OF MAN. 365 



Whence proceeds this uniformity in all the 

 operations of animals? Why does every fpecies 

 perform the fame work in the very fame man- 

 ner ? And why is the execution of different in- 

 dividuals neither better nor worfe than that of 

 every other? Can there be a ftronger proof that 

 their operations are only the reiults of pure me- 

 chanical impulfe ? If they poflelfed a fingle fpark 

 of that inward light which illuminates man- 

 kind, we fhould find variety, at leaft, if not per- 

 fedion, in their works ; every individual would 

 exhibit fome difference in his mode of execution. 

 But fuch differences never appear: They all 

 work upon the fame plan; their mode of adling 

 runs through the whole fpecies, and is not pe- 

 culiar to any individual : If, therefore, we a- 

 fcribe to animals a mind or foul, we muft allow 

 but one to every fpecies, of which each indivi- 

 dual has an equal fhare: This foul would, of 

 courfe, be divifible, and, conlequently, mate- 

 rial, and very different from ours. 



Why, on the contrary, is fo much variety ex- 

 hibited in the operations of men? Why does 

 fervile imitation coft us more labour than origi- 

 nal defign ? Becaule our fouls are proper to us, 

 and independent of any other ; and becaufe we 

 poflefs nothing common to the fpecies, but the 

 matter which conflitutes our bodies, and by 

 which alone we have any rcfemblance to the 

 brute creation. 



If 



