380 OK THE LAWS OP NATURE* 1 



at variance with all the laws of nature, and conse- 

 quently dellitute of every degree of probability. For 

 the phyfical impoffibility of the fact depofed is fufcep- 

 tible of the ftrongeft demonftration. The falfehood 

 of the witneffes in behalf of this fact, follows then na-* 

 ^ turally of itfelf. 



Let us fuppofe the afcenlion of Romulus or of that 

 other perfon whom Seneca mentions, to involve at the 

 fame time a tranilation of thefe men from the earth 

 into a remote planet, or one of the fixed ftars. 



Undoubtedly their journey through the air is frill 

 change of place ; is motion. 



But every motion, at .the end of the attractive or re- 

 pullive force, is by its natural effect repelled. It is 

 now at firft nVht clear, that the attractive force of our 

 globe permits none of its pertaining bodies to get 

 loofe from it, and to rufh in rapid flight to other 

 fpheres, to increafe their mafs. We are fattened by 

 an iron chain to this vortex, the motions whereof we 

 are obliged to follow. 



Should, however, fome attractive power, operating' 

 from afar, be able to bear away a human body from 

 our earth, and waft it in the boundlefs regions of 

 fpace ? 



Reflect on the monftrous confequences which fuch 

 an event muft neceffarily have been attended with to 

 the whole globe ! 



How could that power fo aftonifhingly act on but 

 one part of the globe, and overcome the contrariwife 

 labouring pull of the earth, without proportionably 

 acting likewife on thofe atoms which lay neareft to 

 thofe drawn off, and bringing them into fucceffion ? — * 



This. 



