But as my Incapacity of accepting the Favour of thofe noble Mecœnates, bath been the Occafion of that excellent Glafs being put into better Hands; fo I affure myself their Expectations are abundantly answered, by the Number and Goodness of the Obfervations that have been, and will be made therewith. THE Why most favoured by the Author. 42 Fixt Stars are Suns. 43 The Author's Opinion about the Whitenefs of the Galaxy. ibid. The Author fufpects there are more The Planets are Worlds. 44 46 ibid. 47 A Preliminary Discourse CONCERNING The Systems of the Heavens, the Habitability of the Planets, and a Plurality of Worlds, useful for the reading of the following Book. M Y Phyfico-Theology having met with fo quick a Sale as to come to a third Impreffion before the Year was expired, but especially the Solicitations of many Learned Men, both known and unknown, have given me great encouragement to fulfil my promife, in sending abroad this other Part, relating to the Heavens: which fhould fooner have seen the light, but that I was minded not to interrupt the Reader's patience with many Notes (which I could not well avoid in my Phyfico-Theology, and which my Rough Draught of this was burthened with) and therefore I threw the greatest Part of them into the Text: which neceffitated me to transcribe the whole. And when my Hand was in, I new-made fome part of it, and added many new Obfervations of my own,, which I then had lately made with fome very good long Glasses I had in my hands; one of Campani's grinding; and others of English work, which exceeded it; but efpecially one of Mr. Huygens's of above 120 Feet, which few for goodnefs do furpafs. Of |