S08 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



myfelf to thofe which are to be imputed to the 

 weaknefs of our reafon, and (hall examine their 

 influence on our acquirements in natural know- 

 ledge. 



It is eafy to perceive, that mofl of the Laws 

 which we have prefumed to affign to Nature, have 

 been deduced fometimes from our weaknefs, 

 fometimes from our pride. I (hall take a few in- 

 ftances, as they happen to occur to my thoughts, 

 and which are conlidered as moft indubitably cer- 

 tain. For example, we have fettled it, that the 

 Sun mufl be in the centre of the planets, in order 

 to regulate their motion, becaufe we are under the 

 neceffity of placing ourfelves in the centre of our 

 perfonal concerns, for the purpofe of keeping an 

 eye over them. But if, in the cafe of the celeftial 

 fpheres, the centre naturally belongs to the mofl 

 confiderable bodies, how comes it about that 

 Saturn and Jupiter, which greatly exceed our Globe 

 in magnitude, fhould be at the extremity of our 

 vortex ? 



As the fhorteft road is that which fatigues us 

 leaft, we have taken upon us to conclude, that, in 

 like manner, this muft be the plan of Nature. 

 Confequently, in order to fpare the Sun a journey 

 of about ninety millions of leagues, which he muft 

 every day perform, in giving us light, we fet the 



Earth 



