Chap. 1. A N T 1 E N T METAPHYSICS. SS 



fible. And the Locrlan compares, as Plato docs, the icka to the fa- 

 ther, the matter to the mother, and the vlfible ivor/d, and all its vari- 

 ous forms, to the children. 



This is the opinion of Plato, and the Pythagorean philofophers, 

 concerning ;;z^//^r : And, as to Aridotle, it is evident, that he has 

 taken his natural philofophy, as well as Plato, from the Pythagore- 

 ans, though he has difguifed it, and enlarged it much more : For it is 

 from them that he has taken his notion of the eternity of the v^'oild, 

 of generation and corruption, and of the Jirji 7Jiatter among other 

 things *; for he has made matter and form to be the principles 

 of all natural things, to which he has added privation. This ap- 

 pears not to have been reckoned by the Pythagoreans among the prin- 

 ciples of things ; nor indeed is it properly one, as 1 fhall afterwards 

 obferve ; but they knew that it was neceflary for the production of 

 natural fubftances, which I fhall prove in its proper place. 



But, how are we to conceive this ftrange being, if it may be called 

 a being at jill, what has no determined exiflence, nor is any one 

 thing ? Is it by the fenfes ? It is not ; for Plato tells us exprefsly, 

 that it is not to be feen, nor apprehended by any of the fenfes ; and 

 it muft be fo, not being the vifible world, but that out of which the 

 vifible world is produced. Or, is it to be apprehended by intelledl ? 

 Neither can this be ; for the objeCl of intelled is the idea or fonn 

 of which matter receives the impreflion. But, how then come we to 

 have any notion of it at all ? It is, fays Timacus, and after him Plato, 

 /♦y«rf<* vo6<f, by a hajiard kind of reafon; not by any direO: conception 

 of it, fays Timaeus, but by analogy f. And Plato fays, (ibid, page 



io6i.) 



* Lib. I. phyfic cap. 8. verfus Jinem. See alfo metaphyfics z*. page io6. Editio 

 Silburgii, quoted by Mr Harris in his Philofophical arrangements, page 178. 



f Tco fAri-7t») >c«t' iv^vuficiv vdHaSuiy «AA«t x«t' «»«Aoy««». See this vcry accurately explain- 

 ed by Mr Harris in his Philofophical arrangements, page 75. ct fcqiicn. where he 

 fliows that we have a notion of this primary viattcr, both by abftra6\ion and ana- 

 logy. * 



