Chap. 6, ^ TrMife of B O DI E S. y $ 



dy, it would be fliaken by the winds, and by the motion of the 

 aire ; and we fliould fecit quaver in all bluftering weather. 

 Therefore, fumming up all we have faid; it fcemeth mofi 

 improbable, and indeed wholly impoffiblc , that light flioulcf 

 be a body ; and confequemly> muft have his place among qua- 

 lities. 



But on the other fide; before we apply our fclves to anfxvcr 4. 

 thefe objections , let us make a fliort furvey of thole induce- ^ two firft 



I -1 U If i- U L J -i rcafons to prove 



merits, that prevail with us to believe light a body, notwith- light to be a 

 ftanding fo forcible oppofitions. I admit fo farre of the third JSimbUneele 

 argumcnt> as to allow light to be fire : for indeed it cannot be hach with fire; 

 imagined .to be any thing clfe; all properties agreeing fo fully f^cl^L 

 between them. But withall I muft addc ; that it is not fire in ty,i:wou\iai- 

 every form, or fire joyned with every fubftance, thatexprefleth 

 it felf by light; but it is fire extremely dilated, and without fclf> 

 mixture of any other grofle body. Let use hold a piece of linen 

 or paper clofe by the flame of a candle, and by little and little, 

 remove it further and further off ; and me thinks my very eyes 

 tell me, that there is upon the paper fome part of that which I 

 lee in the candle; and that it groweth ftill lefle and lefle like 

 as I remove the paper further from it : Co that, if I would be- 

 lieve my fenfe , I fliould believe it as very a body upon the 

 paper, as in the candle; though enfeebled, by the laxity of the 

 channel in which it floweth. 



And this feemeth to be ftrengthened, by the confederation of 

 the adverfaries pofition : for if it we^e a quality; then, feeing it 

 hath no contrary to deftroy or flop it, it fliould ftill produce an 

 cquall to it felf, without end or growing feeble, whenfoever ic 

 meeteth with a fubjeft capable to entertain ir, as aire is. 



The better to apprehend how much this faint refemblance 

 of flame upon the paper, maketb for our purpofe; let us turn 

 the leaf, and imagine in our thoughts, after whatfafliion that 

 fire which is in the flame of a little candle, would appear unto febftanceof' 

 us, if it weredilated and ftretchcd out to the utmoft extent that !l r y obc i!T" 



* r i f r i ned.ic will hare 



cxccfle or rarity can bring it unto. Suppofe that fo much the- fame ap- 

 flame, as would fill a cone of two inches height and half wS^iu 

 an inch diameter fliould fuflfcr fo great an expanfion as to hath - 

 replenish with his light body a large chamber: and then, 

 what can we imagine it would feera to be? How would the con- 



D 3 tinuall 



