poſſible; but then they aſſume nothing as a principle, that is not proved by phænomena. They frame no hypotheſes, nor receive them into philoſophy otherwiſe than as queſtions whoſe truth may be diſputed. They proceed therefore in a two-fold method, ſynthetical and analytical. From ſome ſelect phænomena they deduce by analyſis the forces of nature, and the more ſimple laws of forces; and from thence by ſyntheſis ſhew the conſtitution of the reſt. This is that incomparably beſt way of philoſophizing, which our renowned author moſt juſtly embraced before the reſt; and thought alone worthy to be cultivated and adorned by his excellent labours. Of this he has given us a moſt illuſtrious example by the explication of the Syſtem of the World, moſt happily deduced from the Theory of Gravity. That the virtue of gravity was found in all bodies, others ſuſpected, or imagined before him; but he was the only and the firſt philoſopher that could demonſtrate it from appearances, and make it a ſolid foundation to the moſt noble ſpeculations.
I know indeed that ſome perſons and thoſe of great name, too much prepoſſeſſed with certain prejudices, are unwilling to aſſent to this new principle, and are ready to prefer uncertain notions to certain. It is not my intention to detract from the reputation of theſe eminent men; I ſhall only lay before the reader ſuch conſiderations as will enable him to paſs an equitable ſentence in this diſpute.
Therefore that we may begin our reaſoning from what is moſt ſimple and neareſt to us; let us conſider a little what is the nature of gravity with us on Earth, that we may proceed the more
