Chap. Iir. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 25 



The difference of ftyle, alfo, betwixt the mafter and fcholar, in treat- 

 ing this matter, is worth being obferved. Plato, by the affedation of 

 variety and elegance, both of words and compofition, has made the mat- 

 ter really veryobfciire, eventothofe who underftand both the language 

 and the fubjecl, and are converlant in the writings of the Greek phi- 

 lofophers. On the other hand, the ftyle of Ariftotle, in treating 

 this, and every other matter of Ccience, is perfedly didadic, without 

 that fuperfluity of words which is frequently to be found in Plato^ 

 and without any ornament, either of words or compofition ; and, tho* 

 its brevity may make it obfcure to the unlearned, which his interpre- 

 ters fay he intended, I will venture to fay, that, where the text is not 

 corrupted, which it frequently is, and where the work had received the 

 laft hand of the author, which was certainly not the caie of all his 

 works, it is to be underflood, by the learned, with due pains and at- 

 tention ; and I will further venture to fay, that, when he has found 

 out the meaning, he will think his pains and attention well be- 

 ftowed. 



To conclude: From the account here given of motion^ it is evident 

 that by it the whole bufincfs of nature, above, below, and round about 

 us, is carried on ;— that nothing which has a beginning, or is to have 

 an end, can be produced or put an end to, without it; — that, as nature is 

 continued and connected in all her operations, not proceeding by Itarts 

 and bounds, but by regular gradations, it is impoffible that any thing 

 can be generated, come to maturity, or be extihguiflicd, without pall- 

 ing from one flate to another. Now that palLige is liiotion. To thofe, 

 therefore, who hold that mind is the fiift of things, and principal in 

 the univerie, it will not appear furprifmg that 1 have made ino'vijig^ or 

 producing motiouy an eiTential attribute of mifid, 



D CHAP. 



