2. For there may be extension without body, which 

 is usually tef mecl space or a vacuum : these are widely 

 different from each other. Body is divisible and sepa- 

 rable into parts, and consequently capable of motion ; 

 none of which can be said of mere space: and that 

 there is empty space is clear from hence : that if all 

 were full, there could be no motion in the world ; for in 

 order to this, it is requisite that each particle leave its 

 place empty for another to fill. It is said, indeed, this 

 need not be, because all motion is circular, so that in 

 every motion, of whatever kind, e.ch part of the body 

 moved succeeds another. But this is absolutely con- 

 trary to matter of fact: we see with our eyes that all 

 motion is not circular ; and if not, then (here must be 

 empty space, or there could -be no motion at all. 



3. Another property of body is solidify, whereby it 

 resists another body, moving it out of us place. Not 

 much different from this is impenetrability, \\ hereby a 

 body excludes another from the place where it is. *So-. 

 Jidity is not the same with hardness, the former belong- 

 ing to all, the latter to some bodies only. Hardness 

 consists in the firm cohesion of the parts, so as not easily 

 to be separated. As the solidity of bodies flows from 

 the intrinsic nature of matter, it is vain to assign as the 

 cause of it, either the figure or rest of the parts, or the 

 pressure of the air, or of some subtle matter. By these 

 solutions we do not at all explain the thing, but only 

 entangle ourselves in fresh difficulties. 



4. Divisibility likewise belongs to all bodies; for 

 since no i ody can be conceived that is not extended, 

 and extension supposes parts, it follows, that every body, 

 however small, is divisible: perhaps not by the <ort of 

 man, but in its own nature. Nor is it ?ny objection* 

 that our uudeiMandi;' g cannot comprehend infinite divi- 

 sibility it cannot ; nor can it comprehend infinite num- 

 ber, or, indeed infinite* of any kind. 



It is true there is no such thing, strictly speaking, as 



