Chap. XV. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. i 



93 



incapable of moving. Now, if the power here be material, and its 

 operations mechanical, I afk, How is a mafs of matter of fuch power 

 to be contained, or to operate in our little bodies ? And here, again, 

 it appears, that the materialifts, in order to fupport their fyftem, m.iift 

 afcribe powers to matter hitherto entirely unknown, and invent new 

 laws of motion and mechanifm. 



But neither is this all ; for an animal not only moves its own and 

 other bodies, but it perceives, and, not only objeds prefent by its fen- 

 fes, but obj <^s abjent^ by the means of that wonderful contrivance of 

 the pbdiitdjia. And further, it has appetites and defires \vhich impel it 

 to every adion that is neceflary for the preiervation of the individual, 

 and the propagation of the fpecies. Now, let us fuppofe, for once, 

 that the motion of the ai.imal is produced by matter, either moving 

 itlelf, or moved by fome other matter; I afk, by what laws of matter 

 or motitm, hitherto difcovered, can perception of ohjecls a'olent, as 

 well as prefent, be produced, and likewife appetites and defires ? If 

 ^d//^r alone can produce thefe wondertul tffeds, it n^uit be either 

 when it is at refi^ or when it is in motion. While it continues at 

 re(f, nobody will fay, that, by the power of its own nature, it ever 

 can become /entie?it, or have appetites and defires. It muft, therefore, 

 for that purpofe, be put in motion ; but it is iinpoffjble to conceive 

 that, fimply by being moved quicker or flower, or in any, or in all direc- 

 tions, it (hoiild acquire thefe qualities. A IkkIv, then, by itfclt, whe- 

 ther at relt or in motion, cannot becowe Jenticnt. It mu:i, theretore, 

 for that purpofe, impel fome other body ; and w!i;tt will that im()uire 

 produce ? — Motion.- -And what will tha f/ioaon ^Touuce? — Cban:^e of 

 Jituation.of hulk, or ofji^ure^ in thebodv i .nieii.ii^or i!n[)ell d. — in one 

 or other of thefe ways, are .dl the van .usqi li-ics ot bodies, affec- 

 ting our fenies in fo many different s^avt*, produced. Let, i her- fore, 

 the morions, concourfes, embraces, jufti ngs, (hoiks, concretions, fc- 

 cretions, of bodies, be ever fo varif us, and as coiiiple.\ ab it is poffible 



B b to 



