x2 ANTJENT METAPHYSICS. Book I. 



CHAP. HI. 



Properties of 'BoAj refulthig from its Definition — ift, Having Parts, 

 and being divifible — 2d, Occupying Space, or Extenfion. — Exten- 

 fion not being the EJence of Matter, fuppofes Matter not extended. — 

 3d, Refiftence another Property of Body. — 4th, Impenetrability. — 

 5tb, Solidity. — 6th, Continuity. — Dr Prieflleys Notions concerning 

 , iliodXy refuted. — Laftly, Bodies a6l upon one another by their Sur- 

 faces. 



WILL begin with Body, being that with which all human 

 knowledge begins, and from which even our knowledge of Mind 

 may be faid to be derived in this ftate of our exiftence ; for it is 

 from the operations of our Minds upon the perceptions of fenfe that 

 we firfl; get the notion of Mind. 



In the fir/l place, as every Motion, of whatever kind, muft be a 

 change of place, either of the whole Body, or of its parts, it is of 

 neceflity that every Body in motion muft have its parts fucceflively 

 in different places ; for, fuppofe that it only turns round its centre, 

 fo that the whole Body does not change its place, ftill, of neceffity, 

 the parts muft change their place, otherwife there could be no mo- 

 tion at all. ^ 



The confequence of this is, that every Body that is moved, or ca- 

 pable of being moved, muft have parts ; fo that here is a quality of 

 Body that is plainly deducible from its property of being moved, or 

 moveable. Having parts, therefore, it muft be divifible, and infi- 

 nitely divifible too, but only potentially, or in capacity : For, what- 

 ever 



