110 ESSAYS ann OBSERVATIONS 
fentially belonging to it (fuch as gravity, at- 
tractions and repulfions of various ‘kinds, 
dc.)and refer them all toan intelligent caufe, 
if there be herein difcovered the fame figna- 
tures of thought and defign ? 
Turs leads us to another fource of objecti- 
ons againft the inactivity of matter. As the 
very refiftance which matter makes to an ex- 
ternal force, and its prefervation of the mo- 
tion received, have been taken for fymptoms 
of activity ; we need wonder the lefs to find 
an activity fufpected in matter from its gravi- 
tation, and thefe other inftances where mo- 
tion begins in bodies, without any vifible 
caufe. 
Ir may be objected, * That a ftone falls 
«to the ground without any external im- 
“© pulfe, fo far as we can difcover ; and there- 
‘¢ fore dead matter begins motion of itfelf.” 
Such manner of reafoning would make fhort 
work of natural philofophy. Becaufe there 
are a variety of motions, changes and tranf- 
formations, produced every day amongft in- 
animate bodies ; is it ftraight way to be con- 
cluded, that thefe bodies move themfelves? 
The contrary of this appears in fo many in- 
ftances, as gives good reafon to believe it ne- 
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