of the soul considered. 357

obvious at first view that, if once we allowthe' body to be liable to disorders, as mostcertainly it is, things could not have beenotherwise, let the soul be ever so much apure spiritual substance. And it will fartherappear, as we go on, that even some of thoseambiguous appearances which have beenbrought to prove the materiality of thesoul, afford a strong and clear proof of thecontrary. However that all objections maybe taken off with more advantage and clear-ness, I beg leave to lay down the followingprinciple,and to mark particularly \S\tsrengthand extent of it ; and this the rather, as itseems to be forgot by the generality of scep-tical Writers; though it is as old as reason it-self, an eternal truth, and leaves no roomfor doubting: but these men very delibe-rately admit into their reasonings that a con-tradiction may be possible ; and think anobjection not the less strong, though it pro-ceeds on this supposition. The principle isthis:

II. It is impossible the effect should be per-fecter than its cause, either in kind, or in de-gree. For if the effect were perfecter inA a 3 degree