4 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book I. 



llie Univcrfe may be called the Syftem of Syjlems^ being compo- 

 fed of an infinite number of parts, each of which is a Syftem by it- 

 felf, yet all parts of the Great Syftem ; for it is impoflible that the 

 Supreme Intelligence can produce any thing but in Syftem ; nor 

 can Human Intelligence produce, or even conceive any thing, as I 

 have fhown *, but in that way. 



There is one part of the Univcrfai Syftem that has been the fu'b- 

 jedl of much fpeculation of late years, I mean this our Solar Syf- 

 tem. Aftronomy is the Science that treats of this Syftem; of the 

 principles of which I have faid a good deal in the end of the Second 

 Volume. That there are many other Syftems in the Univerfe re- 

 fembling this our Syftem, cannot be doubted : But, in our Syftem, 

 there aie feveral other Syftems ; for each planet muft be a Syftem 

 by itfelf, probably compofed of Mineral,. Vegetable, and Animal 

 kingdoms, and, I doubt not, of Intelledual Natures. What the 

 nature of thefe feveral kingdoms, or Syftems of Being, in the other 

 Planets, may be, or whether there may not be there other Syftems, 

 of which we have no comprehenfion, is impoiTible for us to deter- 

 mine ; but we know certainly that thefe feveral Syftems are in cur 

 earth, and that each of thefe has under it other Syftems," fo many in 

 number, that to us they appear infinite. The animal kingdom, for 

 example, has under it more fpeciefes than have been yet difcovered, 

 which have each of them a fyftem of its own, preferving the in- 

 dividual, and continuing the race, according to certain eftablifhed 

 laws ; and each of thefe fpeciefes has under it individuals without 

 number, every one whereof is a Syftem by itfelf. 



Minerals, Vegetables, and Animals, are all comprehended under 

 the fubjedl of Natural Philofophy ; But Man, the only Intelledtual 

 Nature here below, is made the fubjed: of a philofophy by himfelf, 

 which, by Ariftotle, is called the Human Philofophy. Nor is this 



without 



• Vol. II. p. 132. 



