To treat of Infinite Effects, produced from an an Infinite Cause, is an endless Work, and impossible to be performed, or effected; only this may be said, That the Effects, though Infinite, are so united to the material Cause, as that not any single effect can be, nor no Effect can be annihilated; by reason all Effects are in the power of the Cause. But this is to be noted, That some Effects producing other Effects, are, in some sort or manner, a Cause.
[CHAP. XVII. Of INFLUENCE.]
An Influence is this; When as the Corporeal Figurative Motions, in different kinds, and sorts of Creatures, or in one and the same sorts, or kinds, move sympathetically: And though there be antipathetical Motions, as well as sympathetical; yet, all the Infinite parts of Matter, are agreeable in their nature, as being all Material, and Self-moving; and by reason there is no Vacuum, there must of necessity be an Influence amongst all the Parts of Nature.
[CHAP. XVIII. Of FORTUNE and CHANCE.]
Fortune, is only various Corporeal Motions of several Creatures, design'd to one Creature, or more Creatures; either to that Creature, or those Creatures Advantage, or Disadvantage: If Advantage, Man names it Good Fortune; if Disadvantage, Man names it Ill Fortune. As for Chance, it is the visible Effects of some hidden Cause; and Fortune, a sufficient Cause to produce such Effects: for, the conjunction of sufficient Causes, doth produce such or such Effects; which Effects could not be produced, if any of those Causes were wanting: So that, Chances are but the Effects of Fortune.
[CHAP. XIX. Of TIME and ETERNITY.]
Time is not a Thing by it self; nor is Time Immaterial: for, Time is only the variations of Corporeal Motions; but Eternity depends not on Motion, but of a Being without Beginning, or Ending.