ciples of Philofophy; Mr. Cotes, (the Learned Plumian Profeffor of Aftronomy at Cambridge) his Preface to that Edition; the Reverend and Learned Mr. Derham's two late Pieces; the Philofophical Tranfactions, and the Memoirs of the Academy Royal at Paris. I Intended to have had these Alterations and Additions printed by themfelves, for the Benefit of thofe who had the first Edition, but I found it was im practicable.

I am very Senfible, the beft accounts of the Appearances of Nature(in any fingle Inftance how minute or fimple foever) Hu manePenetration can reach,comes infinitely fhort of its reality, and internal Conftitution; forwho can fearch out the Almighty, or his works to Perfection. Some of the groffer Out-lines and prominent Lineaments of Nature,are as near, as is allowed to Mortals to approach. But this Ithink I may venture to say, that Atheism, may be Eternally confounded, by the most diftant Approaches to the true caufes of

Natural

Natural Appearances. And that if the Madern Philofophy demonftrates nothing else, yet it infallibly proves Atheism to be the moft grofs Ignorance.

THE

CONTENTS

CHAP. L

Of the Phyfical Laws of Nature,

A

Rticle I. The Introduction.

Pag. 1

2. An Explication of the Senfe where-

in Nature, and its Laws are here taken, p 2

3. The Opinions of fome Philofophers, about

Nature and its Laws, confider'd, and the Mini-
fry of Subordinate Spirits confirm'dp. 3 & feq.
S. 4. The Scheme of Nature According to the
Modern Philofophy,

Of the Phyfical Laws of Nature,

S. 5. The firft Law of Nature,

P.5

P. 7 & feq.

P. 7

S. 6. A Demonftration of the firft Law of Na-

ture,

P. 7

2.7. An Explication and Demonstration of the

Vis inertia, in Bodies,

p. 8 & feq.

4. 8. That Bodies can neither move, nor alter the

Direction of their Motion of themselves, p. 10

§. 9. That

9. 9. That a Body cannot move in a Curve Line

of it felf,
ibid.

4. 10. That the Celestial Bodies, do not move of
themselves, in their Orbits,

S. 11. That neither Motion nor Rest, i. e. that
neither of these particularly, is effential to Matter,

ibid.

p. 15

5. 12. The Neceffity of a Vacuum demonftrated,

à priori & pofteriori,
p. 12 & feq.

4. 13. The fecond Law of Nature, with its De-

monstration.

§. 15. The Impoffibility of a perpetual Motion, de

monftrated, on the modern Scheme of Nature.

p. 16 & feq.

s. 15. The third Law of Nature with its Demon
ftration.
P. 18
S. 16. The Method of compounding and resolving
Motions, demonftrated,

§. 17 The Proportion of an oblique to a perpendi

lar Impulfe, demonftrated,

Ibid. The Proportions of three Forces drawing

in three different Directions, in Æquilibrio.

P. 21

P: 23

Ibid. A Rule to diftinguish Mechanism from what

is not fo, according to the modern Philofophy

1

СНА Р.

Of Attraction or Gravitation in Bodies,

and an account of fome of the Ap-

pearances of Nature, from this Prin-

ciple, and thefe Laws now eftablifh'd.

5.18 TH

25

HE poffible Ways, the Celestial Bodies
can be retain'd in their Orbits,
19. Des Cartes, his Hypothefis about the

Formation of the Univerfe, and the Causes of

the Celestial Motions,

§. 20. This Hypothefis is confuted at large,

p. 26 & feq.

p. 28 & feq.

P. 31 & feq.

9. 21. Mr. Leibnitz's Opinion about the Caufes

of the Celestial Motions,

S. 22. This Hypothefis not fufficient, nor fatif-
factory,
P. 33 & feq.

4. 23. The Opinion of fome other Philofophers

about the Causes of Gravity, confidered and re-

jected,

P. 35 & feq.

That the Principle of Attraction is the
most probable Caufe of the Celestial Motions,
P. 39 & feq. /

Ibid. That the Gravitation of Bodies, is not a

Principle effential to Matter,

P. 40

Ibid. That this Principle of Gravitation is pro-
bably, a divine Virtue or Energy imprefs'd on

S. 24.

Matter,

p. 41

Ibid, The Difficulties against this Opinion clear'd,
P. 4: & feq.

I