g6 The consequences of the

constancy and regularity of the effect, thscircumstances remaining the fame (k) : This

is

(k) The invariableness and constancy of these effects,is the reason, I think, why we generally fancy them theaction of matter upon matter only: but as I said lately,the constancy of an effect is no mark of the necessity ofit, but of something else, (seeN° 3. of this.) It is anunaccountable prejudice to be entertained by reasonablemen and philosophers, that no designing cause , but sucha passive and necessary one as matter, could observe suchregularity and proportion! We ought to make just thecontrary conclusion: for a designing, intelligent Cause isnecessary in all proportion'and regularity. (The workof chance and dead matter could not be so qualified.)And this is not only in the first institution of the propor-tion, but in the constant observing of it. The actionof gravity decreases, as the squares of the distances be-tween the gravitating bodies increase: As this is an ar-bitrary institution, which no mechanism can accountfor; so no man, I believe, that seriously reflects uponit, can imagine that it could be mechanically observed*It is this very particular therefore that establishes the con-trary of what is commonly drawn from it. Dr. s’Gravt'sande fays, in the place cited above, at N° 17. sect. i-Scd illam [ gravitatem ] non sequi ex ullo impaSlu , juxWleges nobis notas , clarl patere contendhnus. What caus eis so proper to act regularly in certain circumstances, andproportionally at certain distances, as an infinitely powers^and knowing one ? Indeed if we were to impress a for ceon but one single particle of matter, it would be in 1 'possible for us to observe such a regularity and propor-tion,