1they did not beſtirre themſelves to pre
vent it, nor to be ſo generous as to act
contrary to what is moſt conducive to
their own particular preſervation for the
publique good of the Univerſe. As much
then of intelligible and probable Truth,
as is contain'd in this Metaphoricall Ex
preſſion, ſeems to amount but to this;
That by the Wiſe Author of Nature
(who is juſtly ſayd to have made all
things in number, weight, and meaſure,)
the Univerſe, and the parts of it, are ſo
contriv'd, that it is as hard to make a Va
cuum in it, as if they ſtudiouſly conſpir'd
to prevent it. And how far this it ſelfe
may be granted, deſerves to be further
conſider'd.
vent it, nor to be ſo generous as to act
contrary to what is moſt conducive to
their own particular preſervation for the
publique good of the Univerſe. As much
then of intelligible and probable Truth,
as is contain'd in this Metaphoricall Ex
preſſion, ſeems to amount but to this;
That by the Wiſe Author of Nature
(who is juſtly ſayd to have made all
things in number, weight, and meaſure,)
the Univerſe, and the parts of it, are ſo
contriv'd, that it is as hard to make a Va
cuum in it, as if they ſtudiouſly conſpir'd
to prevent it. And how far this it ſelfe
may be granted, deſerves to be further
conſider'd.
For in the next place, our Experiments
ſeem to teach, that the ſuppoſed Averſa
tion of Nature to a Vacuum is but acci
dental, or in conſequence partly of the
Weight and Fluidity, or, at leaſt, Fluxi
lity of the Bodies here below; and partly,
and perhaps principally, of the Spring of
the air, whoſe reſtleſs endeavor to expand
it ſelfe every way, makes it either ruth
in it ſelfe, or compel the interpos'd bo
dys into all ſpaces, where it finds no grea
ter reſiſtance than it can ſurmount. And
ſeem to teach, that the ſuppoſed Averſa
tion of Nature to a Vacuum is but acci
dental, or in conſequence partly of the
Weight and Fluidity, or, at leaſt, Fluxi
lity of the Bodies here below; and partly,
and perhaps principally, of the Spring of
the air, whoſe reſtleſs endeavor to expand
it ſelfe every way, makes it either ruth
in it ſelfe, or compel the interpos'd bo
dys into all ſpaces, where it finds no grea
ter reſiſtance than it can ſurmount. And