CHAPTER XVI. 105 quantityor matter." This same doctrine may also be proved to their understandings, and almost to their senses, by some easier arguments in a more obvious manner. As the very opening and closingof a pair of compasses, will evidently prove that if the smallest supposed part of matter or quantity be put between the the points, there will be still less and less distances or quan- tities all the way between the legs, till yoñ come to the head or joint ; wherefore there is no such thing possible as the smallest quantity. But a little acquaintance witbstrue philo- sophy and methematical learning would soon teach them, that there are no limits either as to the extension of space, or to the division of body, and would lead them to believe there are bodies amazingly great or small beyond their present imagination. (2.) It is proper also to acquaint them with the circumfer- ence of our earth, which may beproved by very easy principles of geometry, geography, and astronomy, to be about twenty-four thousand miles round, as it has been actually found to have this dimension by mariners who have sailed round it. Then let thembe taught that in every twenty-four hours, either the sun and stars must all move round this earth, or the earth must turn roundupon its own axis. If the earth itself revolve thus, then each house or mountain near the equator must move at the rateof a thousand miles in an hour : but if (as they generally suppose) thesun or stars move round the earth, then (the cir- cumference of their several orbits or spheres being vastlygreater than this earth) they must have a motion prodigiously swifter than a thousand miles an hour. Such a thought as this will by degrees enlarge their minds, and they will be taught, even upon their own principle of the diurnal revolutions of the heavens, to take in some of the vast dimensions of the heavenly bodies, their spaces and motions. (3.) To this should be added the use of telescopes to help them to see the distant wonders in the skies ; and microscopes which discover the minutest part of little animals, and reveal some of the finer and most curious works of nature. They should be acquainted also with some other noble inventions of modern philosophy, which have a great influence to enlarge the human understanding, of which I shall take occasion to speak more un- der the next head. (4.) For the same purpose they may be invited to read those parts of Milton's admirable poem, entitled Paradise Lost, where he describes the armies and powers of angels, the wars and the senate of devils, the creation of this earth, together with the de- scriptions of heaven, hell, and paradise. It must be granted that poesy often deals in these vast and sublime ideas. And even if the subject or matter of the poem cloth not require such amazing and extensive thoughts, yet tropes
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