64 A VIS INERTIAS :

After this reasoning here, let me desire threader to reseSl a little on Mr. Locke’s proper-ty

and that is, by all that hath been said before, matter utter-ly incapable of being endued with a self-motive powersIf it is unresisting matter the supposing rt S resistance tomotion taken away, makes it equally impossible that everit should move any thing else. The sceptic is at full libertyto try to make z mover out of ,unresisting matter ; and there-fore out of matter in any shape he can put it in. Besidesthat the supposition of unresisting matter will immediatelyappear contradictory. As to the other faculties and powersmentioned (among which perhaps is meant Mr. Locke’sthought and volition) it is too soon to come to these yet.

And now with what restriction or exception has mat-ter got its inertia ? If the resistance of it were but thehundredth or the thousandth part of what it is, the ar-gument is still as demonstrative as if it were a hundredor a thousand times greater than it is. And when it issupposed to have none at all, the whole difficulty startsup undiminilhed in a new form.

I shall here obviate another evasion, which hath notyet been suggested, only because it is possible it may be,viz. 'Thatunreststing matter doth not ail by material impulse*contatl-, or pressure , as resisting matter doth , but by some s-thervertue or efficacy. If this should be said, it is answered*that all matter is confined within a terminating surface,or surfaces, beyond which it doth not exist, and thereforebeyond which it doth not, cannot act. Nothing can actwhere it is not. This is one of the plainest, most unex-ceptionable principles. To fay a thing acts, and yet is notwhere it acts, is to fay nothing acts there. Where a thing

i*