Chap. f. A rw.ife ef B O D I E S. a i 



nefle that being a foot long, you may break it with your 

 and another of the fame bignefle , but of a more heavic and 

 compared wood, and you fhall not break it> though it be two 

 foot k>ng : and with equall force you may break a loaf of bread 

 into more and lefle parts , then a lump of lead that "i$ of the 

 fame bignefle. Which alfo will rcfift more to the divifion of 

 fire ( the fubtilUft divider that is) then fb much water will; 

 for the little atomes of fire ( which we (hall difcourfe of here- 

 after,) will pierce and cut out in the water, almofl as little parts 

 asthemfclves, and mingling themfelves with them they will flic 

 away together,and Co convert the whole body of water into fub- 

 tile flnoke: whereas the fame Agent, afccr long working upon 

 lead, will bring it into no lefle parts then fmall grains of duft, 

 which it calcineth it into. And gold, that ismoredcnfe then 

 lead, rtfifteth peremptorily all the dividing power of fire; and 

 will not at all be reduced into a calx or lime, by fuch operation 

 as reduced lead into it. 



So that remembring how the nature of Quantity is Divifi- 

 bility; and confidcring that rare things are more diviiible thea 

 denfe ones ; we muft needs acknowledge that the nature of 

 quantity is fome way more perfe&ly in things that are rare. then 

 in thofc that are denfe. On the other fide, more compafted and 

 dcnfe things, may haply feem to fbme to have more Quantity 

 then thofe that arc rare; and that it is but fhrtink together : 

 which may be ftretched out and driven into much greater di- 

 menfions then the Quantity of rare things, taking the quanti- 

 ties of each of them equall in outward appearance. As gold 

 may be beaten into much more and thinner leaf, then an equall 

 bulk of filvcr or lead. A wax candle will burn longer with 

 equall light, then a tallow candle of the fame bignefle; and 

 confequcntly, be converted into a greater quantity of fire and 

 aire. Oyl will make much more flame then fpirit of wine, that 

 is farrc rarer then it. 



Thefc and fcch like confederations have much perplexed * 

 Philofophers> and have driven them into divcrfe thoughts to THco P m ; on of 

 find out the reafbns of them. Some obferving that the dividing ^eKdcciarcd 

 of a body into little parts, makcth it lefle apt todefcend, then -ho put rarity* 

 \vhen it is in greater; have believed the whole can fc of lightueffe SSfJiSX 

 and rarity to be derived from divifion. As for example, they ofBodyim 



B 3 find Utlicpsrc< ' 



