fuitable circumftances exift or not. Or elfe it respects the real exiftence of the circumftances, without refpect to whether the things circumftanced, have relative ability and capacity, or not: In the former case, a sound horse can, that is, his natural ftrength and capacity of the road, render it poffible for him to travel forty miles per day. But here is no respect to the necessary circumftances of his mafter's inclination, and actually taking the horfe out of the ftable, faddling, or putting it in harnefs, &c. Without which no power and efficiency can exist in that respect. This knife will cut ivory, or its conAitution and fharpness related to the hardness of the ivory is fuch as renders it poffible that it fhould cut ivory: But here is no refpect to the inclination of man and his hand to employ it, without which power and efficiency in this respect cannot exift. In the latter cafe, It is poffible to learn Latin of Mr. - a good master, and who is difpofed to teach it, but here is no refpect to the ability of the learner, who may be without acumen and memory related to the difficulties and burthen of that language. Confequently power and efficiency in that refpect cannot exist. This view of poffibility feems nearest akin to our view of power, but is, I apprehend, evidently diverfe from it, and diverse from our conception of it, as I have endeavoured to show.

Poffibility

Poffibility is applicable to past, present, and future mental exiftence, and to mental exiftence, irrespective of either: both refpecting our own minds, and the minds of other perfons. It is equally applicable to the conceived existence of events which have for their fubject, matter, and those which have for their subject, mind. Refpecting my own mind, It is poffible that I voluntarily did a certain thing, for inftanee, climbed up on a table, or voluntarily faid a certain thing; when I was two years old: but which I have not the least remembrance of:-It is poffible, that I now retain some erroneous judgments, or that in fome points I am mistaken :-It is poffible, that in futurity I may see some of my present mistakes, and voluntarily acknowledge my blunders :-I hold it poffible, that my dubious propofitions are true.

For inftances of mental exiftence which I esteem, but poffible refpecting other perfons take the following. I fix on a determinate object. I conceive it poffible that he once loved a perfon, he has evidently at present no love unto :—In my view it is poffible, that he now loves a certain female:And I hold it poffible that he may live to hate the perfon he now ardently loves :And of events with indefinite time, I conceive it poffible, that he is of a good natural temper.

Power is effential to the existence of our affent to every mental propofition we affent to, whether the affent be opinion, belief, or knowledge. It

follows

follows that certainty is the highest elevation from mere poffibility. Of intuitive propofitions and firft principles we fay their negation is impoffible. But defcending only to demonstrative points, we admit poffibility of mistaking, and improve that fentiment by adding up large accounts more than once, and by re-attending the proof of

momentous matters.

Thirdly, DOMINION, or Sovereignty. We have confidered power as coexiftent with, or the effential result of ability, capacity, and suitable circumftances: But we have frequent occafion for expreffing them separately. Thus we say, my ability, my capacity, and by courtesy, my cumstances. Thus also, the ability of this thing, the capacity of that thing, and the circumstances of the other thing.

cir

We also frequently take them in couples, thus, ability with fuitable circumftances, and capacity with fuitable circumftances. To the former, namely, ability and suitable circumstances, conceived without refpect to prefent operation, we have affigned if I mistake not, the name Dominion, and fay by courtefy, my dominion, your dominion, and the dominion of this, and of that. To the latter, namely, capacity and fuitable circumftances, we give the denomination, fubjection. And humble ourselves to fay my fubjection, our fubjection; and that this is fubject to that.

Dominion and fubjection are relative terms.

They

They lead our thoughts to two beings, or objects of conception, one of which is in a state of dominion respecting the other, whilft the other is in a ftate of subjection in refpect of that which has dominion. Dominion, expreffes the advantage one being has for influencing another. Subjection, denotes passiveness to the being that has dominion.

In all inftances of actual operation we afcribe dominion, to the object which has active property, over the object which has related paffive property.

We afcribe dominion to our minds over all actings and forbearings refpecting which we conceive ourselves at liberty.

We also ascribe dominion to ourselves over all objects exposed to the confequences of our actually forbearing or acting, for which we are at liberty.

The joining abilities of feveral perfons or things makes an aggregate of ability and with the addition of a junction of fuitable circumstances, an aggregate of dominion.-The joining capacities also make an aggregate of capacity, and with the addition of joined opportunities an aggregate of fubjection. The government of united states is an inftance of the former; and the people at large under any government are an inftance of the

latter.

Dominion feems to make a more near approach to power than either ability, capacity, or fuitable circumftances

circumstances alone: But it is not power: For if we reflect, power does not immediately depend for its existence on power: But both dominion and fubjection depend for their very existence immediately on power. Even the dominion of God immediately depends on ever-exifting power. Again, Without fubje&tion in existence, there can be no actually exifting dominion. Were there no subjects, no creatures, the dominion of God could not exist. Yet in that cafe his eternal power or neceffity would exift.

Dominion is either immediate or mediate. Thus our minds influence our bodies immediately; but influence other objects mediately, or through

their medium.

Dominion is greater or lefs, according to the degree of advantage, one being has for influencing another. Thus our minds have greater advantage for influencing our hands than for influencing our bowels.

Dominion common, or dominion among us, is but a fubjected dominion, it being derived from God, and held only according to his pleasure. The dominion of God is infinite in every poffible respect, but the dominion among creatures, however exalted, is finite or limited.

Fourthly, AUTHORITY, feems to have been confounded with power. Authority is a conception effentially related to that of author. Both author and authority, in origin and exiftence

involve

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