26. The assumption that the world is neither boundless nor eternal.
If it be objected to me here, that, in this way of
explaining of time, I have begged what I should not, viz., that the world is neither eternal nor infinite; I answer,
That to my present purpose it is not needful, in this place, to make use of arguments to evince the world to be
finite both in duration and extension. But it being at least as conceivable as the contrary, I have certainly the
liberty to suppose it, as well as any one hath to suppose the contrary; and I doubt not, but that every one that will
go about it, may easily conceive in his mind the beginning of motion, though not of all duration, and so may come
to a step and non ultra in his consideration of motion. So also, in his thoughts, he may set limits to body, and the
extension belonging to it; but not to space, where no body is, the utmost bounds of space and duration being
beyond the reach of thought, as well as the utmost bounds of number are beyond the largest comprehension of the
mind; and all for the same reason, as we shall see in another place.
