contiguous Vortices of molten Pitch were each of them as large as those
which some suppose to revolve about the Sun and fix'd Stars, yet these
and all their Parts would, by their Tenacity and Stiffness, communicate
their Motion to one another till they all rested among themselves.
Vortices of Oil or Water, or some fluider Matter, might continue longer
in Motion; but unless the Matter were void of all Tenacity and Attrition
of Parts, and Communication of Motion, (which is not to be supposed,)
the Motion would constantly decay. Seeing therefore the variety of
Motion which we find in the World is always decreasing, there is a
necessity of conserving and recruiting it by active Principles, such as
are the cause of Gravity, by which Planets and Comets keep their Motions
in their Orbs, and Bodies acquire great Motion in falling; and the cause
of Fermentation, by which the Heart and Blood of Animals are kept in
perpetual Motion and Heat; the inward Parts of the Earth are constantly
warm'd, and in some places grow very hot; Bodies burn and shine,
Mountains take fire, the Caverns of the Earth are blown up, and the Sun
continues violently hot and lucid, and warms all things by his Light.
For we meet with very little Motion in the World, besides what is owing
to these active Principles. And if it were not for these Principles, the
Bodies of the Earth, Planets, Comets, Sun, and all things in them,
would grow cold and freeze, and become inactive Masses; and all
Putrefaction, Generation, Vegetation and Life would cease, and the
Planets and Comets would not remain in their Orbs.
All these things being consider'd, it seems probable to me, that God in
the Beginning form'd Matter in solid, massy, hard, impenetrable,
moveable Particles, of such Sizes and Figures, and with such other
Properties, and in such Proportion to Space, as most conduced to the End
for which he form'd them; and that these primitive Particles being
Solids, are incomparably harder than any porous Bodies compounded of
them; even so very hard, as never to wear or break in pieces; no
ordinary Power being able to divide what God himself made one in the
first Creation. While the Particles continue entire, they may compose
Bodies of one and the same Nature and Texture in all Ages: But should
they wear away, or break in pieces, the Nature of Things depending on
them, would be changed. Water and Earth, composed of old worn Particles
and Fragments of Particles, would not be of the same Nature and Texture
now, with Water and Earth composed of entire Particles in the Beginning.
And therefore, that Nature may be lasting, the Changes of corporeal
Things are to be placed only in the various Separations and new
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