inaSHvity o/*Matter, &c. 17 j

soon as the arrow is out of the bow, the ac-tion of gravity constantly impels it, so thatit moves in a certain determined path, orcurve ; and in it’s descent, what by the ac-tion of gravity upon it, (which is the con-stant impulse of the first Mover) and whatby the force communicated to it by the re-stitutive action of the bow, also impressed byhim, it falls on an innocent man perhaps,and wounds, or kills him. How far theAtheist may mistake this as an objection tothe goodness and justice of this Being, wemay fee hereafter. But in the mean time itis evident, that the particular mover in thehuman body hath but a small (hare in pro-ducing all this motion. And yet from thencea gradation begins to be perceptible (n).

XXV.

00 If we observe, there is a gradation or scale of ascentof the principle of action among creatures, in proportionto their perfection. For from what is hertz said, it isplain the first Being is the sole principle of action in allinanimate matter. In animal motion , the animals them-selves are admitted into a small participation of the pro-duction of the effect, as they have the direction of someMotions, or the power of beginning them. Brutes andmen are thus far spontaneous with regard to the motionstheir bodies. But men have farther a poyrcr of di-Vol. I, N recting