having asserted as a thing unquestionable, that whatever is extended had dimension and parts. But then it has been observed that the Deity, who fills infinite space, is not divisible, nor moveable, though he is the cause of motion; because motion implies change of place, and the Almighty being present throughout all space, must be without divisible parts, and incapable of change of place, without which there cannot be motion. For the same reason He has no form, which would infer limitation.

Such are some of the arguments used in metaphysical subjects, which create more doubt and darkness than they remove. D.

OF VIS INERTIÆ.

This is defined to be the opposition of matter to a change from rest to motion, and from motion to rest; but do not these terms seem to be contradictory, and to signify a positive negative, namely, the force of inactivity, inert resistance, or powerless power? Is it certain that all matter is inert? Does not matter in a detached state gravitate, or tend downwards? Do not vegetables in a growing state, ascend or move upwards? Do not certain parts of matter attract each other? What is fermentation, elasticity, and the cause of the growth of animal and vegetable bodies? What is the principle of animal and vegetable life? Are not all these proofs of an active power (however given) in or belonging to matter? In short, is not all matter in the universe in motion? If our earth moves, does not every thing in or attached to it also move?

D.

OF THE ORIGIN OF MAN, AND THE WORLD'S AGE.

Some divines are of opinion that Adam and Eve were not the first persons created, but were the origin of the Jews, and they argue thus-If the text of Scripture is to be taken literally, we

are to suppose, on the death of Abel, there was no human being alive when Seth was born, except Adam, Eve, and Cain, as Abel left no issue, and Adam had none between Abel and Seth. After the latter was born he had sons and daughters. Cain, upon the murder of his brother, became a fugitive, and when he was sent to the land of Nod it is said he took with him his wife. Whence, it is asked, did she come, if Adam had no child till Seth was born? for that he had not is evident, otherwise it would have been recorded. Should it be objected that he might have had daughters, though they were not mentioned, so it may be replied, there might have been other persons formed before Adam, in case the silence of Moses is to be allowed as a reason; for if his silence is to be admitted in one case, it ought to be in the other. Where then could Cain get his wife, unless from the Gentiles, the aborigines? Cain, we are told, was a tiller of the ground. Where did he get his instruments of tillage, if there were no artificers? He was afraid that every one who met him would kill him, though he went many hundred miles away from Adam and his posterity. Of whom was he afraid? Upon the birth of his first son he built a city, which he called Enoch; whence it may be presumed there were other cities. Who was to build that city, and how were the materials to be obtained, &c. &c. if there were not other persons to assist him? We read there were then giants on the earth, which plainly shews there was a race in being different from the Adamic. The same authors also maintain that Noah's flood was not universal, and that it was only intended to destroy the race of Adam. And in addition to these arguments, they have urged the great distinction in the colour, features and forms of the inhabitants of different countries, which is such that no length of time will assimilate or alter them.

That the date of the Creation cannot be of that extremely remote antiquity which is alleged by the Chinese and other eastern nations, may be fairly inferred from this, that there are still immense portions of the habitable globe, which have not been at all, or but very thinly peopled, and in which there are no re

remains or signs of arts or civilization. It cannot therefore be reasonably supposed that this would have been the case if the world were so old as has been pretended. On the contrary, it is quite probable that the world would long since have been fully populated and advanced in that knowledge and those improvements which distinguish polished society from ignorance and barbarism. It may be said that the earth has undergone great and violent convulsions and changes, which have destroyed the monuments of preceding times; to which it is answered that this would have affected all parts of the globe alike. That there are numerous and strong evidences of a deluge cannot be denied; and this is a powerful corroboration of the Scripture account of the deluge.

D.

OF PERSONAL IDENTITY AND FUTURE EXISTENCE.

Much doubt has prevailed as to personal identity, viz. in what it consists.

Philosophers tell us that all bodies are constantly changing, that the particles of which they are composed, are continually, but imperceptibly flying off, and that other particles are taking their place; by which means the whole mass of the human body, is in the course of every seven or eight years, altered and renewed. Whether this is really the case many persons will question; but admitting its possibility, it will be asked, how the identity of each individual is preserved? That is the grand difficulty, which, it is believed, never has been, and never will be explained. Yet, if this wonderful alterative process takes place, which is neither felt nor observed, the principle of identity, or that consciousness which we possess of our sameness, must be something in or belonging to us, not liable to change or varition.

In a state of future existence the same principle of identity must survive, (there being in that case no doubt of the change and dissolution of the mortal tenement;) or otherwise there will be a cessation of our consciousness of being the same persons that we were during our sojournment upon earth. When we

awake, after a sound sleep of many hours; or after a trance of several days, which has sometimes happened, during which period we have not perceived or thought of anything; yet we are instantly as conscious of our identity, as if a minute had not elapsed. In like manner, after the longer sleep of death, why may not our self-consciousness be again felt, though the former body has mouldered and passed into dust or clay? This, surely, is within Almighty power. If this continuity is not kept up, then after A. dies, if he is to be represented by a new A., he will feel no more connection or identity with that A. than he would with B. or C. There will be as little sense or consciousness of sameness, between the first A. and the second, as there would exist between a traveller who sleeps on Monday night at York, and another traveller who rises the next morning at Liverpool. But it not being clearly declared in Holy Writ, what is to be our state immediately on quitting this our earthly residence; it is possible that our immortal part may continue to retain its consciousness.

Another puzzling question has been started by Socinians and infidels. They ask, in what state will those who die infants of a few days or weeks old; of such as die superannuated, or insane; of those who are born and die deaf, dumb or blind, or are born and die idiots; or who are deformed, or of monstrous shape,-in what state or condition will such persons be raised and re-appear at Doomsday? To this inquiry, which to the living is of little import, it may be replied, that as it has not been thought meet to reveal the information to us, all reasoning on the subject would lead to nothing but idle conjecture. But of this we may be assured, that He who made the universe, and the small being called Man, will do that which is fit, and consistent with divine wisdom and goodness.

D.

K

NOTES AND REMARKS THAT COULD NOT BE CONVENIENTLY INTRODUCED IN THE PRECEDING PAGES,

NOTE I.

Doctor Pettingal assigns a curious reason for refusing refreshment to juries. He thinks it was not with a view to produce dispatch, but to prevent intemperance; and he observes that among the Romans causes were not heard, nor business transacted, in the afternoon, after the ninth hour, (hora nono,) our three o'clock, reckoning from six o'clock in the morning. Hence, he says, originates our word noon, though it now means twelve o'clock; which is a different derivation from that given in the dictionaries. The Doctor was an ardent advocate of liberty and equal rights, though a strenuous assertor of the right of the mother country to tax the American colonies, then disposed to revolt.

NOTE II.

Mr. Bentham, in the farraginous work referred to, impeaches the conduct of the most eminent judges who have sat in the courts of this country during the last century. He boldly accuses them of corruption; of packing juries; of having been arbitrary, tyrannical, inimical to the liberty of the press, and per'verters of the law of libel; of making laws by their own authority, which they call common law; and of violating the acts of the legislature; of encouraging extortion; rendering justice dilatory expensive and unattainable, by reason of illegal fees and the allowance of frivolous writs of error; and of selling judicial offices, or filling them up for their own emolument. Nothing can be more contemptuous than the manner in which he speaks of the profession and professors of the law in general. In short a more defamatory or virulent book cannot easily be conceived. It has been said of some person's work, "that every word was a lie, and every line a libel;" of Mr. Bentham's it may be affirmed that every word is a prickle, and every line a bramble. In respect of style, that of Mr. Bentham is quaint and affected, and