BOOK II PART III
the separation of the head and body; bleeding,
convulsive motions, and death. Here is a con-
nected chain of natural causes and voluntary
actions; but the mind feels no difference be-
twixt them in passing from one link to another;
nor is less certain of the future event than if it
were connected with the present impressions
of the memory and senses by a train of causes
cemented together by what we are pleased to
call a physical necessity. The same experienced
union has the same effect on the mind, whether
the united objects be motives, volitions and ac-
tions; or figure and motion. We may change
the names of things; but their nature and their
operation on the understanding never change.
I dare be positive no one will ever endeavour
to refute these reasonings otherwise than by al-
tering my definitions, and assigning a different