pear by a distinct Confideration of the Magnitude of the Heavenly Bodies themselves; and of the Space in which they are. CHAP. II. The MAGNITUDE of the heavenly A Bodies. Lthough we are not able to give a certain Determination of the Magnitude of the Heavenly Bodies, by reafon of their vaft Distances, yet enough we know, and are fure of, concerning their immense Magnitudes, to convince any one that they are the Works of GOD. But to come to particulars. The Measure by which we ufually gage and compare the Heavenly Bodies, is our Terraqueous Globe; of whofe Dimenfions and Bulk we can can make a pretty good Eftimate, having tolerably good and accurate Obfervations leading us thereto : the Particulars of which I have had Occafion elsewhere to specify (a). By these Observations it appears that the Diameter of this our Globe is above 79 Hundred Miles; that confequently its Surface is a good deal above 199 Millions of Miles, and its folid Content or Bulk near 265 Thousand Millions of Miles. If (a) Phyfico-Theol. B. 2. Ch. 2. In which Place I have made use of Mr. Pickart's Measure of the Earth. But notwithstanding the Difference be but fmall, viz. a little above 32 Miles in the whole Diameter of our Globe, yet I fhall make ufe here of our Mr. Norwood's and Monf. Caffini's Measures, because they agree to almost a Nicety, and Mr. Caffini's were made (by the French King's Command) at greater Diftances, with the greateft Accuracy. And according to these Measures, the Diameter of the Earth is 7967'7 English Miles, its Surface 199444201 Miles, and its folid Content 264856000000 Miles. there therefore we should go no farther from Home than our own Globe, a Mass we here have worthy of an Infinite Creator, a work proclaiming that great Being that made it. But as vaft a Body as this feems to be, it is much less than many, yea most of the Heavely Bodies that are vifible to us, except two or three of the Planets, which feem to be lefs than our Globe, namely Mars, whose Diameter is reckoned to be but 4875 English Miles, and the Moon, whofe Diameter is but 2175 Miles; and Mercury, whofe Diameter is 2748 Miles (a); but yet these are 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 (a) The Number of Miles which I have here, and all along affigned to the Diameters of the feveral Planets, are the mean Numbers between Planets by far exceed us; Saturn being computed at 93451 Miles in Diameter, and confequently at 427218300000000 Miles in its Bulk; and Jupiter at 1 30653 Miles in Diameter, and 920011200000000 Miles in Bulk. But yet as amazing Maffes as these all are, yet they are all between Mr. Flamsteed's in Mr. Whifton's Aftronomical Lectures, and Mr. Huygen's in his Syft. Saturn. and Cofmotheor. which (as Mr. Whiston first fuggefted to me) seem to be nearest the Truth. 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. L. 1. Prop. 96.) fomewhat bent, as if attracted from a strait 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. Huygen'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. Flamfleed's Meafures are as much too little, as Mr. Huygens's are too large, and confequently the Mean between them, probably nearest the Truth. far far out-done by that ftupendous Globe of Fire, the Sun; 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 surpass 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 Sun to be its true and real Globe. Thus ftupendous are the Magnitudes of the Globes of this our Solar Syftem. But these are not all, nor perhaps the most confiderable Bodies of the Universe. For the fixt Stars, altho' in Appearance but fo many golden or flaming Spots, yet are, with great probability, fuppofed to be fo many Suns, furrounded with their respective Systems of Planets, as our Sun is; and imagined to be no lefs |