Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 012.djvu/130

 In the Second Chapter are contained, all the pretended grounds of Reason (except those peculiar to the Hylozoick form, directly contrary to the Atomick) for the Atheistick Hypothesis. As, That there is no Idea of God. Nothing can be created out of Nothing. The Universe can consist of nothing but Space and Body. Assertion of a Deity, arising meerly from the abstract Names and Notions of things. No Beeing essentially Incorruptible, because Corporeal. The first Principle, no Understanding Nature. Soul and Mind begot of Senseless Atoms. Nothing Immortal. No unmoved first Mover. All Knowledge and Idea's, junior to the World. The World Ill made. No Providence: nor would it consist with the Deity. Theism inconsistent with Civil Government. Therefore all sprung from Nature and Chance. All which he lays down fairly, and to the greatest advantage of the Atheist.

The Third Chapter is an Introduction to the confutation of Atheism: containing a particular account of all the several forms of Atheism. And first of the Hylozoick, not noted by any Modern. First started by Strato, in opposition to the Democritick Hypothesis and reviv'd of late by some, so sagacious as to see that Hypothesis indefensible. Next, That before Democritus the most ancient Atheistick Hypothesis was, the Eduction of all things, Life and Understanding it self, out of Matter, in the way of generable and corruptible Qualities; which he styleth the Hylopathian or Anaximandrian; Anaximander being the Author of it, whose supream Deity was Infinite Matter: and who was the first Atheistick Philosopher. Here also of the Atheistick Theogonism; which, though it asserted Many Gods, and also One Supream, yet, that all were generated out of Night and Chaos, and thereinto corruptible. Besides these, of a fourth, which seemeth to be but the corruption of Stoicism; and which he styleth, the Cosmoplastick Form. This concluded the whole World, not to be an Animal (as the Pagan Theists generally supposed) but to be One huge Plant, having an Artificial, Plastick and Vegetable Nature, as its highest Principle. All the said Forms agreeing in this, That all Animality conscious Life and Understanding is generated out of Sensless Matter, and corruptible into it. Whereto he subjoyns a digression of an Artficial Plastick Nature; asserting, that it is the Instrument of the Deity. Agreeable to the sense of best Philosophers. 'Tis no Occult quality. The Divine Art em-