DOCTRINE OP MATERIALISM. 93 



my hand, instead of my hand moving the pen ; 

 that the top moves the whip, instead of the 

 whip moving the top; that language is the 

 cause, of which rationality is the effect ; that 

 the nucleus of the earth, as well as the dirt and 

 mud upon its surface, are the causes of which 

 vitality is the effect; that the whole material 

 world is, in fact, the great first cause, of which 

 the Almighty is the secondary, or instrumental 

 cause; that is to say, that the second cause, is 

 the cause of the first, and that the effect pro- 

 duced is the cause of the causes. 



It evidently appears, that the materialists, in- 

 stead of attributing inertness to matter, make it 

 the first cause of motion ; they behold it desti- 

 tute of form, and of fabricating power, and yet 

 refer organisation to its imbecility ; they see it 

 matter impelled, and yet they make it impelling 

 matter. Instead of considering it the last and 

 lowest of things, they make it the first and the 

 best ; instead of separating the cause from the 

 effect, they constantly confound both together ; 

 they mistake the thing produced, for the power 

 producing ; the fact, (the thing done) for the 

 law. Instead of putting confusion into order, 

 they put order into confusion. The conse- 

 quences of this false philosophy are manifested 

 by the puerile knowledge which we possess, 

 being entirely circumscribed to effects only, 

 without any knowledge of cause;- to end* 



