Conclusion. 103 



Brain-Stones, and the like, are capable of defending them- 

 felves from fuch Invafions, whilft they continue in full Vi- 

 gour ; which is farther demonftrated, by what happens to 

 them in common with every other lifelefs Being in the Ocean ;.. 

 when, through Accident or Age, the Vigour of the Repub- 

 lic fails ; they then yield to fuperior Force, and become the 

 Bafis of fome more powerful^ fortunate Succeffors. ^ 



And now, fhould it be afked, granting all this to be true, 

 to what End has fo much Labour been bellowed in the De- 

 monftration ? I can only anfwer, that as to me thefe Difqui- 

 fitions have opened new Scenes of Wonder and Aftonilli- 

 ment, in contemplating how varioufly, how extenfively, Life 

 is diftributed through the Univerfe of Things : So it is pof- 

 fible, that the Facts here related, and thefe Inftances of Na- 

 ture animated in a Part hitherto unfufpefted, may excite the 

 like pleafmg Ideas in others ; and, in Minds more capacious 

 and penetrating, lead to farther Difcoveries,, farther Proofs 

 (fhould fuch yet be wanting), that One infinitely wife, good, 

 all-powerful Being has made, and ftill upholds, the Whole 

 of what is good and perfed ; and hence we may learn, that, 

 if Creatures of fo low an Order in the great Scale of Nature 

 are endued with Faculties that enable them to fill up their 

 Sphere of A(9:ion with fuch Propriety ; we likewife, who are 

 advanced fo many Gradations above them, owe to ourfelvesi 

 and to Him who made us and all Tilings, a conftant Appli- 

 cation to acquire that Degree of Reditude and Perfedion, tc 

 which we alfo are endued with Faculties of attaining. 



FINIS. 



