Task and Service of

the structure of Slings and Rights, which is primarily established in the Hands. It is astonishing that although almost all Nations recognize a distinction between the Right and Left Hand, and always assign special honor and power to the Right Hand: (as also in the Jewish Religion various Ceremonies were regulated accordingly; And the customs of the Nations also suggest nothing else, as there is more Natural ability in the Right than in the Left Hand:) We say, it is very difficult to prove that this is founded upon the Law of Creation: Why then are many agile Men of the opinion that it consists only in a Naming and voluntary Choice, wherein the Elder or the first is followed: Which, if now changed, would give great Disorder in many Things, but at least not when Humans would be equally Lefts, or want to become so: And not that there would be an apparent majority of power placed in that Hand; As we naturally assume there to be. This is something we derive not else than from habitually using one more or less than the other. For although we observe the same distinction of Rights and Lefts in Beasts, we do not think anyone has ever observed, that a Horse, Dog, or Cat, or another Animal has more ability in one Paw than in the other; People do say that an Animal, at the beginning of its gait, or disposition, always sets the right Foot first; Yet this we do not hold as gospel; For we have already noticed the opposite without exception.

Translation Notes

Slings and Rights: Refers to left and right handedness.
Euangelium: Translates to 'gospel,' meaning an undeniable truth or doctrine.