XXXVU1 INTRODUCTION. 



considered abstractedly is also nothing. It 

 may exist in the Divine counsels, but till it 

 is promulgated, and powers appointed and 

 empowered who can enforce it ; as likewise 

 other objects brought into existence upon 

 which it can act, or that can obey it ; it is 

 a word without power or effect. As in order 

 to motion there must be a mover and some- 

 thing to be moved, so in order to a potential 

 law, as well as a promulgator, there must be 

 a being to enforce it and another to obey it. 



With regard to his third ingredient, space 

 and time, the theatre and limit of Nature's 

 operations ; they give her no subsistence, she 

 still remains a nonentity; therefore, as de- 

 fined by our author, she is nothing, and can 

 do nothing. 



But although nature, as defined by La- 

 marck, consists merely of abstract qualities, 

 independent of any essence or being, and 

 therefore can neither form any thing, nor 

 operate upon what is already formed; yet 

 would I by no means be understood as con- 

 tending that there are no inter-agents be- 

 tween God and the visible material world by 

 which he acts upon it, and as it were takes 

 hold of it ; by which he has commenced and 



