tance and accidents, and show of what use they are in deciding of
questions in philosophy.

21. A Vacuum beyond the utmost Bounds of Body.

But to return to our idea of space. If body be not supposed infinite,
(which I think no one will affirm,) I would ask, whether, if God placed
a man at the extremity of corporeal beings, he could not stretch his
hand beyond his body? If he could, then he would put his arm where there
was before space without body; and if there he spread his fingers, there
would still be space between them without body. If he could not stretch
out his hand, it must be because of some external hindrance; (for we
suppose him alive, with such a power of moving the parts of his body
that he hath now, which is not in itself impossible, if God so pleased
to have it; or at least it is not impossible for God so to move him:)
and then I ask,--whether that which hinders his hand from moving
outwards be substance or accident, something or nothing? And when they
have resolved that, they will be able to resolve themselves,--what that
is, which is or may be between two bodies at a distance, that is not
body, and has no solidity. In the mean time, the argument is at least as
good, that, where nothing hinders, (as beyond the utmost bounds of all
bodies,) a body put in motion may move on, as where there is nothing
between, there two bodies must necessarily touch. For pure space between
is sufficient to take away the necessity of mutual contact; but bare
space in the way is not sufficient to stop motion. The truth is, these
men must either own that they think body infinite, though they are loth
to speak it out, or else affirm that space is not body. For I would fain
meet with that thinking man that can in his thoughts set any bounds to
space, more than he can to duration; or by thinking hope to arrive at
the end of either. And therefore, if his idea of eternity be infinite,
so is his idea of immensity; they are both finite or infinite alike.

22. The Power of Annihilation proves a Vacuum.

Farther, those who assert the impossibility of space existing without
matter, must not only make body infinite, but must also deny a power in
God to annihilate any part of matter. No one, I suppose, will deny that
God can put an end to all motion that is in matter, and fix all the
bodies of the universe in a perfect quiet and rest, and continue them so
long as he pleases. Whoever then will allow that God can, during such a
gen