The properest Way then sure for Men to preserve their Pre-heminence over the Brute Creation, is to make use of that Reason and Reflection, which so manifestly distinguishes their natural Superiority. A right Application of which, must of course then direct us to a forward, rather than a backward Search in the vast visible Chain of our Existence, which clearly connects all Beings and States as under the Direction of one supreme Agent. This is all I would have understood by the foregoing Position, which, in one Word, implies no more than that the sublime Philosophy ought in all Reason to be preferred to the Minute; but I hope you will not infer from this my seeming Partiality for the celestial Sciences, that I mean to insinuate, that the Study of terrestrial Physicks is not a rational Amusement. Mr. ***, you say, seems to lament the Taste of Mankind in general much in the same Degree as you do his I readily grant you; a Man who can talk so well upon an Ant, might make a more entertaining Discourse upon the Eagle; but I beg his Pardon, and though we are all too ready, and most apt to condemn all such Pleasures as vain or trifling, which we have no Share in, or Taste for ourselves; yet I don't think it follows, that those ingenious Labours of his are useless. The Pleasures arising from natural Philosophy are all undoubtedly great ones, whether we consider Nature in her highest, or in her lowest Capacity; the Beauties of the Creation are every Day varied to us below, as much they are every Night above, and in both Cases, through every Object, the Creator shines so manifest, that we may justly consider him every where smiling full in the Face of all his Creatures, commanding as it were an awful Reverence, and Respect, due not only to his Omnipotency, but also to his infinite Goodness and endless Indulgencies. This is the only Return our Gratitude can make for all those Blessings he daily bestows upon us, and to this great Author of her Laws; Nature herself cries aloud through Myriads of various Objects, and after her own expressive and peculiar Manner, seems to command us with an attractive Grace, to observe her Sovereign, and admire his Wisdom. The Majesty, Power, and Dominion of God is best displayed in the external Direction of Things, his Wisdom and visible Agency in the internal: Hence, by proper Objects, selected from both, attended with just Reflections, we may certainly raise our Ideas almost to the Pitch of Immortals; but how far the human Imagination may possibly go, or how much Minds like ours may be improved, is a Question not easily determined; but as natural Knowledge evidently increases daily, and astronomical Enquiries are the most capable of opening our Minds, and enlarging our Conception, of consequence they must be most worthy our Attention of all other Studies. But of this I have said enough, and think it is now more than Time to attempt the remaining Part of my Theory.