OF MAN. 367 



degrees of defcent, before we arrive at the ftate 

 of the mere animal ; for, if man were of the 

 fame rank with the animals, there would be in 

 nature a certain number of beings lefs perfe6t 

 than man, and fuperior to any animal we are 

 acquainted with ; and thole intermediate beings 

 would defcend imperceptibly from man to the 

 monkey tribes. But no luch beings exid. The 

 paffage is fudden from a thjnking being to a 

 material one, froin intelledtual faculties to me- 

 chanical powers, from order and defign to blind 

 impulfe, from reflection and choice to ungovern- 

 able appetite. 



This is a ftrong indication of the excellence 

 of our nature, and of the immenfe diftance fix- 

 ed by the bounty of the Creator between men 

 and animals. Man is a reafoning being; the a- 

 nimal is totally deprived of that noble faculty: 

 And as there is no intermediate point between 

 a pofitive and a negative, between a rational and 

 an irrational aninial, it is evident that man's na- 

 ture is entirely difltrent from that of the animal ; 

 tliat the latter only refembles the former in the 

 external or material part ; and that, to form a 

 judgment from this material refemblance alone, 

 is (hutting our eyes voluntarily againfl that light 

 which enables us to diflinguilh truth from falfe- 

 hood. 



Having confidercd the internal nature of man, 

 and dcmonilrated the immateriality of his foul, 

 we fhall next examine his external part, and 



give 



