Chap. II. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 77 



moft certainly a fyflem of fyftems. Now one of thefe fyftcms we 

 may comprehend; and we may alfo difcover the relation this fyftem 

 has to lome other: And by enlarging our knowledge in that way, 

 and difcovering more particular fyftems, and more relations of thefe . 

 particular fyftems to one another, we may come to difcover what is 

 principal in the grand fyftem, to which every part is to be referred, 

 not only thofe we have difcovered, but thofe which, from the infir- 

 mity of our nature, we are unable to difcover. 



It is to be obferved of the univerfe, that it differs very much from 

 the works of human nature, fuch as paintings, fculpture, and build- 

 ings: For as thefe are not in motion, if the parts are fitly connect- 

 ed together, proportionate to one another, and fuch as make a whole, 

 -correfpondent to the intention of the artift, we fay it is a good piece. 

 But, as the material woild is all in motion, if it be a fyftem, the 

 motion of it mull be carried on by certain determinate rules which 

 we call laws of nature ; and as there is a conftant round of genera- 

 tion and corruption going on, thefe changes muft be produced by 

 certain fixed caufes operating conftantly and regularly : For if we 

 could fuppofe the Deity to produce all the effeds, we fee, by a /iat^ 

 or by caufes adting inconftantly and fometimes producing one effedt 

 and fometimes another, whatever end might be produced, there 

 would be no fyftem; and, in the cafe fuppoied, the univerfe might 

 {how the power of its author, and his goodnefs too, if the end at- 

 tained was a good end, but it would not fhow intelligence, which 

 k eflential to every fyftem. For there can be no fyftem unlefs not 

 oiJy an end be propofed, but proper means employed to accom- 

 plilh that end; and if the lyfleni be large, there muft be a chain of 

 cailles and effedls, fome caules more remote and fome more imme- 

 dia;e, and no effed muft be produced without an adequate caufe. 



Laftly, From what I have faid of the nature of a fyftem, fuppofe 



the 



