CONTENTS. 



dcr and regularity are produced by the Human Mind only. — The be?uty of Plato's 

 Syftcm confidered Theologically: — It exhibits a com pleat progrefs of things from 

 the higheO: to the bweft : — It agrees with the UoiStrine of the Trinity, which Plato 

 learned in Egypt. — Plato's account of the two principles of Intelligence and Vitallitx. 

 — QueftioD, Whether all things exifting proceed from them immediately, or by in- 

 termediate emanations ? — The latter opinion adopted by the Author ; and his Rea- 

 fcns ftated. — Plato's Doctrine of Ideas neceflarily connedted with that of the Trini- 

 ty, — and no more than carrying it on through Nature : — It agrees with the Pytha- 

 gorean Philofophy of Timxus, who ufes the term Idea. — ObjecHiion — How can one 

 immaterial fubftance beget another ? — Anfwered : — firft, From the cafe of Natural 

 Generation j — fecond, From the Generation of Inferior Intelligences from the 

 Source of all being. — The Ideas of Plato confidered in this view. — Ejfcplanation of 

 the difficulty of conceiving the many in one. — Plato's Dodlrine of Ideas connected 

 alfo with his Doftrine of Reminifcence. — Explanation of it, and of his Doctrine of 

 Frefcience. p. l8l. 



CHAP. XII. 



The Materia Prima a fubjedl of moft abftrufe fpeculation, — more abftrufe than that of 

 the Trinity. — Its exiftencc admitted by all the Antient Philofophers, — called by 

 them *t/Aii i — held to be different from Body, having none of the qualities of Body. 

 — Timseus calls it the Mother, and Idea the Father of Body. — Being neither Mind 

 nor Body, it can only be comprehended ?\»yi<rftM vtu. — It is not treated of by Mo- 

 dern Philofophy, which has not analyfed farther than to the four Elements — ^Though 

 none of thefe, it muft be fomething common to them all, and convertible to every 

 one of them, as they change into one another. — It is a Proteus-like fubftance ; — not 

 to be very accurately defined ; — is at the lower extremity of the chain of being. — 

 Neither the lowed nor higheft extremity comprehenfible by us. — Two queftions in 

 Theology Itated : — Did this firft matter proceed from Deity .-* Or if it did not, Is it 

 impious to maintain that a thing, not derived from him, can exift from all eternity ? 

 — Anfwer to firft qucftion — It did not. — Reafons in fupport of the Author's opinion. 

 — ihe fecond queftion confidered — No impiety in the fuppofition. — The Author 

 fupported by Antient Philofophy in his opinions on thcfe two queftions, — by Mofes 

 — by Timaeus— and by Ariftotle. p. 207. 



CHAP. XIII. 



The Microcofm in Man falls naturally to be explained, after the Conftitutlon of the 

 Great World, which is confidered in the iaft Chapter.— Our Microcofm confifts of 



the 



