of BODIES. Chap.8. 



tier into flame, found the diameter ro. times encreafcd ; and fo 

 concluded, that the body of* the flame was in proportion to the 

 body of the gunne-powder ic was made of, as 125000. is to 

 one. Wherefore by the immediately proceeding contcqucnce. 

 we find that 125000. parts of flame may be couched in the 

 room of ens Icaft part of gunne-powdcr, and peradventure ma- 

 ny iro;e, confijcring how porous a body gunne-powder is. 

 Which being admitted, it is evident that although light were 

 as grofic as the flame of gunnc-powder , and gunne-powder 

 were asfolidc asgold; yet there might paflc 125000. rayes of 

 light, in the fpace wherein one Icaft part of gunne-powder 

 might be contained j which (pace would be abfolutely invifible 

 unto us, and be contained many times in the bignefle of the fight 

 of a mans eye. Out of which we may gather what an infinity 

 of objects may feem unto us to erode themfelves in the fame in- 

 diyifible place, and yet may have room fufficicnc for every one 

 to paflc his way, without hindering his fellow. Wherefore, fee- 

 ing that one finglc light could not fend rayes enough to fill eve- 

 ry little fpace of aire that is capable of light, ( and theleffc.the 

 furtner it is from the flame) it is obvious enough to conceive, 

 how in the fpace where the airc is,there is capacity for the layes 

 of many candles. 



Which being well fumnied up, will take away the great ad- 

 miration how the beams of light, though they be corporeal!,' 

 can in fuch great multitudes without hindering one another, 

 enter into bodies and come to our eye : and will (hew that it is 

 the narrowneflfe of our capacities, and not the defect of nature, 

 which maketh thefe difficulties fcem fo great.; for fhe hath fuffi- 

 cicntly provided for all thcfc fubtiie operations of fire; as alfb 

 for the enhance of it into glafle, and into all other fblide bo- 

 dies that are diaphanous (upon which was grounded the laft 

 inftance the fccond objection prefled :) for all fuch bodies be- 

 ing conftituccd by the operation of fire( which is alwayes in 

 motion ) there muft needs be wayes lefc for it both to enter in, 

 and to evaporate out. And this is moft evident in glafle which 

 being wrought by an extreme violeut fire and fwelling with it, 

 as water and other things do by the mixture of fire; mufr necef- 

 farily have great ftore of fire in it felf whiles it is boyling; as 

 W-: fee by its being red hot. And hence it is, that the workmen 



arc 



