28 An EJsay on the ;

both in degree and kind ? If it were matterthat spoke the threatning words in the pre-sent instance, and performed the consequentthreatning gestures; that is, if it made thoseimpressions on the sensory, that excite theseappearances in the soul, would he be muchin the wrong, who should fay, matter thoughtand reasoned ? I rather think he would not.If we should either suppose that the sensorymakes these impressions on itself, or thatthe animal Spirits combine to impinge onit in such order, or that the blood , as it cir-culates, stops, or accelerates itself so, as toperform all this; or lastly, that these severalthings conspire together to mimick life andspontaneous motion; in all these supposi-tions, every thing is inconceivable , absurd yimpossible. It was observed before, that ifthe mechanism were Jhnple, we should ex-pect no great things from it; but if it bevery complicated, we think it not impossiblefor it to become a power to itself: and yetthis is a grievous prejudice, for all the rea-son is on the contrary side. A complicatedpiece of mechanism wants, if possible, apower more, as more of the impressed mo-tion is constantly consumed. And after this

it