INTROD.] DEATH. 15 



a race upwards, through generations innumerable, to that which 

 first flourished on the earth, we find the true source of vital ac- 

 tion to be in Him, "in whom we live, and move, and have our 

 being." 



Thus, then, out of the same elements of which the inorganic king- 

 dom consists, God has created a series of material substances, which 

 by their action and reaction with other physical agencies, exhibit, 

 apparently in a spontaneous manner, the phenomena of Life, and 

 manifest a series of peculiar forces capable of opposing and con- 

 trolling the other forces of nature. While these substances retain 

 a perfect organization, and are supplied with their proper stimuli, 

 vital actions go on without interruption, and no changes take place 

 in the matter of the organism, excepting such as result from its 

 proper affinities. But no sooner is the integrity of its structure 

 destroyed, or the influence of the vital stimuli withdrawn, than 

 action ceases, the organism dies, and the organic matter yields up 

 its elements to form new compounds, a large proportion of which 

 are inorganic. 



Many are not content with this simple expression of facts, and 

 seek a theory to explain the phenomena of organized bodies, and 

 to account for the mysterious actions of Life. The ingenuity of 

 philosophers has been not a little taxed for this purpose ; and the 

 history of the rise and fall of many a hypothesis, which has been 

 framed upon this subject, affords a salutary warning to those who 

 may be tempted to wander into the regions of speculation and fancy, 

 deserting the safe and beaten path of inductive reasoning. 



It does not fall within the scope of this work to examine the 

 various theories of Life. One or two, however, we deem it right 

 to notice, with the hope of at once exposing their inadequacy, and 

 elucidating more fully the statement above given respecting Life. 



From a very early period in the history of natural science, there 

 has been a tendency to ascribe these effects to a certain principle, or 

 Entity, possessing powers and properties which (however men may 

 try to impress themselves with the contrary notion) entitle it to 

 rank as an intelligent agent. It is true, that, according to most of 

 the advocates of this doctrine, this power is supposed to be superin- 

 tended and controlled by the Deity himself, and, by this supposi- 

 tion, they have screened themselves against the accusation of attri- 

 buting to a creature the powers of the Creator. 



A little examination of this doctrine will shew that it has no 

 pretensions to the title of a theory. 



Aristotle attributed the organization of animals and vegetables, 



