the Planetary Worlds.
9
Book I.
have been ignorant ſtill of the Magnitude and Figure of the Earth, or that there was ſuch a Place as America. We ſhould not have known that the Moon is inlightned by the Sun’s Rays, nor what the Cauſes of the Eclipſes of each of them are, nor a multitude of other Things brought to light by the kate Diſcoveries in Aſtronomy. For what can a Man imagine more abſtruſe, or leſs likely to be known, that what is now as clear as the Sun? Whence it follows, that vigorous Induſtry, and piercing Wit were given Men to make Advances in the Search of Nature, and there’s no Reaſon to put any Stop to ſuch Enquiries. I muſt acknowledge that what I here inteded is not of that Nature as to admit of a certain Knowledge; I can’t pretend to aſſert any thing as poſitively true (for how is it poſſible) but only to advance a probable Gueſs, the Truth of which every one is at his own liberty to examine. If any one therefore ſhall gravely tell me, that I have ſpent my Time idly in a vain and fruitleſs En-
have been ignorant ſtill of the Magnitude and Figure of the Earth, or that there was ſuch a Place as America. We ſhould not have known that the Moon is inlightned by the Sun’s Rays, nor what the Cauſes of the Eclipſes of each of them are, nor a multitude of other Things brought to light by the kate Diſcoveries in Aſtronomy. For what can a Man imagine more abſtruſe, or leſs likely to be known, that what is now as clear as the Sun? Whence it follows, that vigorous Induſtry, and piercing Wit were given Men to make Advances in the Search of Nature, and there’s no Reaſon to put any Stop to ſuch Enquiries. I muſt acknowledge that what I here inteded is not of that Nature as to admit of a certain Knowledge; I can’t pretend to aſſert any thing as poſitively true (for how is it poſſible) but only to advance a probable Gueſs, the Truth of which every one is at his own liberty to examine. If any one therefore ſhall gravely tell me, that I have ſpent my Time idly in a vain and fruitleſs En-
quiry
