_MADAM,_
That Learned _Author_, of whom I made mention in my last, is pleased to
say in his Chapter of Time, that Time is the _Twin-brother to Space_;
but if Space be as much as Vacuum, then I say, they are Twin-nothings;
for there can be no such thing as an empty or immaterial space, but
that which man calls space, is onely a distance betwixt several
corporeal parts, and time is onely the variation of corporeal motions;
for were there no body, there could not be any space, and were there no
corporeal motion, there could not be any time. As for Time, considered
in General, it is nothing else but the corporeal motions in Nature, and
Particular times are the Particular corporeal motions; but Duration is
onely a continuance, or continued subsistence of the same parts, caused
by the consistent motions of those parts; Neither are Time, Duration,
Place, Space, Magnitude, &c. dependents upon corporeal motions, but
they are all one and the same thing; Neither was Time before, nor can
be after corporeal motion, for none can be without the other, being all
one: And as for Eternity, it is one fixed instant, without a flux, or
motion. Concerning his argument of Divisibility of Parts, my opinion
is, That there is no Part in Nature Individable, no not that so small a
part, which the Epicureans name an Atome; neither is Matter separable
from Matter, nor Parts from Parts in General, but onely in Particulars;
for though parts can be separated from parts, by self-motion, yet upon
necessity they must joyn to parts, so as there can never be a single
part by it self. But hereof, as also of Place, Space, Time, Motion,
Figure, Magnitude, &c. I have sufficiently discoursed in my former
Letters, as also in my Book of Philosophy; and as for my opinion of
Atoms, their figures and motions, (if any such things there be) I will
refer you to my Book of Poems, out of which give me leave to repeat
these following lines, containing the ground of my opinion of Atomes:[1]
_All Creatures, howsoe're they may be nam'd,
Are of_ long, square, flat, _or_ sharp _Atoms fram'd._
_Thus several figures several tempers make,
But what is mixt, doth of the four partake._
_The onely cause, why things do live and die,
'S according as the mixed Atomes lie._
_Thus life, and death, and young, and old,
Are as the several Atoms hold:
Wit, understanding in the brain
Are as the several atomes reign:_
_And dispositions, good, or ill,
Are as the several atomes still;
And every Passion, which doth rise,
Is as each several atome lies.
Thus sickness, health, and peace, and war,
Are as the several atomes are._
If you desire to know more, you may read my mentioned Book of Poems
whose first Edition was printed in the year, 1653. And so taking my
leave of you, I rest,
Madam,
_Your faithful Friend_
_and Servant._
[1] _Pag._ 7. in the second Impression. _Pag._ 9. _Pag._ 22. _Pag._ 24.