Hawkesworth, John: Almoran And Hamet: An Oriental Tale (Mentz, 1785) [VD18 90579615]

<3 immortal , becauie they are immaterial; beings
"which do not conlilf of parts , and which, the-
refore , can admit no solution, the only natural,
"caule of corruption and decay : but that which
"is not material, can have no extenhon; and what
"has no extenhon , poilehes no Ipace; andofluch
* beings, the mind itlelf, which yo'U pretend to be
"inch a being, has no conception.'

' If the mind,' says Omar, " can perceive that
" there is in itlels any hngle property of luch a being,
"it has irrefragable evidence that it is such a beings
" though it's mode of exigence , as dilfincf from
" matter, cannot now be comprehended. — And
"what property of luch a being,' laidAlmoran,
"does the mind of man perceive in itlelf? — That
"of acting,' laid Omar, without motion. Yon
' have no idea, that a material lubliance can adl,
' but in proportion as it moves : yet to think, is to
"adl ; and with the idea of thinking , the idea of
" motion is never connected: on the contrary , we
' always conceive the mind to be fixed, in pro-
portion to tbe degree of ardour and intenleness
"with which the power of thinking is exerted.
"Now, if that which is material cannot adt with-
" out motion ; and if man is conlcious , that, to
"think, is to adt and not to move ; it follows,
"that there is, in man , lomewhat that is not mat-
ter; lomewhat that has no extenhon, and that pol-
'lehes no Ipace; lomewhat which, having no con-
' texture or parts that can be dilsolved or lepara-
"ted , is exempted from all the natural caules oi
' decay.'

Omar paused ; and Ahnoran having hood
slame moments without reply , he lehted this op-
por

Al-MOKAH AND HAMBT.