The enchanting Idea _Milton_ had of the Subjects of Astronomy whose truly sublime Way of thinking and writing perhaps was never so nearly equalled, or attempted before this Reverend Author's _Night-Thoughts_, appear'd is finely shewn in the Eighth Book of his _Paradise Lost_, where he makes his _Adam_, so earnestly attentive to the Angel _Gabriel_, as ceasing to relate the Mysteries of Creation. The Angel ended, and his _Adam's_ Ear So charming left his Voice, that he awhile Thought him still speaking; still stood fix'd to hear. _Milton's_ own Ideas of the Universe too, which no doubt he had gathered from astronomical Authors, and had reconciled himself to, we are fully made acquainted with in the same Book, where the Arch-angel says, in answer to _Adam's_ Enquiries. ----Other Suns perhaps With their attendant Moons thou wilt descry Communicating Male and Female Light, Which two great Sexes animate the World, Stor'd in each Orb, perhaps with some that live: For such vast Room in Nature, unpossest By living Soul, desert and desolate, Only to shine, yet scarce to contribute Each Orb a Glimpse of Light, convey'd so far Down to this habitable, which returns Light back to them, is obvious to Dispute. But before I presume to plan my own Discoveries and Conjectures into a Theory, both in Justice to those who have in some measure been in the same Way of Thinking, and also as a Defence of myself for producing so new an Hypothesis to the World, which otherwise (though any Apology made to you I know will be unnecessary) may appear to too many but an idle _Chimera_ of my own. I judge it will be highly proper, by way of strengthening my own Arguments, and adding more Weight to what I shall myself advance in the following Letters, to give you in this the Opinions of the most able Writers, whose Works I have read upon the Subject. I mean so far as relates to the now general received Notion, that the Stars are all Suns, and surrounded with planetary Bodies, with which I shall set out; and shew you, it is not a Thing merely taken for granted, but has ever been the concurrent Notion of the Learned of all Nations, as shall be further shewn, in its proper Place, and as nearly as Possibility will admit of, demonstrated to be Truth. The following is an Extract from Mr. _Toland_, in his Account of the Works of Jordanus Bruno. "The Divine Efficacy (says this Author in his infinite Creation) cannot stand idle, without the Want of Will or Power; but any Imbecility in such a Being argues Imperfection, and since any finite Produce compared with Infinity is as nothing, or rather as the Beginning of Good, it must be no less idle, and invidious in producing a finite Effect, than in producing none at all. "Hence, as all Finites, singly considered, are but as Commencements of something more to be expected.