Matter not eternal and uncaused. 379

*** causes producing an action of themselves,but things of a passive and necessary nature,^hich Another Agent uses as instruments toproduce the effect. A foot, v. gr. is but the^strument or thing, whereby a free Agent(man) produces the print or vestige: And to%, " If a man had eternally produced the' impression of his foot in stands or the sig-nature of a seal in wax, it would have been, an eternal effect," is no proof or illustra-b°n of the thing intended to be cleared up. ^ the comparison, but a bare supposition ofin other words. The production of an im-passion in wax or sand is an action, and im-

W'

eues the limits of a beginning and an end;^ r cannot be conceived that any one should^ e . Eternally a-putting on an impression,nhout having at any time really put it on.- e fame may be said concerning the Sun^ ^Ucing light, or an opaque body hinderingi} - P r °grefs of it: since these are necessary^ ©h and not free Agents, it is the famegiy t0 ^ some Being had from eternitye% f n [ bat property to the Sun, whereby it^ght, or that property to another body,it casts a shade-, then light wouldb oen eternally .produced, and a ihade

ternally