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grees and distances. There is, therefore, some one moment 

 of time and some interval of space, in which the power or 

 action is suspended between the two bodies creating the mo 

 tion. Our consideration, then, is reduced to this, whether 

 the bodies which are the extremes of motion prepare or alter 

 the intermediate bodies, so that the power advances from 

 one extreme to the other by succession and actual contact, 

 and in the meantime exists in some intermediate body; or 

 whether there exists in reality nothing but the bodies, the 

 power, and the space? In the case of the rays of light, 

 sounds, and heat, and some other objects which operate at 

 a distance, it is indeed probable that the intermediate 

 bodies are prepared and altered, the more so because a 

 qualified medium is required for their operation. But the 

 magnetic or attractive power admits of an indifferent me 

 dium, and it is not impeded in any. But if that power or 

 action is independent of the intermediate body, it follows 

 that it is a natural power or action existing in a certain time 

 and space without any body, since it exists neither in the 

 extreme nor in the intermediate bodies. Hence the mag 

 netic action may be taken as an instance of divorce of cor 

 poreal nature and natural action; to which we may add, as 

 a corollary and an advantage not to be neglected, that it 

 may be taken as a proof of essence and substance being 

 separate and incorporeal, even by those who philosophize 

 according to the senses. For if natural power and action 

 emanating from a body can exist at any time and place 

 entirely without any body, it is nearly a proof that it can 

 also emanate originally from an incorporeal substance; for 

 a corporeal nature appears to be no less necessary for sup 

 porting and conveying, than for exciting or generating nat 

 ural action. 



