204 BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN. 



does, by which means they must also be favoured 

 with the alternate succession of day and night; and 

 as the revolution of the satellites of Jupiter is known 

 to a nicety, there cftn be no doubt but those planets, 

 which have such attendants, are equally benefitted 

 by them. Of the spots of Venus and of Mars, the 

 belts of Jupiter and rings of Saturn, we can say lit- 

 tle ; but let it .be remembered that we are surround- 

 ed by an atmosphere, the appearance of which may 

 not easily be accounted for by the inhabitants of those 

 distant bodies. That the planets are inhabited, we 

 have every reason to believe., from the provision that 

 is made for their comfort, and other analogy they 

 bear to our own inhabited globe. It is true, that our 

 views and discoveries respecting those distant orbs, 

 must be imperfect and limited in this present state; 

 but what we know not now, we may, perhaps, know 

 hereafter ; although it is not to be supposed that our 

 finite capacities, even in a more exalted state and 

 enlarged sphere of vision, shall ever be able fully to 

 comprehend the mighty works of the Creator of the 

 Universe, or utter forth all His praise. 



CHAP. XX. 



COMETS. 

 Hast thou ne'er seen the comet's flaming flight ?" 



BESIDES the planets and their satellites, there are 

 other bodies called Comets, which revolve round the 

 sun in very eccentric ellipsis, and in all manner of 



