126 The consequences of the

to be bestowed on moving it; so it wouldhave been equally absurd to enquire for theeffect of such a motion. Had there beenbut the least particle of resisting matter in asystem of such unresisting substance, in a ve-getable or animal body, the motion of thewhole must have been stopped on comingto contact with that atom. And as certainas it is, that some matter in our bodies !§resisting matter, so certain is it, that anyquantity of unresisting matter (not to repeatagain the contradiction that there is in sup-posing such a thing possible) would have beento no purpose, or effect. In short, as vva ssaid before, I do not think there ever wa Sstronger evidence for any thing, than thatmatter must resist: the contrary is not onl/impossible, but allowing it certain, it is olno imaginable use, either in the works of aftor nature. For just as working in stone,wood, iron, or any other material, wouldhave been impossible, since the axe wouldhave no force to cut the tree, nor the iron t°shape and work the stone; so in the mecha^nil'm of the animal body, a mountainsuch matter would not have moved one s e 'sifting atom.

XIII. A-