I shall not now enter into that inquiry, my present business being not to search into the original of power, but how we come by the IDEA of it.

But since active powers make so great a part of our complex ideas of natural substances, (as we shall see hereafter,) and I mention them as such, according to common apprehension; yet they being not, perhaps, so truly ACTIVE powers as our hasty thoughts are apt to represent them, I judge it not amiss, by this intimation, to direct our minds to the consideration of God and spirits, for the clearest idea of ACTIVE power.
3.

Power includes Relation.
I confess power includes in it some kind of RELATION (a relation to action or change,) as indeed which of our ideas of what kind soever, when attentively considered, does not.

For, our ideas of extension, duration, and number, do they not all contain in them a secret relation of the parts?
Figure and motion have something relative in them much more visibly.

And sensible qualities, as colours and smells, &c.
what are they but the powers of different bodies, in relation to our perception, &c.?
And, if considered in the things themselves, do they not depend on the bulk, figure, texture, and motion of the parts?
All which include some kind of relation in them.