hereto, there may perhaps be instances of divorce, as in the magnetic action suppose, where iron is attracted to the loadstone, and heavy bodies to the globe of the earth; to which may likewise be added, some other operations performed at a distance. For this kind of action is both performed in time by successive moments, or not instantaneously, and in place by degrees, and through space; whence, consequently, there is some moment of time, and some distance of place, wherein this virtue, or action, must be in the middle, between the two bodies that cause the motion. * bus The consideration, therefore, amounts to this, whether the bodies, which are the boundaries of the motion, dispose or alter the intermediate bodies, so as that by succession, and real contact, the virtue may slide from point to point, and in the mean time exist in the intermediate body, or whether there be nothing of this kind, besides the bodies, the virtue, and the space, or distance.

Now, in the case of the rays of light, sounds, heat, and some other things operating at a distance, it is probable, that the intermediate bodies are affected and altered, the rather because a qualified medium is required to convey such operations.But the magnetic, or attractive virtue, passes through all mediums indifferently, for it is not hindered by any one. But if this

virtue or action is independent on the interme diate body, it follows that it is a natural power or action, subsisting for a time in some place without a body, since it neither subsists in the terminating nor intermediate bodies. And hence the magnetic action may be an instance of divorce, in the subject of corporeal and natural action.pd

To this may be added, by way of corollary, the following considerable discovery, viz. that by philosophizing, even according to sense, a proof may be had of the existence of separated and incorporeal beings and substances; for if natural virtues and actions flowing from a body may subsist without a body for some time in space or place, it is possible that such virtues or actions may proceed originally from an incorporeal substance: for a corporeal nature seems no less required to support and convey, than to excite and generate, a natural action. 1038. Now follow five orders of instances, which by one general expression we term instances of light, or instances of primary, and original information, being such as administer to the senses; for as all interpretation of nature begins from sense, and, from the perception of the senses, leads in a strait, continued and guarded path, to the perceptions of the understanding, which are true notions and axioms, it necessarily foleil: 1 Ju JIL VOC

Y

follows, that the more copious and exact the representations or informations of the sense shall be, the more easy and successful every thing else will prove*.

The first of these five orders of instances of light, are such as strengthen, enlarge, and rectify the immediate actions of the senses. The second are such as bring down insensible things to sensible. The third are such as indicate the continued processes or series of those things and motions, which remain generally unobserved in their end or period. The fourth substitute somewhat to the sense in those cases that leave it perfectly destitute. And the fifth raise the attention and edge of the sense, and at the same time limit the subtilty of things. To each of these five kinds we shall speak in their order f.

39. In the sixteenth place, we therefore range instances of entrance, or instances of the portal; by which we mean those that assist the immediate actions of the senses. But of all the senses the sight has the chief prerogative in point of information, and, therefore, helps are principally to be sought for the improvement of the

This paragraph being fundamental and leading, requires to be well understood and remembered; the business of raising Axioms depending upon it.

↑ See below, Aph. 39-43.

sight. And these helps may appear of three kinds, viz. (1.), such as enable us to see things that are otherwise invisible; (2.) such as enable us to see things at a greater distance; and, (3.) such as cause to see more exactly and distinctly. .... (1.). Of the first kind are the newly invented microscopes, which shew the latent, and otherwise invisible small parts of bodies, and their secret textures and motions, remarkably increased in the magnitude of the object, by means whereof, the exact figure and lineaments of the body of the minutest creatures, such as flies, fleas, mites, &c. as also colours and motions, before invisible, may be seen in a delightful and surprising manner*.

And here, as is usual in new and strange discoveries, a superstitious observation has crept into the minds of men, as if this invention of microscopes did honour to the works of nature, but dishonour to the works of art, by shewing the one much finer than the other+; whereas the

* See Dr. Hook's Micographia, Dr. Power's Experiments, and Leuwenhoeck's Observations.

Because some microscopical observers, upon viewing the point of a needle, or other the finest works of the hand, and comparing these with the hairs, or downy feathers of animals, &c. find the former to be coarse, rough, and unfinished, in comparison of the latter, and thence fondly ex-. tol the excellence of the works of nature, above those of art.

truth only is, that natural textures are much more subtile than artificial ones. For these microscopes are only of use in the case of minute objects, so that if Democritus had seen them, he would perhaps have rejoiced, and imagined a way was now discovered for rendering the atoms visible, which he pronounced to be no object of sight.

But the unsuitableness and insufficiency of these microscopes, except for very minute bodies, (and then only when such minute bodies are not parts of larger) destroys the use of the invention; which, if it could be extended to large bodies, or to small particles of large bo dies, in the piece, after the manner of making a piece of fine lawn appear like a net, so as that by this means the latent small particles and inequalities of gems, liquors, urine, blood, wounds, and many other things might be distinguished, great conveniencies would doubtless arise from the discovery*.

Of the second kind are telescopes, which were nobly attempted and discovered by Galilæo; by

* But no considerable improvement of this kind has hi therto appeared, the greatest magnifiers being the smallest globules, or spheres of glass. See Sir Isaac Newton's Optics; Dr. Hook's Lectures of Light, and Micographia; and the Elements of Dioptrics in Wolfius's Elementa Matheseos Universe, Tom. II. p. 284, ti arendovell yd ɔnob za t