82 The consequences of the

the nature of matter, and shewing its inac-tivity, makes the shortest work with Atheistsof all denominations. And this is a moreeffectual method, I think, than to deny theexistence of matter altogether, in order toconfute Atheists. Besides, from this way offirst discovering the Deity, a more surprizingscene of providence will immediately appear,than from any other kind of argument wecould have made use of. In order to this,the consideration of the nature of mattershall be farther pursued; the several instanceswhere the power of an immaterial Being isexerted upon it, particularly shewn; and theeffects, commonly but falfly ascribed to cer-tain powers in matter, shall be restored totheir proper causes , as in right philosophythey should: which method must of coursecarry us into a variety of subjects, andthrough a great part of natural philosophy-

II. To begin from the universal resistantof matter as it is a solid extended substance*from this we may satisfy ourselves of the ab'surdity and falseness of an universal Plenuft 1,For, pasting by at first Lucretius ’s reason[Principium quoniam cedendi nulladaretre