Page:Memoirs of Sir Isaac Newton's life.djvu/159

a second objection is merely theological. some are inclined to think our religion not founded sufficiently on philosophy. because it supposes the globe of our earth to be the whole world. that it is unworthy, that a divine Mediation sh^d. be allotted to so small, so inconsiderable a portion, in comparison of the whole.

but this objection is as easily vacated by the single consideration of the nature, & the value of our souls. an immortal principle that cannot cease to be. therefore in a few words it must be asserted, to be of infinitely more value, than the whole material globe, which must perish: than the whole mundane system.

in conclusion S^r. Isaac intimated, that the thought was worthy of Gods power, & goodness; that it solv'd the appearance of the galaxy; if it was fact.

⁺the bredth of the angle, which the galaxy makes, shows its inconceivable distance, in this view: & that beyond all number.

that it was not easy to say whether is the greater idea of G. alm. that he creates infinite worlds now,

^X& that to all eternity,

to multiply the objects of his benignity: or that he created them all at once. I mean, says he, in the hexaemeron. For I take it to be agreable to philosophy.

^θbut as to Sir Isaac's problem proposed, whether it be more consentaneous to the nature & the glory of the deity, that he should create new worlds infinitely, in succession: or have done it all in the hexaemeron, we may leave it to be solv'd when we are in his present scituation.

I shall only propose another problem, which tho' numbers can scarce reach the solution, yet they may possibly give us some little idea of the matter. the apparent bredth of the galaxy is generally about 23 degrees; sometime it is nearly double. about 21½ equal to our obliquity of the ecliptic on Mr Senex's planispheres. quære supposing my hypothesis to be fact how far distant is it? I try'd it after a rude

^omanner & found the interval double the diameter of the whole view of the fixt stars which we behold. thus as in pa. 57

however this discourse put me upon studying the Mosaic cosmogony seriously, which I did, when I