Chap. VII. ANTIENT M F T APH YS I CS. 6t 



can underftand to be nothing elfe but ihe ideas of them in the Di- 

 vine Mind, which he realized by incorporating them with matter. 



And not only are the ideas of things material in the Divine Mind, 

 from which mind they derive their exiitence, but the ideas of im- 

 material iubrtances alio are in his mindj and thefe fubftances are thofc 

 ideas realized, in this manner we muft fuppofc, that the Second 

 Perlbn of the Trinity exifted in the Divine Mind, and was from 

 thence realized, and made to exifl: feparately by himfelf ; and in the 

 fame manner the Third Perfon of the Trinity exiPied in the mind of 

 the Second Perfon. Thefe ideas, forming the Second and Third 

 Perfons of the Trinity, are, like their great author, from all eternity: 

 And as they are not embodied, that is incorporated with matter, 

 they do not degenerate, but continue always in their primitive per- 

 fedion ; w^hereas minds embodied, muft, of ncceflity, by the con- 

 tagion of the matter with which they are joined, be more or lefs 

 depraved, according to the quality of that matter. And in this way 

 we are to account for the difference we obferve among the indivi- 

 duals of the fame fpecies of animals ; for thofe who are ex mcllors 

 luto^ as the antients exprerffed it, are lefs degenerate than thofe of a 

 'worfe kifid of clay. 



Thus it appears, that all beings, material (by which I mean minds 

 incorporated with matter) and immaterial, are ideas of the Divine 

 Mind, exifting in that mind virtually, but not actually and in energy 

 till they ifFue from it and have a feparate exiftence. 



From what I have faid of the manner in which things exifl in the 

 Divine Mind, that is In idca^ before they have a feparate exiftence 

 out of it, the terms of cxijling virtually and aClually^ mayj I think, 

 be eafily underflood; but as they are commonly ufed, and every 

 thing in nature exifts either virtually or a&ually^ I think it will not 



be 



