THE WORKS OF RALPH CUDWORTH, D.D. CONTAINING THE TRUE INTELLECTUAL SYSTEM OF THE UNIVERSE, SERMONS, &c. A NEW EDITION, WITH REFERENCES TO THE SEVERAL QUOTATIONS IN THE THE TRUE INTELLECTUAL SYSTEM. OF THE UNIVERSE. : CHAP. V. CONTINUED. BUT it would be no impertinent digression here, (as to the main scope of our present undertaking) should we briefly compare the forementioned doctrine and cabala of the ancient Incorporealists (the Pythagoreans and Platonists) with that of Christianity and consider the agreement, or disagreement, that is betwixt them. First, therefore, here is a plain agreement of these best and most religious philosophers with Christianity in this: That the most consummate happiness, and highest perfection, that human nature is capable of, consisteth not in a separate state of souls, stripped naked from all body, and having no manner of converse with matter, as some high flown persons in all ages have been apt to conceit. For such amongst the philosophers (and Platonists too) was Plotinus; the unevenness and unsafeness of whose temper may sufficiently appear from hence, that as he conceived human souls might possibly ascend to so high a pitch, as quite to shake off |