_MADAM,_
To your _Authors_ argument,[1] That _if Motion belong naturally to
Matter, Matter being Uniform, it must be alike moved in every part or
particle imaginable of it, by reason this Motion being natural and
essential to Matter, is alike every way._ I answer, That this is no
more necessary, then that the several actions of one body, or of one
part of a body should be alike; for though Matter is one and the same
in its Nature, and never changes, yet the motions are various, which
motions are the several actions of one and the same Natural Matter; and
this is the cause of so many several Creatures; for self-moving matter
by its self-moving power can act several ways, modes or manners; and
had not natural matter a self-acting power, there could not be any
variety in Nature; for Nature knows of no rest, there being no such
thing as rest in Nature; but she is in a perpetual motion, I mean
self-motion, given her from God: Neither do I think it Atheistical
(as your _Author_ deems) to maintain this opinion of self-motion, as
long as I do not deny the Omnipotency of God; but I should rather
think it Irreligious to make so many several Creatures as Immaterial
Spirits, like so many severall Deities, to rule and govern Nature and
all material substances in Nature; for what Atheism doth there lie
in saying, that natural matter is naturally moving, and wise in her
self? Doth this oppose the omnipotency and Infinite wisdom of God? It
rather proves and confirms it; for all Natures free power of moving and
wisdom is a gift of God, and proceeds from him; but I must confess,
it destroys the power of Immaterial substances, for Nature will not
be ruled nor governed by them, and to be against Natural Immaterial
substances, I think, is no Atheisme, except we make them Deities;
neither is Atheisme to contradict the opinion of those, that believe
such natural incorporeal Spirits, unless man make himself a God. But
although Nature is wise, as I said before, and acts methodically,
yet the variety of motions is the cause of so many Irregularities in
Nature, as also the cause of Irregular opinions; for all opinions are
made by self-moving matters motions, or (which is all one) by corporeal
self-motion, and some in their opinions do conceive Nature according
to the measure of themselves, as that Nature can, nor could not do
more, then they think, nay, some believe they can do as much as Nature
doth; which opinions, whether they be probable or regular, I'le let
any man judg; adding onely this, that to humane sense and reason it
appears plainly, that as God has given Nature a power to act freely, so
he doth approve of her actions, being wise and methodical in all her
several Productions, Generations, Transformations and Designs: And so I
conclude for the present, onely subscribe my self, as really I am,
Madam,
_Your faithful Friend,_
_and Servant._
[1] _Antid. l._ 2. _c._ 1.