IET. III. FIRMAMENT OF THE FIXED STARS. 5I

Instead, therefore, of one sun, and one worldonly in the universe, as the unskilful in Astro-nomy imagine, that science discovers to us suchP inconceivable number of suns, systems, andworlds, dispersed through infinite space, thatour planetary system compared with the whole,appears but as a point, or atom, and is almostlost in the immensity of creation. The Geor-gium Sidus, notwithstanding, revolves roundthe fun in an orbit of above ten thousand mil-lions of miles in circumference, and some of thecomets make excursions of many millions ofmiles beyond this ; and yet, at that amazingdistance, they are incomparably nearer to the funthan to any of the fixed stars ; as is evidentfrom their keeping clear of the stars, and return-ing periodically by virtue of the fun’s attraction.

Since the fixed stars, therefore, are prodigiousspheres of fire, at inconceivable distances fromeach other, as well as from us, it is reasonableto conclude that they are made for the samepurposes with our fun ; to bestow light, heat,and vegetation on a certain number of planetsand satellites which revolve round them. And,from what we know of our own system,it seems probable, that all the rest are withequal wisdom contrived, situated, and providedwith accommodations for rational inhabitants.For although there is an infinite variety in thoseparts of the creation, which we have an oppor-F. 2 tunity