Chap. I. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 



f9 



naturalifts, reafon in that way, when they colledt a great many parti- 

 cular fads of natural hiftory, under general heads, proceeding upon 

 the fuppofition, that all fadts of the fame kind are produced by the 

 fame caufe. In like manner, I fuppofe that all thefe feveral Bodies, 

 being moved in the fame manner, are all moved by the fame caufe. 

 If, indeed, another caufe could be aihgncd, as the fame effea: 

 may be produced by different caufcs, I fhould admit that the argu- 

 ment was not conclufive. But, as no other caufe is pretended, ex- 

 cept Ethers, and Fluids, invifible and Intangible, which, if they could 

 be fuppofed to exift, (for, as to any proof of their exiftence, it is 

 not fo much as pretended), would not, by any laws of mechanics 

 known, account for the feveral motions of Bodies, I think I may fay 

 that this argument, from analogy, is as conclufive as any argument 

 of the kind can be. 



The great objedion to this part of my fyRem arifes from the con- 

 fined fcnfe which many people give to the word Mind, as if it de- 

 noted only that which thinks and reflects, but did not comprehend 

 that principle which only moves. But here again I would argue in 

 the analogical way, and afk thofe objedtors, whether they do not 

 give the name of Mind to that principle in the Brute, which, though 

 without thought or reflexion, moves him ? This principle, it is 

 true, has fenfation, appetite, and defires ; but what will they fay of 

 the motive principle in the Vegetable, which has none of thefe ? And 

 where is the difference betwixt the motive principle in the Vege- 

 table and the unorganized Body, except that, in the former, it is 

 more complicated and artificial ? If any one fays, that he cannot 

 conceive how there (hould be any motive principle without thought 

 or refledlion, appetites or defires, I would have him confider, that 

 one Body moves another, and yet the Body moving has neither 

 thought nor refledion, appetites nor defires : And, if Body can 

 move Body without any of thefe, why ihould not Mind do it like- 



H 2 wife ? 



