Chap. VIII. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 443 



by Bodily Impulfe, much lefs that they would go on for ever by virtue 

 of fuch Impulfe ? if there be neither Gravitation nor Projeflion in 

 reality, but only in hypothefis, What is the confequence? Only this, 

 •that the Newtonians teach their Science in an improper manner and 

 lay down as Principles, Propofitions which are not true, and fomc of 

 them impoflible to be true. To endeavour to prove that thefe are 

 neceflarily connedled with the Science, and that their theorems can- 

 not otherwife be demonftrated, is, I think, to give up their Science • 

 and it were better for them, as I have faid, to acknowledge that they 

 know no more in Aftronomy than what was before known, that is 

 fa£ts and phaenomena, but do not know by what Law of the Mo- 

 lion thefe phaenomena are produced. 



It may appear extraordinary to thofe who have not learned their 

 Logic, that true conclufions, fuch as I admit thofe of the Newto- 

 nians to be, fhould be drawn from falfe premifles : But this is very 

 often done, and may be done in every cafe. I will give only one 

 example, which is commonly given by the Commentators upon A- 

 riftotle : 



Every Animal is a Stone ; 



A Stone is a Senfitive Being ; 



Therefore every Animal is a Senfitive Being, 



Here the conclufion is undoubtedly true, and, according to the rules 

 of Syllogifm, properly inferred from the premifTes ; but thefe are 

 abfolutely falfe. In this way, I think, the Newtonians argue, when 

 rhey fay that 



All Bodies gravitate towards one another, at however great a 

 diftance j 



The Moon, and the other Planets, gravitate towards the Bo- 

 dies in their feveral Centres ; 



Therefore their Motions are governed by fuch and fuch Laws. 

 K k k 2 Or 



