PHYSICAL AND LITERARY. 123 



us to dete» mine : But, unlefs fome conti- 

 aual influence of that fort be requifite, 

 there appears to be no occafion for any 

 fpecial concurrence, in order to account 

 for the continuance of motion. If, how- 

 ever, it could be demonftrated, that body 

 cannot continue to move on in a ftreight 

 line, by virtue of the firft impulfe, what 

 more rational folution will be found, than 

 to have recourfe to the efficiency of an in- 

 telligent principle f For tho' it fliould be 

 granted, that the continuation of motion, 

 and the communication of it from one bo- 

 dy to another, cannot proceed from the 

 inertia of matter j Will it therefore follow, 

 that every atom of unintelligent and un- 

 defigning matter is endued with an adli- 

 vity capable of moving it with the greateft 

 order and regularity, as well as variety 

 and diverfity ; conforming itfelf to the 

 motion of other atoms with v/hich it is 

 connected ; and adapting itfelf often to 

 the will and intention of man ? Why 

 ihould we not rather rank this power of 

 the prefervation of motion with thofe o- 

 ther a(5live powers employed upon matter, 



though 



