218 



By what means was the first motion communicated 

 to the punctum saliens ? When and how was the 

 immortal spirit added to the mass of senseless clay 1 

 There is no need of descending to particulars : for 

 'tis mystery all ! And after all our researches, we 

 can only say, / am fearfully and wonderfully made! 



But is there any such thing as equivocal genera- 

 tion, whether of plants or animals ] It is impossible 

 any thing can appear more absurd to the eye of rea- 

 son ? Was there ever an instance, since the world 

 began, that a house grew of itself ? Nay, so much 

 as a t>ed, a table, a chair, or the smallest piece of 

 household furniture ? And yet how trifling and in- 

 artificial is the construction of these, to that of the 

 meanest plant or animal? What is the workmanship 

 of Whitehall, or Westminster Alley, to that of a 

 tree, or a fly ? And yet, on the other hand, if we 

 deny spontaneous generation, what difficulties sur- 

 rounds us ? . If we can give a plausible account of 

 the propagation of m : .seltoe on trees, and a few of 

 the plants growing on the tops of houses, or on the 

 walls of churches and towers, yet how many more 

 confound ail our sagacity ] And how many animals 

 are discovered in such places as no animal of that 

 kind ever frequented ? 



With regard to the lowest class of animals, insects, 

 almost innumerable are the discoveries which have 

 been made within few years, particularly by the in- 



