|. PHYSICAL ann LITERARY. 1333 
 ferve the preference. Haec quidem, {i non ve- 
ra, faltem verifimillima videtur. 
: «Ir isalledged, that the fyftem: of the 
¢¢ world would difcover more contrivance, if 
‘sit went on of itfelf, without any concur- 
« rence of. the Deity.” That Mr Boyle 
gives any countenance to this opinion, cannot 
be pofitively concluded from his words. He 
does not fay, that brute matter moves itfelf, 
but that ‘* it is managed by certain laws, and 
‘‘ upheld by God’s ordinary and general con- 
* courfe.” The lefs power is exerted to pro- 
_ duce a given effect, the mechanifm may juft- 
ly indeed be efteemed the more pefect. But 
a machine going on without a moving power 
at all, isa thing quite unheard of. And 
where would be the beauty of every body, 
ed 
every wheel moving itfelf, without a depend- 3 
~ ence of one part upon another? There would 
then be no mechanifm at all. Let the ma- 
chine be as grand and perfect as poffible; it 
mutt ftand in need of a firft mover, not on- 
ly to begin the motion, but to preferve it. If 
every part fpontancoufly moved itfelf, it is 
then no machine; fome other name mutt 
be found for fuch an arrangement or fyftem 
of things. If all the’ motions and changes 
! of 
ab ele ete 
