114 DEFECTS OF PREVAILING 



distances of these being greater or less according to the near- 

 ness or remoteness of the point where these two forces were 

 exactly balanced against each other. 



But Newton soon found this theory, seemingly perfect in 

 other respects, encumbered with difficulties in respect to the 

 stability of the system. He found that the different planets 

 were not only attracted by the sun, but mutually attracted by 

 each other. These different attractions, varying in intensity in 

 the inverse ratio of the squares of distances, according to a 

 law discovered by Kepler, were accompanied by perturbations, 

 producing irregularities in orbitual motions which were sub- 

 ject to secular increase. The system, thus, left to its own in- 

 ternal provisions, seemed to prophesy its own progressive 

 derangement, and its ultimate entire disorganization ; and 

 Newton felt impelled to call upon God to avert such a catas- 

 trophe, by supplying a force from without, which he supposed 

 did not exist within, the system. 



The calculations of subsequent mathematicians, however, 

 served, in a good degree, to dispel these gloomy forebodings, 

 and led to the conclusion that the irregularities and apparent 

 incipient derangements in the motions of the system, would 

 finally reach their maximum, after which there would be a 

 gradual return to the condition of primeval equilibrium ; that 

 thence there would be a progressive tendency to irregularity 

 in the opposite direction, to be succeeded by another reaction; 

 and that the perpetual vibrations of these irregularities, like 

 the oscillations of a mighty pendulum, would serve to mark 

 the hours and moments of eternity ! 



This conception of the laws, internal arrangements, and 

 movements, of the system, together with the apparent mathe- 

 matical evidences which have been arrayed in its support, 

 can not otherwise than be regarded as one of the greatest 



