Phænomenon of Breaming. 29

it Can ill be alledged, that mechanism is thecause of the present appearance. And if itcannot be the effect of a cause working me-chanically ; it follows that it must: be pro-duced by a living , intelligent cause : as wasasserted [p).

VIII. We

(p) I beg leave, before I proceed, to take notice hereof a difficulty in my way, and the rather, as it proceeds6n a common prejudice, which men are but too apt todwell on, and take only a cursory glance of what is saidagainst them. It is asked, “ May not a peccant or re-“ dundant fluid in the body, be the occasion of the foul’s** exerting its operations in an irregular or disagreeabletc manner? And may not the want of what is necessary“ for our sustenance occasion the soul’s raising delusory" scenes in the imagination ? May not a hungry man{c dream that he eats at a full table, or a thirsty man“ that he drinks plentifully, without the active inter*“ position of some separate spirit?”-A fluid, whe-

ther peccant or regular, is only a multitude of sluggish,inert particles, that cannot move themselves, or, if mov-ed, cannot change their direction; but equally resist achange of state as well in motion, as in rest. Thereforethe least approach to spontaneity cannot be expectedfrom them. This seems decisive. Peccancy is but a de-fect ; if a right disposition of dead particles can do no-thing arising to life and action, a wrong disposition canmuch less do it, (See the Note (I?) Sect. V. Vol. I.)That the peccancy of a fluid may be the occasion of the

foul’s