inaBiivity of Matter, &c. 189

endued with any power, except that onenegative power of remaining in the state inwhich it at present is, as Dr ..Clarke asserts.

XXVIII. Now since this is so, thoughwe should grant that matter might have adegree of perceptivity in it, yet notwithstand-ing this perceptivity, it must be as inactivein all fenses, as it could be without percep-tion. It could as little move itself then, orchange its present state of rest or motion,as impercipient matter could ; and it couldas little turn its perceptivity to any object,or change the state of its perception, as itcould turn itself to another position, or changethe state of its rest or motion; that is, as ifit wanted that capacity altogether : since ei-ther of these would suppose activity, or apower of willing in it: that is, it would be assluggish, dead matter, in all senses, as anysupposition could make it. But surely toascribe such a property to it, as leaves it asinactive, either to motion, or thought , as whenthat property is denied of it, is folly. Theonly remaining resource for the Atheist is, tosuppose, ‘that pojsibly some kind of aSlivityvtay be among the powers of matter , which1 was