BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN. 207 



gratifications as the nature and state of each require ; 

 when we further reflect that, some centuries ago, a 

 great part of the earth was judged uninhabitable, till 

 experience undeceived us; the torrid zone, on ac- 

 count of excessive heat; and both the frigid zones, 

 on account of excessive cold; it seems highly pro- 

 bable, that such numerous and large masses of du- 

 rable matter as the comets are, not however, dissi- 

 milar to our earth, destitute of beings capable of 

 contemplating with wonder, and acknowledging with 

 gratitude, the wisdom, symmetry, and beauty of the 

 creation, which is more plainly to be observed in 

 their extensive tour through the heavens than in our 

 confined circuit: yet, however difficult it may be for 

 us, circumstanced as we are, to discover their par- 

 ticular designation, this is an undoubted truth, that, 

 wherever the Deity exerts his power, there, also, he 

 manifests his wisdom and goodness. 5 ' 



If, in addition to these judicious remarks of the 

 learned Doctor, we take it into consideration that the 

 vast rapidity of their movements, when in their peri- 

 helion, or part of their orbit Highest the sun, and the 

 comparatively slow progress they make as they re- 

 cede from him, till their motion is so languid as to 

 be scarcely perceptible at their aphelion, or farthest 

 distance from him, may not suffer these bodies to 

 undergo such an alternate extreme of heat and cold 

 as would otherwise have been the case, the proba- 

 bility is still the greater that comets are inhabited, 

 especially if we make a proper allowance for the 

 powerful eft'ect of such an atmosphere as they may 



