theme,metaphor,work_id,dictionary,provenance,id,created_at,updated_at,reviewed_on,comments,text,context
"","""We do plainly perceive that our Bodies are clogs to our Minds: And all the use that even the purest sort of Body in an Estate conceived to be glorified, can be of to a Mind, is to be an Instrument of local Motion, or to be a repository of Ideas for Memory and Imagination.""",3948,Fetters,"Searching ""mind"" in Ad Fontes's Digital Library of Classic Protestant Texts",10262,2005-07-20 00:00:00 UTC,2011-08-31 13:38:37 UTC,2011-08-31,"","The Third Head in this Article, is that which is negatively expressed, That God is without Body, Parts, or Passions. In general, all these are so plainly contrary to the Ideas of Infinite Perfection, and they appear so evidently to be Imperfections, that this part of the Article will need little Explanation. We do plainly perceive that our Bodies are clogs to our Minds: And all the use that even the purest sort of Body in an Estate conceived to be glorified, can be of to a Mind, is to be an Instrument of local Motion, or to be a repository of Ideas for Memory and Imagination: But God, who is every where, and is one pure and simple Act, can have no such use for a Body. A Mind dwelling in a Body, is in many respects superior to it; yet in some [end page 54] respects is under it. We who feel how an Act of our Mind can so direct the Motions of our Body, that a thought sets our Limbs and Joints a-going, can from thence conceive, how that the whole extent of Matter, should receive such Motions as the Acts of the Supreme Mind give it: But yet not as a Body united to it, or that the Deity either needs such a Body, or can receive any trouble from it. Thus far the apprehension of the thing is very plainly made out to us. Our thoughts put some parts of our Body in a present Motion, when the Organization is regular, and all the parts are exact; and when there is no Obstruction in those Vessels or Passages through which that heat, and those Spirits do pass that cause the motion. We do in this perceive, that a thought does command matter; but our Minds are limited to our Bodies, and these do not obey them; but as they are in an exact disposition and a fitness to be so moved. Now these are plain Imperfections, but removing them from God, we can from hence apprehend that all the Matter in the Universe, may be so intirely subject to the Divine Mind, that it shall move and be whatsoever, and wheresoever he will have it to be. This is that which all men do agree in.
(pp. 54-5)",""
"","""If different religions be professed in the same country, and the minds of men remain unfettered and unawed by intimidations of law, that religion which is founded in maxims of reason and credibility, will gradually gain over the other to it.""",5640,Fetters,"Searching ""mind"" in Liberty Fund OLL",15077,2005-08-18 00:00:00 UTC,2011-05-27 14:09:31 UTC,2011-06-26,"•Footnote gives, ""*Would we let the name stand, we might often attract men without their perceiving it, much nearer to ourselves, than, if they did perceive it, they would be willing to come.""","The advancement, consequently, and discovery of truth, is that end to which all regulations concerning religion ought principally to be adapted. Now, every species of intolerance which enjoins suppression and silence, and every species of persecution which enforces such injunctions, is adverse to the progress of truth; forasmuch as it causes that to be fixed by one set of men, at one time, which is much better, and with much more probability of success, left to the independent and progressive inquiry of separate individuals. Truth results from discussion and from controversy; is investigated by the labours and researches of private persons. Whatever, therefore, prohibits these, obstructs that industry and that liberty, which it is the common interest of mankind to promote. In religion, as in other subjects, truth, if left to itself, will almost always obtain the ascendancy. If different religions be professed in the same country, and the minds of men remain unfettered and unawed by intimidations of law, that religion which is founded in maxims of reason and credibility, will gradually gain over the other to it. I do not mean that men will formally renounce their ancient religion, but that they will adopt into it the more rational doctrines, the improvements and discoveries of the neighbouring sect; by which means the worse religion, without the ceremony of a reformation, will insensibly assimilate itself to the better. If popery, for instance, and protestantism were permitted to dwell quietly together, papists might not become protestants (for the name is commonly the last thing that is changed),* but they would become more enlightened and [end page 413] informed; they would by little and little incorporate into their creed many of the tenets of protestantism, as well as imbibe a portion of its spirit and moderation.
(pp. 413-4)","Book VI, Chapter 10. Religious Establishments and Toleration"
"","""And this is a great bondage to the mind of man, to live in ignorance of those things which are useful for us to know; to be mistaken about those matters which are of great moment and concernment to us to be rightly informed in: Ignorance is the confinement of our understandings, as Knowledge and right Apprehensions of things are a kind of liberty and enlargement to the mind of man.""",6957,Fetters,Reading,18755,2011-06-21 21:43:27 UTC,2011-09-27 03:09:43 UTC,,"","Secondly, I shall now in the next place shew more particularly, in what respects the Son of God by his Doctrine, may be said to make us free. And that in these two respects.
I. As it frees us from the bondage of Ignorance, and Error, and Prejudice.
II. From the slavery of our Lusts and Passions.
I. It frees us from the bondage of Ignorance, and Error, and Prejudice, which is a more inveterate and obstinate error. And this is a great bondage to the mind of man, to live in ignorance of those things which are useful for us to know; to be mistaken about those matters which are of great moment and concernment to us to be rightly informed in: Ignorance is the confinement of our understandings, as Knowledge and right Apprehensions of things are a kind of liberty and enlargement to the mind of man. Under this slavery the world groaned, and were bound in these chains of darkness for many years, till the light of the glorious Gospel broke in upon the World, and our blessed Saviour, who is Truth, came to set us free.
(p. 616)",""
"","""By ignorance, and error, and prejudice, the mind of man is fetter'd and entangled, so that it hath not the free use of it self: but when we are rightly informed, especially in those things which are useful and necessary for us to know, we recover our liberty, and feel our selves enlarged from the restraints we were in before.""",6957,Fetters,Reading,18757,2011-06-21 21:45:42 UTC,2011-06-21 21:45:42 UTC,,"","But yet it was a great liberty which the Gospel offer'd to them, had they been sensible of it. For how easie is the mind of man, when it finds it self freed from those errors and prejudices which it sees others labour under? And how does it rejoice in this liberty? Certainly one of the greatest pleasures of human nature is the discovery of truth, yea even in curious speculations, which are of no great concernment to us. How was Archimedes transported upon a mathematical discovery, so that he thought no sacrifice too great to offer to the Gods by way of acknowledgment? But surely the pleasure is justly greater in matters of so great moment and consequence to our happiness. The light of the Sun is not more grateful to our outward sense, than the light of truth is to the soul. By ignorance, and error, and prejudice, the mind of man is fetter'd and entangled, so that it hath not the free use of it self: but when we are rightly informed, especially in those things which are useful and necessary for us to know, we recover our liberty, and feel our selves enlarged from the restraints we were in before. And this effect the saving truths of the Gospel have upon the minds of men, above any discoveries that ever were made to the world. Christianity hath set the world free from those chains of darkness and ignorance it was bound withal, and from the most dangerous and pernicious errors, and that in matters of greatest consequence and importance. This is the first kind of freedom, which we have by the Doctrine of the Gospel, freedom from the bondage of ignorance, error and prejudice, in matters of greatest moment and importance to our happiness. And tho' this liberty be highly to be valued; yet the other, which I am going to speak to, is more considerable, and that is,
(p. 617)",""
"","""Freedom from the slavery of our passions and lusts, from the tyranny of vicious habits and practices. And this, which is the saddest and worst kind of bondage, the Doctrine of the Gospel is a most proper and powerful means to free us from; and this is that which I suppose is principally intended by our Saviour.""",6957,Fetters,Reading,18758,2011-06-21 21:48:14 UTC,2011-06-21 21:48:14 UTC,,"","II. Freedom from the slavery of our passions and lusts, from the tyranny of vicious habits and practices. And this, which is the saddest and worst kind of bondage, the Doctrine of the Gospel is a most proper and powerful means to free us from; and this is that which I suppose is principally intended by our Saviour. For when the Jews told him that they did not stand in need of any liberty, that they were Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any, our Saviour declares what kind of bondage and slavery he meant; He that committeth sin, is the servant of sin. Wickedness and vice is the bondage of the will, which is the proper seat of liberty: and therefore there is no such slave in the world, as a man that is subject to his lusts; that is under the tyranny of strong and unruly passions, of vicious inclinations and habits. This man is a slave to many Masters, who are very imperious and exacting; and the more he yieldeth to them, with the greater tyranny and rigour they will use him. One passion hurries a man one way, and another drives him fiercely another; one lust commands him upon such a service, and another calls him off to another work so that a man under the command and authority of his lusts and passions, is like the Centurion's Servants, when they say to him come, he must come, and when they say go, he must go; when they say do this, he must do it; because he is in subjection to them.
(pp. 617-8)",""
"","""Wickedness and vice is the bondage of the will, which is the proper seat of liberty: and therefore there is no such slave in the world, as a man that is subject to his lusts; that is under the tyranny of strong and unruly passions, of vicious inclinations and habits.""",6957,Fetters,Reading,18759,2011-06-21 21:50:42 UTC,2011-06-21 21:50:42 UTC,,"","II. Freedom from the slavery of our passions and lusts, from the tyranny of vicious habits and practices. And this, which is the saddest and worst kind of bondage, the Doctrine of the Gospel is a most proper and powerful means to free us from; and this is that which I suppose is principally intended by our Saviour. For when the Jews told him that they did not stand in need of any liberty, that they were Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any, our Saviour declares what kind of bondage and slavery he meant; He that committeth sin, is the servant of sin. Wickedness and vice is the bondage of the will, which is the proper seat of liberty: and therefore there is no such slave in the world, as a man that is subject to his lusts; that is under the tyranny of strong and unruly passions, of vicious inclinations and habits. This man is a slave to many Masters, who are very imperious and exacting; and the more he yieldeth to them, with the greater tyranny and rigour they will use him. One passion hurries a man one way, and another drives him fiercely another; one lust commands him upon such a service, and another calls him off to another work so that a man under the command and authority of his lusts and passions, is like the Centurion's Servants, when they say to him come, he must come, and when they say go, he must go; when they say do this, he must do it; because he is in subjection to them.
(pp. 617-8)",""
Ruling Passion,"""The Son of God hath done that which is sufficient on his part to vindicate mankind from the slavery of their Lusts and Passions: and if we will vigorously set about the work, and put forth our endeavours, we may rescue our selves from this bondage.""",6957,"",Reading,18761,2011-06-21 22:04:30 UTC,2011-06-21 22:04:30 UTC,,"","Secondly, To persuade us to assert our liberty, and stand fast in it. The Son of God hath done that which is sufficient on his part to vindicate mankind from the slavery of their Lusts and Passions: and if we will vigorously set about the work, and put forth our endeavours, we may rescue our selves from this bondage. And 'because it must be acknowledged that this is no easie work, therefore by way of direction and encouragement, I would commend to men these following Particulars.
(p. 619)",""