Chap. XVIir. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 239 



to me to be the motions obferved in thofe bodies, and particularly in 

 modern times, when the experimental phiiofophy, as it is called, has 

 made fuch curious and accurate obfervations upon thofe motions, and, 

 by the means of glaifes, has difcovcred in the minute particles of mat- 

 ter fuch a wonderful variety of adion, invifible to the naked eye. 

 1 his phiiofophy, which is wholly converfant with hody^ has led fome 

 of theie philofophers, that were not acquainted with a higher kind of 

 phiiofophy, to believe that, as thofe motions could not be accounted 

 for by any material impulfe or external caufe of any kind, they were 

 effential to matter, and that it was of the nature and effence of certain 

 bodies to move themfelves in a certain way ; and, as they obferved, 

 that thofe motions were all directed to certain ends and purpofes, and 

 that, by them, all the buiinefs of nature was performed, they conclu- 

 ded, that nothing more was neceifary for the fyflem of the univerfe, 

 and that nature alone, operating as we fee, by powers which they 

 fuppofed to be innate, and effential to matter, might produce and pre- 

 ferve every thing in the univerfe, and the univerfe itielf, without any 

 mind or intelligence direding and prefidmg over the whole *. This 



is 



* The firft experimental philofophers in Europe were the chcmyfls, fuch as Para- 

 celfus, Van Helmont, and their followeis. They appear to have beeri very difTirently 

 affeded, by obferving the wonderful movements an-.ong the minute particles of mat- 

 ter •, for, inftead of being matcrialifls, like fome of our late experimental philofophers, 

 they went to the other extreme, as was thought by many, who judged them to be no 

 better than wild enthufiafts. They believed that the univerfe was full of mind and 

 fpiritual beings ; for, otherwife, they thought there would be a void in the creation ; 

 and, particularly, that the earth, the air, the fire, and the water, were ail animated by 

 principles of life and motion, but without intelligence. Thefe,they faid, made all cor- 

 poreal fubftances what they were, and gave life, aftion, effence, and exiflencc, to all 

 bemgs oi that kind. '1 he four elements, they faid, ferved for bodies to thefe adive 

 principles, which they cAXc^i fpiritual elements ; and, when the body was diflbJved or 

 corrupted, the fpirit went away to animate another body ; fo that, according to them, 

 the corruption of one thing was the generation of another. See the French Encyclo- 

 pedicy under the article TheoJopheSi where their dogmas are ftatcd at great length. 



And, 



