THE LAWS OF NATURE* 379 



To return once more to the attractive power — it is 

 k, which in heaven and on the earth, in infinite 

 diiiances, and in bodies which clofely furround us, 

 rnanifefts itfelf by a thoufand undeniable difplays. It 

 regulates the motions of Saturn, as well as caufes an 

 apple to fall from the tree. This limple, but at all 

 times invariable caufe, is the foundation of the order 

 and harmony of the world. 



The conviction of the simplicity and neceffity of the 

 laws of nature, which, in fact, are the laws of God # 

 and bear the imprefs of his immutability, is, by the 

 way, of great advantage to us, in difpofing us to re * 

 ject, as fabulous and abfurd, a priori, all accounts of 

 miracles, pretended to be wrought in one place or 

 another. 



Whether we hold thefe great laws of nature, whereof 

 every phenomenon is a confequence or refult, to be 

 the work of God, and, if I may fo fpeak, the physi- 

 cal expreilion of his unchangeable will, or believe 

 thefe laws to be founded in the intrinfic, but to us un- 

 known natiue of things, yet are they in all cafes inva- 

 riable. A miracle, that overfets thefe laws, would 

 deiiroy the order and harmony of the phyrical world. 



From millions of examples of this, we will adduce 

 only one. 



The Roman annals mark the afcent of Romulus to a 

 place among the gods ; and Seneca cites a later but 

 limilar event. 



Suppofe a thoufand witnefTes fhould deliver their 

 atteftations of this fact, a man would immediately re- 

 ject it, without making any account of the number 

 $n4 t{ie good characters of the witneffes, as a fiction 



at 



