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more effectually prove it, than the uncertainty of the 

 signs of death. If we consult what Winslow or Bru- 

 hier have said upon this subject ? we shall be convinced, 

 that between life and death, the shade is so very un- 

 distinguishable, that even all the powers of art can 

 scarcely determine where the one ends, and the other 

 begins. The colour of the visage, the warmth of the 

 body, the suppleness of the joints, are but uncertain 

 signs of life, frtill subsisting ; while, on the contrary, 

 the paleness of the complexion, the coldness of the 

 body, the stiffness of the extremities, the cessation of 

 all motion, and the total insensibility of the parts, 

 are but uncertain marks of death begun. In the 

 same manner also, with regard to the pulse, and the 

 breathing : these motions are often so kept under, 

 that it is impossible to perceive them. By approach, 

 ing a looking-glass to the month of the person sup. 

 posed to be dead, people often expect to find whether 

 he breathes or not. But this is a very uncertain ex- 

 periment. The glass is frequently sullied by the va- 

 pour of the dead man's body ; and often the person is 

 still alive, although the glass is no way tarnished. In 

 the same manner, neither burning, nor scarifying, 

 neither noises in the ears, nor pungent spirits applied 

 to the nostrils, give certain signs of the discontinuance 

 of life ; and there are many instances of persons who 

 have endured them all, and afterwards recovered 

 without any external assistance, to the astonishment 

 of the spectators. How careful, therefore, should we 

 be, before we commit those who are dearest to us to 

 the grave, to be well assured of tneir departure Ex- 

 perience, justice, humanity, all persuade us iut to 

 hasten the funerals of our friends, but to keep their 

 bodies unburied, until we have certain signs of their 

 real decease. 



Indeed, soon after the creation, when the earth was 

 to be peopled by one man and one woman, the wise 

 providence of God, prolonged the life of man to above 

 900 years. After the Hood, when there was three 

 men to people the earth, their age was cut shorter. 



