228 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book IL 



CHAP. XVIIL 



T.he DoElrine of all Bodies being moved by an internal ASlivePrijicipky not 

 neiv — maintained by Plato and Ariftotle — alfo by Leibnitz, and other 

 Authors — Difference of Minds admitted by every Body — The Vegetable 

 Mind has fomething like Appetite and Inclination — The Mind in unorga" 

 nized Bodies has fomething of the fame Kind — The Belief that there is 

 110 Principle in unoiganized Body difincl from Matter, the Foundation 

 of Atheifm — Aufvuer to the ObjeBions, that this Syfem multiplies 

 Minds — that it makes all Nature to be a Wonder, and a Miracle — The 

 Atheifi is the greatefi of all Believers — FaJiity the great Source of 

 Atheifm — Cure propofedfor this Vanity, 



NOTWITHSTANDING the pains I have taken, In the preceeding 

 chapter, to explain and fupport my fyftem, I know very well, 

 that by far the greatefi: part of my readers (if there be any that have 

 accompanied me thus far) will think it very abfurd and ridiculous, 

 efpecially that part of it which gives mind to fenfelefs and inanimate 

 things, as they are commonly called. And it is fo different from what 

 is to be found in the books that are commonly read, that I am perfua- 

 ded it will be thought a mere fancy and conceit of my own, fuch as 

 never entered into the imagination of any before me. 



That my fyflem fhould be thought new, is not to be wondered at, 

 in an age where the old philofophy is fo much forgot, that it is no lefs 

 new than when it was firft introduced into the weftern parts of Eu- 

 TOpe, by the Greeks that came to Italy, after the taking of Conf^antl- 

 iiople by the Turks \ for the language of this philofophy is lofl in 



aim oft 



