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1.SInce water is, mani∣festly, lesse divisi∣ble then Aire; and yet they are but one, Quantitatively: if they are more then one according to their Substance, there must, of necessity, be a reall composition of Quantity to Substance; since Unity and Plurality are not distinct from the thing whose they are.
2. But, if they are not two Substances; since there cannot be a different proporti∣on of the same thing to it fels, & yet the pro∣portion of Quantity to the Substance in Aire is greater then in Water; it must needs be, again, that ther's a reall composition of Quantity to Substance and, therefore, a Divisibility.
3. Whence, tis inferr'd, that Substance, as tis condistinct from Quantity, is indi∣visible; since Quantity is divisibility.
4. As also, that the Notions of Rarity and Density consist in the proportion of the Quantity to the Substance whose it is: since rare bodies are more and dense less divi∣sible.
5. You'l object, Such as are one in Quan∣tity are one in Substance, too: But, the whole world is one in Quantity; & that rigorously, since, there are no Parts actually in a Magnitude: Therefore, either Quantity is a distinct thing from Substance, or else all Bodily Substance will be but one thing, really and materially, whatever may be imagined of an Intellectuall distinction between them.
6. Tis answered, 'Tis a false assumption, to say, those things which are one in Quan∣tity
are one in their Substances, too. To that which is objected, That all things would be really and materially one; Tis an∣swer'd, Either 'tis but the same which we call to be One quantitatively, and then 'twould be shew'd what inconvenience would follow, that consequence being ad∣mitted: or else, that term, really and ma∣terially, would be explicated; for the Argu∣ers seem to insinuate that it signifies, ab∣stracting from our Notions, that is, they would be one in no kind of unity whereof we have any Notion.
7. All things, therefore, according to that unity which follows the notion of Quantity, (and that is accidentall,) are one: but, according to their Substances, and that unity which follows the notion of Substance, they are many.
8. It follows, from what has been said, As oft as any division is made, the Sub∣stance it self is chang'd, which is subjected to the Quantity, according to the intrin∣secalls of Substance, as 'tis condistinguish't against Quantity: For, Division being that whereby more are made of one; and, they not being made more according to the proper unity of Quantity; this plurality must, of necessity, be in the Substance as
'tis condistinguish't against Quantity; wherefore, the Unity, too, which is de∣stroy'd, was in the Substance, as condistin∣guish't from the Quantity: since, there∣fore, Vnity superadds nothing to Entity, but a negative notion of indivision; it comes to passe, that a change cannot be made in the unity without a change in the Entity, and consequently, that the Entity is chang'd.
9. But, the Entity is not so chang'd, that two Entities should be made out of nothing; but out of one that existed before: otherwise, there would not have been made a division. There was, therefore, a power or possibility in the Substance, to be many; as, in many, ther's a possibility to be made one again.
10. The Substance, therefore, is chang'd, in some respect; and remains in the many, according to some part of its power: wherefore, 'tis divided according to its own proprieties; and, there is, in Substances, divisible according to Quan∣tity, another proper divisibility, into the Power by which it can be what it is, and the Act by which it is what it is; or, into the Matter remaining and the Form chang'd.
11. Yet, the parts of the Substance,
and the Quantity it self with the Sub∣stance against which 'tis condivided, are not actually in their compounds, before di∣vision: for, 'tis plain that, if they are in act, one of them, before division, is not an∣other; they are, therefore, many, nor can be divided, that is, made many.
12. Out of what has been said, 'tis evi∣dent, that this Formall divisibility has not the true nature of divisibility, that is, 'tis lesse then the divisibility of a Magnitude into its parts: For, a Magnitude is divi∣ded into parts, whereof every one exists after the division, by their proper existen∣ces; but, one, at least of these parts exists no longer, and that which remains exists, not alone, but commonly with some other, instead of the part it has lost.
B. 2. Les. 2. N. 2.
B. 2. less. 1. N. 4.