[ 53 ]

LETTER IV.

Of the Systems of Ptolemy, Tycho Brahe,and Copernicus.

O F all the gifts and benefits which the Authorof nature has so plentifully bestowed uponmankind, those which consist in the improve-ment of the mind by arts and sciences are themost estimable. And, independent of the prac-tical advantages which society derives from thecultivation of them, they afford us more pureand unalloyed pleasures than any of the grati-fications of sense can possibly bestow.

The unbounded view of nature, which I havelaid open in my last letter, and the wonderfuloperations of the Deity in every part of thisstupendous fabric, will not only ennoble themind and strengthen the understanding, but islikewise calculated to answer a still more impor-tant purpose, that of laying a sure foundationfor natural religion, and leading us, in the mostsatisfactory manner, to a knowledge of the greatAuthor and Governor of the universe.

To study nature, is to search into his work-manship ; where every step must lead us to thatmighty power who prevails throughout, directsE 3 , aud