z88 Sir ISAAC N E W T O N’s Book IV.

the comets with all variety of directions. If we suppose thematter of the system to be accumulated in the centre by itsgravity, no mechanical principles, with the assistance of thispower of gravity, could separate the vast mass into such partsas the fun and planets, and, after carrying them into their dif-ferent distances, project them in their several directions, pre-serving still the equality of action and reaction," or the state ofthe centre of gravity of the system. Such an exquisite struc-ture of things could only arise from the contrivance andpowerful influences of an intelligent, free, and most potentagent. The fame powers, therefore, which at present governthem aterial universe, and conduct its various motions, are verydifferent from those which were neceflary to have produced itfrom nothing, or to have disposed it in the admirable form in.which it now proceeds.

14. A s we cannot but conceive the universe, as dependingon the first cause and chief mover, whom it would be absurd,not to say impious, to exclude from acting in it; so we havesome hints of the manner in which he operates in nature,from the laws which we find established in it. Tho’ heis the source of all efficacy, yet we find that place is leftfor second causes to act in subordination to him ; and me-chanism has its share in carrying on the great scheme of nature*.The establishing the equality of action and reaction, even inthose powers which seem to surpass mechanism, and to be moreimmediately derived from him, seems to be an indication thatthose powers, while they derive their efficacy from him, arehowever, in a certain degree, circumscribed and regulated in theiroperations by mechanical principles ; and that they are not to

* ’AAXa TtUTO rjv TO SuOTtXTOV, TO f*BTX (JXg-dvqg «7TX^f KtV^(T£Ug TTUVTodxTTXg

onroTiXtTv IS'txg, umre £ ucnv o< f-c^xvoiroiot Std ^tag ofyyxvx cry^xg~ri^i'xg )

vo Wxg ^ 7 roixtXxg ivtpyiixg xTTOTtXvvTtg, A>'iJiot . ubi supra.

4 be