ijTQ ESSAYS AND OBSERVATIONS 



** It is alledged, that the fyftem of the 

 " world would difcover more contrivance, 

 " if it went on of itfelf, without any con- 

 " currence of the Deity." That Mr Boyle 

 gives any countenance to this opinion, 

 cannot be politively concluded from his 

 words. He does not fay, that brute-mat- 

 ter moves itfelf, but that " it is managed 

 ** by certain laws, and upheld by God's 

 " ordinary and general concourfe." The 

 lefs power is exerted to produce a gi- 

 ven efiFecfl, themechanifra may juflly in- 

 deed be efteemed the more perfedl. But 

 a machine going on without a moving 

 power at all, is a thing quite unheard of. 

 And where would be the beauty of every 

 body, every wheel moving itfelf, without 

 a dependence of one part upon another? 

 There would then be no mechanifm at all. 

 Let the machine be as grand and perfe(5l 

 as poflible, it muft (land in need of a 

 firft mover, not only to begin the motion, 

 but to preferve it. If every part fponta- 

 neoufly moved itfelf, it is then no ma- 

 chine ; fome other name mufl be found 

 for fuch an arrangement or fyftem of 



things. 



