112 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book II. 



It may be further obferverl on this lubjcdl, that the tcndencv of 

 our mimls, and the progre's of our knowledge, is always from the 

 many to the one; from the mjiiv individuals to the fpecie/cs; and from 

 the fpcciefes to that one we call a i^cnus; from that to di greater 

 one, that is a higher genus; and fo on from Kflcr to greater ones, till 

 we come to the Categories ; And even the Categories, though ten 

 in number, may be confidered as a great one ; for they are all re- 

 ducible to fubflance and its qualities or accidents. From the Cate- 

 gories we proceed to the greateft one of all, who is not only one in 

 the many, but, as 1 have faid, one in all ; fo that the whole progrefs 

 of our knowledge leads us «o the contemplation of the Supreme Be- 

 ing, that is, to Religion. And here we may obferve the goodnefs 

 of God, who has formed the fyllem of man fo th.at, by the progrefs 

 of his intelledt in this life, he is naturally led to the knowledge of 

 God, which is the greateft happinefs, as well as the greateft perfec- 

 tion, of his nature. 



Before I quit the fubje^^ of Divine Intelligence opevating in the 

 things of this earth, I muft obferve that every thing in it is perfe(f\ly 

 well fitted to anfwer the purpofe, for which, by nature, it is intend- 

 ed. And this is particularly obfervable in animals : For, fuitable to 

 the ftrudture of the body of every animal, there is a mind given, by 

 which not only the individual is preferved, but the kind continued; 

 for no animal is made for himfelf alone, but is more or Icfs con- 

 neded with his kind. Thus, in every fpecies, the male and female 

 are made for one another, and not only copulate for the propaga- 

 tion, hut, in very many Ipeciefes, join their care in rearing the ofF- 

 fpring. In other fpeciefes the animals herd together ; and in fome 

 of ihem it is found neceflary that they fhould not only live together 

 In herds, but in a fociety that may properly enough be called poli- 

 c:l, fiich as the bees and ants. 

 ^ Thus 



