428 



ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 



BookV. 



CHAP. 



VII. 



The Advantage of thus ftmpUfying the Aftronomy c/'Sir Ifaac Newton. 

 — Firft, // difinawihers the Sj(/}e7n of the Hypothefts of the Planets 

 being moved by Bodily Impulfe : — The Confequences of fuch an Hy- 

 pothefts. — 2do, Of the Notion of a Perpetuity of Motion begun by 

 Bodily Impulfe. — 3tio, Of Body attra£lhig or impelUng Body at a 



Diflance. — 4to, Of the Compofition of the Planetary Motion: 



Such a Compofition irreconcileable with the Simplicity of Nature. 



5to, Of the Hypothefis of the Planets all falling into their Centres if 

 their Motions -were to be flopped. — Laflly, Of a Centrifugal Force 

 fuppofed in the Planetary Motion. — TZ?,? Confeqiience of this Hypo- 

 thefis downright Materialifm. — Inapplicable to the Motion of the 

 Planets, whether that Motion be by Mind&r Body. — The Centri- 

 fugal Force of the Stone and Sling explained. — The Origin of the 

 Notion of a Centrifugal Force. 



WHETHER I have fucceeded, in ^ endeavouring thus to 

 fimplify the Principles of Sir Ifaac's 4^ftronomy, does not 

 belong to me to determine. But this I will yehture to affirm, that, 

 if I have fucceeded, the Newtonians are very much obliged to me j 

 for I have difmcumbered their Science (one of the nobleft that ever 

 was invented, and which does more honour to modern Times, than 

 any thing elfe I know) of Propofitions altogether ufelefs, yet laid 

 down as Axioms and Poftulata abfolutely neceifary for fupperting 

 their Syftem, but which are either abfolutely falfe, and impoffible to 

 be true, or fuch as no philofopher can grant. 



The 



