SECOND LECTURE. 127 



plan, and on this false notion build so monstrous a 

 system ! 



Learn, that primitive laws are immutable, noth- 

 ing can withdraw itself from their power; that 

 the impulse first impressed on the machine of the 

 universe by the hand of its Autlior can never 

 change itself. That chance can neither supplant 

 nor destroy it. 



veterum stiipidissimus error, 



Quasdam bestiolas sine progeiiittjribus ullis, 



Materia ex putri et c alefac lis sonWlms ortas. 



Coeci ! quas latuit reruin immutabilis ordo : ' 



Siccine, Naturam incertam, iiiorumrjue suorusn 



Immemorem, et tautum potuistis faigore inonstrum ? 



Discite primarum legum inviolabile numen, 



Et semel incussos, quibus omnis machina mundi 



Dirigitur motus, nulla vi posse retundi, 



Nullo suppleri, nullo desistere casu. — Antiluc. lib. 7. 



When we would treat of what we know not, 

 we must call in the assistance of facts, which we do 

 know and are well established. We must walk in 

 the path of analogy by the light of experience and 

 known laws. If we reject this light and stray from 

 this path, we are likely to grope our way to ab- 

 surdity."] 



(12) Sommaire des experiences faites deniere- 

 meiit sun la generation^ la compositioiie et decom- 

 position des substances des animaux et des vege- 



taiix^ etc, 



(13) See Brera, Commentari medici, Pavia, 



1797> Tom. i. j;. 1, 99, 195 ; Memoria sidlaforza 

 vitate di G, C, Reil. D'Outrepont, Verpetna ma- 



