BACON 



power advances from one extreme to the other by succession 

 and actual contact, and in the mean time exists in some inter- 

 mediate 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 oper- 

 ate at a distance, it is indeed probable that the intermediate 

 bodies are prepared and altered, the more so because a quali- 

 fied medium is required for their operation. But the magnetic 

 or attractive power admits of an indifferent medium, 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 magnetic action may be taken as an in- 

 stance of divorce of corporeal 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 sub- 

 stance being separate and incorporeal, even by those who phi- 

 losophize 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 cor- 

 poreal nature appears to be no less necessary for supporting 

 and conveying, than for exciting or generating natural action. 



38. Next follow five classes of instances which we are won't 

 to call by the general term of instances of the lamp, or of im- 

 mediate information. They are such as assist the senses ; for 

 since every interpretation of nature sets out from the senses, and 

 leads, by a regular fixed and well-established road, from the 

 perceptions of the senses to those of the understanding (which 

 are true notions and axioms), it necessarily follows, that in 

 proportion as the representatives or ministerings of the senses 

 are more abundant and accurate, everything else must be more 

 easy and successful. 



The first of these five sets of instances of the lamp, strengthen, 

 enlarge, and correct the immediate operations of the senses; 

 the second reduce to the sphere of the senses such matters as 

 are beyond it ; the third indicate the continued process or series 

 of such things and motions, as for the most part are only ob- 

 served in their termination, or in periods ; the fourth supply the 

 absolute wants of the senses ; the fifth excite their attention and 

 observation, and at the same time limit the subtilty of things. 

 We will now proceed to speak of them singly. 



39. In the sixteenth rank, then, of prerogative instances, we 

 will place the instances of the door or gate, by which name 

 we designate such as assist the immediate action of the senses. 

 It is obvious, that sight holds the first rank among the senses, 



