IT is an idea I have never lost sight of, that all our
knowledge of science is derived from the revolutions (ex-
hibited to our eye and from thence to our understanding)
which those several planets or worlds of which our system is
composed make in their circuit round the Sun.

Had then the quantity of matter which these six worlds
contain been blended into one solitary globe, the conse-
quence to us would have been, that either no revolutionary
motion would have existed, or not a sufficiency of it to give
us the ideas and the knowledge of science we now have;
and it is from the sciences that all the mechanical arts that
contribute so much to our earthly felicity and comfort are
derived.

As therefore the Creator made nothing in vain, so also
must it be believed that he organized the structure of the
universe in the most advantageous manner for the benefit of
man; and as we see, and from experience feel, the benefits we
derive from the structure of the universe, formed as it is, which
benefits we should not have had the opportunity of enjoying if
the structure, so far as relates to our system, had been a soli-
tary globe, we can discover at least one reason why a plural-
ity of worlds has been made, and that reason calls forth
the devotional gratitude of man, as well as his admiration.

But it is not to us, the inhabitants of this globe, only, that
the benefits arising from a plurality of worlds are limited.
The inhabitants of each of the worlds of which our system
is composed, enjoy the same opportunities of knowledge as
we do. They behold the revolutionary motions of our earth,
as we behold theirs. All the planets revolve in sight of each
other; and, therefore, the same universal school of science
presents itself to all.

Neither does the knowledge stop here. The system of
worlds next to us exhibits, in its revolutions, the same prin-

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