124 ESSAYS ann OBSERVATIONS 
with this or that new direction, or velocity ; 
or the like. All which ideas are quite diffe- 
rent from that of thinking; there can be no 
relation between them. 
Turs fort of reafoning deferves at leaft 
fome direct anfwer, and is not to be over- 
thrown by any criticifm on the meaning of 
the word immateriality. ‘This, as is learned- 
ly obferved, moft certainly “comes out to 
<« be merely a negative term, comprehending 
** every thing that is not maiter.” Anditis not 
to be doubted that if other terms, fuch as 
immortality and infinity, were but examined 
with the fame ‘ fufficient accuracy,” the one 
might come out to be merely a negative 
term, comprehending every thing that is not 
mortal, and the other a negative term com- 
prehending every thing that is not finite. 
Such premiffes as thefe are undeniably true ; 
the only difficulty lies in difcerning the ufe 
and importance of them. But if the rea- 
foning fabjoined to thefe premifles “ be found 
« entirely conclufive,” the confequence mutt 
be, that, in judging of the qualities of mat- 
ter, we are in every cafe to rely upon the 
report of our external fenfes, and never to 
employ our reafon in comparing one thing 
with 
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