Chap. I. ANTIENT METAPHYISICS. 359 



Thus, I have finKhed what I have to fay of timey a fubjed which 

 undoubtedly belongs to this univerfal fcience ; for the univerfe exifts 

 in it. It began with the univerfe, and can never end but with it. It 

 is, in fhort, a neceflary adjunct of nature, without which no vifible 

 world ever could have exifted. 



CHAP. 



with, of that wonderful and moft myfterlcus unity and perfed indivifibility of the 

 Godhead, which mufl be extended to his duration as well as his fubllance. And, as 

 Plotinus has obferved, in the paflage above quoted, this manner of exifting is the moft 

 perfeft that can be conceived •, more perfed, I doubt, than human intelle6l can form a 

 clear idea of. Nor do I think we can do more than perceive the necelTity of the moft 

 perfe£l Being exifting in that manner ; for, I think, we clearly fee the impoffibiiity of 

 his duration being in a conftant flow like a river, and one moment hurrying to over- 

 take another, and always fomething ftill to come ; fo that nothing is perfe£l or com- 

 pleat. However difBcult it may be, therefore, to conceive it, yet the neceffity is ap- 

 parent, that his duration fliould be fhut up and included in eternity, in the fame man- 

 ner as his fubflance mufl: be altogether and within itfelf, not divided into parts, oije 

 of which lies here, one there 5 and thefe parts again infinitely divifible. 



