study xii. 375 



pure in it's propenfities. Befides, a great many 

 natural effects which efcape the one, are under the 

 control of the other ; fuch is, as has been obferv- 

 ed, evidence itfelf, which is merely a matter of 

 feeling, and over which refleftion exercifes no 

 constraint ; fuch, too, is our own existence. The 

 proof of it is not in the province of reafon ; for, 

 why is it that I exift ? where is the reafon of it ? 

 But I feel that I exift, and this fentiment is fuffi- 

 cient to produce conviction. 



This being laid down, I proceed to demonftrate, 

 that there are two powers * in Man, the one ani- 

 mal, 



putting us into the hand of our greateft enemy ? Has not every 

 paffion a reafon at command ? 



* It is from want of attention to thofe two powers, that fo 

 many celebrated performances, on the fubjecl of Man, prefent a 

 falfe colouring. Their Authors fometimes reprefent him to us 

 as a metaphyseal objeel;. You would be tempted to think that 

 the phyficai wants, which ftagger even the Saints, are only feeble 

 acceffories of human life. They compofe it merely of monads, 

 of abftra&ions, and of moralities. Others difcern nothing in 

 man but an animal, and diftinguifh in him only the coarfeft 

 groflhefs of fenfe. They never ftudy him without the differing 

 knife in their hand, and when he is dead, that is to fay, when he 

 is man no longer. Others know him only as a political indi- 

 vidual : they perceive him only through the medium of the cor- 

 refpondencies of ambition. It is not Man that interefts them ; 

 it is a Frenchman, an Englifhman, a Prelate, a Gentleman. 

 Hsmer is the only Writer, with whom I am acquainted, who has 



tb 4 painted 



