concave, encompaffing our eye. Thefe, although far more narrow bounds, and a more fcanty reckoning than it should be, yet was fufficient to fhew who was the maker of such a stupendous arch, and fo noble a train as is contained therein.

But according to the modern reckoning (which is far the most rational, and grounded upon better phænomena) we fhall find this branch of the creation far more magnificent, and worthy of its infinite Creator, than those former computations made it.

And how grand and magnificent a structure the heavens are, will appear by a distinct confideration of the magnitude of the heavenly bodies themselves; and of the space in which they are.

CHAP.

of them, which we fhould then find to ftand

well in rank and file. have an advantageous we fhould find' them

So doubtlefs, if we could profpect of the fixt stars, very commodioufly, and

well fet in the firmament in regard of one another. And this we have great reafon to conclude from the rules of parity, from that conftant harmony, and fimilitude obfervable among all the works of the creation, which fall under our cognizance: particularly this is evident in this region of the universe to which we belong, and which we have a better profpect of and can furvey with our inftruments, I mean the fyftem of the fun. In this we find every body placed in good order, and at due ditance, according even to the nicest rules of proportion.

For the eviction of this matter, let us (according to the most received and rational hypothefis) suppose the fun placed in the centre, to influence all his planets with light and heat. Then follow the feveral planets, furrounding him, not one here, and another there, at all adventures, in a rude manner, like a work of chance, but at due distances from the fun; at proper diftances from one another; and in fuch well adjusted proportion of their velocities and gravities, as makes the fquares of their revolutions

RR

tions in proportion to the cubes of their dif tances. And this is what is difcernible in the whole folar fyftem, not only in the primary planets that revolve round the fun, but in the fecondary planets alfo that revolve round them. Thus it manifeftly is in the five moons that accompany: Saturn, and the four accompanying Jupiter. And a moft fagacious contrivance this is, manifefting the prefence and conduct of the Creator, in thus chufing this proportion I speak of, rather than any other. For fhould the power of gravity (for inftance) have been fo conftituted, as to decrease in the proportion of the cubes (inftead of the fquares) of the distances reciprocally; although it might be poffible to adjust a velocity, and I may add, a direction too, fo as to make bodies defcribe perfect circles, yet the leaft excefs or defect of velocity, or the leaft obliquity of the direction, would make them defçribe fpiral curves, either afcending in infinitum, or elfe defcending to the centre. And fuppofing the orbs (in which thofe bodies move, and which are fuppofed, as I faid, to be made in propor tion of the cubes) to be perfectly circular, the leaft adventitious force, even but of an atom, abating or increafing the yelocity, or changing the direction, would bring on the aforesaid inconveniences. And if the great Creator and contriver

vaft and amazing bodies too! But for the reft, there is good reason to imagine their bulk exceeds that of our terraqueous globe. Thus the two fuperior planets by far exceed us; Saturn being computed at 93451 miles in diameter, and confequently at 427318300000000 miles in its bulk; and Jupiter at 120653 miles in diameter, and 920011200000000 miles in bulk. But yet as amazing maffes as thefe all are, yet they are all far outdone by that ftupendous globe of fire, the fun; which as it is the fountain of light and heat to all the planets about it, affording them by his benign rays, and kindly influence the great pleasures and comforts of life; fo doth it as far furpass them in its bulk; its apparent diameter being computed at 822148 English miles, and its folid content at 290971000000000000 miles, fuppofing the face we fee of the fun to be. its true and real globe.

For whereas the rays of light, when intercepted by the edge of a knife or other body, are (as Sir Ifaac Newton obferves in his Princip. 1. i. prop. 96.) are somewhat bent, as if attracted from a straight line by that body; and whereas Mr. Flamsteed's measures were taken with a micrometer that pinches or clafps the oppofite edges of a planet which would incurvate the rays one way; and Mr. Huygens's were taken with the interpofition of a thin tapering plate covering the planet as far as the extremity of its face, which would cause an incurvation of the rays the contrary way; therefore Mr. Flamsteed', measures are as much too little, as Mr. Huygens's are too large, and confequently the mean between them probably nearest the truth.

Thus

fhouldest not fee the mafter thereof: fo (faith he) wouldeft thou not think thyfelf very plainly to play the fool, if thou shouldest imagine so orderly a frame of the world, fo great a variety and beauty of heavenly things, fo prodigious a quantity and magnitude of fea and land to be thy houfe, thy workmanship, and not that of the immortal gods !" And fo when we fee fuch good order, fuch due proportions in this region of the universe, and have good reason to conclude the fame may be throughout the whole, can we without great violence to reafon, imagine this ta be any other than the work of God?

BOOK