An essay on the first principles of natural philosophy. Wherein the use of natural means, or second causes, in the oeconomy of the material world, is demonstrated from reason, experiments of various kinds, and the testimony of antiquity : in four books illustrated with copper-plates / by the Reverend William Jones.
- William Jones
- Date:
- 1762
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: An essay on the first principles of natural philosophy. Wherein the use of natural means, or second causes, in the oeconomy of the material world, is demonstrated from reason, experiments of various kinds, and the testimony of antiquity : in four books illustrated with copper-plates / by the Reverend William Jones. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![natures, and adlions, and paflions, and fuch other logical ‘‘ words. — It is certain, that of all powers in nature, heat “ is the chief; both in the frame of nature^ and the works ‘‘ of art That M.v, Boyle was nearly of the fame opinion with his great predecefibr, and always fearching for an explanation of effedls from fecond caufes] muft needs be known to thofe who have-looked into his philofophical works, and in par¬ ticular his hijlory of firmnefsy where he attempts to derive even the cohefion of folids from the preffure of the atmolphere. For although he was unfuccefsful in this, it ferves to teach us, what his general perfualion was: and the induftry of man, ftill working upon the fame ground of fecond caufes, may in due time be productive of fome better fruit. D R. Cudworthy author of the intelleEiual fyjiemy is one of thofe many writers, who have condemned that polition, whereby God himfelf is made to be the foie agent in na¬ ture, as improbable in itfelf, and unworthy of the Deity. As his arguments appear to me to be worthy of corifidera- tion, I fhall here adopt, and fupport the,m with fome far¬ ther obfervations of my own. Firft then, this polition throws down all diJlinEiion between God and naturey and turns every ordinary effeCl into a miracle. Then again, it is not confif- tent with that fow and gradual procefs m the generation of thingSy which fhews the agent not to be omnipotent, A plant will advance in its growth, eitRer more or lefs, as the feafon happens to favour it: and if the heat and the air be with¬ drawn from it, it will not grow at all. Is it credible, that the divine power fhould be baffled and overcome by thefe, or any other difficulties ? Yet this, impious as it may found. * Nat. Hiji. Cent. I. N®. 98. 99. feems](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b3041037x_0244.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
