But after all theſe large and liberal Allowances to Them, they will ſtill be behind-hand with us. For we have ſo certain a Knowledge of the true [And Opticks.] Syſtem and Frame of the Univerſe; we have ſo admirable an Invention of Teleſcopes to help our failing Eye-ſight in the view of the Bigneſs and different Forms of the Planetary Bodies, in the diſcovery of the Mountains, and the Shadows of them on the Surface of the Moon, in the bringing to light an innumerable multitude of Stars otherwiſe inviſible, that we muſt neceſſarily be far their Maſters in that Knowledge. Hence it is almoſt neceſſary (except we have a Mind to flatter and complement our ſelves as the only People that have the Advantage of ſuch excellent Inventions) either to allow the Planetary Inhabitants ſuch ſharp Eyes as not to need them, or elſe the uſe of Glaſſes to help the Deficiency of their Sight. And yet I dare not aſſert this, leſt any one ſhould be ſo diſturbed at the Extravagancy of ſuch an Opinion, as to take the meaſure of my other Conjectures by it, and hiſs them all off, upon the account of this alone. [Theſe Sciences not contrary to Nature.] But ſome Body may perhaps object, and that not without reaſon at firſt ſight, that the Planetary Inhabitants it’s likely are deſtitute of all refined Knowledge, juſt as the Americans were before they had Commerce with the Europeans. For if one conſiders the Ignorance of thoſe Nations, and of others in Aſia and Africa equally barbarous, it will appear as if the main Deſign of the Creator in placing Men upon the Earth was that they might live, and, in a juſt ſenſe of all the Bleſſings and Pleaſure they enjoy, worſhip the Fountain of their Happineſs; but that ſome few went beyond the Bounds of Nature in their Enquiries after Knowledge. There does not want an Anſwer to theſe Men. For God could not but foreſee the Advances Men would make, in their enquiring into the Heavenly Bodies: that they would diſcover Arts uſeful and advantageous to Life: that they would croſs the Seas, and dig up the Bowels of the Earth. Nothing of all this could happen contrary to the Mind and Knowledge of the Infinite Author of all Things. And if he foreſaw theſe Things would be, he ſo appointed and deſtin’d them to humane kind. And the Studies of Arts and Sciences cannot be ſaid to be contrary to Nature, ſince in the ſearch thereof they are employ’d: eſpecially if we conſider how great the natural, deſire and love of Knowledge, rooted in all Men is. For it’s impoſſible this ſhould have been given them upon no Deſign or Account. But they will urge, that if ſuch a Knowledge is natural, if we were born for it, why are there ſo very few, eſpecially in Aſtronomy, that proſecute theſe Studies? For Europe is the only Quarter of the Earth in which there have been any Advancements made in Aſtronomy. And as for the Judicial Aſtrology, which pretends to foretel what is to come, it is ſuch a wretched and oftentimes miſchievous piece of Madneſs, that I do