Down to this habitable, which returns
Light back to them, is obvious to Dispute.
But before I presume to plan my own Discoveries and Conjectures into a Theory, both in Justice to those who have in some measure been in the same Way of Thinking, and also as a Defence of myself for producing so new an Hypothesis to the World, which otherwise (though any Apology made to you I know will be unnecessary) may appear to too many but an idle Chimera of my own. I judge it will be highly proper, by way of strengthening my own Arguments, and adding more Weight to what I shall myself advance in the following Letters, to give you in this the Opinions of the most able Writers, whose Works I have read upon the Subject. I mean so far as relates to the now general received Notion, that the Stars are all Suns, and surrounded with planetary Bodies, with which I shall set out; and shew you, it is not a Thing merely taken for granted, but has ever been the concurrent Notion of the Learned of all Nations, as shall be further shewn, in its proper Place, and as nearly as Possibility will admit of, demonstrated to be Truth.
The following is an Extract from Mr. Toland, in his Account of the Works of
Jordanus Bruno.
"The Divine Efficacy (says this Author in his infinite Creation) cannot stand idle, without the Want of Will or Power; but any Imbecility in such a Being argues Imperfection, and since any finite Produce compared with Infinity is as nothing, or rather as the Beginning of Good, it must be no less idle, and invidious in producing a finite Effect, than in producing none at all.
"Hence, as all Finites, singly considered, are but as Commencements of something more to be expected.
"Omnipotence, in making the Creation finite, will appear to be no less blameable for not being willing, than for not being able, to make it otherwise; i. e. infinite, as being an infinite Agent upon a finite Subject, which is repugnant to Reason."
It follows then that, Creation must be not only extensively, but intensively indefinite, and beyond the Reach of the human Understanding to comprehend; and that the one is as necessary as the other, i. e. an infinite Expanse is as reconcileable to our Reason, as infinite Parts are to our Senses.
All the Attributes of the Divine Being are, as any one of them, incomprehensible to his Creatures; why should our Imagination then be supposed to extend beyond the divine Activity?