277 



Space is of all* colours, if light is reflected by a vacuum 

 It is an ingenious contrivance, to render nothing a sub- 

 ject of conception, by dressing it in a suit of clothes 

 borrowed from something. 



To illustrate the doctrine of space, a common experi- 

 ment shews, that by an image formed in the air, at & 

 certain distance between a concave glass, and any person 

 looking into it, extension becomes an object-of sense, 

 where there is neither solidity nor any sensible resist-* 

 ance. But this does not prove that an image is formed 

 in empty space, or where there is no matter : it rather 

 proves that these spaces which they call empty, are full 

 of matter. For as tbe senses can be affected only b>' 

 matter, they infallibly determine where matter is; So 

 that we are as sure there is matter where we see any 

 any thing, though we cannot feel it, as that it is there, 

 where we feel, though vve cannot see it. 



10. Let us now more attentively consider the first 

 supposed law of motion, matter is indifferent to conti- 

 nue in motion or in rest, 



Rest and metion are the the two greatest opposite? ia 

 nature, as opposite as matter and nothing. The mind 

 therefore cannot be struck with a more palpable contra- 

 diction, by affirming that a body is equally disposed to 

 hardness and softness at the same time, than by saying 

 it is equally disposed to rest and motion. 



Motion is a positive thing, which implies- action, 

 power, or force, wherever it acts. Rest is a mere ne- 

 gative, a state wherein body is divested of all these. It 

 'exerts no power; it acts or presses, neither backward? 

 nor forwards, neither up nor down. Now the same 

 body cannot be indifferent to tbe exerting of power and 

 to the exerting of Rciie at the same time. 



Again ; \t is impossible that rest and motion can be 

 equally indifferent to matter. When matter was created 

 should we suppose the Creator to say, ""Let it he," 

 without determining in which of these states it should 

 commence bting 5. yet.it is impossible it could besin to 

 N 6* 



