BOOK IV.

Ex nihilo nihil fit; that it is inconsistent to hold, that any thing can be made out of nothing, out of a nonentity. To consider nothing, or a nonens, as a material or substance out of which things can be formed, like a statue out of stone, or a sword out of iron, is, I acknowledge, a gross absurdity. But I perceive no absurdity or inconsistence in supposing that matter itself was brought into existence by Almighty Power; and the popular expression, that God made the world out of nothing, has no other meaning, than that He made the materials, as well as the objects themselves. It is true, that in the operations of men, nothing can be produced, but from antecedent materials; and so accustomed are we to such operations, as not readily to conceive how a thing can be brought into existence without antecedent materials, or, as it is commonly expressed, made out of nothing. But will any man in sober sense venture to set bounds to Almighty Power, where he cannot point out a clear inconsistence? It is indeed difficult to conceive a thing so remote from common apprehension; but is there less difficulty in conceiving matter to exist without a cause, and to be entitled to the awful appellation of Self-existent, like the Lord of the Universe, to whom a more exalted appellation cannot be given? Now, if it be within the utmost verge of possibility for matter to have been created, I conclude, with the highest probability on my side, that it owes its existence to Almighty Power. Difficulties about the creation of matter, testify our ignorance; but to argue from our ignorance of the mode

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of

of being of any thing, that it cannot be, has always been
held very weak reasoning.
weak reasoning. Our faculties are adapted to our
present state, and perform their office in perfection: but to
complain that they do not reach the origin of things, is no
less absurd than to complain that we cannot ascend to the
moon, in order to be acquainted with its inhabitants.

"At the same time it is a comfortable reflection, that the question, whether matter was created, or no, is a pure, inconsequential speculation, and that either side may be adopted without impiety. To me, it appears more simple, and more natural, to hold it to be a work of creation, than to be self-existent, and consequently independent of the Almighty, either to create, or to annihilate. I cheerfully make the former an article in my creed; but without anathematizing those who adopt the latter. I would, however, have it understood, that I limit my concession to matter in its rude and chaotic state: I cannot possibly go so far as to comprehend the world or universe in its orderly or systematic form. That immense machine, composed of parts without number, so artfully combined as to fulfil an infinite variety of useful ends and purposes, must be the work of an Artist, the production of a Great Being, Omniscient, as well as Omnipotent. To assign blind fatality as the cause, is an insufferable absurdity.

CHAP. III,

BOOK 1V.

Progress of his last ill

ness.

1

"You have heard, my dear Madam, of the recent event in my family. I never gave my Son but one counsel, as to the choice of a wife, which was, to make personal merit his object, without regard to external circumstances. He has followed my advice; and never was a couple united upon more rational motives; for the choice followed upon a long acquaintance, at the commencement of which, neither of them had, or could have, any prospect of being united.ever am, yours, &c.

"P. S. If there should be any thing fitted to give offence in the passage quoted above, of which I am not sensible, I beg to be informed of it: and for this reason, request you would shew it to some of the Bishops of your acquaintance, by whose opinion I shall be regulated *."

Sensible of his rapid decline, his family now became extremely anxious for his removal to Edinburgh; in the faint hope, that some benefit might arise from the excellent medical advice of which he would there have the advantage: and although he had not himself the smallest hope of that kind, he willingly acquiesced in the proposal, from motives of a different nature. Besides gratifying the earnest wishes

of

* Mrs MONTAGU's answer to this letter, the reader will find at No. V. of the Appendix.

of Mrs Drummond, as the winter session was now near at hand, he pleased himself with the thought, that he might be able to continue, to the last hours of his life, in the exercise of his duty.

For the following interesting particulars, I am indebted to the information of his daughter-in-law, to whom alone they were known; and I am anxious to give them, as nearly as I can, in her own words.-A very few days before his departure from Blair-Drummond, in a short walk which he took with her in the garden, he desired her to sit down by him on one of the benches; saying he felt himself much fatigued; and adding, that he was sensible he was now growing weaker every day. On her expressing a hope, that, on going to town, his friend Dr Cullen, who knew his constitution, might be able to give him some advice that would be of service to him; and that she flattered herself, his disease had been rather less troublesome to him for some time past; My dear child," said he, looking in her face with an earnest and animated expression," Don't talk of my disease: "I have no disease but old age. I know that Mrs Drum"mond and my Son are of a different opinion; but why “should I distress them sooner than is necessary. I know "well that no physician on earth can do me the smallest “service: for I feel that I am dying; and I thank God, “that my mind is prepared for that event. I leave this "world in peace and good-will to all mankind.-You know

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the

BOOK IV.

His death.

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"the dread I have had of outliving my faculties; of that I "trust there is now no great probability, as my body decays so fast. My life has been a long one; and prosperous, on the whole, beyond my deserts: but I would fain indulge the hope, that it has not been useless to my fel"low-creatures. My last wish regarded my Son and you, 66 my dear child; and I have lived to see it accomplished : "I am now ready to obey my Maker's summons.”—He then poured forth a short but solemn and impressive prayer. On leaving the garden, he said, "This is my last farewell to "this place: I think I shall never see it more. I go to "town chiefly to satisfy Mrs Drummond, otherwise I could willingly have remained here. But go where I will, I am "in the hands of Almighty God."

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He left Blair-Drummond in the beginning of November ; and the Court of Session meeting soon after, for the winter, he went thither on the first day of the term, and took his seat with the rest of the Judges. He continued for some little time to attend the meetings of the Court, and to take his share in its usual business, but soon became sensible that his strength was not equal to the effort. On the last day of his attendance, he took a separate and affectionate farewell of each of his brethren. He survived that period only about eight days. He died on the 27th of December 1782, in the 87th year of his age. A letter which he wrote within a few days of his death to Lord Gardenstone, as a member of the

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