Chap. 2 ?. ^ TrcAtife of B O D I E S. 



nature of the thing. Neither do we intend to derogate from 

 either of thefe caufes ; fincc that both divine providence is emi- 

 nently fhown in contriving allcircurnftanccs ncceflary for this 

 work and likcwife , the firft tcmperamenc that is in the feed 

 muft needs be the principal! immediate caulc of this admirable 



This latter then being fuppofed ; our labour and endeavour 

 will be, to unfold (asfarre as fo weak and dimme eyes can 

 reach ) the excellency and exaftnefle of Gods providence , 

 which cannot be enough adored, when it is reflected upon, 

 and marked in the apt laying of adequate caufes to produce 

 fuch a figure out of fuch a mixture firft layed. From them 

 fo artificially ranged, we fliall ice this miracle ofnature to pro- 

 ceed; and not from an immediate working of God or nature 

 without convenient and ordinary inftruments to mediate and 

 effect this configuration, through the force and virtue of their 

 own particular natures. Such a ncceflicy to interert the chief 

 workman at every turn, in particular effects, would argue 

 him of want of skill and providence, in the firft laying of the 

 foundations of his defigned machine: he were an improvident 

 clockmaker,that fhould have caft his work fb, as when it were 

 wound up and going, it would require the matters hand at eve- 

 ry hourc to make the hammer ftrike upon the bell. Let us noc 

 then too familiarly, and irreverently ingage the Almighty Ar- 

 chitect his immediate handy -work in every particular effect of 

 of nature ; Talt non eft digntts -v 'indict noAus. 



But let us take principles within our own kenning ; and 

 onfider how a body hath of its own nature three dimenfions, ratt 

 ( as Mathematicians ufe to demonftrate : ) and that the vari- j^ies proceed 

 cty which we fee of figures in bodies proceedeth out of the dc- Jnc^of C the ' 

 fecit of fome of thefe dimenfions in proportion to the reft. As thrcc di cn ' 

 for example, that a thing be in the form of a fquare tablet ; is, the' concur- y 

 for that the caufc which gave it length and breadth, could not rancc of a '- 



/L-i/r-Lr /-i_-i dcntall cauics. 



aJfogive it thicknefle in the lame proportion r for had it been 

 able to give prdftindity as well as the other two, it had macfe 

 a cube inftead of a tablet. In like manner, the forme of a la- 

 mine, r very long fquare it occafioned by fbme accident which 

 hindereth the caule from giving breadth and tFiidtnefle proper- 



tiona 



