Now, in the next Place, let us see how the Consequence of these Things is to my present Purpose. If the Existence of created Substance, in each successive Moment, be wholly the Effect of God's immediate Power, in that Moment, without any Dependence on prior Existence, as much as the first Creation out of Nothing, then what exists at this Moment, by this Power, is a new Effect; and simply & absolutely considered, not the same with any past Existence, tho' it be like it, and follows it according to a certain established Method. *And there is no Identity or ⟨p. 344⟩Oneness in the Case, but what depends on the arbitrary Constitution of the Creator; who by his wise sovereign Establishment so unites these successive new Effects, that he treats them as One, by communicating to them like Properties, Relations, & Circumstances; and so, leads us to regard and treat them as one. When I call this an arbitrary Constitution, I mean, that it is a Constitution which ⟨p. 345⟩depends on Nothing but the divine Will; which divine Will depends on Nothing but the divine Wisdom. In this Sense, the whole Course of Nature, with all that belongs to it, all it's Laws and Methods, and Constancy and Regularity, Continuance and Proceeding, is an arbitrary Constitution. In this Sense, the Continuance of the very Being of the World and all it's Parts, as well as the Manner of continued Being, depends entirely on an arbitrary Constitution: for it don't at all necessarily follow, that because there was Sound, or Light, or Colour, or Resistance, or Gravity, or Thought, or Consciousness, or any other dependent Thing the last Moment, that therefore there shall be the like at the next.—All dependent Existence whatsoever is in a constant Flux, ever passing ⟨p. 346⟩and returning; renewed every Moment, as the Colours of Bodies are every Moment renewed by the Light that shines upon them; and all is constantly proceeding from GOD, as Light from the Sun. In Him we live, and move, and have our Being.
Now, in the next Place, let us see how the Consequence of these Things is to my present Purpose. If the Existence of created Substance, in each successive Moment, be wholly the Effect of God's immediate Power, in that Moment, without any Dependence on prior Existence, as much as the first Creation out of Nothing, then what exists at this Moment, by this Power, is a new Effect; and simply & absolutely considered, not the same with any past Existence, tho' it be like it, and follows it according to a certain established Method. *And there is no Identity or ⟨p. 344⟩Oneness in the Case, but what depends on the arbitrary Constitution of the Creator; who by his wise sovereign Establishment so unites these successive new Effects, that he treats them as One, by communicating to them like Properties, Relations, & Circumstances; and so, leads us to regard and treat them as one. When I call this an arbitrary Constitution, I mean, that it is a Constitution which ⟨p. 345⟩depends on Nothing but the divine Will; which divine Will depends on Nothing but the divine Wisdom. In this Sense, the whole Course of Nature, with all that belongs to it, all it's Laws and Methods, and Constancy and Regularity, Continuance and Proceeding, is an arbitrary Constitution. In this Sense, the Continuance of the very Being of the World and all it's Parts, as well as the Manner of continued Being, depends entirely on an arbitrary Constitution: for it don't at all necessarily follow, that because there was Sound, or Light, or Colour, or Re•istance, or Gravity, or Thought, or Consciousness, or any other dependent Thing the last Moment, that therefore there shall be the like at the next.—All dependent Existence whatsoever is in a constant Flux, ever passing ⟨p. 346⟩and returning; renewed every Moment, as the Colours of Bodies are every Moment renewed by the Light that shines upon them; and all is constantly proceeding from GOD, as Light from the Sun. In Him we live, and move, and have our Being.
- *When I suppose, that an Effect which is produced, every Moment, by a new Action or Exertion of Power, must be a new Effect in each Moment, and not absolutely and numerically the same with that which existed in pr•ceeding Moments, the Thing that I intend, may be illustrated by this Example. The lucid Colour of Brightness of the Moon, as we look steadfastly upon it, seems to be a permanent Thing, as though it were perfectly the same Brightness continued. But indeed it is an Effect produced every Moment. It ceases, and is renewed, in each successive Point of Time; and so becomes altogether a new Effect at each Instant; and no one Thing that belongs to it, is numerically the same that existed in the preceding Moment. The Rays of the Sun, impressed on that Body, and reflected from it, which cause the Effect, are none of them the same: The Impression, made in each Moment on our Sensory, is by the Stroke of new Rays: And the Sensation, excited by the Stroke, is a new Effect, an Effect of a new Impulse. Therefore the Brightness or lucid Whiteness of this Body is no more numerically the same Thing with that which existed in the preceding Moment, than the Sound of the Wind that blows now, is individually the same with that which pass'd a little before. And if it be thus with the Brightness or Colour of the Moon, so it must be with it's Solidity, and every thing else belonging to it's Substance, if all be, each Moment, as much the immediate Effect of a new Exertion or Application of Power. The Matter may perhaps be in some Respects still more clearly illustrated by this.—The Images of Things in a Glass, as we keep our Eye upon them, seem to remain precisely the same, with a continuing perfect Identity. But it is known to be otherwise. Philosophers well know, that these Images are constantly renewed, by the Impression and Reflection of new Rays of Light; so that the Image impress'd by the former Rays is constantly vanishing, and a new Image impress'd by new Rays every Moment, both on the Glass and on the Eye. The Image constantly renewed, by new successive rays, is no more numerically the same, than if it were by some Artist put on a-new with a Pencil, and the Colours constantly vanishing as fast as put on. And the new Images being put on immediately or instantly, don't make 'em the same, any more than if it were done with the Intermission of an Hour or a Day. The Image that exists this Moment, is not at all derived from the Image which existed the last preceding Moment: as may be seen, because, if the Succession of new Rays be intercepted, by something interposed between the Object and the Glass, the Image immediately ceases; the past Existence of the Image has no Influence to uphold it, so much as for one Moment. Which shows, that the Image is altogether new-made every Moment; and strictly speaking, is in no Part numerically the same with that which existed the Moment preceding. And truly so the Matter must be with the Bodies themselves, as well as their Images: They also cannot be the same, with an absolute Identity, but must be wholly renewed every Moment, if the Case be as has been proved, that their present existence is not, strictly speaking, at all the Effect of their past existence; but is wholly, every Instant, the Effect of a new Agency, or Exertion of the Power, of the Cause or their Existence. If so, the Existence caused is every Instant a new Effect, whether the Cause be Light, or immediate divine Power, or whatever it be.
