that is, by DIVINE LOVE; from
whence proceeded all things which exist.

_Conclusion._

VIII. 1. Cause and effect may be considered as the progression, or
successive motions, of the parts of the great system of Nature. The state
of things at this moment is the effect of the state of things, which
existed in the preceding moment; and the cause of the state of things,
which shall exist in the next moment.

These causes and effects may be more easily comprehended, if motion be
considered as a change of the figure of a group of bodies, as proposed in
Sect. XIV. 2. 2. inasmuch as our ideas of visible or tangible objects are
more distinct, than our abstracted ideas of their motions. Now the change
of the configuration of the system of nature at this moment must be an
effect of the preceding configuration, for a change of configuration cannot
exist without a previous configuration; and the proximate cause of every
effect must immediately precede that effect. For example, a moving ivory
ball could not proceed onwards, unless it had previously began to proceed;
or unless an impulse had been previously given it; which previous motion or
impulse constitutes a part of the last situation of things.

As the effects produced in this moment of time become causes in the next,
we may consider the progressive motions of objects as a chain of causes
only; whose first link proceeded from the great Creator, and which have
existed from the beginning of the created universe, and are perpetually
proceeding.

2. These causes may be conveniently divided into two kinds, efficient and
inert causes, according with the two kinds of entity supposed to exist in
the natural world, which may be termed matter and spirit, as proposed in
Sect. I. and further treated of in Sect. XIV. The efficient causes of
motion, or new configuration, consist either of the principle of general
gravitation, which actuates the sun and planets; or of the principle of
particular gravitation, as in electricity, magnetism, heat; or of the
principle of chemical affinity, as in combustion, fermentation,
combination; or of the principle of organic life, as in the contraction of
vegetable and animal fibres. The inert causes of motion, or new
configuration, consist of the parts of matter, which are introduced within
the spheres of activity of the principles above described. Thus, when an
apple falls on the ground, the principle of gravitation is the efficient
cause, and the matt