Chap. VI. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. ., 37 



he defended upon no other hypothefis, but that AT.ittcr moves itfclf. 

 On the other hand, if we maintain tliat Matter, by a I'u infita, or 

 power belonging to its nature and eflence, moves itfelf, we cannot 

 ftop there, but muft likewife maintain that it has a principle of intel- 

 ligence in it, as well as of motion ; fince it is evident that ail the 

 motions of Nature are for fome end or purpofe, as evident as that 

 the motions exiu. Ng"', to propofe an end, and to ufe means for 

 accomplishing that end, is the very definition of intelligence in prac- 

 tice. This is a confequence which I believe all thofe who maintain, 

 this notion are not aware of, but it appears to me to be unavoid- 

 able. 



If the Materialift fliouid admit that Matter cannot mo^e itfclf, 



but that there muft be a tnoi'cr, as well as a thitig moved, then that 

 nwucr muft be either Mind or Body. If he admits it to be Mind, 

 he gives up his caufe : If he fays that it is Body which moves Bo- 

 dy, then he is reduced to the neceftity of maintaining the moft ab- 

 furd of all hypothefes — an infinite feries of Bodies, all impelling and 

 impelled ; for it is evident that Body cannot move Body, unlefs it 

 be itfelf firft moved. Now, if ihtfr/i Body be moved by they^- 

 cond, I afk, What moves the ftcond ? If it be faid that it is the 

 third, I afk. again, What moves the third ? The fame anfwer is 

 given, and the fame queftion repeated ; and fo on in infinitum : And 

 thus we have an infinite number of motions without one original 

 mover; which, in other words, is faying that there may be an in- 

 finite number of effedls without a caufe. 



Let us fuppofe a chain hung down from heaven, and from a height 

 invifible — If it were afked, What fupports this chain ? Would it be an 

 anfwer fufficient to fay, thatthe^fr/? or loweft link is fupported by the 

 fecond, or that next above it, the fecond by the third, the thi^-d by 

 xkt fourth, and fo on ; and, in this v;ay, a chain of infinite length 

 might be maintained to be fupported by nothing at all, than w!i:ch 



nothing 



