tually destroy one another. For this Extension which is mingled with, or inserted into the Nature of a Spirit, seems to take away the Penetrability and Indivisibility thereof, as also its faculty of thinking, as its Penetrability likewise takes away its power of moving any Bodies.
I. First, Extension takes away Penetrability; because if one Extension penetrate another, of necessity either one of them is destroyed, or two equal Amplitudes entirely penetrating one another, are no bigger than either one of them taken single, because they are closed within the same limits.
II. Secondly, It takes away Indivisibility; because whatsoever is extended has partes extra partes, one part out of another, and therefore is Divisible: For neither would it have parts, unless it could be divided into them. To which you may further add, that forasmuch as the parts are substantial, nor depend one of another, it is clearly manifest that at least by the Divine Power they may be separate, and subsist separate one from another.
III. Thirdly, Extension deprives a Spirit of the faculty of thinking, as depressing it down into the same order that Bodies are. And that there is no reason why an extended Spirit should be more capable of Perception than Matter that is extended.
IV. Lastly, Penetrability renders a Spirit unable to move Matter; because, whenas by reason of this Penetrability it so easily slides through the Matter, it cannot conveniently be united with the Matter whereby it may move the same: For without some union or inherency (a Spirit being destitute of all Impenetrability) 'tis impossible it should protrude the Matter towards any place.
The sum of which Four difficulties tends to this, that we may understand, that though this Idea or Notion of a Spirit which we have exhibited be sufficiently plain and explicate, and may be easily understood; yet from the very perspicuity of the thing it self, it abundantly appears, that it is not the Idea of any possible thing, and much less of a thing really existing, whenas the parts thereof are so manifestly repugnant one to another.
SECT.
