Morton, Charles, 1627-1698. Naturall phylosophy. A system of physicks : manuscript, 1706. MS Am 2523. Houghton Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

8 Natural Phylosophy chap. 2^nd:

Never so many mutations as you can Imagine.

N. Note the words (as to alimentary parts) are added to singifie that seminall parts of a man do not pass from one man to another, by being added to anothers Substance in nutrition; but are allways ke pt distinct, y^t[that] so y^e[the] Doctrine of y^e[the] ressurection may be better conce ivable by humane reason to be, not contrary to, though above nature but y^e[the] alimentary parts (which are allways changing) may become nourishment to another without a contradiction of y^e[the] rasing again of y^e[the] same numerical body. if all these should be accounted as necess ary parts to y^e[the] same body to w^ch[which] once they were affixed; then every Individuall man y^t[that] dyes att any considerable age, must be raised as big as a mountain which would be too harsh for us to conceive

{Matter is passive in y^e[the] bodies frame} {and every thing remains y^e[the] same.}

this matter is a principle both of generation and constition. of generation, bec: it is y^e[the] subject wherein it is performed (natu all generation being allways out of y^e[the] presupposed and predispo sed matter) and herein it differs from creation, which is either not out of matter, or out of matter inhabile and indisposed for such a form, as to produce a man out of y^e[the] Earth; woman out of a Ribb; bread out of stones &c: such things do always require a supernaturall power to Do y^m[them]. 'tis also a principle of constituion, bec: with form it concurrs to constitute y^e[the] naturall body.

{Matter's substrait where generation's don} {part of y^e[the] bodies constitution.}

Matter is considered in a twofold state and so distinguish'd into{1:^st {2:^nd first matter is conceived void of all forms, and capable of all not that there is or ever was or ever will be any such matter existing in y^e[the] world. for y^t[that] confused lump wch (Gen.1.2) is said to be without form (called by y^e[the] Poets chaos) had some form suitable to y^t[that] confu sion; but it's void of y^e[the] form, comeliness, and order, which by degre es appeared afterwards in y^e[the] severall species made thereof. yet notwithstanding we may abstract from all forms, matter; and conceive of it in its own distinct nature (like wax y^t[that] has no figu re impressed thereon) and so abstractly conceived, it hath two attribu tes power, and indetermined Quantity.

1 power this is 2:fold, universall and Particular:

1 Universall, whereby it is able to receive all forms of bodies success ively into it (like y^e[the] said wax capable of any figure you please to Impress) and in this power 'tis said y^e[the] essence of matter dos consist.

2 Particular, whereby it is aptly disposed, thro; y^e[the] Efficiency of Some Externall agent to receive a particular form; as when y^e[the] Embrio is organiz'd & it to Receive a Soul i.e: hath Members fitted to the

Chap. 2:^nd Naturall Phylosphy 9

Souls operation, and yn[then] it is prepared or disposed to receive y^e[the] soul as it's proper form.

2 Particular whereby of: Quantity undetermined i.e. Quantity in it self considered not yt[that] it has no term at all(for there's no qu antity but is finite and so must have its terms). but as it is a dependent on matter without physicall Determination by any par ticular. now as matter is apt to receive this or that form, so this (it's undetermined Quantity.) is apt from y^e[the} form to receive this or yt[that] physicall determination; for Every physicall body required certain terms of it's greatness and littleness: they have a greatest as Such, and a least as Such; therefore Gyants and Dwarfs are monsters in nature, and have not ye[the] proper physicall body of men.

Second matter is ye[the] same really with ye[the} first, only as it is in formed with a particular form. even as ye[the] was is ye[the] same bo th before and after some signature or character is impressed on it; therefore 'tis commonly said 1:^st matter dos exist in 2^nd: N: note, ye[the] Ancient's Doctrine is yt[that] all generations and corruptions, are made in first matter; as to its present form which it hath' (no matter being without one) is truly secon matter, yet (say yy) as to ye[the] form it is capable of, and prepared for, it is first ma tter : so that ye[the] true difference of first and second matter eyes in ye[the] capacity or possession of forms.

{The first and second matters really} {are one, distinct by a formality}

These two principles last mentioned (matter and form) may be considered not only as constituents (of which is Spoken) but also as Efficients; namely as conjoined, they produce all ye[the] affections (attributes or properties) of which is defined ye[the] primary and di rect principle of motion, and rest successively in ye[the] body wher ein it is.

N: note: by motion and rest is not meant these things actually but potentially (which we may call mobility and restableness) for some things never actually move, (as ye[the] centre of ye[the] unive rse) and some never rest (as ye[the] heavenly bodies) and yet both have ye[the] powers of motion and rest (at least passively) Suppo sing therefore a sufficient agent to produce ym[them].

N: note, by primary and direct is meant properly of it self & not by accident, to distinguish from art or accidents. from art as in a clock which moves by art round to shew the time of ye[the] day; whereas by nature (without art) it moves down wards (and obsticles being removed) falls to ye[the] ground. so al so from accidents, as a man sees by his visive Power;

10 Natural Phylosophy chap. 3: (a quality and accident) but not primarily , for it is from ye nature of an animal to which that power belongs. Nature is two-fold universall and particular. 1 Universal is a principle of motion and vest, whereby Bodies are carried contrary to their particular natures to preserve ye universe (like good subjects in a common wealth, who will forgoe their private Interest for ye publick benefit) so he avy bodies ascend (being suckt up) to avoid a vacuity, wch universall nature doth abhor. 2 Particular is a principle of motion and rest in every par ticular body for its own conservation, so heavy bodies des cend to: {nature particular it self resigns} {to correspond with universe designs} chap: 3: Of Affections of Naturall Body in General These are four Quantitiy, Time, Place, and Motion (some add a fifth namely Quality. Quantity determined, wch as to its essence or being (extension) flows from the matter, as to its determination from ye form; and from this it is yt bodies are extended, finite, & Divisible. Extended, so as to have parts out of parts, which cannot be together in ye same part of ye whole space; and hence every body, or part, can come thereinto, unfels yt be vemo: ved which was therein. See ye chap: of Quantity in Logick finite, because of ye determination, though we know not where (or how far of) they are. Henceone defines body matter and figure considered together. (Dr Petty of duplicate proportion) now figure is ye termination of Quantity, or at least sup: :poseth ye termination, and there's no body but hath its figure. Divisible infinitely, as is explained in ye prodicament of of Quantity, namely by our thoughts, though not by our ha: :ands; but indeed this is scarce allowable to physically Body, though it may be to mathematical; bec: there is a Least

Naturall Phylosophy chap. 3

and so deceive us (for sometimes ye clock strikes earlyer and sometimes later yn it should) therefore, here is principally to be understood the motion of the Heavenly bodies (wch is more regular and constant) as that of the Sun, whereby hours, days, and years are measured.

Thus by ye motion of ye Centre of ye Sun 35 degrees or 15°/360 from east to west, of ye whole circle where in it is *for that they supposed to move) we measure and account ye time of an hour: and by its motion from west to east round its supposed annuall circle, we measure or account ye time of a year: yn by applying this duration of ye sun in motion to ye duration of any other body, or bodily action, we say it hath lasted (or had duration) one hour, or a year; of wch see more in ye predicaments of Quantity & whereness. This measure of ye duration of bodies is called Externall time, bec{ause} it is externall to ye Sun or its motion. N note, D{octor} Petty, among his novel deinitions calls time the image of motion/ but I Think it move intelligibly expressed by ye measure of durations; or as Mr Boyl, duration meassured. Duration measured by Heavens motion, gives of External time ye perfect notion.

4. Motion, or rather (mobility) the passive power is a change from one term to another, ye two terms are from which, and to which, from which is yt wch is left in motion. to which is yt wch is acquired. and from this latter (to wch) motion derives its unity: for, if I move my hand to a place and make three stops by ye way, yn have I so many terms, and therefore move that distance by three motions; whereas, if I make No stop, 'tis all but one motion, having but one term, to which, at ye end thereof. Species of motion are commonly acounted Six, whereof Instantaneous. 2 Successive. 4

1. Generation is a motion from an Essential forms not being to its being in ye matter. as ye Generation of man. 2. Corruption is on ye contrary from being to not being, as ye Death of a man. these two are called Instantaneous, not that they are in ye same instant, but bec{ause} they are in two immediately succeeding instants; for so a man may be alive in this instant, and dead in ye next. N: note, 'tis a common saying, ye generation of one thing is