which they minister in the Creation. Particularly that the habitable Globes fhould always remain at fuch due Distances, and move in fuch proper Orbits, as are best for them. And that the Comets too, fhould at the fame Time país in paths utterly different, but yet fuch in all probability, as may render them alfo of very great Ufe to fome or other parts of the World; whether we look upon them as places of Torment (as hath been faid) or Bodies appointed for the Refreshment and Recruit of the Sun, or any of his Planets, as Sir Ifaac Newton conjectureth in his Princip. L. 3. Prop. 41 & 42. And now from the Confideration of what I have fhewn in this fixth Book, to be either highly probable, or very certain, concerning Gravity, we have another manifeft Demon ftration of the infinite CREATOR's Wisdom and Care, and another cogent Argument to excite the highest Veneration and Praife in his Crea tures. M 3 BOOK BOOK VII. Of the PROVISION made for LIGHT and HEAT Throughout the UNIVERSE. СНАР. І. Of the Light and Heat of the Fixt Stars and Sun. A S Light and Heat are two of the most useful Things in the Universe, so the infinitely wife and kind CREATOR hath made an excellent Frovifion for thefe Things; in all pro probability, for every Globe throughout the Universe, but particularly for thofe of our own Syftem. For it is very manifeft, that every Globe we fee, doth fhine with its own native, or with borrowed Light. Even all those immenfe Bodies at the greatest Distance from us, the Fixt Stars, which I have before said, are probably so many Suns, it is Light they manifeftly dart as far as to our fo diftant Globe, as well as what they emit for the enlightening, warming, and cherishing their own refpective Planets. But I fhall forbear to launch out into thofe conjectural Matters, and fhall come nearer home, into our own Syftem, where we have enongh to entertain our Eye, to captivate our Thoughts, and to excite our higheft Admiration of thefe magnificent Works of God; whether we furvey the great Fountain it felf of our Light M 4 Light and Heat, the Sun; its due Pofition, and its wonderful Ufe to its Planets; and the incomparable Provifions that are made to supply its Abfence and greater Diftances from them. And in the first place, as to the Sun it felf; what Power is there that the most extravagant Fancy can imagine to it felf, that could ever be able to make fo prodigious a Mass of Fire as the Sun is, but only the Power of God's Almighty Hand! A Body of fo immenfe a Bulk, as I have fhewn it is, and of fuch an exceffive Heat, that no greater a Number of its Rays, than what fall within the compass of a two, or three Inch Burning-Glafs, fhall actually burn; and what fall within the compafs of not many Feet, fhall far exceed the ftrongeft culinary Fire in the Earth: As is manifeft from its almoft inftantaneous burning and vitrifying the moft |