Matter not eternal and uncaused. 323

Jt follows that, as the power of this Cause£°nstantly exerted, constitutes the nature and°udity of matter now ; so it could not haveee n a solid resisting substance atfirst, or forthe leaji time , without the power of thisT^se thus exerted. And thus the great ques-* lQfl concerning the rise and origin of mat-seems to be naturally and easily deter-ged, from what has been already shewn inpse two sections. For from this it appearsthing caused , at whatever time it mayav& been brought into existence: and no-,n g can be more against reason than to sop*pe, that such a dead, inactive, substance (a^stance, which wants the power of a fo-s l gfi Cause to be indesinently put forth upon' that it may be, what it is) should never-be a thing uncaused and independent,pthout this foreign influence to effect cohe-ir a nd solidity in it, we could not conceiveall to be a substance. Let us go as far as^ c an in the sub-diviston of parts, as long as^ *U QW these parts to be solid and extended ,1 soust allow them to be solid and extended

ni 8 external power exerted: and if they

" " - - ’ ■> _ _ .

he

si °t solid and extended parts, they cannotP a rti of solid and extended substance.

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