Text: Comte rests his Positive Philosophy upon Newton's principle. He says: "In ancient times men conceived of matter as being passive or inert, all activity being produced by some external agency, either or supernatural beings, or some metaphysical entities. Now that science enables us to view things more truly, we are aware that there is some movement, or activity, more or less, in all bodies whatever." It is thought the consideration of effects of force in nature must lead us to the contrary conclusion, that matter is but the subject of and transmitter of force imparted by one, final, Intelligent Will. This accords with the Sacred Scriptures, in which, instead of its being asserted that "In the beginning matter set itself in motion by virtue of a principle of attraction of particles and masses of matter for each other," it is stated: (1.) "In the beginning the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of God moved on the face of the waters. (2.) And God said, let there be light: and there was light. (3.) And God said, let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters. And God called the firmament heaven. (4.) And God said, let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the day land appear; and it was so."

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Source: 159