254 A N T I E N T METAPHYSICS. Book If. 



is a fad that I think cannot be denied, at lead with refped to animal 

 and vegetable bodies. For, jirft^ Mind is the caiife of all the fponta* 

 iieous motions of cur bodies, as nuift be acknov.'ledged by every phi- 

 Icfopher who admits tb-? (Viilindtion betwixt h:idy and mind. And it 

 is, I believe, the opinion of all the philofophers in Britain, that the 

 fame kind of motion in other animals is produced by the fame caufe. 

 It is true, in producing thefe motions, it operates by the mecha- 

 nical powers of mufcles, finews, and bones, by which the motion, be- 

 gun bv mind, is continued and propagared to the extremities of the 

 animal body, and from thence to external bodies. But, without the 

 unceafipg operation of mind, not only impelling at firft, but renewing 

 the impulfes from time to time, the motion very foon ceafes. As to 

 the involuntary motions in animals, fuch as the circulation of the 

 blood, refpiration, digeftion, and the like, by which the animal life, 

 growth, and nutrition, are carried on; till thefe be explained, by 

 material and mechanical caufes, which hitherto has not been done, and, 

 if I may venture to prophecy in matters of philolophy, never will be 

 done, I muft afcribe thefe likev^rife to mind, but to a mind of a differ- 

 ent kind, commonly known by the name of the 'vegetable life, being 

 the caufe of fimilar motions in the vegetable. Further, the motions 

 of unorganized bodies here on earth, fuch as the motion of gravitation, 

 till it fhall be accounted for from any mechanical caufe, 1 muft alfo 

 afcribe to mind, and to mind indefinenliy operating, which, in the cafe 

 of gravitation, produces a motive force that is always increafing and 

 accumulating. And, lajlly. The motion of projediles here on earth is 

 evidently from mind, that is, from animal force, applied either medi- 

 ately or immediately to the bodies moved, but with this difference be- 

 twixt it and the natural motion of bodies towards the centre, that the 

 motion of projeailes is continually decreafing, till, at laft, it ceafes 

 altogether ; whereas the motion of gravitation is continually in- 



crcaiing. 



In 



