The philosphical and physical opinions written by Her Excellency the Lady Marchionesse of Newcastle.

Chap. 73. Of repeating one and the same work, and of varieties.

NAture may repeat one and the same creature if she plea∣seth, that is, the same motions, on the same matter, may create the same creature, by reason the same motions, and the same matter, is eternally in the body infinite: thus the Origi∣nal cause of producing one and the same is eternal, by reason nothing in nature can be annihilated, and though the infinite matter is but one and the same, yet the infinite part of innated matter, moves infinite several wayes, and by reason of the diversity of motion, there is such varietie, as seldom any two creatures are alike, for motion delights in variety, not so much in the different kindes, as in the particular creatures, which makes me think that motion is bound by the nature of the matter, to make such kindes; Although it be at liberty for particulars, and yet the several kindes may be as infinite as the particulars; as for example, although motion is bound to Animal kinde, Vegetable kinde, Mineral kinde, and also to

make such kinde of worlds as this is; yet motion may make infinite particular worlds, as infinite particular Animals, Ve∣getables, Minerals, and those infinite worlds may differ, as those kindes of Creaturs; for worlds may differ from other worlds, not onely as man from man, but as man from beast, beasts from birds, birds from fish, and so as Vegetables do; for an oak is not like a tulip, or roses; for trees are not like flowers, nor flowers like roots, nor roots like fruit, nor all flowers alike, nor all roots alike, nor all fruits alike, nor all trees, and the rest, and so for Minerals; gold is not like lead, nor a diamond like a pibble stone; so there may be infinite worlds, and infinite variety of worlds, and be all of that kinde we call worlds, yet be nothing alike, but as different, as if it were of another kinde, and may be infinite several kinds of creatures, as several sorts, that we can never imagine, nor guesse at; for we can guesse, nor imagine at no other wayes, but what our senses brought in, or our imaginations raised up, and though imaginations in nature may be infinite, and move in every particular brain after an infinite manner; yet it is but finite in every particular figure, because every particular fi∣guse is finite, that is every particular figure comes by de∣grees from creation to a full growth, from a full growth to a decay, from a decay to a dissolution; but not a Annihilation, for every particular figure lies in the body infinite, as well as every particular kinde; for unlesse eternalmatter, and infinite matter, and eternal and infinite motions could be Annihilated, infinite figures wil eternally remain, although not in their whole bulk, yet in their parted pieces; for though one and the same matter may be made into other figures: yet the former fi∣gures have as much a being as the present figures, by reason the matter that was the cause of those figures hath an eternal being, and as long as the cause lasts, the effects cannot be Annihi∣lated.