108 ESSAYS ann OBSERVATIONS 
FRom experience and obfervation we learn, 
that body is equally indifferent to motion and 
reft. And this indifference appears to be 
the natural confequence of the moft abfolute 
inactivity. Body muft exift either in the one 
ftate or the other. But, fuppofing it once ex- 
ifting in a moving ftate, the continuance of 
the motion implies no adtivity in the body, 
any more than it requires activity to preferve 
a quiefcent body in a ftate of reft. And we 
may, with equal reafon, enquire for the caufe 
of the continuation of reft, as for a caufe 
of the continuation of motion. 
PurLosopHeErs have indeed entertained 
various opinions concerning the continuation 
of motion. <Ariflocle endeavoured to explain 
it by means of a vehicle or the circumpulfion 
of fluid matter, hereby only evading the 
queftion, as the fame difficulty returned, 
how the motion of this fluid continued. 
And many of the moderns have imagined 
re{t to be the proper {tate of inactive matter, 
to which it naturally tended; and have af- 
cribed the continuance of motion to the con- 
{tant and immediate agency of the Deity, or 
of fome delegated intelligent power. . 
How 
