THE HAMBURG ACCOUNT OF WRIGHTS THEORY. 191 



would imagine views all the objects of His power at 

 once, and everything immediately direct, dispensing in- 

 stantaneously its enlivening influence to the remotest 

 regions everywhere all around. Having, I say, once 

 granted that all the stars may move round one common 

 centre, I think it is very natural to one, who loves to 

 pursue nature as far as we may, to inquire what most 

 likely may be in that centre ; for since we must allow it 

 to be far superior to any other point of situation in the 

 known universe, it is highly probable there may be some 

 one body of siderial or earthy substance seated there, 

 where the Divine Presence or some corporeal agent full 

 of all virtues and perfections more immediately presides 

 over His own creation. And here this primary agent of 

 the omnipotent and eternal Being may sit enthroned, as 

 in the Primum Mobile of nature, acting in consort with 

 the Eternal Will. To this common centre of gravitation, 

 which may be supposed to attract all virtues and repel 

 all vice, all beings as to perfection may tend; and from 

 hence all bodies first derive their spring of action and 

 are directed in their common motions. 



"Thus in the focus or centre of creation, I would 

 willingly introduce a primitive fountain perpetually over- 

 flowing with Divine grace from whence all the laws of 

 nature have their origin ; and this I think would reduce 

 the whole universe into regular order and just harmony, 

 and at the same time enlarge our ideas of the Divine 

 indulgence, open our prospect into nature's fair vineyard, 

 the vast field of all our future inheritance. But what this 

 central body really is I shall not here presume to say; 

 yet I can't help observing it must of necessity, if the 

 creation is real and not merely ideal, be either a globe 

 of fire superior to the sun, or otherwise a vast terraqueous 

 or terrestrial sphere, surrounded with an ether like our 

 earth but more refined, transparent, and serene. Which 

 of these is most probable I shall leave undetermined, 

 and must acknowledge at the same time my notions here 

 are so imperfect I hardly dare conjecture." 



