3-i ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book V. 



quenccs of the perpetuity of Motion, aflerted by Sir Ifaac's firft Axiom, 

 in confequence of a Vis Inftta in the Body. — And fo much for the 

 firft of the two ways in which Bodies here on earth can be moved. 



I proceed now^ to the fecond hypothefis, which is, That Bodies here 

 are moved by other Bodies. This muft neccflarily be ip one of two 

 ways ; either by trufion, or by Impulfe, according to the diftindlion I 

 have made betwixt thofe two Motions *. I will begin with Trufion. 

 But it muft be always remembered, that, when I fpeak of Body mo- 

 ving Body, I mean that the Body is only the immediate Caufe of the 

 Motion : For, ultimately. Mind is the Author of all Motion in the 

 univerfe, one Body not being able to move another unlefs it be firft 

 moved itfelf ; and it cannot be moved, except by Mind, either me- 

 diately or immediately. 



That there is a great deal of Motion here below by Trufion, can- 

 not be denied. A confidcrable part of the Motion within the Ani- 

 mal and Vegetable Body, is, I believe, of that kind. But I deny 

 that the many other Motions, which we obferve on earth, can be 

 accounted for by any Trufion," or Preflure, of other Bodies upon the 

 Bodies in Motion: And particularly the Motion of heavy Bodies to- 

 wards the centre of the earth, cannot be accounted for in that way ; 

 though that has been attempted by no lefs a man than Sir Ifaac New- 

 ton, wKo has propofed it as a query. Whether Gravitation might 

 not be the efFedl of a fluid prefling upon the Body, and urging it 

 towards the centre ? But this is an hypothefis that, I believe, is now 

 imiverfally given up by all Newtonians : And, indeed, it appears to 

 me quite inconceivable, how a fluid, invifible, untangible, and un- 

 perceived by any fenfe, fliould have neverthelefs fuch prodigious 

 force, as to prefs down towards the earth Bodies of the greateft 



mafs 



• Seepage 343. 



