246 COSMICAL ARRANGEMENTS. 



hand, we consider this property of friction, and 

 find that it prevails there, and there only, where 

 the general functions, analogies, and relations of 

 the universe require it, we shall probably receive 

 a strong impression that it was introduced into 

 the system of the world for a purpose. 



3. It is very remarkable that this force, which 

 is thus so efficacious and discharges such im- 

 portant offices in all earthly mechanism, disap- 

 pears altogether when we turn to the mechanism 

 of the heavens. All motions on the earth soon 

 stop ; a machine which imitates the movements 

 of the stars cannot go long without winding up: but 

 the stars themselves have gone on in their courses 

 for ages, with no diminution of their motions, and 

 offer no obvious prospect of any change. This 

 is so palpable a fact, that the first attempts of 

 men to systematize their mechanical notions were 

 founded upon it. The ancients held that motions 

 were to be distinguished into natural motions and 

 violent, the former go on without diminution 

 the latter are soon extinguished ; the motions of 

 the stars are of the former kind ; those of a 

 stone thrown, and in short all terrestrial motions, 

 of the latter. Modern Philosophers maintain that 

 the laws of motion are the same for celestial and 

 terrestrial bodies ; that all motions are natural 

 according to the above description ; but that in 

 terrestrial motions, friction comes in and alters 

 their character, destroys them so speedily that 

 they appear to have existed only during an effort. 



