hitherto thought Inanimate, may be full of Cogitation. If affording the common Marks of Sensation, be no Proof, that Brutes have it in a common Degree, Wanting the common Marks of Intelligence, can be no Proof that a Stock or a Stone has it not. If I mistake not, Bishop _Berkley_ has furnished the World with something equally instructive and philosophical, in relation to the Existence of Matter; which, he endeavours to prove _not_ to be a _real_, but an _ideal_ and _imaginary Being_. I shall leave others to guess, in what Condition those must be, who think and reason after this extraordinary Manner. But the Doctor has yet another Argument in reserve, to vindicate God's Justice--_Tho' Brutes suffer, yet they may_ it seems _have upon the whole more Pleasure than Pain_. But do not some Brutes partake very deeply of the former, in this Life; will the Doctor therefore suppose a Future State for them, by way of Compensation? But this Argument ruins the whole Affair, and may be turned against the Doctor himself, in the Case of Infants, who may be made ample Amends in a future State, for the Evils sustained here, which Evils may have other Causes besides _Original Sin;_ for here again, as in the Case of a Propensity to Evil, Pain in Infants, if inflicted because of _Adam's Sin_, must in _all_ be _uniform_ and _alike_. But the Fact being quite otherwise, some of this Pain and Evil must be resolved into _other Causes;_ and if _some_, why not _all?_ I grant indeed, that _Adam_ himself might have so far corrupted his Nature, as to render him more liable to Pain, than in a State of true Innocence he might have been, and that therefore he might be instrumental to propagate the Seeds of several Diseases, to his Posterity: But had he never done this, his Successors might have done it; and _every Age_ has, perhaps, by Intemperance and Lasciviousness, been adding to the common Stock of human Diseases and Calamities: Propensities to Vice might also be propagated in the same Way, and that, and nothing besides, can (I think) account so well for their great and infinite Variety. The Doctor, with the rest of his Brethren, are perpetually urging those common-place Arguments, drawn from the Practice of Men; which in the general I have answer'd already: and, had I proper Leisure, it would be no difficult Matter to give a clear and distinct Answer to every one of them: And these very Gentlemen would, on other Occasions, had they no favourite Point to carry, reject such Reasoning with all the Contempt, and Indignation, it deserves. It is with some Reluctance, I find myself obliged to disapprove the Sentiments of such wise and worthy Grey Hairs, to whom the World hath been long and deeply indebted for his many excellent Services, both from the Pen and the Pulpit. I have read over Mr. _J--s_'s Book, in Answer to Taylor's _Free and Candid Examination;_ and tho' I have no personal Knowledge of that ingenious Gentleman, yet I hope he will permit me to say,