being, with a perfect
negation of all manner of expansion, as it is to have the idea of any
real existence with a perfect negation of all manner of duration. And
therefore, what spirits have to do with space, or how they communicate
in it, we know not. All that we know is, that bodies do each singly
possess its proper portion of it, according to the extent of solid
parts; and thereby exclude all other bodies from having any share in
that particular portion of space, whilst it remains there.

12. Duration has never two Parts together, Expansion altogether.

DURATION, and TIME which is a part of it, is the idea we have of
PERISHING distance, of which no two parts exist together, but follow
each other in succession; an EXPANSION is the idea of LASTING distance,
all whose parts exist together and are not capable of succession. And
therefore, though we cannot conceive any duration without succession,
nor can put it together in our thoughts that any being does NOW exist
to-morrow, or possess at once more than the present moment of duration;
yet we can conceive the eternal duration of the Almighty far different
from that of man, or any other finite being. Because man comprehends not
in his knowledge or power all past and future things: his thoughts are
but of yesterday, and he knows not what to-morrow will bring forth. What
is once past he can never recal; and what is yet to come he cannot make
present. What I say of man, I say of all finite beings; who, though they
may far exceed man in knowledge and power, yet are no more than the
meanest creature, in comparison with God himself. Finite or any
magnitude holds not any proportion to infinite. God's infinite duration,
being accompanied with infinite knowledge and infinite power, he sees
all things, past and to come; and they are no more distant from his
knowledge, no further removed from his sight, than the present: they all
lie under the same view: and there is nothing which he cannot make exist
each moment he pleases. For the existence of all things, depending upon
his good pleasure, all things exist every moment that he thinks fit to
have them exist. To conclude: expansion and duration do mutually embrace
and comprehend each other; every part of space being in every part of
duration, and every part of duration in every part of expansion. Such a
combination of two distinct ideas is, I suppose, scarce to be found in
all that great variety we do or can conceive, and may affo