2 / 8 ObjeSlions to the immateriality

it would have been even unreasonable that itshould be thus, after the institution was fet-tled. Our improvement must be by our ownindustry, a part of our probation as rational,having received the power, and being forcedupon the first exercise of it by the necessitiesof the body. Of all which hereafter. Itwas wisely ordered, agreeably to this, thatthe body should be long weak, (longer weakthan that of any other animal) till expe-rience was attained, and the foundations ofknowledge laid. It had been easy to haveentered us upon the world, with the fa # 16perfection of knowledge and reason, thatwe have when we go out of it; or muchgreater: but I beg it may be considered, thathabits are to be acquired by the terms; andtherefore habits of virtue. Such a noti-on as infused virtue is inconsistent. J> fl 'provement mujl be our own acs ; our first trialtherefore was to be in our first beginnings;and, naturally speaking, I may say our onlytrial •, if we consider how easily the mind,once enfiamed with the love of reason andvirtue is carried on. How absurdly is it &every body’s mouth, ‘That nature is a fif"mother to man only of all living creatures %

when