152 The consequences of the

must be mechanically. The case is the fameas when we would raise a weight by a pully

or

that state. But though Sir If. Newton says, that these par-ticles have not only a vis inertia: ; yet he doth not fa}'?that they move themselves , hut that they are moved hy certainactive principles: and when it is said that a thing is moved,in opposition to saying it moves itself, it must necessarilyhe understood that it is moved by another thing not it' 'self. Now go as far as we please, to other and otherparticles of matter, as long as they are allowed to have avis inertia , these can never be those active principles -which shews all at once whence the power and activitymust proceed. With submission, I think it is somewhatimproper to speak of the mechanical cause of active prin-ciples, (see what is said p. 377, about leaving the causeof these principles, to be discovered) or the mechanicalcause of those principles that conserve and recruit mo'tion in the universe. And if the mechanical cause osthem is these meant, we cannot be ignorant whence allpower and activity proceed, as I said above.

Upon the whole then, to shew the origin of motiv®power in the Universe, to repair the waste of constantlydecaying motion, and preserve life, heat and vegetation,is really the dignus vindice nodus , that calls for the in'terventiori of the firjl Cause ; since to account for thenatural powers of matter from other matter, is not tothe purpose, here at least.

As to what is said, that the imputing the motions of e> nl 'mals in a great measure to a fine machinery , is so f arfrom derogating from the power and wisdom of God,from hence arifis the lejl demonfiration of it: I answ er »

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