MA VISIBILIA, beyond which it cannot
extend its prospect. Secondly, our sight is defective in that its view is
not only narrow, but also for the most part confused: of those things
that we take in at one prospect we can see but a few at once clearly and
unconfusedly: and the more we fix our sight on any one object, by so much
the darker and more indistinct shall the rest appear.

84. Corresponding to these two defects of sight, we may imagine as many
perfections, to wit, 1ST, that of comprehending in one view a greater
number of visible points. 2DLY, of being able to view them all equally
and at once with the utmost clearness and distinction. That those
perfections are not actually in some intelligences of a different order
and capacity from ours it is impossible for us to know.

85. In neither of those two ways do microscopes contribute to the
improvement of sight; for when we look through a microscope we neither
see more visible points, nor are the collateral points more distinct than
when we look with the naked eye at objects placed in a due distance. A
microscope brings us, as it were, into a new world: it presents us with a
new scene of visible objects quite different from what we behold with the
naked eye. But herein consists the most remarkable difference, to wit,
that whereas the objects perceived by the eye alone have a certain
connexion with tangible objects, whereby we are taught to foresee what
will ensue upon the approach or application of distant objects to the
parts of our own body, which much conduceth to its preservation, there is
not the like connexion between things tangible and those visible objects
that are perceived by help of a fine microscope.

86. Hence it is evident that were our eyes turned into the nature of
microscopes, we should not be much benefited by the change; we should be
deprived of the forementioned advantage we at present receive by the
visive faculty, and have left us only the empty amusement of seeing,
without any other benefit arising from it. But in that case, it will
perhaps be said, our sight would be endued with a far greater sharpness
and penetration than it now hath. But it is certain from what we have
already shown that the MINIMUM VISIBILE is never greater or lesser, but
in all cases constantly the same: and in the case of microscopical eyes I
see only this difference, to wit, that upon the ceasing of a certain
observable connexion betwixt the divers perceptions of sigh