120 ESSAYS ann OBSERVATIONS 
an active force of its own; for that would 
be oppofite to the active force of gravita- 
tion. 
Ir, in order to evade the foregoing argu- 
ment, it fhould be faid, that a body never 
tends to two oppofite bodies at the fame 
time ; but tends only to one fide with the dif- 
ference of the forces with which it would 
tend to each of thefe bodies taken feparately : 
this will at leaft afford another remarkable 
inftance of that exaét regularity with which 
the power of gravity is varied and adapted to 
the different fituations of bodies; and which 
it is quite inconceivable that blind matter 
fhould perform without the fuperintendance 
of an intelligent being. 
Ir has indeed been frequently afferted, 
that bodies move towards each other. by vir- 
tue of a law originally eftablifhed. But law, 
that is to fay, a mere abftract name or com- 
plex notion, which is no real being, cannot 
impel a f{tone, and caufe it to begin to move. 
Law by itfelf, with fubmiffion be it {poken, 
will avail nothing, unlefs either the fubjedts 
of it have underftanding, to yield a wil- 
ling obedience, or they be compelled to it 
by external force. 
Tr 
