CHAP. IV.

Practical Deductions from, and Refle Etions upon the MAGNITUDE Of the Heavens.

HAVING fet forth the prodi

gious Magnitude of the Heavenly Space, and of the Bodies therein contained, before we proceed farther, let us pause a little to confider what Influence thefe Things ought to have upon us.

AND in fhort who can behold the Regions above, and confider the Things therein contained, and at the fame time not own them to declare the Glory of God? Who can view that immenfurable Firmament in which, those Bodies are, and not acknowledge his Handy-Work? We admire,

as

I

as juftly we may, the vaft Bulk of this our own Globe; but when we confider how much it is furpaffed by moft of the Heavenly Bodies, what a Point it degenerates into, and how little more even it, and what we call its Great Orb together also, are, when feen from the Heavens, this gives us a juft and noble Idea of the Infinite Creator's Works, fuch as is worthy of God, and fuch as may make us flight, not overvalue this little Heap on which we dwell, and cause our Thoughts and Defires to foar among the Heavenly Glories. But for an Application of these Considerations, let us hear Seneca's Reflections upon the Matter (7), who on this Account recommends Virtue, not purely because it is a noble thing in its own Nature, and a great Blessing to be free from Evil, but also because it enlar

(7) Nat. Quæft. L. 1. Præfat.

geth

+

geth the Mind, and prepares it for the Knowledge of Heavenly things, and makes it fit to affociate with God (8).Then, faith he, the Mind hath the conJummate and full good of our human State, when having conquered all Evil, it foars aloft, and wandering among the Stars above, it is able to deride the stately Structures of the Wealthy, and all their Riches. Neither, faith he, can

it contemn the Porches and Roofs fhining
with Ivory, the clip'd Groves, and the
pleasant Streams conveyed to their Houses,
until it hath wandered throughout the
whole World, and from above looking
down upon this little Globe, covered in a
great meafure by the Sea, and, where not
Jo, flovenly, and either burnt
up
in one
part, or frozen in the other, it then faith
to it felf, Is this that little Point that is
divided among fo many Nations by Fire

(8) Qui in confortium D E I veniat.

and ·

4

and Sword? Oh how ridiculous are the Bounds of Mortals, when this River divides this Nation, that Mountain boundeth another, and that Defart another? For as for this World, faith he, It is but a Point in which ye fail, in which ye war, in which ye dispose of Kingdoms. But above, are vast Spaces, into the Poffeffion whereof the Mind is admitted, on Condition it hath brought but little of the Body along with it, that it hath cleanfed itself from every filthy thing, and being difengaged from the World hath made itself illuftrious, by being expeditious and light, and content. with little things. When fuch a Mind, faith he, bath touched thofe Celestial Regions, it is then nourished and grows; and, as if delivered from its Bonds, it returns to its original State. And this Argument it hath of its Divinity, that it delights in divine Matters, and is converfant with them, not as things strange, but its own. There it fecurely beholds

the

the rifing and fetting Stars, their different Courfes, &c. There this curious Spectator difcuffes every thing, and Searches out every thing. And in deed what should it do but pry into thofe Matters, fince he knows they belong to himfelf. Then he contemns the narrow Bounds of his Habitation in this World. And here at last he learns what

he hath long enquired after there he begins to know God (9).

(9) Illic incipit DEUM noffe

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