Lesson vni.] -JUPITER. 35 



in about 4332 days and }, being nearly 12 of our 

 years ; moving in his orbit at the rate of more than 

 ' 25 thousand miles per hour. The light and heat 

 received from the sun at Jupiler, are in propor- 

 tion to those received at the earth, as 37 to 1000 : 

 hence, it is a very providential circumstance that 

 he is attended by satellites ; otherwise his inhabi- 

 tants (I shall give reasons for supposing, he ha 

 inhabitants, in another place) would be in a very 

 dreary situation. 



Jupiter's diameter or axis is. more than 10 times 

 that of the earth, and therefore his magnitude 

 more than 1000 times the earth's : his diameter in 

 English miles is 89,170; he performs his diurnal 

 rotation on his axis in the short interval of Q hours 

 and 56 minutes, by which mean his equatoreal 

 parts are carried round with about 25 times the 

 velocity of the like parts of our Eartli ; being car- 

 ried at the amazing rate of 26 thousand miles per 

 hour. This quick succession of days will' also be 

 viewed by the attentive philosopher as another in- 

 stance of Divine wisdom : for, as the poei observes, 



In ample compass- Jotv conducts his sphere, 



And later finishes his tedious year; 



Yet swiftly on hi a*Ie turn'tl regains, 



The frequent aid of day to warm his plains. Bnowv. 



But how will the hearts of all religious youths- 

 glow with admiration, when they are informed* 

 that the axis of Jupiter is' so nearly perpendicular 

 to his orbit, that he has no Sensible change of 

 seasons ! can this be the work of chance ? ho\v 



wisely 



