CCXI sociable letters written by the thrice noble, illustrious, and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.

CLVII.

MADAM,

THose that take Exceptions at my Philo∣sophical Opinions, as for Example, when I say there is no such thing as First Matter, nor no such thing as First Power, are either Fools in Philosophy, or Malicious to Philosophy; As for Infinite Power, it is in God, and God hath no Beginning, nor his Power, as being Infi∣nite and Eternal, wherefore there can be no First, or Beginning, either in Quantity or Qua∣lity; And as for Matter, or Substance, let it be as is Believed, that Matter, or Substance were made out of Nothing, that is, that God was the First Producer of the Matter that made the VVorld, yet the Power that God Had, and Hath, to make the Matter, was Infinite and E∣ternal, and the Matter being in the Infinite and Eternal Power, is also Infinite and E∣ternal, without Beginning or Ending, so as the Produced hath no more Beginning than the Producer; the like for the Form, Figure and Motion; but to answer every Idle Objection, or to Instruct every Shallow Understanding, were Infinitely Troublesome, and Tedious, if not Impossible; and there are not many that Read and Argue with a Deep Consideration, or Clear Understanding, for when they Argue,

they Argue in a Misty Understanding, which makes many Objections which Reason Stum∣bles at, and make so many Words, as they Con∣found Reason and Sense, and when they Read, or Hear any other Argue, or Discourse of Na∣ture, they Read, or Hearken Superficially, ra∣ther Listening to the Sound, than Marking, Ob∣serving, or Considering the Sense and Reason, or the Ground and Composition; like as those that Barely View a Picture, but Understand no∣thing of the Art, yet will Censure the Painters Skill, and many times out of a Presumptuous Opinion of their own Understanding, do give a Midas Judgment, Preferring, not only in their Opinion, but in their Commendation, Sign-Posts, or Sign-Pictures, before the Rarest, and most Curious Pieces, Drawn to the Life. But leaving them to their Dull Understanding, and Foolish Judgments, I rest,

Madam,

Your faithful Friend and Servant.