ty and Mobi 144. For Example, let the Subject of Enquiry be thofe four Natures Exemplified which Telefius calls Chamber-fellows; as if they came out of the fame in Heat, Room; viz. Heat, Light, Rarity, and Mcbility, or Aptnefs to Motion. Light, RariNow tho' thefe Natures feem to be nearly related, yet there are many lity. Inftances of Divorce found among them: for, (1.) the Air is rare, and ready to Motion, but not hot or fhining; (2.) the Moon is lucid, without Heat; (3.) Water is hot without Light; (4.) the Motion of the magnetic Needle in the Compafs, is fwift and nimble; yet that Needle is a cold, denfe and opaque Body: and there are many other Examples of this Kind P. real Nature, 145. Again; let the Subject of Enquiry be the Corporeal Nature, and In the CorpoNatural Action: for Natural Action feems to be no where found, but as and natural" it fubfifts in fome Body or other: and yet with regard hereto, there Action. may, perhaps, be Inftances 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 likewife be added fome other Operations Magnetical performed at a Distance. For this Kind of Action is both performed in Action an InTime, by fucceffive Moments, or not inftantaneously; and in Place, by fance of Di Degrees, and through Space: whence, confequently, there is fome Moment of Time, and fome Diftance of Place, wherein this Virtue, or Action, must be in the middle, between the two Bodies that cause the Motion. 146. The Confideration, therefore, amounts to this; whether the Bodies, which are the Boundaries of the Motion, difpofe or alter the intermediate Bodies, fo as that by Succeffion, and real Contact, the Virtue may flide from Point to Point; and in the mean time exist in the intermediate Body: or whether there be nothing of this Kind, befides the Bodies, the Virtue, and the Space, or Distance. 147. Now in the Cafe of the Rays of Light, Sounds, Heat, and some other Things operating at a Distance; 'tis probable, that the intermediate Bodies are affected and altered: the rather becaufe a qualified Medium is required to convey fuch Operations. But the magnetic or attractive Virtue paffes through all Mediums indifferently; for it is not hindered by any one. But if this Virtue or Action is independant on the intermediate Body; it follows, that it is a natural Power, or Action, fubfifting, for a Time, in fome Place, without a Body; fince it neither fubfifts in the terminating nor intermediate Bodies. And hence the magnetic Action may be an Inftance of Divorce, in the Subject of Corporeal and Natural Alion. vorce. 148. To this may be added, by way of Corollary, the following con- A Corollary fiderable Discovery; viz. that by philofophizing, even according to Senfe, a from it. Proof may be had of the Exiftence of feparated and incorporeal Beings and By comparing this with Aph. 4. of the prefent Part, the Ufe of thefe Instances, in discover ing falfe Forms, will fufficiently appear. Inflances of and Subftances: for if natural Virtues and Actions, flowing from a Body, may fubfift without a Body, for fome time, in Space, or Place; 'tis poffible that fuch Virtues or Actions may proceed originally from an incorporeal Substance: for a corporeal Nature feems no lefs required to support and convey, than to excite and generate, a natural Action. APHORISM XXXVII. 149. Now follow five Orders of Inftances, which by one general Expreffion, we term Inftances of Light, or Inftances of primary, and original Information; being fuch as adminifter to the Senfes: for as all Interpretation of Nature begins from Senfe; and, from the Perception of the Senfes, leads, in a strait, continued and guarded Path, to the Perceptions of the Understanding, which are true Notions and Axioms; it neceffarily follows, that the more copious and exact the Reprefentations or Informations of the Senfe fhall be, the more eafy and fuccefsful every Thing elfe will prove 9. Ranged into 150. The first of these five Orders of Inftances of Light, are fuch as five Orders. ftrengthen, enlarge and rectify the immediate Actions of the Senfes. The fecond, are fuch as bring down infenfible Things to fenfible. The third, are fuch as indicate the continued Proceffes, or Series, of thofe Things and Motions, which remain generally unobferved in their End or Period. The fourth, fubftitute fomewhat to the Senfe, in those Cafes that leave it perfectly deftitute. And the fifth, raise the Attention and Edge of the Sense; and at the fame time limit the Subtilty of Things. To each of these five Kinds we shall speak in their Order. Instances of Of three Kinds for the Viz. (1.) Mi- APHORISM XXXIX. 151. In the fixteenth Place, we therefore range Inftances of Entrance, or Inftances of the Portal; by which we mean thofe that affift the immediate Actions of the Senfes. But of all the Sentes, the Sight has the chief Prerogative in Point of Information; and, therefore, Helps are principally to be fought for the Improvement of the Sight. And thefe Helps may appear of three Kinds; viz. (1.) fuch as enable us to fee Things that are otherwife invifible; (2.) fuch as enable us to fee Things at a greater Distance; and, (3.) fuch as cause to see more exactly and diftinctly. 152. (1.) Of the first Kind are the newly invented Microscopes, which fhew the latent, and otherwife invifible fmall Parts of Bodies; and their fecret Textures and Motions, remarkably increased in the Magnitude of the Object; by means whereof, the exact Figure and Lineaments of the Body This Paragraph being fundamental and leading, requires to be well understood and remembred; the Bufinefs of raifing Axioms depending upon it. See below, Aph. 39---43. Body of the minutest Creatures; fuch as Flies, Fleas, Mites, &c. as alfo Colours and Motions, before invisible, may be seen, in a delightful, and furprizing manner. occafion. 153. And here, as is ufual in new and ftrange Difcoveries, a fuper- The Error to ftitious Obfervation has crept into the Minds of Men; as if this Inven- which they tion of Microfcopes did Honour to the Works of Nature, but Dif- bave given honour to the Works of Art, by fhewing the one much finer than the o her whereas the Truth only is, that natural Textures are much more fubtile, than artificial ones. For thefe Microfcopes are only of Ufe in the Cafe of minute Objects; fo that if Democritus had feen them, he would perhaps have rejoiced, and imagined a Way was now difcovered for rendering the Atoms vifible, which he pronounced to be no Object of Sight. 154. But the Unfuitablenefs and Infufficiency of thefe Microscopes, ex- Inconvenience cept for very minute Bodies, (and then only when fuch minute Bodies of the Contriare not Parts of larger) destroys the Ufe of the Invention: which, if it vance. cou'd be extended to large Bodies, or to fmall Particles of large Bodies, in the Piece, after the Manner of making a Piece of fine Lawn, appear like a Net; fo as that by this Means the latent fmall Particles and Inequalities of Gems, Liquors, Urine, Blood, Wounds, and many other Things might be diftinguifhed; great Conveniencies would doubtlefs arife from the Discovery". 115. Óf the second Kind, are Telescopes; which were nobly attempted (2.) Telescopes. and discovered by Galileo; by means whereof, as by Boats or little Ships of Intelligence, a nearer Commerce may be opened and carried on with the Celeftial Bodies ". For by the Help of thefe Glaffes, (1.) the milky The DiscoveWay appears to be a Knot or Cluster of little Stars, perfectly separate ries made by and diftinct; of which the Ancients had but a bare Sufpicion. (2.) And their Means. again, by their Means it fhould feem, that the Planetary Regions contain more Stars befides the direct Planets; and that the Heavens may begin to be fpangled with Stars at a great Distance below the Sphere of the Fixed Stars; tho' with fuch only as are invifible, without the Help of Telescopes. And, again; (3.) by their Affiftance, we may behold the Motion of thofe fmall Stars, or Satellites, about the Planet Jupiter; from whence it may be conjectured, that the Revolutions of the Stars have regard to feveral Centres. (4.) Again; by their Means, the lumi See Dr. Hook's Micographia, Dr. Power's Experiments, and Leuwenhoeck's Obfervations, paffim. Because fome Microfcopical Obfervers, 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 courfe, rough, and unfinished, in comparison of the latter; and thence fondly extol the Excellence of the Works of Nature, above thofe of Art. But no confiderable Improvement of this Kind has hitherto appeared; the greatest Magnifiers being the smallest Globules, or Spheres of Glafs. See Sir Ifaac's Newton's Optics; Dr. Hook's Lectures of Light, and Micrographia; and the Elements of Dioptrics in Wolfius's Elementa Ma thefeos Univerfæ. Tom. II. p. 284. w See Vol. III. p. 17. * Viz. The Satellites of Jupiter, &c. ▾ As in Sir Isaac Newton's Syftem they are found to have. VOL. II. Ttt nous tion. nous and opaque Inequalities are more diftinctly perceived and afcertained in the Moon from whence a geographical Defcription might be made thereof. (5.) And, laftly; by means of thefe Glaffes, Spots in the Sun, and other Things of that Kind, appear to the Sight: all which are, doubtlefs, noble Discoveries, fo far as they may be fafely depended upon for real. But, indeed, I the rather incline to fufpect them, because Experience feems wholly to reft in thefe few Particulars, without difcovering, by the fame Means, numerous others, equally worthy of Search and Enquiry. (3-) Infiru156. (3.) Of the third Kind, are thofe Staffs, Aftrolabes, and the like ments of Sight Inftruments, for meafuring Distances; which not only enlarge and improve and Menfura- the Sight; but also rectify and direct it. And as for the Instances that affift both this, and the other Senfes, in their immediate and individual Actions, without affording any Information beyond that Affiftance; we here omit them, as making nothing to the prefent Purpose. And hence we do not mention the Contrivances for correcting any particular Defect of the Sight; because thefe afford no farther Information. APHORISM XL. (17.) Summon- 157. In the feventeenth Place, among Prerogative Inftances, come those ing Inftances. we call Summoning or Citing Inftances; borrowing the Term from the Bar; where Perfons are fummoned, or cited to appear, who did not Caufe Things appear before: And, accordingly, thefe Inftances bring down insensible Things, to fuch as are fenfible. to appear. The Ways wherein Things efcape the Senfes. 158. Things efcape the Senfes, either, (1.) through the Distance of the Object, as to Place; (2.) through the Interception of interpofing Bodies; (3.) because the Object is unfit to make an Impreffion upon the Senfe; (4.) because the Object is not fufficient, in Quantity, to ftrike the Senfe; (5.) because the Time is not proportionate, fo as to actuate the Senfe (6.) because the Percuffion of the Object is not endured by the Senfe; (7.) and lastly; because an Object before detained, and poffefs'd the Senfe, fo as to leave no room for a new Motion. 159. And these feveral Ways chiefly regard Vifion in the firft Place, and Touch in the fecond: for these two Senfes give Information at large,. and of common Objects; but the three others give little Information, befides what is immediate, and relates to their correfponding Objects. 160. In the first Way there is no reducing the Object to Senfe, except, Bubftitution to be used in when Things cannot be perceived by reafon of the Distance, others are the first Way. used, or fubftituted for them, which may excite and strike the Senfes 2 As is done by Hevelius, in his Selenographia. at See the Author's Effay towards a Philofophical Hiftory of the Heavens, Vol. II. p. 15. And Sir Ifaac Newton's Planetary Syftem, in the third Book of his Principia. The Inftruments of this Kind are numerous; and their Defcriptions frequent in the Wri ters upon Inftruments, Levelling, Practical Mathematics, Navigation, &c. See thefe Writers enumerated at the End of the fecond Tome of Wolfius's Elementa Mathefeos Univerfa, at a great Distance: as in giving Signals by the lighting up of Fires, the ringing of Bells, &c. 161. In the Second Way, a Reduction is made, when fuch Things as Reduction in lie conceal'd within, by reafon of the Interpofition of Bodies that cannot the fecond. be commodiously open'd, are brought to the Senfes, by means of those Things which are upon the Surface, or flow from within; as the State of the human Body is known by the Pulfe, or Urine, and the like. 162. But the Reduction in the third and fourth Ways, regard nume- The Reductirous Particulars; and ought on all fides to be collected in Enquiries. third and ons required in Thus, for Example, it appears that the Air, the Spirit, and Things of fourth. that Kind, which in their whole Subftance prove light and fubtile, can neither be perceived nor touched: whence in the Enquiry after fuch Bodies, we must neceffarily ufe Reductions. 163. Suppofe, therefore, the Subject of Enquiry were the Action and Examplified Motion of the Spirit included in tangible Bodies: for every tangible Body, in the Action with us, contains an invifible and untangible Spirit, over which the Body of Bodies. is drawn like a Garment. And hence arife thofe three powerful Springs, and that wonderful Procefs, of the Spirit in tangible Bodies. For, (1.) the Spirit being discharged out of a tangible Body, the Body contracts and dries; (2.) whilft detained, it makes the Body tender, fupple, and foft; and, (3.) being neither totally difcharged, nor totally held in, it informs, fashions, affimilates, ejects, organizes, &c. And all these are rendered fenfible by visible Effects °. 164. For in every tangible, inanimate Body, the included Spirit firft This Action multiplies itfelf, and, as it were, feeds upon thofe tangible Parts which defcribed. are most disposed and prepared for that Purpofe; and thus digefts, works, and converts them into Spirit; till at laft they fly off together. 165. And this Bufinefs of making and multiplying the Spirit, is brought How made fendown to the Senfe, by the Diminution of the Weight of the Body: for fible. in all Drying, part of the Quantity goes off; which is not only the Spirit that pre-existed in the Body, but a Part of the Body itfelf; that was before tangible, and is now newly converted into Spirit: for the pure Spirit has no Gravity . 166. The Emiffion, or Exit, of this Spirit is rendered fenfible by the By the rufting Rufting of Metals; and other Corruptions or Putrefactions of that Kind; of Metals. which stop before they come to the Rudiments of Life: for in the more compact Bodies, the Spirit finds no Pores and Paffages, through which to escape; and is therefore obliged to protrude the tangible Parts, and This requires to be well understood; and is explained in what follows: but for farther Information, fee the Sylva Sylvarum, and History of Life and Death, paffim. d In the Air at leaft; as being specifically lighter than Air. But whether any thing farther be here meant by Spirit having no Gravity, will beft appear from the Author's Hiftory of Life and Death; the History of Condensation and Rarification, &c. See in particular, Vol. III. P. 419, 420, 422, 524, 556, &c. See alfo below, §. 175 |