26 An Essay on the

it an imaginary power, where there is noneat all(o). As to the mechanism of the body,or any other mechanical and necessary cause,it is the most incompetent of all others. (Seefrom N° 12. of Sect. II. Vol. I.) This couldnever account for the life , the a 0 ion t thevariety , observable in the appearance ofdreaming; nay for the sentiments , the rea-soning in many instances. The impreffionsthen would be determined, and invariable,'without life and diversity; just the opposite?of what they are. The surprizing and reallyendless diversity, seems designed on purposeto exclude the sxt, unalterable measures ofmechanism: and the design, life, and spon-taneity, to exclude any blind, or surd efficient.If mechanism could produce a consciousnessand reasoning, different from that of thesoul itself, as is the case where we seem toconverse with others in steep; it might pro-duce the consciousness and reasoning in oursoul: For shewing how absurd this is, howfar it would put an end to all rational en-

(o) Lucian himself says, -- Eif6aff*E«j xal dvc-

fordja, x»t X&i>d T UV ir%0ls[6U.TUV O'iO^cCix, vtto fihxtcdv dt-

(IgUTruv, tot tyOwaatyuv, iftti'cy&svTx. Deor. COllcil, It istrue he joins in that he may not confess a truth

gratis.

qu tries