/ C/ 

 C II AFTER V. 



ON THE DOCTRINE OF MA 



SECTION I. 



The Materiality of Life examined arid refuted. 



NOTWITHSTANDING the vague and indefinite 

 nature which I have proved, matter, in general, 

 bears, in its relation to the powers and attri- 

 butes of life ; notwithstanding the passive 

 condition to which it is doomed, the regular and 

 circumscribed motions which it is made to suf- 

 fer, or sustain ; it has not prevented a set of 

 men, who debase the very name of philosopher, 

 which they assume, by the appellation of Ma- 

 terialists, from affirming and concluding, that 

 matter, in general, possesses the inherent power 

 of converting itself into organs ; in fabric, most 

 delicate ; in action, most extensive ; and in 

 form, most diversified : that by the congrega- 

 tion of these organs, one whole system is con- 

 stituted; that the result of this organisation 

 forms life, and that out of this organised life, 



