438 



ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE 



they can never accumulate fo as to produce a per- 

 manent or a progreffive alteration. Thus, in the 

 celeftial motions, no room is left for the introduc- 

 tion of diforder ; no irregularity or difturbance, 

 arifing from the mutual adion of the planets, is 

 permitted to increafe beyond certain limits, but 



> 



each of them, in time, affords a correction for it- 

 felf. The general order is contlant, in the raidft 

 of the variation of the parts ; and, in the lan- 

 guage of La Place, there is a certain mean con- 

 dition, about which our fyflem perpetually ofcil- 



ibrations on each fide 



*. The 



lateSf performing fmall 



of it, 



fyflem 



d never 



can 



is thi 

 fifl th 



receding from it far *. 

 dowed with a ftability, which 



lapf< 



f 



ted d 



:3 



can only perifh by an external caufe, and by the 

 introdudion of laws, of which atprefent no vef- 



tige is to be traced. 



. The fame calculus to which we are indebt- 

 ed for thefe fublime conclufions, informs us of 

 two circumflances, which mark the law here 

 treated of as an effed; of wife defign, to the entire 

 exclufion both of neceffity and chance. One of 

 thefe circamitances confilts in the planetary 

 motions being all in the fame diredion, or all 

 in cojifequentia, as it is called by the aflrono- 



mers. 



* Expolition du Syfleme du Monde, par La Place 

 Livre iv. chap. 6. p. 199. 2d edit. 





to 

 to 



A 



we 



ea 



on 



t 





\M 



t 



their 







can 



be 



The 



of our 

 of the 



to circ 

 openir 

 tkt r 



llmcli 



I 

 r 



nient 

 .the fi 



afcrib 

 iioul 

 ' as the 



isal 



( 



r 



any I] 

 eithe 



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