420 LAWS OF MOTION. 



which his philosophy is founded, were artificial 

 and unnatural; that although the conclusions 

 might be true, the principles from whenee these 

 conclusions were made, were erroneous in the 

 extreme. 



Had the system of nature been considered 

 as it really is, a system of gradation, and of 

 difference, emanating from the great first and 

 universal cause, continued and ended in the 

 last species 1 of matter, we should not have 

 had to complain at this time, that bodies of dif- 

 ferent species are supposed to be subservient 

 to one and the same law* that the matter of 

 fact is mivStaken, and confounded with the 

 law ; nor be called upon to ascribe to the 

 thing done (a mere effect) to be the cause and 

 the power by which these effects are accom- 

 plished,* 



The difference, however* which exists be- 

 tween the fact and the law, is as great as be- 

 tween light and darkness. A law is a rule of 

 action ; a power, an agent ; by the energy of 

 which various effects are produced, according 

 to the rules which thai law prescribes. The 

 effects which are produced, do not constitute 



* It has been well observed by Archdeacon PALEY, that 

 mechanism is not itself power ; mechanism without power, 

 can do nothing ; let a watch be contrived and constructed 

 ever so ingeniously, it cannot go \\ithout a spring, i. e. with- 

 out a force independent of, and ulterior to its mechanism. 



