BOOK II PART III
edge a necessity. As the actions of matter have
no necessity, but what is derived from these cir-
cumstances, and it is not by any insight into
the essence of bodies we discover their connex-
ion, the absence of this insight, while the union
and inference remain, will never, in any case,
remove the necessity. It is the observation of
the union, which produces the inference; for
which reason it might be thought sufficient, if
we prove a constant union in the actions of the
mind, in order to establish the inference, along
with the necessity of these actions. But that
I may bestow a greater force on my reason-
ing, I shall examine these particulars apart, and
shall first prove from experience that our ac-
tions have a constant union with our motives,
tempers, and circumstances, before I consider
the inferences we draw from it.