∣vourable opinion, is also most certain.