P, ESSAY VI. Of thé Power of Spirits to move Bodies, of their being in a Place and removing from it. WHEN the ingenious director of modern philosophy treats on this subject, in his .Essay on Human Understanding, book II. chap. 23. C 18, 19, 20. he uses the word motivity to signify a power to move bodies, and by mobility he means the power of a being to change its own place ; and makes both these to be properties belonging to spirits : But let us consider a little, and enquire whether either of them are the proper native powers of a spirit or a thinking being. SECT. I. Of the Power of a Spirit to move Matter. THAT spirits do continually put bodies into motion, is evident from the constant experience of our own souls moving our limbs, and the various parts of the body, which are subject- ed to voluntary motion : And that angels have many a timeex- cited motion in several parts of the corporeal word, is manifest to those who believe the scripture. It is also clear, beyond all dispute, that God, the infinite and almighty Spirit, bath created the material universe, and has put the several parts of it into motion as he pleases. But the question is, Whether any created spirit hath any native or innate power in itself to move any part of matter ? Whether this power be essential, and belong to its nature? Whether its thought or will can effect any change whatsoever in material beings ? Or, whether the worldof bodies and the world of minds are not so entirely different and sepa- rate in their whole nature, substance and special properties, that they cannot possibly have any communication with each other, except by a particular appointment and commission from God their common Creator and Sovereign ? In the third- essay, which treats of the Original of our Perceptions and Ideas, we have found, that neither the motions which are raised within a human body, nor the impressions which are madeon the organs of sense, or on the brain, by outward sensible objects, are of themselves and in their own nature suffi- cient to raise any ideas or sensations in a spirit : But that all the whole train of sensations and corporeal ideas, which belong to human nature, are originally owing to divine appointment, uniting one particular spirit to one particular animal body ac- cording to certain laws of his own prescription. And perhaps a few more considerations may incline us to believe, that all the native powers of a spirit are not sufficient in themselves to move
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