Matter not eternal and uncaused. 333having existed eternally we can inferr ‘ at it exists necessarily, so as to imply a con-'^dictioH j n b e i n g supposed not to exist; and^ a hthe greatest difficulty in this argument ismake out this connexion. But I answer,

^ matter had no cause of existence, it muste srif-exifient, or existence must belong to its^tUre; there is no medium: and if it be felf-C)£ istent, it must exist necest'arily ; a thing^ose existence is of itself, and belonging toNature, cannot be indifferent to exist or^ ex st • and if it exists necessarily, it mustP be independent on any thing else for itsucence. So when we suppose matter un-used, we do as much as if we supposed its'existent necest'arily existing, and indepen-stst on any thing else for its existence: and‘'atever contradiction there is in supposing^ e cessarily existing Being not to exist, theis fame there will be in supposing an e-and uncaused Being not to exist, ortr matter not to exist : and the con-^ion will appear thus. If any one should^ere i § only one necessary Being, and^ e f^me time with the Atheist should add,rnatter * s ihis Being, (since it is a plain

tca diction that once nothing at all might

have

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