A3 APPLIED TO MAN. 367 



derived from the primary forces of nature. So much 

 has been, if not rigidly proved, yet rendered highly 

 probable, and it is in perfect accordance with all 

 our knowledge of natural forces and natural laws. 

 But it cannot be contended that the physiological 

 balance-sheet has ever been so accurately struck, that 

 we are entitled to say, not one-thousandth part of a 

 grain more of force has been exerted by any organized 

 body or in any part of it, than has been derived from 

 the known primary forces of the material world. If 

 that were so, it would absolutely negative the existence 

 of will ; for if will is anything, it is a power that directs 

 the action of the forces stored up in the body, and it 

 is not conceivable that this direction can take place, 

 without the exercise of some force in some part of the 

 organism. However delicately a machine may be con- 

 structed, with the most exquisitely contrived detents 

 to release a weight or spring by the exertion of the 

 smallest possible amount of force, some external force 

 will always be required ; so, in the animal machine, how- 

 ever minute may be the changes required in the cells or 

 fibres of the brain, to set in motion the nerve currents 

 which loosen or excite the pent up forces of certain 

 muscles, some force must be required to effect those 

 changes. If it is said, " those changes are automatic, 

 and are set in motion by external causes," then one 

 essential part of our consciousness, a certain amount 

 of freedom in willing, is annihilated ; and it is incon- 

 ceivable how or why there should have arisen any 

 consciousness or any apparent will, in such purely 



