ESSAY VIII. 425 but as many essential atoms of the dead body in it, as the new stalk and ear of wheat has of the grain that was sowed, it is enough : And the union of the same conscious mind or spirit, makes it the same man. I would ask leave to conclude this Essay with this short and plain remark. There are some of those who follow Mr. Locke and his way of thinking in many of these matters, who also go a step further, and suppose the spirit or conscious principle in man to lose all consciousness when the body dies, and that at tote re surrection God shall give consciousness to the person again, or make a conscious principle to exist in the new-raised body. Now if this be the case, then it is neither the same body nor the same spirit that is raised from the dead, but a new spirit and a new body, which I think must necessarilybe called another person, as well as Mr. Locke would call call it another man : and I aus sure such a new-made creature consisting of another mass of matter, and another conscious principle, can never be justly re- warded or punished for personal virtues and vices, good or evil actions done in the former life by a different body and spirit, i. e. by another person.* * I have not observed any distinction berebetween the some man and the Lame person, though Mr. Locke makesa great difference. Of this matter see Essay 12. Sect. ult.
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