To
take away all possibility of scruple in the case, do but consider
this one point. Either you are not able to conceive {255} the
Creation on any hypothesis whatsoever; and, if so, there is no
ground for dislike or complaint against any particular opinion on
that score: or you are able to conceive it; and, if so, why not
on my Principles, since thereby nothing conceivable is taken
away? You have all along been allowed the full scope of sense,
imagination, and reason. Whatever, therefore, you could before
apprehend, either immediately or mediately by your senses, or by
ratiocination from your senses; whatever you could perceive,
imagine, or understand, remains still with you. If, therefore,
the notion you have of the creation by other Principles be
intelligible, you have it still upon mine; if it be not
intelligible, I conceive it to be no notion at all; and so there
is no loss of it. And indeed it seems to me very plain that the
supposition of Matter, that is a thing perfectly unknown and
inconceivable, cannot serve to make us conceive anything.
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