_MADAM,_
I am of your _Authors_ opinion, concerning self-activity or
self-motion,[1] _That what is Active of it self, can no more cease to
be active then to be_: And I have been always of this opinion, even
from the first beginning of my conceptions in natural Philosophy, as
you may see in my first Treatise of Natural Philosophy, which I put
forth eleven years since; where I say, That self-moving Matter is in a
Perpetual motion; But your _Author_ endeavors from thence to conclude,
That _Matter is not self active, because it is reducible to rest._ To
which I answer, That there is no such thing as Rest in Nature: Not do
I say, that all sorts of motions are subject to our senses, for those
that are subject to our sensitive Perceptions, are but gross Motions,
in comparison to those that are not subject to our exterior senses:
as for example; We see some bodies dilate, others consume, others
corrupt; yet we do not see how they dilate, nor how they consume, nor
how they corrupt: Also we see some bodies contract, some attract,
some condense, some consist, &c. yet we do not see their contracting,
attracting, condensing, consisting or retenting motions; and yet we
cannot say, they are not corporeal motions, because not subject to
our exterior senses; for if there were not contracting, attracting,
retenting or consistent corporeal self-motions, it had been impossible
that any creature could have been composed into one united figure,
much less stayed and continued in the same figure without a general
alteration. But your _Author_ says, _If Matter, as Matter, had Motion,
nothing would hold together, but Flints, Adamants, Brass, Iron, yea,
this whole Earth, would suddenly melt into a thinner substance then
the subtil Air, or rather it never had been condensated together to
this consistency we find it._ But I would ask him, what reason he can
give, that corporeal self-motion should make all matter rare and fluid,
unless he believe there is but one kind of motion in Nature, but this,
human sense and reason will contradict; for we may observe there are
Infinite changes of Motion, and there is more variety and curiosity in
corporeal motions, then any one single Creature can imagine, much less
know; but I suppose he conceives all corporeal matter to be gross, and
that not any corporeal motion can be subtil, penetrating, contracting
and dilating; and that whatsoever is penetrating, contracting and
dilating, is Individable: But by his leave, _Madam_, this doth not
follow; for though there be gross degrees of Matter, and strong degrees
of Corporeal Motions, yet there are also pure and subtil degrees
of Matter and Motions; to wit, that degree of Matter, which I name
sensitive and rational Matter, which is natural Life and Knowledg, as
sensitive Life and rational Knowledg. Again, your _Author_ askes, _What
glue or cement holds the parts of hard matter in Stones and Metals
together?_ I answer, Consistent or retentive corporeal motions, by an
agreeable union and conjunction in the several parts of Metal or Stone;
and these retentive or consistent motions, are as strong and active,
if not more, then some dilative or contractive motions; for I have
mentioned heretofore, that, as sensitive and rational corporeal motions
are in all Creatures, so also in Stone, Metal, and any other dense body
whatsoever; so that not any one Creature or part of Matter is without
Motion, and therefore not any thing is at rest. But, _Madam_, I dare
say, I could bring more reason and sense to prove, that sensitive and
rational Matter is fuller of activity, and has more variety of motion,
and can change its own parts of self-moving Matter more suddenly, and
into more exterior figures, then Immaterial Spirits can do upon natural
Matter. But your _Author_ says, That Immaterial Spirits are endued with
Sense and Reason; I say, My sensitive and rational corporeal Matter
is Sense and Reason it self, and is the Architect or Creator of all
figures of Natural matter, for though all the parts of Matter are not
self-moving, yet there is not any part that is not moving or moved, by
and with the mover, which is animate matter. And thus I conclude, and
rest constantly,
Madam,
_Your Faithful Friend_
_and Servant._
[1] _Of the Immortality of the Soul, l._ 1. _c._ 7.