Chap. 20.] facenfiftency of Fatalifts. 509 



into new channels ; and this power alone is fufficient, 

 in my opinion, to conftitute man a free agent*. 

 In.lecd thofe authors, who contend mod for the doc- 

 trine of a fatal neceflky, are among the firft to re- 

 commend an application to fludy, and the cultivation 

 of the mind ; whereas, if the mind is endued with no 

 ipontaneous energy whatever, ho feif directing agency, 

 furely fuch a recommendation is inconfiftent and ab- 

 furd \. 



On any qutflion of ferious importance, analogical 

 reaToning fhould be admitted with the utmoft caution; 

 and yet a fenfelefs and' puerile analogy has been 

 called in to the aid of an argument, which cannot be 

 fupported by pofitive proof. Motive and action in 

 morals, have been compared to caufe and effect in 



* It is impoffible to obferve, without a (mile, men boafting of 

 being the difciples of Mr. Locke, who have apparently never read 

 a page of h;$ writings, or, if they have looked into them, have 

 evidently mifuoderuood them. With how much juftice this real 

 philofopher is reprefented a.s a favourer of the abfurdities of the 

 fatalifts, will appear from the following paflage : " This at lea/I 

 (fays Mr. Locke) I think evident, that we find in ourfelves a 

 power to begin or forbear, continue or end feveral aftions of our 

 minds, and motions of our bodies, barely by a thought or pre- 

 ference of the mind ordering, or, as it were, commanding the 

 doing or not doing fuch or fuch a particular a&ion. This power 

 which the mind has thus to order the confideration of any idea, or 

 the forbearing to confiderit, or to prefer the motion of any part 

 of the body to its reft, and vice -verfa, in any particular inftance, 

 is what we call the will." Locke's EfTay, B. ii. c. 21. 



-j- If there is no deg.ee of freedom or fpontaneity in human ac- 

 tions, what is meant by the words deliberation, prudence, and 

 judgment? If the opinion of the fatalifts is true, our interference 

 in any matter or aftion is luperfiuous ; and yet who is there that 

 does not perceive, that the courfe of a dangerous difeafe may be. 

 impeded by the calling in of a phyfician ? a matter which was 

 tntirclj within the choice of the patient himfelf. 



phyfics. 



