“PHYSICAL anp LITERARY. — 93 
PHILOSOPHERS who affert the inactivity of 
matter, ought therefore to be able to give 
~ fome good reafon, why they refufe to allow 
it the free pofleffion of fuch powers in its 
ownright; and why it isonly to be regarded 
as a paffive inftrument, under the direction, 
and fubject to the dominion, of fome fuperi- | 
ot being. But, in order to afcertain the true 
notion of the inertia of body, the proper 
method is to begin with the fimpleft cafe; 
and to confider body as a lifelefs inanimated 
maf{s, without weight, attraction, repulfion, 
or any tendency to begin motion, till acted 
upon’ by fome foreign external caufe. And 
furely it would be fomewhat furprifing, if 
_ body even in thefe circumfltances, fhould be 
4 found to difcover any activity. © 
Ir hath been imagined however, by fome 
people, ** That, if body were utterly unadtive, 
“the fmalleft force would be fufficient to 
_ “ move a great body and a little body, with 
_ “ equalvelocity: and that the fame | power 
¥ 
_ “ might communicate a great velocity or a 
_* fall velocity to any body.*” Mr De Maz- 
ran in Mem. de ? Acad. 1728 {eems to enter- 
ts Py a aha - _ _ & 
| ia io tain 
