432 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. BookV. 



new courfe given it, with the fame perfeverance with which it 

 continued in the old. But, inftead of that, by the violent exertion 

 of an A£tive Power, it tends to return to the Straight Line, and 

 this with a Force not arbitrary or accidental, but governed by Rule 

 and Meafure, and fuch as may be reduced to Science. And it 

 is upon this hypothefis that they tell us that Sir Ifaac Newton has 

 demonflrated that the Moon is retained in her Orbit by the fame 

 Power that makes a ftone fall to the ground ; without which, they 

 tell us, the Moon would fly off in a Tangent, and go on in a 

 Straight Line to all eternity. 



Now, here is a Power fuppofed in Matter, by which it not only 

 continues in a Motion once given it, but begins a new Motion con- 

 trary to that which was laft given it. If this be true, I muft own, I 

 think there is an end of the fyftem of Theifm, and of Mind. For, 

 if Body can, by a Power eflential to it, not only continue Motion, 

 but begin it, and carry it on in the moft regular and orderly man- 

 ner, there is nothing in Nature that may not be accounted for by 

 Matter and Motion merely, without Mind. Li fhort, it puts an 

 end altogether to the diftinftion that I hold to be the foundation of 

 the Syftem of the Univerfe — betwixt Mind and Body ; which 

 ditlindtion confifts in this and this only, that Mind is adive, and is the 

 Author of all the Motion in the Univerfe ; whereas Body is inactive, 

 and merely paflive. 



Thefe are the confequences of the dodrine of Centrifugal Forces ; 

 as to the truth of it, it is utterly inconceivable, with relpeil to the 

 Planets, whether we fupnoie Body or Mind to be the Moving Power. 

 If they are moved by Bodily Impulfc, it is impoffible, I admit, that 

 the Motion can be fnnple or uncompounded ; and, inftead ot being 

 moved in an EUipfe, they muft be moved in a Polygon of many 

 fides. But it is not credible that, in the Motion in any of thefe 



2 fides, 



