216 



fion, by reflecting on the succession of our own thoughts; 

 as during this succession we know that we exist. 



To call duration a continuation of existence, is giving 

 a definition merely verbal; as this barely denotes the signi- 

 fication of the word, and denotes the thing defined, only 

 by implication. 



But, as the succession of our thoughts is neither regu- 

 lar nor constant, and must be unknown to others; a re- 

 gular, uninterrupted, and uniformly varied succession, (or 

 at least, whose slight irregularities are discoverable only 

 at distant periods,) has beea universally adopted as the 

 standard, by comparison with whose component parts, 

 the duration or co-existence of all other created beings 

 is determined and measured. 



lilt is this succession, or co-existence Avith it, or some of 

 it& periods, that forms what is called time; for it is some- 

 times taken for the mere succession, and sometimes for 

 co-existence with it, or with some of its periods. 



.The standard of succession wliich most nations have adopt- 

 ed, as a measure of the duration of every thing else, is 

 the apparent annual, and diurnal, progression of the sun, 

 or the different phases of the moon, or both. Thus, years, 

 months, and days are obtained. The minuter portions, as 

 hours, minutes, seconds, and thirds, are discovered, by the 

 help of various machines well known. 



That time consists of parts, ultimately indivisible, is 



briefly and clearly demonstrated, by Mr. Hume.* " It 



-iiiiih lo (!.->:''.n I '.ij).! . " is 



* Treatise oa Human Nature, Vol. I. p. 61. 



