STRUCTURE OF tH£ HUMAN BODY. 250 



The mind, in this corporeal system, must be endued with 

 the power of moving from place to place ; that she may have 

 intercourse with a variety of objects ; that she may fly from 

 such as are disagreeable, dangerous, or hurtful ; and pursue 

 such as are pleasant and useful to her. And accordingly she 

 is furnished with limbs, with muscles and tendons, the instru- 

 ments of motion, which are found in every part of the fabric 

 where motion is necessary. But to support, to give firmness 

 and shape to the fabric ; to keep the softer parts in their 

 proper places ; to give fixed points for, and the proper di- 

 rections to, its motions, as well as to protect some of the more 

 important and tender organs from external injuries, there 

 must be some firm prop-work interwoven through the whole. 

 And, in fact, for such purposes the bones are given. The 

 prop-work is not made with one rigid fabric, for that would 

 prevent motion. Therefore there are a number of bones. 

 These pieces must all be firmly bound together, to prevent 

 their dislocation. And this end is perfectly well answered 

 by the ligaments. The extremities of these bony pieces, 

 where they move and rub one upon another, must have 

 smooth and slippery surfaces for easy motion. This is most 

 happily provided for, by the cartilages and mucus of the 

 joints. The interstices of all these parts must be filled up 

 with some soft and ductile matter, which shall keep them in 

 their places, unite them, and at the same time allow them 

 to move a little upon one another ; these purposes are an- 

 swered by the cellular membrane, or adipose substance. 

 There must be an outward covering over the whole appara- 

 tus, both to give it compactness, and to defend it from a 

 thousand injuries ; which, in fact, are the very purposes of 

 the skin and other integuments. 



Questions. — 1. How does the soul correspond with material be- 

 ings ? 2. What are the nerves, and their use ? 3. Of what use are 

 tlie bones ? 4. The ligaments, cartilages, and mucus ? 5. Cellular 

 membrane ? 6. Skin and other integuments ? 



