17 



cannot arise out of nothing, so every thing must be produced by 

 a cause. 



9. In examining' the history of any particular existence, our 

 first question is with respect to its origin: it is how came it to be? 

 could it make itself] no: for it must be before it can act, or have 

 any force or virtue; which is supposing it to be already made. 

 Could it have existed from all eternity without having been created, 

 or without having assumed its present form at any period? no; for 

 these, as appears above, are the terms of a form of existence, viz. 

 that it would not be, unless something had made it; that it cannot 

 arise out of nothing, or exist of itself: from whence it follows that 

 it must be indebted for its existence to something else. 



10. But on what grounds do we make this conclusion, that a 

 thing cannot exist of itself, or without a cause? Do we see this 

 universal law? Have we a sensible testimony in all instances, that 

 we thus presume to include all instances in our dogma? It must 

 be replied, no: we arc but very imperfectly informed of instances; 

 our sensible acquaintance with nature goes but a very little way, 

 we do not pretend that our knowledge is universal ; but where the 

 senses fail us we make inferences, which come sometimes very 

 near to the force, or conviction, of sensible witnessings. The 

 present axiom is allowed to be an inference ; the proper examination 

 of it is according to the grounds of inference before-mentioned: 

 let us take the result of such an examination. 



11. It has been said, that next to the testimony of the senses 

 that proposition comes best recommended which agrees with all our 

 experience: it has been said, that a proposition, so enforced, is not 

 to be doubted ; that if such a one is doubted, or rather if it is pre- 

 tended to doubt such a one, we may with more reason reject totally 

 nine-tenths of the conclusions upon which we practise every day, 

 and are seldom deceived: for we are aware of some, though per- 

 haps rare exceptions to the truth of most conclusions; but in our 

 strongest degree of evidence, where from no known exception a 

 necessary connection seems to be exhibited, I say in this evidence 

 we must acquiesce, how forcibly soever we may be inclined other- 

 wise: we cannot chuse; our will may oppose, and we may make a 

 different profession; but our understandings will accept as a truth 

 a proposition so supported. Let us see whether our first principles 

 of causation rest upon a testimony of this kind. 



1*2. Our views are confined to the departments of nature and 

 of art : of the works of art we have a conviction, acquired by much 

 labour, that they do not make themselves; that they would never 

 exist, as works of art, but by the means which produce them. We 

 have then, in this department, no example of any thing that exists 

 which* is not made by something else. In nature, all the several 

 instances will conform to one pattern. As this is more especially 

 our theme, let us pursue closely the thoughts connected with one 

 familiar example. 

 E 



