MECHANICAL LAWS. 213 



which remain still unknown. The general 

 economy and mutual relations of all parts of the 

 universe must be subordinate to the laws of 

 motion and matter of which we here speak. We 

 can easily suppose that the various processes of 

 nature, and the dependencies of various creatures, 

 are affected in the most comprehensive manner 

 by these laws; are simplified by their simplicity, 

 made consistent by their universality ; rendered 

 regular by their symmetry. We can easily sup- 

 pose that in this way there may be the most 

 profound and admirable reasons for the existence 

 of the present universal properties of matter, 

 which we cannot apprehend in consequence of 

 the limited nature of our knowledge, and of our 

 faculties. For, though our knowledge on certain 

 subjects, and to a certain extent is positive and 

 clear, compared with the whole extent of the 

 universe, the whole aggregate of things and re- 

 lations and connexions which exist, it is most 

 narrow and partial, most shallow and superficial. 

 We cannot suppose, therefore, that the reasons 

 which we discover for the present form of the 

 laws of nature go nearly to the full extent, or to 

 the bottom of the reasons, which a more com- 

 plete and profound insight would enable us to 

 perceive. To do justice to such reasons, would 

 require nothing less than a perfect acquaintance 

 with the whole constitution of every part of crea- 

 tion ; a knowledge which man has not, and, so 

 far as we can conceive, never can have. 



