I answer, I cannot tell well how to judg; but I am of the opinion, they cannot: for, it is the property of all such Productions, to be performed by degrees, and that there should be a dividing and uniting of Parts, as an intercourse of Home and Forrein Parts; and so there is requir'd all the same Parts, and every Part of the same Society, or that had any adjoining actions with that particular Creature; as all those Parts, or Corporeal Motions, that had been from the first time of Production, to the last of the Dissolving; and that could not be done without a Confusion in Nature.
But some may say, That although the same Creature could not be produced after the same manner, nor return to the degree of his Infancy, and pass the degrees from his Infancy, to some degree of Age; yet, those parts that are together, might so joyn, and move, in the same manner, as to be the same Creature it was before its dissolution?
I answer, It may not be impossible: but yet, It is very improbable, that such numerous sorts of Motions, after so general an Alteration, should so generally agree in an unnatural action.
[CHAP. XII. Of FOREKNOWLEDG.]
I have had some Disputes amongst the Parts of my Mind, Whether Nature hath Foreknowledg? The Opinion of the Minor Parts was, That Nature had Foreknowledg, by reason all that was Material, was part of her self; and those Self-parts having Self-motion, she might foreknow what she would act, and so what they should know. The Opinion of the Major Parts was, That by reason every Part had Self-motion, and natural Free-will, Nature could not foreknow how they would move, although she might know how they have moved, or how they do move.
After this Dispute was ended, then there was a Dispute, Whether the particular Parts had a Foreknowledg of Self-knowledg? The Opinion of the Minor Parts was, That since every Part in Nature had Self-motion, and natural Free-will, every Part could know how they should move, and so what they should know. The Opinion of the Major Parts was, That first, the Self-knowledg did alter according to Self-action, amongst the Self-moving Parts: but, the Self-knowledg of the Inanimate Parts, did alter according to the actions of the Sensitive Self-moving Parts; and the Perceptive actions of the Self-moving Parts, were according to the form and actions of the Objects: so that Foreknowledg of Forein Parts, or Creatures, could not be: And for Foreknowledg of Self-knowledg of the Self-moving Parts, there were so many occasional actions, that it was impossible the Self-moving Parts could know how they should move, by reason that no Part had an Absolute Power, although they were Self-moving, and had a natural Free-will: which proves, That Prophesies are somewhat of the nature of Dreams, whereof some may prove true by chance; but, for the most part, they are false.