Whatever lies within the Compass of the Universe, must of necessity Corrupt and Decay ; By Corruption I mean only Alteration. Now if this be an Evil, 'tis a necessary one; by consequence the Whole of Nature must be in a bad Condition, by having the parts so slenderly put together, and so very much dispos'd to Moulder , and drop in peices. And if the Case stands thus, Nature must either design unkindness to her self, by making the Parts of her own Body subject to an unavoidable Misfortune, or else she hudled up Things in the Dark, without foreseeing what would become of them. But both these suppositions are highly improbable. Now if any Man has a mind to leave Nature, or the First Cause, out of the Scheme, and affirm that Things follow the Make, and Tendency of their Constitution; He that affirms this, does but expose himself , by granting in the first place, that the Parts of the Universe are made for Alteration. And then falls a Wondring, and Growling at Decay, and Revolution ; as if such Accidents were Unnatural, and Extraordinary : Especially since Things do but return whence they came , and fall back no farther then their first Principles. For upon the Dissolution of particular Bodies, either the Elements are scatter'd at large, or else they march straight to their Head Quarters; And that which is solid turns to Earth, and the particles of Air joyn their own Element ; And thus they are received into the main Body of the Universe ; The Universe I say, which will either be destroy'd by Fire, after a certain Period ; Or else be renewed by perpetual Vicissitudes. To return : I would not have you think that those particles of Earth, or Air , which you have now in your Constitution, are the same with those you brought into the World with you. Don't mistake : Your Body has been made over and over since that time. The Matter which now belongs to you is as it were but of yesterday's growth; tho' you have lived so long in the World, your Carcase is but a young one ; For you have taken it all in at your Mouth but somewhat lately : And therefore when you perceive it wear off you need not be so much troubled at the Loss ; For the Alterations in your body, don't rob you of the Flesh and Blood you had from your Mother ; but only of some fresher Recruits of no long standing. But suppose you had still the same Body you was Born with ; what would you do with it without the benefit of Change ? without a new supply of Matter which must alter the Case, Nourishment , and Growth, are perfectly impracticable : Besides, Death can't be far off, and then both New Matter and Old, must take their leave, and be swept to their respective Elements.⁴