188 state of nature. 8) June & 
man in this ideal state of speculation ; they bear the same. 
sert of analogy to the physical state of man in society, as: 
principles and properties of mathematical points and lines 
bear to be the practical rules of mechanics. As well 
might we attempt to handle and manufacture a mathema- 
eal point, as to move only upon the principles of this state: 
of nature, being placed by the beneficence of our Creator, 
in the physical state of society. Some of our greatest philo-.. 
phers, as is often the case, to avoid. pleonasm, and in the 
full glare of their own conviction, have omitted to say, in. 
exprefs words, that this state of nature; in which they con. 
sidered man in the abstract, never had an actual, physical, 
or real existence in this world ; and this omifsion has, per- 
haps, occasioned the error of many modern i//uminators,- 
who, from ignorance, have confounded the two states to- 
gether; or, from designed. malice, have transplanted the-. 
attributes and properties of the one into tlfe other.. 
‘It requires no argument to prove when the physical}: 
civilized state of society commenced ; for, from the com- 
thencement of this:must be, dated the impofsible existence . 
of the state of pure nature. Mr Locke establithes this 
commencement from the formation and. co-existence of 
our first parents, Adam and Eve; and he draws the ne- 
cefsity of it from the intrinsic nature and,exigencies of “ 
man, as he has been actually formed and constituted by 
his Creator. 
This fact, then, is incontrovertible; that the only indi. 
vidual, who can be said, in any sense, to: have existed in. 
the state of nature, was Adam, before the formation of 
his wife. But how these rights could be exercised by. 
him in that forlorn svate of solitude, I know as little as 
I do of the period of its duration. When, therefore, we 
speak generally of the rights of man, we ought to be. un- 
derstood to speak of those. rights which are attributable 
te man in the civilized state of society. Thus every dis-. 
