be above eleven seconds/' But I cannot depend on 

 their observations: especially when 1 iind one of the chief 

 of them, in computing the distance of the sun, to stride 

 from twenty-eight millions of miles, to seventy-six : 

 near fifty millions of miles at once ! After this let any 

 impartial man judge what stress is to be laid on paral- 

 laxes ! 



" But Dr. Rogers supposes the parallax of the sun to 

 be five minutes, which others cannot find to be above 

 eleven seconds. Why doctor, if this be true," (namely, 

 that the parallax which was lately but eleven seconds, is 

 now uiei eased to five minutes) " the earth has approxima- 

 ted thirty times nearer" (a little harmless tautology) " to 

 the sun." That is, if both- the computation of Mr. 

 Keil, and that of Dr. Rogers be true ! But whoever 

 supposes this] If the one be true, the other is un- 

 doubtedly false. 



" To conclude. Since there is no arguing against facts, 

 and since the sun's parallax is found not to exceed eleven 

 seconds, ought you not to give up that hypothesis as ab- 

 surd and ridiculous }" 



\es, as soon as any of those facts appear: till then I 

 neither espouse, nor give it up. But I still look upon it as 

 extremely ingenious, ai d full as probable as any other. 

 Before I conclude, permit me, sir, to give you one 

 piece of advice. Be not so positive: especially with re- 

 gard to things which are neither easy nor necessary to be 

 determined. I ground this advice on my own experi- 

 ence. When I was young I was sure of every thing. In 

 a few years, having been mistaken a thousand times, I was 

 not half so sure of most things as before. At present I 

 am hardly sure of any thing, but what God has revealed 

 to man. 



Upon the whole, an ingenious man may easily flourish 

 on this head. How much more glorious it is for the 

 great God to have created innumerable worlds, than this 

 little globe only ! But after all, I would ask one piain 

 question. Suppose there are more worlds than there are 

 sands on the sear shore? Is not the universe finite still ? 

 It must be, unless it be God. And if it be finite, it caa 

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