REMNANTS OF TIM. 48,1 divided still further into less parts, and consequently it was not indivisible. H. If there be any indivisible part of matter, the shape of it must: be spherical, or a perfect globe, wherein every part of the surface is equally distant from the centre ; for if you suppose it of any other shape, then some parts of it will be farther from its centre than other parts ; and all these longer parts may he shortened or pared off till every part be equally short, or equally distant from the centre ; that is, till it be reduced to aglobe. Now from the centre of this little globe to the surface, the parts of it are but half so long as from any part of the surfaceto its opposite part, and therefore this globe may be still divided into two hemispheres or semicircles, which are not the smallest ''parts of matter.. that can be, because they are not of a spherical, figure as in the beginning of the argument. And then by .a repetition.of the same reasoning, those little semi- circles or half globes, by.paring of the parts which are farthest from their centre, may be reduced to smaller ,globes again, and those smaller globes again divided in halves as be- fore : There is no end of these divisions, and therefore matter is infinitely divisible. To carry on this argument yet further to the surprise of nay unlearned readers; let us take notice that all matter has. three dimensions in, it, namely, length, .breadth, and depth : Now every part of matter, every grain of sand, is infinitely divisible as to each of these dimensions;. that is, every part which results from an infinite division of the length: of it, may be yet, again infinitely divided according to its breadth ; thus the division of this grain of sand, becomes infinitely infinite. And yet still it may be further infinitely divided according to the depth or thick- ness of it t Thus the divisibility of matter swells beyond all imagination, and is more than infinitely infinite, anti that; with resistless evidence and astonishment to the eye of reason.. Go now, vain man, and find fault with any part of the cre- ation of God, and play the foolish critic on his works .of .provi- dence ; go and censure the justice of his conduct toward ..Adam' or any of his children, or blame the wisdom of his institutions in the dispensations of' his grace ; Monstrous arrogance, and proud impiety! Rather go first and learn what an atom is, or, the meanest part of the dust of this vast creation which God has made. It leas something of infinity in it, it confounds thee in perplexing darkness,. and reaches far beyond all the little.itretch. of thy boasted powers of reasoning. Be dumb, in silence, O vain creature, at the foot of this infinite and eternal being, nor pretend to measure his, steps, to censure his motions and direct his conduct, till thou art better able of give an account Of the dust which he has put under the feet the meanest of his slaves.
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