PHYSICAL AND LITERARY. 47 



Of G R A V I r Y. 



GRAVITY is one of the mod re* 

 markablc properties that belong to 

 matter. By this property, which is uni- 

 verfal, every particle of matter tends to 

 every other particle ; whereby, if not ob^ 

 ftrudled, all matter would be gathered in- 

 to one mafs. As every particle of matter 

 has this tendency, the tendencies of any 

 two bodies to a mutual union, muft be 

 in proportion to their quantities of mat- 

 ter. And it is obferved that the force, 

 which, at different diftances, is exerted 

 by two bodies in order to be conjoined, is 

 in the reciprocal proportion of the fquares 

 of thefe diftances. It is by this property 

 that the heavenly bodies move round the 

 fun, and are kept trom flying off in a tan- 

 gent : And it is by the fame property that 



bodies 



