Chap. VI. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 115 



thing, to which all things elfc in the fyftem are fubordinate, Is the 

 Supreme Being, who, as I have flifuvn, is the author of the whole 

 fyftem, and the preferver of it, and w'lO comprehends in his nature 

 the principles of Intelligence and vitality, without which there could 

 be no fyftem. But of this I will fay no more here, as I have elfc- 

 where fpoken of it at great length *. 



If this be the cafe, A'hat fhall we fay of Dr Clarke's Demonjiration 

 of the Being and Attributes of God ^ and particularly of his Intelli- 

 gence, without fliowing, or indeed mentioning, that there is any 

 fyftem in the univerfe. Now it is by fyftem that intelligence oper- 

 ates ; nor can we conceive any operation of intelligence without 

 a fyftem greater or lefler. Neither can there be, as I have fhown "]", 

 beauty without a fyftem; fo that the Dodlor has not proved that 

 there Is either Intelligence or beauty in the univerfe. 



And thus, I think, I have proved by the works of God, that he 

 Is a Being of fupreme intelligence ; for it Is only by the works of 

 any being that he can be proved to have intelligence. Now, In this 

 way, we are as fure that the Supreme Being has intelligence, and 

 fupreme intelligence, as that we have intelligence ourfelves ; for it Is 

 by our works that we know not only that we exift, but that we are 

 intelligent beings. Des Cartes, therefore, as I have obferved \^ has 

 fo far reafoned well, when he has faid, " I think," that Is, I oper- 

 ate as an intelligent being; " Therefore I am;" but he ihould have 

 added " an Intelliiicnt beins;." 



As the univerfe Is the moft perfetft fyftem that can be Imagined, 

 fo It Is the moft beautiful: For it is fyftem, as I have fliown, that 

 makes beauty; and beauty is the delight, and indeed the only de- 



P 2 light, 



* rage 43. f Pnge 71. and the pnilagcs there referred to. % Page 108, 



