Now the Planet _Venus_, from undeniable Principles of Geometry, is allowed to be nearly such another Globe as the Earth is; and since the Earth, as I have just now related, is found to reflect much more Light to the Moon, by reason of her superior Magnitude, than the Moon can possibly reverberate to Earth again; and since also 'tis plain, the Earth has no Light of its own, why then should we imagine _Venus_ to be endowed with a Lustre, which we can prove to be no more than a similar Body, and governed by the same Laws as the Earth is? _Anaximander's_ Mistake, in supposing the Moon in some small Degree a radiant Body of itself, lay, in not considering, that the faint Illumination here described, and visible all over her Globe, soon after almost every Conjunction with the Sun; and probably in Eclipses, also proceeded from the Earth; but the thing I think is too evident to expect any sort of Contradiction, therefore I hope you will admit it as a Truth, and consequently take it for granted, that the planetary Bodies in general, are meer terrestrial, if not terraqueous Bodies, such as this we live upon; which is the Thing I have chiefly in this Letter attempted to demonstrate, or have rather explained; and now I hope, for the future, you will receive the Idea of a Plurality of Worlds more favourably, and look upon astronomical Conjectures in a less ridiculous Light than you used to do, especially since you must allow, they give our unlimited Imaginations a like all endless Field of Contemplation, not only full of the wonderful Works of Nature, but also of a visible Providence. I think I cannot conclude this Letter to you more properly, than with the following fine Lines of Mr. _Addison's_ from the _Spectator_, Vol. VI. No. 465, which I hope you are not so polite as to look upon as an unfashionable Quotation. The spacious Firmament on High, With all the blue ethereal Sky, And spangl'd Heav'ns, a shining Frame, Their great Original proclaim: Th' unwearied Sun, from Day to Day, Does his Creator's Pow'r display, And publishes to ev'ry Land The Work of an Almighty Hand. Soon as the Ev'ning Shades prevail, The Moon takes up the wond'rous Tale, And nightly to the list'ning Earth, Repeats the Story of her Birth: Whilst all the Stars that round her burn, And all the Planets in their Turn, Confirm the Tidings as they roll, And spread the Truth from Pole to Pole. What though, in solemn Silence, all Move round the Dark terrestrial Ball? What tho' nor real Voice nor Sound Amid their radiant Orbs be found? In Reason's Ear, they all rejoice, And utter forth a glorious Voice, For ever singing, as they shine, "_The Hand that made us is divine_." _And am_, &c. LETTER the FOURTH. _Of the Nature of the heavenly Bodies continued, with the Opinions of the Antients concerning the Sun and Stars._ _SIR_,