PHYSICAL AND LITERARY. 149 



iliew, that tkey are all probably derived 

 from an adlive intelligence, either immedir 

 ately or mediately exercifed upon matter. A 

 connedlion manifeftly appears amongft dif- 

 ferent parts of the fyftem of the world ; 

 and many bodies in it, though dead and 

 inanimated, are not only moved and agi- 

 tated themfelves, but communicate mo- 

 tion to each other, according to a certain 

 fixed and eftablifhed order, which is cal- 

 led the courfe of nature. But there is no 

 foundation in mechanics for imagining, 

 that a lifelefs body, in confequence of a 

 l;aw promulgated fome thoufands of years 

 ago, can move itfelf with as much regu- 

 larity and variety, as if it was acflually 

 endued with thought and refledlion. 



This, to mo ft people, will appear an 

 impoflibility, as much as to make a blind 

 man to fee, whilft he continues blind. 

 And there are few, but will at leaft ac- 

 knowledge the contrary opinion to be 

 fupported with fo high a degree of pro- 

 bability, as juftly to defervethe preference. 

 " Haec quidem, fi non vera, faltem veri' 

 " fimillima videtur," 



f« It 



