of the soul consdered. 377

material, or immaterial, can be generated(Sect. 2.N 0 32.)} and contradictory that im-material substance strould vegetate: vegetationis performed by the addition of dead parts.The human foul is indeed at first withoutknowledge, and without experience > but haththe power of attaining both. Why shouldit be endued with the power, and preventedin the exercise of it, by receiving its know-ledge instantaneously? Have the power toacquire a thing; and receive it without thehelp of that power ? This is the very parti-cular that distinguishes it from the irrationalfoul of brutes. They are incapable of im-provement j finished in their specific perfec-tions all at once. Not having this power,they have no novitiate to go through ; nor isimprovement expected from them. It is true,was necessary that the first individuals ofnaankind should be furnished extraordinarilytvirh knowledge, or experience at least, shefi r st institution of things is always necest’arilydifferent from the law of their future proce-dure. This is so with respect to the verybody: with respect to every thing, if everthere was a creation , rather than an eternalfines of dependent and effected causes. But4. it