t to be 5639 years from this time to
the first existence of any body in the beginning of the world;--we can,
in our thoughts, apply this measure of a year to duration before the
creation, or beyond the duration of bodies or motion, as we can this
measure of a mile to space beyond the utmost bodies; and by the one
measure duration, where there was no motion, as well as by the other
measure space in our thoughts, where there is no body.

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.

27. Eternity.

By the same means, therefore, and from the same original that we come to
have the idea of time, we have also that idea which we call Eternity;
viz. having got the idea of succession and duration, by reflecting
on the train of our own ideas, caused in us either by the natural
appearances of those ideas coming constantly of themselves into our
waking thoughts, or else caused by external objects successively
affecting our senses; and having from the revolutions of the sun got the
ideas of certain lengths of duration,--we can in our thoughts add such
lengths of duration to one another, as often as we please, and apply
them, so added, to durations past or to come. And this we can continue
to do on, without bounds or limits, and proceed in infinitum, and apply
thus the length of the annual motion of the sun to duration, supposed
before the sun's or any other motion had its being, which is no