136 ESSAYS AND OBSERVATIONS 



It has indeed been frequently aflerted^ 

 that bodies move towards each other by 

 virtue of a law originally eftablilhed. But 

 law, that is to fay, a mere abftracft name 

 or complex notion, which is no real be- 

 ing, cannot impell a ftone, and caufe it to 

 begin to move. Law by itfelf, with fub- 

 miffion be it fpoken, will avail nothing, 

 unlefs either the fubjeds of it have under- 

 flanding to yield a willing obedience, 

 or they be compelled to it by external 

 force. 



If the firft appearances of things are 

 to be trufted, there is full as good reafon 

 to alTert, that the earth draws the flone} 

 or the magnet the iron, as that the flone 

 or iron move of their own accord. Yet 

 the fuppofition of one body drawing a- 

 nother body at a diftance, without the in- 

 tervention of other matter, is univerfally 

 rejedted j and that merely becaufe of 

 the natural impoflibility of the thing. 

 . That a being cannot adl where it is not^ 

 any more than when it is not, is an axiom 

 or principle of reafon and common fenfe^ 

 and not a IcfTon of experience. And is 



