18i Dr. Spurgin's Outlines of a Philosophical 



signifying nothing? or at best signifying but an imaginary 

 existence ? How many volumes have been written ! liovv many 

 hours have been spent ! how many brains have been at "vvork, 

 to defend or to maintain each of these questions affirmatively, 

 to the negation of the other ! And, now, the task devolves upon 

 us to express our assent to, or our dissent from, one or other 

 of these sentiments ; and we should unquestionabl}' stand in a 

 ridiculous dilemma indeed, were we to adhere to one of those 

 views exclusively. We assent to the theory of life entertained 

 by Hunter and many others, so far as it regards life as a di-' 

 stinct thing altogether from matter, a distinct somewhat ; but 

 •we dissent therefrom, so far as it regards life as a mere principle 

 of so abstract a nature and so indefinite a shape as to admit 

 of being resolved into an imaginary somewhat, an ideal, inex- 

 plicable, and unintelligible phantom — a materies vitce diffusa ! 

 We assent to the theory that life is a property of matter, so 

 far as it regards it as dependent upon matter for its manifesta- 

 tion in this material world ; but we dissent therefrom, so far 

 as it regards life as a product from the combinations of matter ; 

 because if it be merely a result of certain combinations of 

 matter, we are bound to ask what brought about those combina- 

 tions ? combinations, indeed, that are at variance with the known 

 natural affinities of matter, and which would prove matter to 

 be inconsistent with itself, and would render death a strange 

 anomaly ; nay, an absolute impossibility. To say that these 

 effiicts are owing to the combined actions, the healthful opera- 

 tions of parts and organs having a mutual and indefeasible 

 connection one among another, the destruction or disturbance 

 of which is followed by the phaenomenon of death, is begging 

 the question with a witness ! The theory assumes what is ab- 

 solutely denied and disproved by the conclusion. The theory 

 assumes the necessity of combined actions, of healthful organic 

 operations, for manifesting the various effi;cts called vital, and 

 yet concludes that these actions and these operations require 

 nothing to combine them. The combination is a mere chance — 

 the healthy actions and operations are a mere chance — the life, 

 as the result of these, is a greater chance still ! in short, it comes 

 to be, according to this theory, as well as according to the 

 preceding, an imaginary somewhat, a shadowy nothing. But in 

 expressing our opinion of the views that have been entertained 

 respecting life, it might at first sight appear as if we were de- 

 sirous of detracting from the merits of those illustrious men 

 who have espoused one or other of the theories just now ad- 

 verted to, and had thence deprived ourselves of the authority and 

 excellent reasoning which they afford. So far, hovvever, from 

 this being the case, we are supported both by their autiiority 



and 



