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can easily be distinguished from the former by its color, for 

 flames do not mix immediately, as liquids do) continue pyra- 

 midal, or tend more to a globular figure, since there is nothing 

 to destroy or compress it. If the latter result be observed, it 

 must be considered as settled, that flame continues positively 

 the same, whilst inclosed within another flame, and not exposed 

 to the resisting force of the air. 



Let this suffice for the instances of the cross. We have dwelt 

 the longer upon them in order gradually to teach and accustom 

 mankind to judge of nature by these instances, and enlighten- 

 ing experiments, and not by probable reasons. 



37. We will treat of the instances of divorce as the fifteenth 

 of our prerogative instances. They indicate the separation of 

 natures of the most common occurrence. They differ, how- 

 ever, from those subjoined to the accompanying instances ; for 

 the instances of divorce point out the separation of a particular 

 nature from some concrete substance with which it is usually 

 found in conjunction, whilst the hostile instances point out the 

 total separation of one nature from another. They differ, also, 

 from the instances of the cross, because they decide nothing, 

 but only inform us that the one nature is capable of being sep- 

 arated from the other. They are of use in exposing false forms, 

 and dissipating hasty theories derived from obvious facts; so 

 that they add ballast and weight, as it were, to the understand- 

 ing. 



For instance, let the required natures be those four which 

 Telesius terms associates, and of the same family, namely, heat, 

 light, rarity, and mobility, or promptitude to motion ; yet many 

 instances of divorce can be discovered between them. Air is 

 rare and easily moved, but neither hot nor light ; the moon is 

 light but not hot ; boiling water is warm but not light ; the 

 motion of the needle in the compass is swift and active, and 

 yet its substance is cold, dense, and opaque; and there are 

 many similar examples. 



Again, let the required natures be corporeal nature and nat- 

 ural action. The latter appears incapable of subsisting with- 

 out some body, yet may we, perhaps, even here find an instance 

 of divorce, as in the magnetic motion, which draws the iron to 

 the magnet, and .heavy bodies to the globe of the earth ; to 

 which we may add other actions which operate at a distance. 

 For such action takes place in time, by distinct moments, not 

 in an instant ; and in space, by regular degrees and distances. 

 There is, therefore, some one moment of time and some inter- 

 val of space, in which the power or action is suspended betwixt 

 the two bodies creating the motion. 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 



