3 $ 8 Matter not eternal and uncaused\

and frivolous. Heargues from generation andcorruption, to the first produEhon of matter jas if the first formation of the material world,and the creation of matter , were to be a©*counted for by the same mechanical laws thatnow obtain in it, as it is formed: telling uSif natural bodies rose spontaneously out of n0 “things us if ever men had supposed this with"out a divine power) we should fee men springout of the sea, fishes and birds from the earthsand herds of cattle hurst ml of the clouds f) *

and

Quorum operum cOusas nulla ratione videre•Pojfunt, ac fieri divino Numine rentur.

Quas oh res, ubi viderimus nil pojffe creariDe nibilo ; turn, quod sequitur, jam re Situs hideProspiciemus, tende queat res quœque creari ,

Et quo queeque ntodo pant, opera sine Divum.

(x) Nam ft de nibilo fierent', ex omnibu' rebusOmne genus nerfci pojset: nil semine egerel.

E mare primutn homines, e terra pojset oririSquammigerum genus, IS vohtcres: erumpere eoetejdrmenta, atque aliee pecudes: genus omne ferarufdIncerto partu culia, ac deferta tenerent:

Necfruflus iidem arboribus cons are solerent,

Sed mutarentur : ferre omnes omnia po sent, ^

Here he first excludes all divine potuer, and thenes, if creation ex nibilo were possible, things ought tost.up out of nothing every day: He makes the greaterstances of governmsnt&ii&fupmnftndtnce, viz> st 16 re C tt .

cbscrvoW*

Ibid*