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notwithstanding this my extreme littleness, he has 

 vouchsafed to regulate his immense" works, by the ad- 

 vantages 1 was to receive from them ! Thus he has pla- 

 placed the sun just at such a distance from the earth on 

 which I was lodged, that, it might be near enough to 

 warm me, yet not so near as to set it on fire. 



The rays that proceed from a globe of fire, many 

 thousand times bigger than the earth, must needs have 

 an inconceivable force, while they remain close to each 

 other. But they are more and more distant from each 

 other, as they advance from their common centre, 

 toward the vast circumference they are to enlighten^ 

 and their force Diminishes in proportion. liad the earth 

 been placed where these rays were still too numerous, 

 and too near each other, 'it could never have born their 

 burning heat. Had it been placed farther off than it is, 

 i? would have received but a faint warmth, such as was 

 iu.suflicient for its usual productions. It stands in that 

 very place where it is secured from all these incon- 

 veniences, and within the reach of every advantage. 



1 The. heavens declare" the grandeur and glory of God; 

 froiij cue end of the world to Hie other. But the sun 

 a font affects us more than all the beauties the heavens 

 ran display vo our sight r the heavens are only a 

 pavillion to the sun. The richly embroidered veil 

 which seemed to hide him from us for a season, is 

 removed, when he advances. At first, he appears as a 

 young bridegroom, coming out of his chamber!. H;> 

 splendor is then full of mildness, and he is easy of ac 

 cess. But he is commissioned to conve^ 1 the heat and 

 the life, as t weil as the light, every where, lie darte 

 more and more fire as he ascends. He passes from one 

 end of the heavens to the other. There is nothing car, 

 ?r be hid from his light, or subsist without his heat. 

 And by his pentl rating tires he reaches those very places 

 winch are inaccessible to his rays. 



And ye4 we. need his absence at proper intervals, no* 

 M 6 



