Chap. XIX. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 283 



* part of it will, of Itfelf, always and neceflfarlly continue in that 



* ftate, whether of reft or motion, wherein it at prefcnt is : So 



* that all thofe thin,^s which we commonly fay are the efFeds of the 



* natural poivcrs of matter-^ and la'ws of motion^ oi gra'vitation^ at' 



* traHioiu and the like, are indeed (if we will fpeak ftri^ly and 



* properly,) the effedls of God\s ading upon matter continually and 

 ' every moment, either immediately, by himfelf, or mediately, by 

 ' feme created intelligent beings.* 



Thus, it appears, that this great fcholar, philofopher, and divine, 

 to whom both natural and revealed religion are lb much obliged, 

 though intimately connetfted with Sir Ifaac, and very well acquainted 

 with his philofophy, yet differs froni him in this material point ; 

 and, rejecting the notion of the heavens being a machine, moved by 

 certain forces originally impreffed upon the celeftial bodies, aflerts 

 the perpetual and immediate agency of mind thrcnigh the whole uni- 

 verfe. And it is evident, from the paflage firft quoted, that he 

 thouj^ht this an eflential part of the dodrine of Theifm, and that 

 it is neceffanly connected with the proof of the world's being 

 originally produced by a Supreme, Intelligent Caufe ; and indeed 

 it is fo ; for, how can we demonftrate that mind is the origin of 

 all motion in the univerfe, otherwife than by ftiowing that mere 

 matter and mechanilm never could have produced it ? Now, in the 

 fame way, I prove, that, as motion cannot be begun, fo neither 

 can it be carried on without mind, ehhcr in the heavens, or on the 

 earth. 



N nl CHAP. 



