68 NATURAL THEOLOGY. 



applicable to the question, we must begin with as- 

 serting an equivocal generation, contrary to analo- 

 gy, and without necessity: contrary to an analogy, 

 which accompanies us to the very limits of our 

 knowledge or inquiries ; for wherever, either in 

 plants, or animals, we are able to examine the 

 subject, we find procreation from a parent form : 

 without necessity; for I apprehend that it is sel- 

 dom difficult to suggest methods by which the 

 eggs, or spawn, or yet invisible rudiments of these 

 vermin, may have obtained a passage into the ca- 

 vities in which they are found.* Add to this, that 

 their constancy to their species, which, I believe, is 

 as regular in these as in the other vermes, decides 

 the question against our philosopher, if, in truth, 

 any question remained upon the subject. 



Lastly; these wonder-working instruments, these 

 " internal moulds," what are they after all ? what, 

 when examined, but a name without a significa- 

 tion ; unintelligible, if not self-contradictory ; at 

 the best, differing in nothing from the "essential 

 forms " of the Greek philosophy ? One short sen- 

 tence of Buflfon's work exhibits his scheme as fol- 

 lows: "When this nutritious and prolific matter, 

 which is diffused throughout all nature, passes 

 through the internal mould of an animal or vege- 

 table, and finds a proper matrix, or receptacle, it 



* I trust I may bo excused for not citing, as another fact which is 

 to confirm the hypothesis, a grave assertion of this writer, that the 

 branches of trees upon which the stag feeds break out again in his 

 horns. Such /ac<« merit no discussion. — {Kole of the Author.) 



