498 DISSERTATION ON 



quire into the metaphyfical principles upon which it is founded : For,, 

 as the principles of all fclences are contained in this firft pliilofophy, 

 which is therefore called the fcience ot fclences ; and as, accordingly, 

 i have endeavoured, in this work,, to explain the principles of geome- 

 try and arithmetic, it belongs, I think, to my fubjed, to inquire whe- 

 i\ier a philofophy, which, at prefent, is (o fafliionable, agrees with the 

 principles of this firft philofophy ; an inquiry which, as far as I know, 

 has not been made with any accuracy. 



The queflion treated of in the chapter above mentioned, is, Whether 

 the celeftial bodies are moved by the immediate operation, and con- 

 ilant agency of Mind, according to the opinion of the anlient philofo- 

 phers? or Whether, as the Newtonians maintain, the heavens area 

 machine, which God Almighty has indeed contrived, framed, and fee 

 a-going, but which goes on of itfelf, without his interpofition, or that, 

 of any other Mind, by the operation of caules merely material and 

 mechanical ? This is a queflion of great importance to the religion of 

 Nature and the dodtrine of Theifm, which confids of two parts. The 

 JifJI teaches us, that Mind is the eldeft of things, and that there is a 

 Supreme Mind, which is the firft Caufe and Author of this univerfe i 

 xhe/econdj That the univerfe is not only the produdion of this Su- 

 preme Mind, but that it is governed and carried on by this Mind, or 

 Minds fubordinaie to him, and employed by him as his minifters» 

 And it is in this fenfe that the Deity may be laid to be every where 

 prefent, informing and animating every part of Nature, guiding and 

 diredting the whole : Nor do I know that the infinity and ubiquity of 

 God can be any way better explained. Of theie two parts of theifm, 

 this iaft, which afferts the providence of God over all his works, is, 

 in my apprehenfion, the better half of religion, both natural and re- 

 vealed ; for, I do not think that any man can be faid to be truly reli- 

 gious, who has not a fenfe of a prefent Deity in the works of Nature, 

 as well as the affairs of men. 



K philofopher, therefore, fuch as Des Cartes, who afiigns to Deity 

 BO other part, except, at firft, to turn round a vortex or whirlpool of 



matter, 



