468' Tir. Barnes on fhs Power' 



luntary power over bodily fenfatlon/' is nof 

 merely fpeculative. It muft be determined by 

 an appeal to fadsi and its influence is, in a 

 high degjjce, pra6lical and interePcing. 



Sensation is generally defined to be — *^ A 

 perception in the mind, excited by means of the 

 organs of fenfe, independently on the will.'* 

 Thus, when my eye is open, external objects 

 make an imprelTion ; nor is it in the power of 

 my mind, if the organ is found, to exclude the 

 vifion. In like manner, the touch, the tafte, 

 the fmell, produce their correfpondent feelings, 

 which the mind pafTively receives, becaufe it is 

 not able to repel them. If this be true of plea- 

 fant, it is ftill more true of painful fenfations. 

 Over thefe, it is faid, the will has no controuL 

 Senfe will be fenfe; and pain will be pain, not- 

 withftanding all our endeavours to blunt the 

 acutenefs of the one, and the anguifh of the 

 other. 



This fentiment, though true to a certain point, 

 is not however fo abfolutely and invariably true, 

 as to admit of no limitation. Many ftrong fads 

 prove, that the mind is not fo entirely the flave 

 of fenfe, as to have no power at all to fufpend, 

 or, at lead, to moderate its imprefTions. In 

 many inftances, (lie is able to exercifc fome 

 meafure of that regency, which her nature and 

 office authorize her to maintain over her material 

 and mortal partner. 



Senfation 



