CHAPTER VIII
NATURE ACTIVE AND ANIMATED

1.  After a long course of microscopic observations, Mr. Need. ham hath remarked, that they all contributed to make appear, that animal and vegetative substances are originally the same; that they reciprocally turn into one another, by a very easy change ; that they decompound themselves into an infinite number of zoophytes, which separating, produce all the different species of common microscopic animals, which after a certain time become immoveable, separating themselves again, and producing other zoophytes, or animals of an inferior species; that the spermatic animalcules have the same pro­perty of separating themselves, and in their decomposition of produc­ing still smaller animals, till at last the)’ become so very small, that they entirely escape notice. The author of these observations be­lieves, that it is probable besides, that every animal or vegetable sub­stance advances as much as it can to its dissolution, to return by degrees to the principles common to all bodies, and which are of a general nature.

2.  The author then insinuates, that in their decomposition, bodies so subtilize themselves, that the resistance continually diminishes, and the active moving force proportionally augments; that after having passed the line of spontaneity, the movement diminishes quicker or slower, till it becomes purely oscillatary ; and of course, matter ought to be considered as continually passing from one state to another, and constituting elements more and more active.

3.  A little afterward, he hesitates not to affirm, that in proportion as the matter decompounds itself, it becomes more subtile, and that the swiftness of those bodies increases in proportion to their little­ness. He says, that every combination of matter reduces itself at last to such simple parts, as those are of resistance and motion ; that resistance and motive activity, are the effect of simple energies; and in short, that a number of beings, simple and unextended, may con­tribute to give us an idea of an extended combination of them, divisible and substantial. lie says afterward, that the principles of mat­ter are substances in which all essence, existence, and action, terminate in their last resort, and “that there are active principles in the universe, which are naturally productive of motion." In short, he concludes with saying, that matter, carried to its first principles, is no longer an unactive mass, “but becomes at length, activity itself, endowed with the powers of repulsion, motion, and life, and that every particle of it partakes of sensations : and in another place he says, that there is a perceivable life in every particle; and in short, that there is “a real, active force in matter."*

4.   IF we compare this system with that of the ancients, we shall easily discover a striking conformity. Pythagoras and Plato taught, that all nature was animated, and that “matter had in itself a principle of motion and rest, tht held it always in action ; which is no other, according to the system of Mr. Needham, than active, combined with repelling force.

5.   The Pythagoreans believed, that the world was animated ; that there was a principle of vitality infused through the whole of nature, which extended itself not only through the animal kingdom, but through the vegetable, by a succession constant and perpetual; they acknow­ledged a productive force, an active principle through matter, which penetrated all, and put all in motion, and which was the soul of the world, or the force impressed by God on nature.

6.  And it is this which Mr. Needham calls the active principles through the universe, which of themselves produce motion, or the perceptive vitality in every particle; that motive, or repulsive activity, which Plato also joined to matters as an active principle, which held all from the beginning, in an irregular and indetermined movement ; and which, from the foundation of the world, was regu­lated by God, and directed according to his eternal laws ; and that great philosopher positively says, that God has not created matter inert and inactive; but hath only prevented it from being blindly agitated.

7.   Mr. Needham indeed says, that every natural combination can, at last. resolve itself into its natural principles, endowed with resist­ance and motion; and that a number of simple and indivisible prin­ciples might concur to give us an idea of extended combinations of them, divisible and substantial: yet Plato long before had clearly distinguished, with philosophers of his own times, the matter of which

*Though this doctrine may be considered as absurd, yet here we are not left destitute of facts, which are capable of assisting our judgment, and directing our research to a sentiment at once rational and conclusive. It will not be called in question by the boldest metaphysician, that there is such a principle, property or quality, (call it what we will,) in being, as vitality, and that it is capable of acting upon, and organizing gross matter: and consequently, that there is a susceptibility, or capacity pervading all matter, and by prosecuting a review of the facts pre­sented to our contemplation on the grand theatre of being, we should at length attain to the conclusion, that it pleased the Creator of worlds so to construct them, and that they should consist in d a proportions of vitality, and susceptibility: and that he has in his wisdom ordained a mutual and invincible attraction between the vital and susceptible powers of universal being. So that one could not exist without a proportion of the other: and there are many circumstances to favour the idea, that on the variety and preponderance of these proportions, depends in an extensive degree. the variety and diversity of organized being.

bodies are composed. from the bodies themselves. He remarked an essential difference between that matter, which enters into the composition of all bodies, and the bodies themselves. And Stoboeus, explaining Plato’s sentiments, agrees, that matter is corporeal, but at the same time warns us not to confound it with the bodies themselves because, says he, it is destitute of the essential qualities of body ; such as figures, weight, lightness, &c. although it contains in it an aptitude to motion, divisibility, and the reception of different forms. And an­other great Grecian philosopher hath also said, almost in the same terms with Mr. Needham, that the ideas of force, impenetrability and weight concur to give us an idea of bodies.

8.  Pythagoras, Plato, and Aristotle, held a sentiment respecting generation, to which that of Mr. Needham's evidently refers: this author says, that the first source of vegetation, or its primitive bud, is formed all at once, and specifically determined : that it is the first thing in motion, that it commences vegetation, and that afterward heat concurs to assist its expansive force. Now, is it not this which the ancient Philosophers meant, when they said, that the seminal force was incorporeal, and acted upon bodies as much is spirit did ? And Demo­critus and Straho have explained themselves hereupon with still more dignity, when they call its energy spiritual, and convertive of bodies into itself.

Chapter 9