2^6 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book 11. 



of any ; for, in \\\tjirji place, they believe that matter moves itfetf, 

 contrary to the clearefl proof a prioriy amounting even to demonftra- 

 tion, and contrary to the evidence of fenfe and common obfervation. 

 And, fecondly, They believe, not only that matter moves itfelf, but 

 that it moves itfelf for a certain end ; and, for attaining that end, em- 

 ploys the mofl: artificial means, not doing the thing at once, but pro- 

 ceeding, by regular fteps, from one ftate of the thing to another, till, 

 at laft, it comes to that certain end ; and all this progrefs they fup- 

 pofe to be without any end propofed, or means contrived to execute 

 that end. And, lajily^ They believe, what I think as extraordinary 

 a part of their creed as any, that there is no mind in the univerfe fu- 

 perior, or even equal, to the human mind ; for, whether it be the 

 fortuitous concourfe of atoms, or blind Nature^ operating without in- 

 tention or defign, that has produced this w^onderful frame of things, 

 it muft appear very extraordinary, that, in all the infinite variety of 

 nature, there fhould have happened to be produced but one intelli- 

 gence, and that luckily fliould have fallen to our fhare *. And yet I 

 think it is perfedly confiftent with their fyftem, not to admit any o- 

 ther intelligence, at leaft, none fuperior to the human ; for, other- 

 wife, it would not be eafy to determine where to ftop, till they fhould 

 come to the Supreme Intelligence : And I doubt it would be necef- 

 fary for them to admit, that, as our intelligence governs and direds 

 human affairs, fo thofe higher intelligences govern and direct higher 

 things, fuch as the bufinefs of Nature, and the adminiflration of tha 

 univerfe. 



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* The fyflem of the antient Greek mythologies, who derived all thing* from thofc 

 anceftors of nature, as Mihon calls them, Chaos and Nighty appeals to me very much 

 more reafonable than the fyftem of our modem MateriaJifts ; for ihofe wvythologifts 

 brought out of ChaoS; not only the human mind, but all the €©d5, chat is, buperior 

 Minds. 



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