I know that it hath been a Queſtion with many, whether there might not have been more Senſes than theſe five. Their Senſes not very different from ours. If we ſhould allow this, it might nevertheleſs be reaſonably doubted, whether the Senſes of the Planetary Inhabitants are much different from ours. I muſt confeſs, I cannot deny but there might poſſibly have been more Senſes; but when I conſider the Uſes of thoſe we have, I cannot think but they would have been ſuperfluous. The Eye was made to diſcern near and remote Objects, the Ear to give us notice of what our Eyes could not, either in the Dark or behind our Back: Then what neither the Eye nor the Ear could, the Noſe was made (which in Dogs is wonderfully nice) to warn us of. And if any thing eſcapes the notice of the other four Senſes, we have Feeling to inform us of the too near Approaches of it before it can do us any miſchief. Thus has Nature ſo plentifully, ſo perfectly provided for the neceſſary preſervation of her Creatures here, that I think ſhe can give nothing more to thoſe there, but what [[52]]will be needleſs and ſuperfluous. Yet the Senſes were not wholly deſigned for uſe: but Men from all, and all other Animals from ſome of them, reap Pleaſure as well as Profit, as from the Taſte in delicious Meats; from the Smell in Flowers and Perfumes; from the Sight in the Contemplation of beauteous Shapes and Colours; from the Hearing in the Sweetneſs and Harmony of Sounds; from the Feeling in Copulation, unleſs you pleaſe to count that for a particular Senſe by it ſelf. They have Pleaſure ariſing from the Senſes. Since it is thus, I think ’tis but reaſonable to allow the Inhabitants of the Planets theſe ſame Advantages that we have from them. For upon this Conſideration only, how much happier and eaſier a Man’s Life is rendred by the enjoyment of them, we muſt be obliged to grant them theſe Bleſſings, except we would engroſs every thing that is good to our ſelves, as if we were worthier and more deſerving than any elſe. But moreover, that Pleaſure which we perceive in Eating or in Copulation, ſeems to be a neceſſary and provident Command of Nature, [[53]]whereby it tacitly compels us to the preſervation and continuance of our Life and Kind. It is the ſame in Beaſts. So that both for their Happineſs and Preſervation it’s very probable the reſt of the Planets are not without it. Certainly when I conſider all theſe Things, how great, noble, and uſeful they are; when I conſider what an admirable Providence it is that there’s ſuch a Thing as Pleaſure in the World, I can’t but think that our Earth, the ſmalleſt part almoſt of the Univerſe, was never deſign’d to monopolize ſo great a Bleſſing. And thus much for thoſe Pleaſures which affect our bodily Senſes, but have little or no relation to our Reaſon and Mind. But there are other Pleaſures which Men enjoy, which their Soul only and Reaſon can reliſh: Some airy and brisk, others grave and ſolid, and yet nevertheleſs Pleaſures, as ariſing from the Satisfaction which we feel in Knowledge and Inventions, and Searches after Truth, of which whether the Planetary Inhabitants are not partakers, we ſhall have an opportunity of enquiring by and by. There [[54]]
There are ſome other things to be conſider’d firſt, in which it’s probable they have ſome relation to us. That the Planets have thoſe Elements of Earth, Air and Water, as well as we, I have already made not unlikely. Let us now ſee whether they may not have Fire alſo: which is not ſo properly call’d an Element, as a very quick Motion of the Particles in the inflammable All the Planets have Fire. Body. But be it what it will, there are many Arguments for their not being without it. For this Earth is not ſo truly call’d the Place of Fire as the Sun: and as by the Heat of that all Plants and Animals here thrive and live; ſo, no doubt, it is in the other Planets. Since then Fire is cauſed by a moſt intenſe and vigorous Heat, it follows that the Planets, eſpecially thoſe nearer the Fountain of it, have their proportionate degrees of Heat and Fire. And ſince there are ſo many ways of its Production, as by the collection of the Rays of the Sun, by the reflection of Mirrors, by the ſtriking of Flint and Steel, by the rubbing of Wood, by the cloſe loading of [[55]]moiſt Graſs, by Lightning, by the eruptions of Mountains and Volcanos, it’s ſtrange if neither Art ſhould have produced it, nor Nature effected it there by one of theſe many means. Then how uſeful and neceſſary is it to us? By it we drive away Cold, and ſupply the want of the Sun in thoſe Countries where his oblique Rays make a leſs vigorous Impreſſion, and ſo keep a great part of the Earth from being an uninhabited Deſert: which is equally neceſſary in all the Planets, whether we allow them Succeſſion of Seaſons, or a perpetual Spring and Æquinox: for even then the Countries near the Pole would receive but little Advantage from the Heat of the Sun. By the help of this we turn the Night into Day, and thereby make a conſiderable addition to the ſhortneſs of our Lives. Upon all theſe Accounts we ought not to think this Earth of ours enjoy it all alone, and exclude all the other Planets from ſo advantageous and ſo profitable a Gift.
But perhaps it may be asked as well concerning Brutes as rational Creatures, [[56]]and of their Plants and Trees too, whether they are proportionably The bigneſs of their Creatures not rightly gueſt at by the bigneſs of the Planets. larger or leſs than ours. For if the Magnitude of the Planets was to be the Standard of their meaſure, there would be Animals in Jupiter ten or fifteen times larger than Elephants, and as much longer than our Whales, and then their Men muſt be all Giants in reſpect to us. Now tho’ I don’t ſee any ſo great Abſurdity in this as to make it impoſſible, yet there is no reaſon to think it is really ſo, ſeeing Nature has not always ty’d her ſelf to thoſe Rules which we have thought more convenient for her: For example, the Magnitude of the Planets is not anſwerable to their diſtances from the Sun; but Mars, tho’ more remote, is far leſs than Venus: and Jupiter turns round his Axis in ten Hours, when the Earth which is much leſs than him, ſpends 24. But ſince Nature, perhaps ſome will ſay, has not obſerved ſuch a Regularity in the proportion of Things, for ought we know there may be only a Race of Pygmies about the Bigneſs of Frogs and Mice, [[57]]poſſeſs’d of the Planets. But I ſhall ſhow that this is very improbable by and by.
In the Planets are ſorts of rational Creatures as well as here. There may ariſe another Queſtion, whether there be in the Planets but one ſort of rational Creatures, or if there be not ſeveral ſorts poſſeſſed of different degrees of Reaſon and Senſe. There is ſomething not unlike this to be obſerved among us. For to paſs by thoſe who have human Shape (altho’ ſome of them would very well bear that Enquiry too) if we do but conſider ſome ſorts of Beaſts, as the Dog, the Ape, the Beaver, the Elephant, nay ſome Birds and Bees, what Senſe and Underſtanding they are maſters of, we ſhall be forced to allow, that Man is not the only rational Animal. For we diſcover ſomewhat in them of Reaſon independent on, and prior to all Teaching and Practice.
But ſtill no Body can doubt, but that the Underſtanding and Reaſon of Man is to be preferr’d to theirs, as being comprehenſive of innumerable Things, indued with an infinite memory of what’s paſt, and capable of providing [[58]]againſt what’s to come. That there is ſome ſuch Species of rational Creatures in the other Planets, which is the Head and Sovereign of the reſt, is very reaſonable to believe: for otherwiſe, were many Species endued with the ſame Wiſdom and Cunning, we ſhould have them always doing Miſchief, always quarrelling and fighting one with another for Empire and Sovereignty, a Thing that we feel too much of where we have but one ſuch Species. But to let that paſs, our next Enquiry ſhall be concerning thoſe Animals in the Planets which are furniſhed with the greateſt Reaſon, whether it’s poſſible to know wherein they employ it, and whether they have made as great Advances in Arts and Knowledge as we in our Planet. Which deſerves moſt to be conſidered and examined of any thing belonging to their Nature; and for the better Performance of it we muſt take our Riſe ſomewhat higher, and nicely view the Lives and Studies of Men.
And in thoſe things wherein Men provide and take care only of what’s [[59]]abſolutely neceſſary for the preſervation of their Life; in defending themſelves from the Injuries of the Air; in ſecuring themſelves againſt the Incurſions of Enemies by Walls; and againſt Fraud and Diſturbances by Laws; in educating their Children, and providing for themſelves and them: In all theſe I can ſee no great reaſon that Man has to boaſt of the Pre-eminency of his Reaſon above Beaſts and other Animals. For moſt of theſe Things they perform with greater Eaſe and Art than we, and ſome of them they have no need of. For that Senſe of Virtue and Juſtice in which Man excels, of Friendſhip, Gratitude and Honeſty, of what uſe are they, but either to put a ſtop to the Wickedneſs of Man, or to ſecure us from mutual Aſſaults and Injuries, Things wherein the Beaſts want no Guide but Nature and Inclination? Then if we ſet before our Eyes the manifold Cares, the Diſturbances of Mind, the reſtleſs Deſires, the dread of Death, that are the reſult of this our Reaſon; and compare them with [[60]]that eaſy, quiet, and harmleſs Life which other Animals enjoy, we ſhould be apt to wiſh a Change, and conclude that they, eſpecially Birds, lived with more Pleaſure and Happineſs than Man could with all his Wiſdom. For they have as great a Reliſh of bodily Pleaſures as we, let the new Philoſophers ſay what they will, who would have them to be nothing but Clocks and Engines of Fleſh; a Thing which Beaſts ſo plainly confute by crying and running away from a Stick, and all other Actions, that I wonder how any one could ſubſcribe to ſo abſurd and cruel an Opinion. Nay, I can ſcarce doubt but that Birds feel no ſmall Pleaſure in their eaſy, ſmooth ſailing through the Air; and would much more if they but knew the Advantages it hath above our ſlow and Men chiefly differ from Beaſts in the Study of Nature. laborious Progreſſion. What is it then after all that ſets human Reaſon above all other, and makes us preferable to the reſt of the Animal World? Nothing in my Mind ſo much as the Contemplation of the Works of God, and the Study of Nature, and the improving [[61]]thoſe Sciences which may bring us to ſome knowledge in their Beauty and Variety. For without Knowledge what would be Contemplation? And what difference is there between a Man, who with a careleſs ſupine Negligence views the Beauty and Uſe of the Sun, and the fine golden Furniture of the Heaven, and one who with a learned Niceneſs ſearches into their Courſes; who underſtands wherein the Fix’d Stars, as they are call’d, differ from the Planets, and what is the Reaſon of the regular Viciſſitude of the Seaſons; who by ſound Reaſoning can meaſure the Magnitude and Diſtance of the Sun and Planets? Or between ſuch a one as admires perhaps the nimble Activity and ſtrange Motions of ſome Animals, and one that knows their whole Structure, underſtands the whole Fabrick and Architecture of their Compoſition? If therefore the Principle we before laid down be true, that the other Planets are not inferiour in Dignity to ours, They have Aſtronomy. what follows but that they have Creatures not to ſtare and wonder at the [[62]]Works of Nature only, but who employ their Reaſon in the Examination and Knowledge of them, and have made as great Advances therein as we have? They do not only view the Stars, but they improve the Science of Aſtronomy: nor is there any thing can make us think this improbable, but that fond Conceitedneſs of every Thing that we call our own, and that Pride that is too natural to us to be eaſily laid down. But I know ſome will ſay, we are a little too bold in theſe Aſſertions of the Planets, and that we mounted hither by many Probabilities, one of which, if it chance to be falſe, and contrary to our Suppoſition, would, like a bad Foundation, ruin the whole Building, and make it fall to the Ground. But I would have them to know, that all I have ſaid of their Knowledge in Aſtronomy, has Proofs enough, antecedent to thoſe we now produced. For ſuppoſing the Earth, as we did, one of the Planets of equal Dignity and Honour with the reſt, who would venture to ſay, that no where elſe were to be found any that [[63]]enjoy’d the glorious Sight of Nature’s Theatre? Or if there were any Fellow-Spectators, yet we were the only ones that had dived deep into the Secrets and Knowledge of it? So that here’s a Proof not ſo far fetch’d for the Aſtronomy of the Planets, the ſame which we uſed for their having rational Creatures, and enjoying the other Advantages we before talk’d of, which ſerves at the ſame time for the Confirmation of our former Conjectures. But if Amazement and Fear at the Eclipſes of the Moon and Sun gave the firſt occaſion to the Study of Aſtronomy, as probably they did, then it’s almoſt impoſſible that Jupiter and Saturn ſhould be without it; the Argument being of much greater force in them, by reaſon of the daily Eclipſes of their Moons, and the frequent ones of the Sun to their Inhabitants. So that if a Perſon diſintereſted in his Judgment, and equally ignorant of the Affairs of all the Planets, were to give his Opinion in this Matter, I don’t doubt he would give the Cauſe for Aſtronomy to thoſe two Planets rather than us. [[64]]
This Suppoſition of their Knowledge and Uſe of Aſtronomy in the Planetary Worlds, will afford us many new Conjectures about their manner of Life, and their State as to other things.
And all its ſubſervient Arts. For, Firſt: No Obſervations of the Stars that are neceſſary to the Knowledge of their Motions, can be made without Inſtruments; nor can theſe be made without Metal, Wood, or ſome ſuch ſolid Body. Here’s a neceſſity of allowing them the Carpenters Tools, the Saw, the Ax, the Plane, the Mallet, the File: and the making of theſe requires the Uſe of Iron, or ſome equally hard Metal. Geometry and Arithmetick: Again, theſe Inſtruments can’t be without a Circle divided into equal Parts, or a ſtrait Line into unequal. Here’s a neceſſity for introducing Geometry and Arithmetick. Then the Neceſſity And Writing. in ſuch Obſervations of marking down the Epochas or Accounts of Time, and of tranſmitting them to Poſterity, will force us to grant them the Art of Writing; perhaps very different from ours which is commonly uſed, but I dare affirm not more ingenious [[65]]or eaſy. For how much more ready and expeditious is our Way, than by that multitude of Characters uſed in China; and how vaſtly preferable to Knots tied in Cords, or the Pictures in uſe among the barbarous People of Mexico and Peru? There’s no Nation in the World but has ſome way or other of writing or marking down their Thoughts: So that it’s no wonder if the Planetary Inhabitants have been taught it by that great School-miſtreſs Neceſſity, and apply it to the Study of Aſtronomy and other Sciences. In Aſtronomical Matters the Neceſſity of it is moreover apparent from hence, that the Motion of the Stars is as ’twere to be fancied and gueſs’d at in different Syſtems, and theſe Syſtems to be continually improved and corrected, as later and more exact Obſervations ſhall convince the old ones of Faults: all which can never be deliver’d down to ſucceeding Generations, unleſs we make uſe of Letters and Figures.
But after all theſe large and liberal Allowances to Them, they will ſtill [[66]]be behind-hand with us. For we have ſo certain a Knowledge of the true And Opticks. Syſtem and Frame of the Univerſe; we have ſo admirable an Invention of Teleſcopes to help our failing Eye-ſight in the view of the Bigneſs and different Forms of the Planetary Bodies, in the diſcovery of the Mountains, and the Shadows of them on the Surface of the Moon, in the bringing to light an innumerable multitude of Stars otherwiſe inviſible, that we muſt neceſſarily be far their Maſters in that Knowledge. Hence it is almoſt neceſſary (except we have a Mind to flatter and complement our ſelves as the only People that have the Advantage of ſuch excellent Inventions) either to allow the Planetary Inhabitants ſuch ſharp Eyes as not to need them, or elſe the uſe of Glaſſes to help the Deficiency of their Sight. And yet I dare not aſſert this, leſt any one ſhould be ſo diſturbed at the Extravagancy of ſuch an Opinion, as to take the meaſure of my other Conjectures by it, and hiſs them all off, upon the account of this alone. [[67]]
Theſe Sciences not contrary to Nature. But ſome Body may perhaps object, and that not without reaſon at firſt ſight, that the Planetary Inhabitants it’s likely are deſtitute of all refined Knowledge, juſt as the Americans were before they had Commerce with the Europeans. For if one conſiders the Ignorance of thoſe Nations, and of others in Aſia and Africa equally barbarous, it will appear as if the main Deſign of the Creator in placing Men upon the Earth was that they might live, and, in a juſt ſenſe of all the Bleſſings and Pleaſure they enjoy, worſhip the Fountain of their Happineſs; but that ſome few went beyond the Bounds of Nature in their Enquiries after Knowledge. There does not want an Anſwer to theſe Men. For God could not but foreſee the Advances Men would make, in their enquiring into the Heavenly Bodies: that they would diſcover Arts uſeful and advantageous to Life: that they would croſs the Seas, and dig up the Bowels of the Earth. Nothing of all this could happen contrary to the Mind and Knowledge of the Infinite Author of all Things. And if [[68]]he foreſaw theſe Things would be, he ſo appointed and deſtin’d them to humane kind. And the Studies of Arts and Sciences cannot be ſaid to be contrary to Nature, ſince in the ſearch thereof they are employ’d: eſpecially if we conſider how great the natural, deſire and love of Knowledge, rooted in all Men is. For it’s impoſſible this ſhould have been given them upon no Deſign or Account. But they will urge, that if ſuch a Knowledge is natural, if we were born for it, why are there ſo very few, eſpecially in Aſtronomy, that proſecute theſe Studies? For Europe is the only Quarter of the Earth in which there have been any Advancements made in Aſtronomy. And as for the Judicial Aſtrology, which pretends to foretel what is to come, it is ſuch a wretched and oftentimes miſchievous piece of Madneſs, that I do not think it ought to be ſo much as named here. And even in Europe, not one in a hundred Thouſand meddles with theſe Studies. Beſides, its Original and Riſe is ſo late, that many Ages were paſt before [[69]]the very firſt Rudiments of Aſtronomy or Geometry (which is neceſſary to the learning of it) were known. For every Body is acquainted almoſt with its firſt Beginnings in Egypt and Greece. Add to this, that ’tis not yet above fourſcore Years ſince the bungling Epicycles were diſcarded, and the true and eaſy plain Motion of the Planets was diſcovered. For the Satisfaction of theſe Scruples, to what we ſaid before, concerning the Fore-knowledge of God, may be added this; That God never deſigned we ſhould come into the World Aſtronomers or Philoſophers; theſe Arts are not infuſed into us at our Birth, but were ordered, in long Tracts of Time, by degrees to be the Rewards and Reſult of laborious Diligence; eſpecially thoſe Sciences which are now in debate, are ſo much the more difficult and abſtruſe, that their late Invention and ſlow Progreſs are ſo far from being a Wonder, that it is rather ſtrange they were ever diſcover’d at all. There are but few, I acknowledge one or two perhaps in an Age, that purſue them, [[70]]or think them their Buſineſs: but their Number will be very conſiderable if we take in thoſe that have lived in all the Ages in which Aſtronomy hath flouriſhed: and no Body can deny them that Happineſs and Contentment which they have pretended to above all others. In fine, it was ſufficient that ſo ſmall a Number ſhould make it their Study, ſo that the Profit and Advantage of their Inventions might but ſpread it ſelf over all the World. Since then the Inhabitants of this Earth, let them be never ſo few, have had Parts and Genius ſufficient for the Attainment of this Knowledge; and there’s no reaſon to think the Planetary Inhabitants leſs ingenious or happy than our ſelves; we have gain’d our Point, and ’tis probable that they are as skilful Aſtronomers as we can pretend to be. So that now we may venture to deduce ſome Conſequences from ſuch a Suppoſition.