516 A BMEF sCEILME OF ONTOLOGY. reach, an(l we lose ourselves in an abyss, when . we wander into it. See th;: chapter of duration, and the chapter of infinites. A moment is called the least part of time : So an atom is the least part of matter : But modern philosophers suppose all sort of quantity to be infinitely divisible, whether it be magni- tude which is called permanent quantity ; or time, which is called flowing quantity ; and then there is properly no atom, no montent. Place or situation is a relative idea: for it is generally4es- cribed as that relation of proximity or distance which any being bears to the visible bodies that are round -about it, and are usually esteemed quiescent, or at rest. Place is distinguished indeed by many modern philosophers into absolute and relative: Absolute place is made to signify that part of the supposed infinite void or space, which any being fills up and possesses. And relative place is the situation of a being .among other bodies, which are looked -upon as quiescent; and it must be granted we usually conceive things in this manner : But if space be a creature of the imagination, and a mere idea or nothing real, then all place is properly relative, and a body ex- isting alone has no place. The place of a spirit has 'been often called ubiety, which may most properly refer to so much of the material world, of which it has a more evident consciousness, and on which it can act : In God the infinite spirit, his ubiety is wheresoever there are objects for his consciousness and activity : And you may ex- tend this to.all possible, as well as real and actual worlds, if yin please; for he knows and he can do whatsoever can be known orcan be done, and.therefore -he is said to be every where. But with regard to conscious beings, whether created or increated, I confess d have .no.caear idea hew they can have any proper locality, residence, situation, nearness, or juxtaposition among bodies, without changing the very essence or mature of them into extended beings, and making them quite other things than they are. When we say God -the infinite Spirit is every where, 'let it be understood therefore, that in a strict philosophical sense we mean that he has an immediate and unlimited consciousness of, and agency upon all things, and that his knowledge. and power reach also to all possibles, as well as to all actual beings. When we say the soul of man is in his body, we mean, it has a con sniousness of certain motions and impressions made on that par- ticular animal engine, and can excite particular motions in it at pleasure. What further ideas are contained in the ubiety of spirits I know not. When we consider bodies as present in.a place by their pro- per situation, this may be called a circumscriptive presence : A
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