2-t ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book III. 



carried their analyfis, of the material world, no farther than the four 

 elements. But if it be true, as I believe our modern philofophers 

 allow, that thefe elements change into one another, and 



m quarernion run 



Perpetual circle, multiform; Par. Loft, Book 5. v. 18©. 



as Milton cxprefTes it, there muft be fome matter common to them 

 all, which in certain circumftances and by certain changes, becomes 

 anyone of the elements: So that nature performs upon this common 

 matter, what the art of man performs upon wood and metal, giving 

 it various forms and applying it to different ufes ; and in this way I 

 would chufeto make a kind of Proteus of it, and to affert fometbing 

 pofitive of it by way of definition. But that we (hould not be able 

 perfedly to comprehend it, or to give of it an accurate definitio 1, is 

 not to be wondered,* if we confider that it is the loweft thing in na- 

 ture, and is at the extremity of one end of the wonderful chain of 

 nature, even below body. Now, it is natural that both extremities 

 of this wonderful chain, the loweft as well as the highcft, Ihould be 

 out of the reach of cur capacity, in this ftate of our exiftence*. H^re 

 there occur two queftions of Theology which deferve to be well 

 confidered : uno, Whether we can fuppofe that this /irfi maiier 

 proceeded, as mind does, from the Deity? and, idly^ fupp.iling 

 it did not, Whether it be not impious to maintain that any thing 

 can exift from all eternity, and yet not be derived from the Deity, 

 or, in other words, be felf-exiftent? As to the firft of thefe queftions, 

 I cannot conceive that matter fhould proceed from mind, any more 

 than that mind (hould proceed from matter; for nothing can proceed 

 from another thi.ig, but what is contained in it. Now, it is impof- 

 fible for me ;o believe that maiter makes any part of tne fubft ince 

 of Deity. Even our minds, though ^lofely united to our bodies, do 

 not produce the bodies of our children: But, as I have faidf, it is 



from 

 * See more upon this lubjedi, voi. 1. p. aH, f Tige 197. of this vol. 



