o those which are permanent. In
both these (viz. expansion and duration) the mind has this common idea
of continued lengths, capable of greater or less quantities. For a man
has as clear an idea of the difference of the length of an hour and a
day, as of an inch and a foot.

2. Expansion not bounded by Matter.

The mind, having got the idea of the length of any part of expansion,
let it be a span, or a pace, or what length you will, CAN, as has been
said, repeat that idea, and so, adding it to the former, enlarge its
idea of length, and make it equal to two spans, or two paces; and so, as
often as it will, till it equals the distance of any parts of the earth
one from another, and increase thus till it amounts to the distance of
the sun or remotest star. By such a progression as this, setting out
from the place where it is, or any other place, it can proceed and pass
beyond all those lengths, and find nothing to stop its going on, either
in or without body. It is true, we can easily in our thoughts come to
the end of SOLID extension; the extremity and bounds of all body we have
no difficulty to arrive at: but when the mind is there, it finds nothing
to hinder its progress into this endless expansion; of that it can
neither find nor conceive any end. Nor let any one say, that beyond the
bounds of body, there is nothing at all; unless he will confine God
within the limits of matter. Solomon, whose understanding was filled
and enlarged with wisdom, seems to have other thoughts when he says,
'Heaven, and the heaven of heavens, cannot contain thee.' And he,
I think, very much magnifies to himself the capacity of his own
understanding, who persuades himself that he can extend his thoughts
further than God exists, or imagine any expansion where He is not.

3. Nor Duration by Motion.

Just so is it in duration. The mind having got the idea of any length of
duration, CAN double, multiply, and enlarge it, not only beyond its own,
but beyond the existence of all corporeal beings, and all the measures
of time, taken from the great bodies of all the world and their
motions. But yet every one easily admits, that, though we make duration
boundless, as certainly it is, we cannot yet extend it beyond all being.
God, every one easily allows, fills eternity; and it is hard to find a
reason why any one should doubt that he likewise fills immensity.
His infinite being is certainly as boundless one way as another; and
methinks it asc