126 



13. If proofs should be required of the truth of this account, 

 I say they are already given; but if a repetition should be de- 

 manded for the purpose of a stricter comparison with the doctrine, 

 they are as follow : 



1st, The condition of the support of life is an adequate sup^ 

 ply of the two externals. 



2nd, Life immediately ceases when either is withheld. 



3rd, The two externals are incapable of maintaining life, 

 unless fife is present. 



4th, Life is maintained by this threefold relation. 



As the identity of life would cease but for the influence of 

 these externals, so its identity being preserved by their influence, 

 the operation of life on them is not to produce any thing foreign, 

 but to assimilate its identity; and as the externals before men- 

 tioned are the sources from which life is assimilated, and as in 

 them it exists informally, that is, in the state of its elements or 

 constituents, so the process of assimilation is to unite the elements 

 by which an identity of life is preserved. 



14. This reasoning admits of being placed in many other 

 points of view; but to me, by the combination of the facts, the in- 

 ference is so clearly demonstrated that any additional illustration 

 seems superfluous. The blood is no animal, nor vegetable neither, 

 but it is the material containing the elements of life : it is a further 

 preparation of the informal life which exists in earth and air. 



15. In conformity with our general principles of causation, 

 life has been before said to contain an infinity of properties: it is 

 not here necessary to give so much latitude, we will merely say 

 that it is identified by many properties. These properties cor- 

 respond in their variety, to say the least of it, with the varieties of 

 the whole animal and vegetable creations; different properties 

 of life are not merely exhibited in the different classes of animals, 

 but also in those of the same species. Hence the various forms 

 of bodies, hence the several configurations of organs subserving to 

 the same purposes, hence all the varieties of size and growth, 

 hence the varieties of pre-dispositions, with many other hences. 



16. The general law with respect to the generation of life, 

 appears to be that every specimen of it assimilates from the com- 

 mon elements its own precise identity; this is determined by an 

 affinity or relation which is settled by the causes involved in life 

 itself, in a way before explained. Thus, every animal and every 

 tree maintains in perpetuity its own characteristics: and thus every 

 body preserves for the future a conformity or resemblance with 

 the past; all obeying the common relation of cause and effect: 

 existence forcing existence. 



17. But although this law may in the gross with correctness 

 be said to be general, yet it is liable to many interruptions, still 

 however in obedience to the universal laws. The preservation of 

 a species is interrupted by various accidents before enumerated, 

 and the perpetuation of the past ideality of aa individual is inter* 



