10. From what we know of our own System it may be reasonably concluded that all the rest are with equal wisdom contrived, situated, and provided with accommodations for rational inhabitants. Let us therefore take a survey of the System to which we belong; the only one accessible to us; and from thence we shall be the better enabled to judge of the nature and end of the other Systems of the Universe. For although there is almost an infinite variety in all the parts of the Creation which we have opportunities of examining; yet there is a general analogy running through and connecting all the parts into one scheme, one design, one whole! [Sidenote: As our Solar Planets are.] 11. And then, to an attentive considerer, it will appear highly probable, that the Planets of our System, together with their attendants called Satellites or Moons, are much of the same nature with our Earth, and destined for the like purposes. For, they are solid opaque Globes, capable of supporting animals and vegetables. Some of them are bigger, some less, and some much about the size of our Earth. They all circulate round the Sun, as the Earth does, in a shorter or longer time according to their respective distances from him: and have, where it would not be inconvenient, regular returns of summer and winter, spring and autumn. They have warmer and colder climates, as the various productions of our Earth require: and, in such as afford a possibility of discovering it, we observe a regular motion round their Axes like that of our Earth, causing an alternate return of day and night; which is necessary for labour, rest, and vegetation, and that all parts of their surfaces may be exposed to the rays of the Sun. [Sidenote: The farthest from the Sun have most Moons to enlighten their nights.] 12. Such of the Planets as are farthest from the Sun, and therefore enjoy least of his light, have that deficiency made up by several Moons, which constantly accompany, and revolve about them, as our Moon revolves about the Earth. The remotest Planet has, over and above, a broad Ring encompassing it; which like a lucid Zone in the Heavens reflects the Sun’s light very copiously on that Planet: so that if the remoter Planets have the Sun’s light fainter by day than we, they have an addition made to it morning and evening by one or more of their Moons, and a greater quantity of light in the night-time. [Sidenote: Our Moon mountainous like the Earth.] 13. On the surface of the Moon, because it is nearer us than any other of the celestial Bodies are, we discover a nearer resemblance of our Earth. For, by the assistance of telescopes we observe the Moon to be full of high mountains, large valleys, and deep cavities. These similarities leave us no room to doubt but that all the Planets and Moons in the System are designed as commodious habitations for creatures endowed with capacities of knowing and adoring their beneficent Creator. [Illustration: Plate I. THE SOLAR SYSTEM