EX THE DOCTRINE OF IMMORTALITY 213 



ing these, theologians present themselves, and tell me that 

 these also are modifications, and modifications of one 

 simple, uncompounded, and indivisible substance. Imme- 

 diately upon which I am deafened with the noise of a hun- 

 dred voices, that treat the first hypothesis with detestation 

 and scorn, and the second with applause and veneration. I 

 turn my attention to these hypotheses to see what may be 

 the reason of so great a partiality ; and find that they have 

 the same fault of being unintelligible, and that, as far as 

 we can understand them they are so much alike, that 'tis 

 impossible to discover any absurdity in one, which is not 

 common to both of them." (I. p. 309.) 



For the manner in which Hume makes his 

 case good, I must refer to the original. Plain 

 people may rest satisfied that both hypotheses 

 are unintelligible, without plunging any further 

 among syllogisms, the premisses of which convey 

 no meaning, while the conclusions carry no con- 

 viction. 



