Part II. in the Creation. 197 



makes each of the Fole^ conftantly refpeftfuch a 

 Point in the Heavens; as for Example, the 

 North-Pole to point almoll diredly to that 

 which we call the Pole-Jlar. And befides, JD/- 

 alling could not be at all without this Steadinefs 

 of the Axis. But both thefe Arts are pleafant, 

 and one efpecially of mighty Importance to 

 Mankind. For thus there is an orderly Mea- 

 furing of our Time for Affairs at home, and an 

 Opportunity of Traffick abroad, with the moft 

 remote Nations of the World, and fo there is a 

 mutual Supply of the feveral Commodities of all 

 Countries, befides the enlarging our Underfland- 

 ings by fo ample Experience we get both of 

 Men and Things. Wherefore if we were ra- 

 tionally to confult, whether the Axis of the 

 Earth were better be held fteady and parallel to 

 it felf, or left at random, we would conclude it 

 ought to be fteady, and fo we find it de FaBOj 

 though the Earth move floating in the Liquid 

 Heavens, So that appealing to our own Facul- 

 ties we are to affirm. That the conflant Di-' 

 redtion of the Axis of the Earth was eilabliflied 

 by a Principle of Wifdom and Council. 



Again, There being feveral Poflures of this 

 fteady Diredion of the Axis of the Earthy viz. 

 either perpendicular to a Plane, going through 

 the Center of the Sun, or Co-incident, or In- 

 clining, I demand which of all thefe Reafoji and 

 Knowledge would make choice of? Not of a 

 perpendicular Pofture ; for fo both the pleafant 

 Variety, and great Convenience of Summer and 



O 3 Wnitcr, 



