75 



solid and fluid bodies, has been generally overloaked 

 by philosophers, and even by the chymists, who have 

 above all sects, gloried in their knowledge of princi- 

 ples, or elements ; until Mr. Boyle, Sir Isaac New*. 

 ton, and more especially Dr. Hales, by many expe- 

 riments demonstrated that a great part of the sub- 

 stance of most bodies, in several to half their weight, 

 is a permanent or nnelastic air, which being freed 

 [Vither (1) slowly, by the air-pump, putrefaction, fer- 

 mentation, distillation, &c. or (2) suddenly by explo- 

 sions, fulminations, ebullitions, mixtures, &c.] from 

 the other solid particles, assumes its elasticity, and 

 fills an immense space, in comparison of the body 

 from whence it came. Dr. Hales found a cubic inch, 

 of blood, in distillation, afforded above 30 times its 

 bulk of elastic air; whose particles are in effect the 

 wedges of nature, which pin and cement together the 

 other elements, and particles of bodies for their 

 growth of accretion, and under other circumstances, 

 regaining their elasticity, serve to break again those 

 parts for the dissolution of the compound, w lose 

 matter may be, by the same instrument, aga.Q dif- 

 ferently assembled and combined for the forming of 

 other bodies. 



54. It remains to add some reflections on the wis- 

 dom of God, displayed in the structure of the human 

 body. And how eminently is this displayed, first, ia 

 the situation of its several parts and members ! They 

 are situated most conveniently for use, for ornament, 

 and for mutual assistance. 1. For use. The prin- 

 cipal senses are placed in the head, as sentinels in a 

 watch-tower. How could the eyes have been more 

 commodiously fixed, for the guidance of the whole 

 body ? The ears likewise, made lor the reception of 

 sounds, which naturally move upward, are rightly 

 placed in the uppermost^ parts of the body ; and so 

 ure the nostrils, as all odours ascend. Again : 

 how could the hands hafe been m re conveniently 

 placed for all sorts of exercises ? Or the heart, t j 

 E 2 



