Democritus Platonissans Part 4

What quant.i.tie unlesse extension?

Extension if 't admit infinity Bodies admit boundlesse dimension.

That some extension forward on doth run Withouten limits, endlesse, infinite Is plane from s.p.a.ce, that ever paceth on Unstop'd, unstaid, till it have filled quite That immense infinite Orb where G.o.d himself doth sit.

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But yet more sensibly this truth to show If s.p.a.ce be ended set upon that end Some strong arm'd Archer with his Parthian bow, That from that place with speedy force may send His fleeter shafts, and so still forward wend.

Where? When shall he want room his strength to trie?

But here perversly subtill you'l contend Nothing can move in mere vacuity, And s.p.a.ce is nought, so not extended properly.

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To solve these knots I must call down from high Some heavenly help, feather with angels wing The sluggish arrow. If it will not flie, Sent out from bow stiff-bent with even string, Let angels on their backs it thither bring Where your free mind appointed had before, And then hold on, till in your travelling You be well wearied, finding ever more Free pa.s.sage for their flight, and what they flying bore.

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Now to that s.h.i.+ft that sayes Vacuity Is nought, and therefore not at all extent We answer thus: There is a distancy In empty s.p.a.ce, though we be well content To balk that question (for we never meant Such needlesse niceties) whether that it be A reall being; yet that there's parts distent One from another, no mans phantasie Can e're reject if well he weigh't and warily.

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For now conceive the aire and azure skie All swept away from Saturn to the Sunne, Which each is to be wrought by him on high.

Then in this place let all the Planets runne (As erst they did before this feat was done) If not by nature, yet by divine power, Ne one hairs breadth their former circuits shun And still for fuller proof, th' Astronomer Observe their hights as in the empty heavens they scoure.

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Will then their Parallaxes prove all one Or none, or different still as before?

If so, their distances by mortall men Must be acknowledg'd such as were of yore, Measur'd by leagues, miles, stades, nor lesse nor more From circuit unto circuit shall be found Then was before the sweeping of the floor.

That distance therefore hath most certain ground In emptinesse we may conclude with reason sound.

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If distance now so certainly attend All emptinesse (as also mensuration Attendeth distance) distance without end Is wide disperst above imagination (For emptinesse is void of limitation) And this unbounded voidnesse doth admit The least and greatest measures application; The number thus of the greatest that doth fit This infinite void s.p.a.ce is likewise infinite.

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But what so e're that infinite number be, A lesser number will a number give So farre exceeding in infinity That number as this measure we conceive To fall short of the other. But I'll leave This present way and a new course will trie Which at the same mark doth as fully drive And with a great deal more facility.

Look on this endlesse s.p.a.ce as one whole quant.i.ty.

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Which in your mind int' equall parts divide, Tens, hundreds, thousands or what pleaseth best.

Each part denominate doth still abide An infinite portion, else nor all the rest Makes one infinitude.

For if one thousandth part may be defin'd By finite measures eas'ly well exprest, A myriad suppose of miles a.s.sign'd Then to a thousand myriads is the whole confin'd.

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Wherefore this wide and wast Vacuity, Which endlesse is outstretched thorough all, And lies even equall with the Deity, Nor is a thing meerly imaginall, (For it doth farre mens phantasies forestall Nothing beholden to our devicefull thought) This inf'nite voidnesse as much our mind doth gall And has as great perplexities ybrought As if this empty s.p.a.ce with bodies were yfraught.

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Nor have we yet the face once to denie But that it is although we mind it not; For all once minded such perplexity It doth create to puzzled reason, that She sayes and unsayes, do's she knows not what.

Why then should we the worlds infinity Mis...o...b.., because when as we contemplate Its nature, such strange inconsistency And unexpected sequels, we therein descry?

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Who dare gainsay but G.o.d is every where Unbounded, measurelesse, all infinite; Yet the same difficulties meet us here Which erst us met and did so sore affright With their strange vizards. This will follow right Where ever we admit infinity Every denominated part proves streight A portion infinite, which if it be, One infinite will into myriads multiply.

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But with new argument to draw more near Our purpos'd end. If G.o.d's omnipotent And this omnipotent G.o.d be every where, Where e're he is then can he eas'ly vent His mighty virtue thorough all extent.

What then shall hinder but a roscid aire With gentle heat each where be 'sperst and sprent.

Unlesse omnipotent power we will empair, And say that empty s.p.a.ce his working can debarre.

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Where now this one supposed world is pight Was not that s.p.a.ce at first all vain and void?

Nor ought said; no, when he said, _Let 't be light_.

Was this one s.p.a.ce better then all beside, And more obedient to what G.o.d decreed?

Or would not all that endlesse emptinesse Gladly embrac'd (if he had ever tride) His just command? and what might come to pa.s.se Implies no contradictious inconsistentnesse.

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Wherefore this precious sweet Ethereall dew For ought we know G.o.d each where did distill, And thorough all that hollow voidnesse threw And the wide gaping drought therewith did fill, His endlesse overflowing goodnesse spill In every place; which streight he did contrive Int' infinite severall worlds, as his best skill Did him direct and creatures could receive For matter infinite needs infinite worlds must give.

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The Centre of each severall world's a sunne With s.h.i.+ning beams and kindly warming heat, About whose radiant crown the Planets runne, Like reeling moths around a candle light, These all together, one world I conceit.

And that even infinite such worlds there be, That inexhausted Good that G.o.d is bight A full sufficient reason is to me, Who simple Goodnesse make the highest Deity.

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Als make himself the key of all his works And eke the measure of his providence; The piercing eye of truth to whom nought lurks But lies wide ope unbar'd of all pretense.

But frozen hearts! away! flie farre from hence, Unlesse you'l thaw at this celestiall fire And melt into one minde and holy sense With Him that doth all heavenly hearts inspire, So may you with my soul in one a.s.sent conspire.

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But what's within, uneath is to convey To narrow vessels that are full afore.

And yet this truth as wisely as I may I will insinuate, from senses store Borrowing a little aid. Tell me therefore When you behold with your admiring eyes Heavens Canopie all to bespangled o're With sprinkled starres, what can you well devize Which causen may such carelesse order in the skies?

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A peck of peasen rudely poured out On plaister flore, from hasty heedlesse hond Which lie all carelesse scattered about, To sight do in as seemly order stond, As those fair glistering lights in heaven are found.

If onely for this world they were intended, Nature would have adorn'd this azure round With better art, and easily have mended This harsh disord'red order, and more beauty lended.

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But though these lights do seem so rudely thrown And scattered throughout the s.p.a.cious skie, Yet each most seemly sits in his own Throne In distance due and comely Majesty; And round their lordly seats their servants hie Keeping a well-proportionated s.p.a.ce One from another, doing chearfully Their dayly task. No blemmish may deface The worlds in severall deckt with all art and grace.

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