Chap. T. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 6i 



elfewhere *, it is not, in fad, fo divided ; and it appears now to be 

 the general opinion of philofophcrs, that all Bodies confift of a cer- 

 tain number of particles, which are perfectly folid, and, therefore, in- 

 capable of divifion. Now, as all Nature confifts of Body and Mind, 

 there is no abfurdity in fuppoiing that there is as much Mind in the 

 univerfe as Body, and, confequently, that every particle of Matter 

 is animated by a Mind ; not, indeed, a mind intelleclual, for that 

 is an abfurd,Atheiftical,fyftem,but a Mind of the loweftkind; — that 

 which only moves in one uniform way. 



The next in degree, as well as abundance, is the Vegetable Life, 

 which, as it is of a higher kind, fo it is more artificial, and has 

 movements much more various, by which the plant grows, is nou- 

 rifhed, and propagates its kind : And, as it is lefs abundant than 

 the elemental life, fo it is more abundant than the Animal, becaufe 

 it makes part of the Animal. 



And here we rife to what Is much more mixed and compounded, 

 and confequently much more artificial. The Elemental Life is no- 

 thing but a principle of Motion, and a Motion always in a certain 

 direction : The Vegetable is more compounded ; for it is a prin- 

 ciple, joined with the matter of the Vegetable, by the various 

 movements of which principle, Growth, Nutrition, and Propaga- 

 tion are performed : But the Animal is of a ftrudlure very much 

 more artificial ; for there is fuperadded to the Vegetable, a Mind that 

 perceives objeds without it, or, in other words, has Senfations, feels 

 Pleafure and Pain, has Appetites and defires, and, by that power, 

 which is called Inftind, provides for the gratification of thefe appe- 

 tites, and, by confequence, for the prefervation of the individual, and 

 the continuation of the kind. 



But 

 * Vol. I. p. 243. 



