Chap. 36.] 



CHAP. XXXVI. 



S E N S A T.I O N. 



Difficulty of the Subjeft. Senfationtbe Effeft of certain Relations ejla- 

 blijhed by the Creator. Objefts of different Senfes. --^Influence of ike 

 Nerves in conveying Senfations to the Brain.' The Brain the Repo- 

 Jttory of Ideas. InJliniJ of Animals as connected with the nervous 

 Syftem. Harmony of the Senfes. Duration offenfiblelmprejfions. 

 The Five Senfes. 



FROM the confideration of the other functions 

 to that of fenfation, the tranfition muft be ab- 

 rupt and without gradation. We now enter on a 

 fubject above all others the moft intricate and difficult, 

 and on which, fince reafon is engaged in difcovering 

 the fource whence it derives thofe ideas on which it 

 acts, we muft neceiTarily reafon in a circle. 



Senfation is the link by which the Deity has con- 

 nected the material to the immaterial world. With- 

 out fenfation, in vain would the ftars have beipangled 

 the firmament of heaven, in vain would that glorious 

 object the fun have been appointed to illuminate 

 and cherifh the productions of the earth j they could 

 have been nothing to beings who muft have been un- 

 confcions even of exiftence : and the material world 

 would have been a work without utility or defign. 



Senfation is the confequence of certain eftablimed 

 relations between objects j of thefe relations we can 

 give no account, for they appear equally above our 

 comprehenfion with the principles of gravitation, 

 electricity, or magnetifm. Relations between the 

 matter of light, the objects of vifion, and the eye, 



produce 



