23 VIS INERT I AE

supposed possible also in an elasticity, repul-sion, and all the other tendencies to motion

observable

might be so. His words are; He [Sir Is Newton] thinksIt net impossible that the power of gravity itself should betruing to it [a very subtile spirit, to wit, ofagreatelastickforce, diffused through the universe.] Conclusion. N°3. he says, To acquiesce in the explanation os any appear-ance^ by asserting it to be a general power os attrafiion, ismt to improve our knowledge in philosophy , but rather toput asop to our farther search. But with all due submis-sion, our search is carried as far as it can go, if it stopscnly at the first cause, having been rightly carried thither:and there it must stop, if it is rightly made. The elasti-city of this spirit itself ought to have been ascribed to theagency of the first Being. Qur searches do not supposean endless indagation of cause above cause ; but only toattain, if possible, to a First, the fountain of causation,I also humbly kg leave to dissent from Mr. Derham’ssentiments about gravity. He fays, (b. 1. ch. 5. note i.)This attrailive or gravitating power , I take to be congeni-al to matter , and imprinted on all the matter of the universe ,by the Creator’s fat at the creation. Not only the reasonsabove, N° 14 and 15, but the constant appearances inthe descent of bodies, shew that this is an incessant im-pulse upon mattery not the permanent ejsett os a transient,simultaneous impression. For it is obvious that an equallyaccelerated motion could never be effected by ©ne singleand instantaneous impression j but by a successive, equa-ble repetition of impulse. He continues, What the4 ' < au fi