Their sterile heads take naturally to the path of negation; so they begin to deny truths that have long been admittedthe vital power, for example, the sympathetic nervous system, generatio equivoca, Bichat's distinction between the working of the passions and the working of intelligence; or else they want us to return to crass atomism, and the like.

The Greek of D is wanting at this point, but the Latin, d, reads with the best codices of the Old Latin, the Vulgate, and the Curetonian Syriac, 'Christi autem generatio sic erat' (or an equivalent).

This however is almost certainly false, as the ancient Latin translation of Irenaeus has 'Christi autem generatio,' and it was extremely natural for a copyist to substitute the generally received text, especially in a combination of words that was so familiar.

Here he says expressly: 'Ceterum, potuerat dicere Matthaeus: Jesu vero generatio sic erat; sed praevidens Spiritus sanctus depravatores, et praemuniens contra fraudulentiam eorum, per Matthaeum ait: Christi autem generatio sic erat'

Here he says expressly: 'Ceterum, potuerat dicere Matthaeus: Jesu vero generatio sic erat; sed praevidens Spiritus sanctus depravatores, et praemuniens contra fraudulentiam eorum, per Matthaeum ait: Christi autem generatio sic erat'

Assuming that it were possible to carry the explanation of life from life, from ancestral organisms (for the generatio aequivoca is an absurd theory) so far that the whole organic world should represent one great family descended from one primitive form as the common mother, even then the concept of final causes would only be pushed further back, not eliminated: the origin of the first organization will always resist mechanical explanation.

R112717, 26May53, Marguerite Winslow Plummer Sheahan (C) Re-generatio.

SEE Plummer, George Winslow. Re-generatio.

R112717, 26May53, Marguerite Winslow Plummer Sheahan (C) Re-generatio.

SEE Plummer, George Winslow. Re-generatio.

They bring this quickly about by beginning a paradox; the sterility of their own heads suggests their taking the path of negation; and truths that have long been recognised are now deniedfor instance, the vital power, the sympathetic nervous system, generatio equivoca, Bichat's distinction between the working of the passions and the working of intelligence, or they return to crass atomism, etc., etc.