What Webs of Wonder shall unravel there?
So many varied Seats where every Element may have its proper Beings and all adapted to partake of every thing suited to their Natures, argue such Maturity of Wisdom, and the vast Production such mysterious Power; 'tis hardly possible for Mortals not to see divine Intelligence preside, and that every Being somewhere must be happy.
A Universe so well designed, and fill'd with such an endless Structure of material Beings, and all the Result of Prescience and infinite reflected Reason, flowing from a Mind all perfect, full of all Ideas, could never be designed in vain; and tho' our narrow Bounds of Reason limited, by finite Senses, cannot directly see the Consequence dependant on a Sequel, yet from what we do see, great Room we have to hope the next Stage of Existence will be more lasting and more perfect; and it is highly probable, the noblest Suggestion of the most luxuriant Fancy may fall infinitely short of what we are designed for.
But here, even in this World, are Joys which our Ideas of Heaven can scarce exceed, and if Imperfection appear thus lovely, what must Perfection be, and what may we not expect and hope for, by a meritorious Acquiescence in Providence, under the Direction, Indulgence, and Protection of infinite Wisdom and Goodness, who manifestly designs perfect Felicity, as the Reward of Virtue in all his Creatures, and will at proper Periods answer all our Wishes in some predestined World.
All this the vast apparent Provision in the starry Mansions, seem to promise: What ought we then not to do, to preserve our natural Birthright to it and to merit such Inheritance, which alas we think created all to gratify alone, a Race of vain-glorious gigantick Beings, while they are confined to this World, chained like so many Atoms to a Grain of Sand.
I am, &c.
Transcriber Note
Spelling conventions used in the book were retained. On [page 5], there is an unattached footnote. As it refers to The Pendulum Clock and Huygens wrote a book whose title includes these words, the assumption was made that the footnote belongs after his name. On [page 30], the missing anchor for the footnote about Parallax was placed before the term in paragraph three. The same situation occurs on [page 54] where a footnote about Motion had no anchor and was linked to the term in the last paragraph. On [page 72], there is a measurement "11 Feet ¾" to which "Inches" was added.