Lastly, Natural Philosophy doth as much as it is possible unravel the Footsteps of that Infinite Intellect and Wisdom, who hath made all things: Whereas the Object of History are the disorderly Effects of the Passion, and of Humane Caprices; and so odd a Series of Events, that some formerly fancy'd that a Blind and Senseless Deity had the Direction of them.
We must not look upon the Sublime Reflexions which Natural Philosophy leads us to make concerning the Author of the Universe, as meer Curiosities. For this stupendous Work, which appears always more wonderful the more we know it, gives us such exalted Notions of its Maker, that they fill our Minds with Admiration and Respect. But above all, Astronomy and Anatomy are the two Sciences which more palpably lay before us two grand Attributes of our Creator; one his Immensity by the distance, Magnitude and Number of Cœlestial Bodies; the other his Infinite Knowledge by the Mechanism of Animals. True Natural Philosophy is a kind of Theology.
The different views of Humane Understanding are almost infinite; and Nature is really so. So that we may every day expect some Discoveries, either in Mathematicks or Natural Philosophy, which shall be of a new sort of Utility or Curiosity. Make a Collection of all the different Advantages which the Mathematicks afforded a Hundred Years ago, and you'll find nothing to be compar'd to the Perspective Glasses they have furnish'd since that time, and which are a new Organ to the Sight, and cou'd not be expected from Art. How surpriz'd had the Ancients been, if they had been told that their Posterity, by the help of some Instruments, shou'd one day see a vast number of Objects which they did not see; a Heaven that was unknown to them; and Plants and Animals they did not even suspect it was possible to exist. Naturalists had already a great