SECT. XIV. 2. 2. OF IDEAS. 8 1 



It is hence, that we are very flow in acquiring our tangible 

 ideas, and very flow in recollefting them ; tor if I now think of 

 the tangible idea of a cube, that is, if I think of its figure, and 

 of the folidity of every part of that figure, I muft conceive my- 

 felf as pafTmg my fingers over it, and feem in fume meaturt to 

 feel the idea, as I formerly did the imprefiion, at the ends of 

 them, and am thus very flow in diitinftiy recollecting it. 



When a body comprefles any part of our fenfe of touch, what 

 happens ? Firft this part of our fenforium undergoes a mechan- 

 ical compreffion, which is termed a ttimulus ; fecondly, an idea, 

 or contraction of a part of the organ of fenfe is excited ; third- 

 ly, a motion of the central parts, or of the whole fenforium, 

 which is termed fenfation, is produced , and thefe three confti- 

 tute the perception of folidity. 



2. Of Figure ) Motion , Time % Place, Space , Number. 



No one will deny, that the medulla of the brain and nerves 

 has a certain figure ; which, as it is diffufed through nearly the 

 whole of the body, mult have nearly the figure of that body. 

 Now it follows, that the fpirit of animation, or living principle, 

 as it occupies this medulla, and no other part, (which is evinced 

 by a great variety of cruel experiments on living animals,) it 

 follows, that this fpirit of animation has alfo the fame figure as 

 the medulla above defcribed I appeal to common fenfe ! the 

 fpirit of animation afts, Where does it aft ? It acts wherever 

 there is the medulla above mentioned ; and that whether the 

 limb is yet joined to a living animal, or whether it be recently 

 detached frum it \ as the heart of a viper or frog will renew its 

 contractions, when pricked with a pin, for many minutes of time 

 after its ex left ion from the body. Does it aft any where clfe ? 

 No ; then it certainly exifts in this part of fpace, and no 

 where elfe \ that is, it hath figure 5 namely, the figure of the 

 nervous fyftem, which is nearly the figure of the body. When 

 the idea of ibiidity is excited, as above explained, a part of the 

 extenfive organ of touch is comprefled by fome external body, 

 and this part of the fentbrium fo comprefled exaftly refembles 

 *n figure the figure of the body that compreiTed it. Hence, v\ hen 

 we acquire the idea of ibiidity, we acquire at the fame time the 

 idea of FIGURE ; and this idea of figure, or motion of a part of 

 the organ of touch, exaftly refembles in its figure the figure of 

 the body that occafions it ; and thus exactly acquaints us with 

 this property of the external world. 



Now, as the whole univerfe with all its parts poffefles a cer- 

 tain form or figure, if any part of it moves, that form or figure 



VOL. I. M 



