not think it ought to be ſo much as named here. And even in Europe, not one in a hundred Thouſand meddles with theſe Studies. Beſides, its Original and Riſe is ſo late, that many Ages were paſt before the very firſt Rudiments of Aſtronomy or Geometry (which is neceſſary to the learning of it) were known. For every Body is acquainted almoſt with its firſt Beginnings in Egypt and Greece. Add to this, that ’tis not yet above fourſcore Years ſince the bungling Epicycles were diſcarded, and the true and eaſy plain Motion of the Planets was diſcovered. For the Satisfaction of theſe Scruples, to what we ſaid before, concerning the Fore-knowledge of God, may be added this; That God never deſigned we ſhould come into the World Aſtronomers or Philoſophers; theſe Arts are not infuſed into us at our Birth, but were ordered, in long Tracts of Time, by degrees to be the Rewards and Reſult of laborious Diligence; eſpecially thoſe Sciences which are now in debate, are ſo much the more difficult and abſtruſe, that their late Invention and ſlow Progreſs are ſo far from being a Wonder, that it is rather ſtrange they were ever diſcover’d at all. There are but few, I acknowledge one or two perhaps in an Age, that purſue them, or think them their Buſineſs: but their Number will be very conſiderable if we take in thoſe that have lived in all the Ages in which Aſtronomy hath flouriſhed: and no Body can deny them that Happineſs and Contentment which they have pretended to above all others. In fine, it was ſufficient that ſo ſmall a Number ſhould make it their Study, ſo that the Profit and Advantage of their Inventions might but ſpread it ſelf over all the World. Since then the Inhabitants of this Earth, let them be never ſo few, have had Parts and Genius ſufficient for the Attainment of this Knowledge; and there’s no reaſon to think the Planetary Inhabitants leſs ingenious or happy than our ſelves; we have gain’d our Point, and ’tis probable that they are as skilful Aſtronomers as we can pretend to be. So that now we may venture to deduce ſome Conſequences from ſuch a Suppoſition.