BOOK I PART IV
philosophers, instead of drawing a just infer-
ence from this observation, and concluding,
that we have no idea of power or agency, sep-
arate from the mind, and belonging to causes;
I say, instead of drawing this conclusion, they
frequently search for the qualities, in which this
agency consists, and are displeased with every
system, which their reason suggests to them, in
order to explain it. They have sufficient force of
genius to free them from the vulgar error, that
there is a natural and perceivable connexion
betwixt the several sensible qualities and ac-
tions of matter; but not sufficient to keep them
from ever seeking for this connexion in matter,
or causes. Had they fallen upon the just conclu-
sion, they would have returned back to the sit-
uation of the vulgar, and would have regarded
all these disquisitions with indolence and indif-
ference. At present they seem to be in a very