The Existence of GodFénelon, François de Salignac de La Mothe-
Religion
The Existence of God
Fénelon, François de Salignac de La Mothe-
God; Ontology
unfathomable, even in the most abject and mortifying functions of
the body, which modesty will not allow to be more particularly
explained.
SECT. XXXVI. Of the Inward Parts.
I own that the inward parts are not so agreeable to the sight as the
outward; but then be pleased to observe they are not made to be
seen. Nay, it was necessary according to art and design that they
should not be discovered without horror, and that a man should not
without violent reluctance go about to discover them by cutting open
this machine in another man. It is this very horror that prepares
compassion and humanity in the hearts of men when one sees another
wounded or hurt. Add to this, with St. Austin, that there are in
those inward parts a proportion, order, and mechanism which still
please more an attentive, inquisitive mind than external beauty can
please the eyes of the body. That inside of man--which is at once
so ghastly and horrid and so wonderful and admirable--is exactly as
it should be to denote dirt and clay wrought by a Divine hand, for
we find in it both the frailty of the creature and the art of the
Creator.
SECT. XXXVII. Of the Arms and their Use.
From the top of that precious fabric we have described hang the two
arms, which are terminated by the hands, and which bear a perfect
symmetry one with another. The arms are knit with the shoulders in
such a manner that they have a free motion, in that joint. They are
besides divided at the elbow and at the wrist that they may fold,
bend, and turn with quickness. The arms are of a just length to
reach all the parts of the body. They are nervous and full of
muscles, that they may, as well as the back, be often in action and
sustain the greatest fatigue of all the body. The hands are a
contexture of nerves and little bones set one within another in such
a manner that they have all the strength and suppleness necessary to
feel the neighbouring bodies, to seize on them, hold them fast,
throw them, draw them to one, push them off, disentangle them, and
untie them one from another.
The fingers, the ends of which are armed with nails, are by the
delicacy and variety of their motions contrived to exercise the most
curious and marvellous arts. The arms and hands serve also,
according as they are either extended, folded, or turned, to poise
the body in such a manner as that it may stoop without any danger of
falling. The whole machine has, besides, independently from all
after-thoughts, a kind of spring that poises it on a sudden and
makes it find the equilibrium in all its different postures and
positions.
SECT. XXXVIII. Of the Neck and Head.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account