202 The consequences of the

renal substance, as that matter should generatematter. Such generation would not differfrom creation. And the opinion of the tra-duction of souls must either suppose newimmaterial substance generated, or that thesesouls are material, or some power of matter.All which are absurd.

XXXIII. And this again prevents an un-skilful objection of sceptical men, That agood and just Being could not infuse a soul inadulterous or incestuous copulations (x). For,if what was just now inferred be true, thefoul is previously united to the seminal system*But were the thing as they imagine it is, it

(x) This objection seems borrowed from Lucretius ’3ridicule on the subject of souls entering into bodies, istthe following lines, Lib. 3. ver. 777.

Denique connubia ad verier is, partusque ferarumEJse animas prajlb, dendiculum ejse videtur ;

Et speflare immortaleis mortalia membraInnumero numero ; certareque præproperanterInter fe ques prime, potijfimaque insmuetur:

Si non forte ita sunt animarum feedera paffa,

Ut qua prima volant advenerit, insmueturPrima ; neque inter se contendant viribus hilum-It is certain, by what goes before, that every aninyhath a living immaterial substance notwithstanding th>ssneer; and that the union is the particular effect ofnite power. WOld^