I20 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 



ning, to the prefent fyftem, at fome determinat 

 period ; but we may fafely conclude, that thi 

 great catajlrophe will not be brought about 

 any of the laws now exiiling, and that it is ],_. 

 indicated by any thing which we perceive. 

 ^ 119. To aflfcirt, therefore, that, in the econo- 



my of the world, we fee no mark, either of a 

 beginning or an end, is very different from af- 

 firming, that the world had no beginning, and 

 will have no end. The firft is a conclufioii juf 

 tified by common fenfe, as well as found phi- 

 lofophy ; while the fecond is a prefumptuous and 

 unwarrantable alfertion, for which no reafon 

 from experience or analogy can ever be affigned, 

 Dr Hutton might, therefore, juftly complain 

 of the uncandid criticifm, which, by fubftitu- 

 ting the one of thefe alTertions for the other, en- 

 deavoured to load his theory with the reproach 

 of atheifm and impiety. Mr Kirwan, in bring-, 

 ing forward this harfli and ill-founded cenfure, 

 was neither animated by the fpirit, nor guided 

 . by the maxims of true philofophy. By the fpi- 

 rit of philofophy, he muft have been induced 

 to reflea, that fuch poifoned weapons as he was 

 preparing to ufe, are hardly ever allowable 

 in fcientific conteft, as having a lefs direa ten- 

 dency to overthrow the fyftem, than to hurt the 

 perfon of an adverfary, and to wound, perhaps 

 incurablv his mind, his reputation, or his peace. 



By 



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