A26782:54
Considerations of the existence of God and of the immortality of the soul, with…
Considerations of the existence of God and of the immortality of the soul, with the recompenses of the future state for the cure of infidelity, the hectic evil of the times / by William Bates ...Considerations of the existence of God and of the immortality of the soul, with the recompences of the future state for the cure of infidelity, the hectick evil of the times / by William Bates ...
London: printed by J.D. for Brabazon Aylmer, 1676
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
If we consider the Hand by the most exact rule of proportion, 'tis evident that its substance and shape are most conducive to beauty and service. If the Fingers were not divided, and separately ⟨p. 42⟩moveable, but joined together with one continued skin, how uncomely, how unuseful would it be? Of an hundred effects ninety would be lost. All that require variety of motion, subtlety of art, or strength could not be performed. But the Fingers being disjoined, 'tis fit to do whatever the mind designs, or necessity requires. It works entirely, or in parts, it brandishes a Sword, or manages a Pen,1 strikes on the Anvil with a Hammer, or uses a delicate File, rows in the Water, or touches a Lute. Tis fit for all things, adapting it self to the greatest and least, all which advantages the Philosopher expresses with admirable brevity, In division manus componendi facultas est, in Compositione dividendi non esset. Suppose the Fingers were of equal length ⟨p. 43⟩and bigness, great inconveniences would follow. And in this the Divine Wisdom is eminent, that what at first sight seems to be of no consequence, yet is absolutely necessary, not only for all the regular, but for most works of the Hand. If the Fingers were extended to the same measure, it were able to do nothing but what the four longest can. And how uncomely would such a figured hand appear? when that beauty is lost, that springs from variety in things alike. Besides, how unprofitable a part were the Hand if the Fingers had within one entire bone, not flexible to grasp as occasion requires? Or if a fleshy substance only, how weak and unapt for service? what strength or firmness for labour? even the Nails are not superfluous; besides their ⟨p. 44⟩gracefulness, they give force and sense to the points of the Fingers. If one be lost, the feeling in that extreme part is very much lessened, that is so necessary for the discerning of things.
If we consider the Hand by the most exact rule of proportion, 'tis evident that its substance and shape are most conducive to beauty and service. If the Fingers were not divided, and separately ⟨p. 42⟩