15. Secondly, because one particle alone of matter cannot be cogitative.
II. If all matter does not think, I next ask,
Whether it be only one atom that does so? This has as many absurdities as the other; for then this atom of matter
must be alone eternal or not. If this alone be eternal, then this alone, by its powerful thought or will, made all the
rest of matter. And so we have the creation of matter by a powerful thought, which is that the materialists stick at;
for if they suppose one single thinking atom to have produced all the rest of matter, they cannot ascribe that
pre-eminency to it upon any other account than that of its thinking, the only supposed difference. But allow it to
be by some other way which is above our conception, it must still be creation; and these men must give up their
great maxim, Ex nihilo nil fit. If it be said, that all the rest of matter is equally eternal as that thinking atom, it will
be to say anything at pleasure, though ever so absurd. For to suppose all matter eternal, and yet one small particle
in knowledge and power infinitely above all the rest, is without any the least appearance of reason to frame an
hypothesis. Every particle of matter, as matter, is capable of all the same figures and motions of any other; and I
challenge any one, in his thoughts, to add anything else to one above another.
