Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/345

 such sort of Reasonings, would either readily have understood them, or acquiesced in them as legitimate Ways of Proof. If Three, or Four Mathematical Terms were so affrighting, how would those learned Discourses of Steno and Croone, concerning muscular Motion have moved them? How much would they have been amazed at such minute Calculations of the Motive-strength of all sorts of Muscles in the several general sorts of Animals, as require very great Skill in Geometry, even to understand them, which are made by Borellus in his Discourses of the Motion of Animals? It is not enough in this Case, to quote a Saying or Two out of some great Man amongst the Ancients, or to tell us that Plato said long ago, That God geometrizes in all his Works; as long as no Man can produce any one Ancient Essay upon any one Part of Physiology, where Mathematical Ratiocinations were introduced to salve those Phaenomena of Natural Things, upon which it was possible to talk plausibly without their Help. At least it is certain, That they contented themselves with general Theories, without entring into minute Disquisitions into the several varieties of Things, as is evident in the Two Cases already alledged, of Vision and Muscular Motion.