Thefe emanations take their conftant flight Swift from the earth, as from the fun the light; To a determin'd distance they ascend,
And there inflect their courfe, and downward tend.
What can infult unequal reafon more, Than this magnetic, this mysterious power? That cords and chains, beyond conception fmall, Should gird and bind fo faft this mighty ball! That active rays fhould fpring from every part, And, though fo fubtle, fhould fuch force exert! That the light legions fhould be fent abroad, Range all the air, and traverse every road! To stated limits fhould excursions make, Then backward of themselves their journey take; Should in their way to folid bodies cling, And home to earth the captive matter bring; Where all things on its furface spread are bound By their cocrfive vigour to the ground. Can this be done without a Guide Divine? Should we to this hypothefis incline, Say, does not here confpicuous wisdom fhine? Who can enough magnetic force admire ? Does it not counfel and defign require To give the earth this wondrous energy, In fuch a measure, fuch a juft degree, That it should ftill perform its deftin'd talk, As nature's ends and various ufes afk?
For, fhould our globe have had a greater share Of this strong force, by which the parts cohere, Things had been bound by fuch a powerful chain, That all would fix'd and motionlefs remain ; All men, like statues, on the earth would stand. Nor would they move the foot, or ftretch the hand; Birds would not range the skies, nor beafts the
Nor could the fish divide the ftiffen'd floods. Again, had this strange energy been lefs, Defect had been as tatal as excefs.
For want of cement ftrong enough to bind The structure faft, huge ribs of rock, disjoin'd Without an earthquake, from their bafe would start,
And hills unhing'd from their deep roots depart. And, while our orb perform'd its daily race, All beings, found upon his ample face, Would, by that motion diffipated, fly Whirl'd from the globe, and fcatter through the fky:
They muft, obedient to mechanic laws, Affemble where the stronger magnet draws; Whether the fun that stronger magnet proves, Or elfe fome planet's orb that nearer moves. Who can unfold the cause that does recall Magnetic rays, and make them backward fall? If thefe effluvia, which do upward tend, Because leis heavy than the air, afcend; Why do they ever from their height' retreat, And why return to feek their central feat? From the fame cause, ye fons of art, declare Can they by turns defcend, and rife in air? Prodigious 'tis, that one attractive ray Should this way bend, the next an adverfe way; For, fhould th' unfeen magnetic jets descend
All the same way, they could not gain their end ;
They could not draw and bind the fabric faft, Unless alike they every part embrac'd
How does Cartefius all his finews ftrain, How much he labours, and how much in vain, The earth's attractive vigour to explain! This bold contriver thus his thoughts conveys: Inceffant streams of thin magnetic rays Gufh from their fountains with impetuous force, In either pole, then take an adverse course: Those from the fouthern pole the northern feek ; The fouthern thofe that from the northern break; In either pole thefe rays emitted meet Small pores provided, for their figures fit; Still to and fro they circulating pass, Hold all the frame, and firmly bind the mafs. Thus he the parts of earth from flight restrains, And girds it faft by fine imagin'd chains.
But oh how dark is human reafon found! How vain the man with wit and learning crown'd How feeble all his ftrength when he effays To trace dark Nature, and detect her ways; Unless he calls its Author to his aid, Who every fecret fpring of motion laid,. Who over all his wondrous works prefides, And to their useful ends their caufes guides! Thefe paths in vain are by inquirces trod; There's no philofophy without a God.
Admir'd Cartefius, let the curious know, your magnetic atoms always flow
From pole to pole, what form'd their double fource, What spurr'd, what gave them their inflected courfe?
Tell, what could drill and perforate the poles, And to th' attractive rays adapt their holes? A race fo long what prompts them to pursue? Have the blind troops th' important end in view? How are they fure they in the poles thall meet Pores of a figure to their figure fit? Are they with such sagacity endued To know, if this their journey be purfucd, They fhall the earth's conftructure clofely bind, And to the centre keep the parts confin'd?
Let us review this whole magnetic scheme, Till wifer heads a wifer model frame. For its formation let fit atoms start. To one determin'd point, from every part. Encountering there from regions oppotite, They clash, and interrupt each other's flight; And, rendezvousing with an adverse couife, Produce an equal poife, by equal force : For while the parts by laws magnetic act, And are at once atttacted, and attract; While match'd in ftrength they keep the doubts ful field,
And neither overcome, and neither yield, To happy purpose they their vigour ipend; For these contentions in the balance end, Which must in liquid air the globe fufpend.
Befides materials which are brute and blind, Did not this work require a knowing mind, Who for the task fhould fit detachments choose From all the atoms, which their hoft diffule Through the wide regions of the boundless
And for their rendezvous appoint the place?
Who should command, by his almighty nod, These chofen troops, unconfcious of the road, And unacquainted with th' appointed end, Their marches to begin, and thither teud; Direct them all to take the nearest way, Whence none of all th' unnumber'd millions fray; Make them advance with fuch an equal pace, From all the adverfe regions of the space,
That they at once fhould reach the deftin'd place;
Shoald mufter there, and round the centre fwarm, And draw together in a globous form?
Grant, that by mutual oppofition made
Of adverfe parts, their mutual flight is ftaid; That thus the whole is in a balance laid; Does it not all mechanic heads confound, That troops of atoms, from all parts around, Of equal number, and of equal force, Should to this fingle point direct their courfe; That fo the counter-preffure every way, Of equal vigcar, might their motions stay, And, by a steady poife, the whole in quiet lay? Befides, the ftructure of the earth regard : For firmness how is all its frame prepar'd! With what amazing fkill is the vast building rear'd!
Metals and veins of folid stone are found The chief materials which the globe compound. Bee, how the hills, which high in air afcend, From pole to pole their lofty lines extend.
These ftrong unfhaken mounds relift the fhocks Of tides and feas tempeftuous, while the rocks,. That fecret in a long continued vein
Fafs through the earth, the ponderous pile fuslain : These mighty girders, which the fabric bind, These ribs robuft and vaft, in order join'd; The fe fubterranean walls, difpos'd with art, Such ftrength, and fuch ftability impart, That ftorms above, and earthquakes under ground, Break not the pillars, nor the work confound. Give to the earth a form orbicular, Let it be pois'd, and hung in ambient air; Give it the fituation to the fun Such as is only fit; when this is done, Suppose it still remain'd a lazy heap; From what we grant, you no advantage reap. You either must the earth from reft difturb, Or roll around the heavens the folar orb. Elfe what a dreadful face will nature wear! How horrid will these lonesome feats appear! This ne'er would fee one kind refreshing ray; that would be ruin'd, but a different way, Condemn'd to light, and curs'd with endless day : A cold Icelandian defert one would grow; One, like Sicilian furnaces, would glow.
That nature may this fatal error fhun, Move, which will please you beft, the earth or fun. But, fay, from what great builder's magazines You'll engines fetch, what strong, what vast maWill you employ to give this motion birth, [chines And whirl fo fwiftly round the fun or carth? Yet, learned heads, by what mechanic laws Will you of either orb this notion caufe? Why do they move? why in a circle? why With fuch a measure of velocity?
Say, why the earth-if not the earth, the fun Does through his winding road the zodiac run? Why do revolving orbs their tracks sublinie So conftant keep, that fince the birth of time They never vary'd their accustom'd place, Nor loft a minute in fo long a race? But hold! perhaps I rudely prefs too far; You are not vers'd in reafoning fo fevere. To a first question your reply's at hand; Afk but a fecond, and you fpeechlefs ftand. You fwim at top, and on the furface strivej But to the depths of nature never dive: For if you did, inftructed you'd explore Divine contrivance, and a God adore. Yet fons of art one curious piece devife, From whofe conftructure motion fhall arife. Machines, to all philofophers 'tis known, Move by a foreign impulfe, not their own. Then let Gaffendus choose what frame he pleafe, By which to turn the heavenly orbs with eafe; Thofe orbs muft reft, till by th' exerted force Of fome first mover they begin their courfe: Mere difpofition, mere mechanic art, Cau never motion to the globes impart; And, if they could, the marks of wise design In that contrivance would confpicuous fhine. Thefe questions ftill recur: we till demand, What moves them firft, and puts them off at hand? What makes them this one way their race direct, While they a thousand other ways reject? Why do they never once their courfe inflect? Why do they roll with fuch an equal pace, And to a moment ftill perform their race! Why earth or fun diurnal fiages keep? In fpiral tracks why through the zodiac creep? Who can account for this, unless they say Thefe orbs th' Eternal Mind's command obey, Who bad them move, did all their motions guide, To each its deftin'd province did divide ; Which to complete, he gave them motive power, That fhall, as long as he does will, endure ?
Thus we the frame of nature have expreft; Now view the earth in finifh'd beauty dreft; The various scenes, which various charms difplay, Through all th' extended theatre survey.
See how sublime th' uplifted mountains rise, And with their pointed heads invade the skies! How the high cliffs their craggy arms extend, Diftinguish states, and fever'd realms defend! How ambient fhores confine the reftlefs deep, And in their ancient bounds the billows keep! The hollow vales their fmiling pride unfold; What rich abundance do their bofoms hold! Regard their lovely verdure, ravish'd view The party-colour'd flowers of various hue. Not castern monarchs, on their nuptial day, In dazzling gold and purple shine so gay As the bright natives of th' unlabour'd field, Unvers'd in fpinning, and in looms unfkill'd. See, how the ripening fruits the gardens crown, Imbibe the fun, and make his light their own! See the sweet brooks in filver mazes creep, Enrich the nieadows, and fupply the deep; While from their weeping urns the fountains flow, And vital moisture, where they pass, bestow!
Admire the narrow fiream, and spreading lake, The proud afpiring grove, and humble brake: How do the forefts and the woods delight! How the fweet glades and openings charm the fight! Obferve the pleasant lawn and airy plain, The fertile furrows rich with various grain ; How useful all! how all confpire to grace Th' extended earth, and beautify her face!
Now, fee, with how much art the parts are made? With how much wisdom are the ftrata laid, Of different weight, and of a different kind, Ol fundry forms, for fundry ends defign'd! Here in their beds the finifh'd minerals reft, There the rich wombs the feeds of gold digest. Here in fit moulds, to Indian nations known, Are caft the feveral kinds of precious stone; The diamond here, by mighty monarchs worn, Fair as the ftar that beautifies the morn; And, fplendid by the fun's embody'd ray, The rubies there their crimfon light difplay; There marble's various colour'd veins are spread; Here of bitumen unctuous ftores are bred. What fkill on all its furface is bettow'd, To make the earth for man a fit abode ! The upper moulds, with active fpirits flor'd, And rich in verdant progeny, afford The flowery pafture, and the fhady wood, To men their phyfic, and to beasts their food. Proceed yet farther, and a profpect take Of the swift ftream, and of the ftanding lake. Had not the deep been form'd, that might contain All the collected treasures of the main,
A thousand rivers make their crooked way, And difembogue their floods into the fea; Whence should they ne'er by fecret roads retire, And to the hills, from whence they came, afpire They by their conflant ftreams would fo increase The watery flores, and raise so high the feas, That the wide hollow would not long contain Th' unequal treasures of the fwelling main; Scorning the mounds which now its tide withstand, The fea would pafs the fhores, and drown the land, Tell, by what paths, what fubterranean ways, Back to the Fountain's head the fea conveys The refluent rivers, and the land repays? Tell, what fuperior, what controlling cause Makes waters, in contempt of nature's laws, Climb up, and gain th' aspiring mountains height, Swift and forgetful of their native weight? What happy works, what engines under-ground, What inftruments of curious art are found, Which muft with everlasting labour play, Back to their springs the rivers to convey, And keep their correfpondence with the fea? Perhaps you'll fay, their ftreams the rivers owe In part to rain, in part to melting snow; And that th' attracted watery vapours rife From lakes and feas, and fill the lower skies: Thefe when condens'd the airy region pours On the dry earth in rain, or gentle fhowers; Th'infinuating drops fink through the fand, And pass the porous ftrainers of the land; Which fresh fupplies of watery riches bring To every river's head, to each exhaufted spring;
The earth had still o'erwhelm'd with water stood, The ftreams are thus, their loffes to repair,
To man an uninhabitable flood.
Yet had not part as kindly ftaid behind,
In the wide cifterns of the lakes confin'd; Did not the fprings and rivers drench the land, Our globe would grow a wilderness of fand; The plants and groves, the tame and favage beaft, And man, their lord, would die with drought op- preft.
Now, as you fee, the floating element Part loofe in ftreams, part in the ocean pent, So wifely is difpos'd, as may conduce To man's delight, or neceffary use.
See how the mountains in the midt divide The nobleft regions, that from either fide The ftreams, which to the hills their currents
May every way along the valley flow,
And verdant wealth on all the foil beftow! So Atlas and the mountains of the moon, From north to fouth, in lofty ridges run Through Afric realms, whence falling waters lave Th' inferior regions with a winding wave. They various rivers give to various foil, Niger to Guinea, and to Ægypt Nile.
So from the towering Alps on different fides, Diffolving fnows defcend in numerous tides, Which in the vale beneath their parties join To form the Rhone, the Danube, and the Rhine. So Caucafus, afpiring Taurus fo, And fam'd Imaüs, ever white with fnow, Through eaflern climes their lofty lines extend, And this and that way ample currents fead,
Back to their fource tranfmitted to the air; The waters ftill their circling courfe maintain, Flow down in rivers, and return in rain; And on the foil with heat immoderate dry'd, To which the rain's pure treasures are deny'd, The mountains more fublime in æther rife, Transfix the clouds, and tower amidst the fkies;; The fnowy fleeces, which their heads involve, Still ftay in part, and still in part diffolve; Torrents and loud impetuous cataracts Through roads abrupt, and rude unfashion'd trac Roll down the lofty mountain's channell'd fides, And to the vale convey their foaming tides; At length, to make their various currents one, The congregated floods together run; [head Thefe confluent ftreams make fome great river's By stores ftill melting and descending fed; Thus from th' afpiring mountains of the moon Diffolving treafures rufh in torrents down, Which pass the fun-burnt realms and fandy foil, And blefs th' Egyptian nation with their Niles Then whofoe'er his fecret rife would know, Must climb the hills, and trace his head in fnow; And through the Rhine, the Danube, and the Rhone,
All ample rivers of our milder zone, While they advance along the flats and plains, Spread by the showers augmented, and the rains Yet these their fource and firft beginning owe To flores, that from the Alpine mountains flow; Hence, when the fuows in winter ceafe to weep, And undiffolv'd their flaky texture keep,
The banks with ease their humble ftreams contain,
Which fwell in fummer, and those banks difdain. Be this account allow'd, fay, do not here Th' impreffions of confummate art appear?
In every spacious realm a rifing ground, Obfervers tell, is in the middle found; That all the ftreams, which flow from either fide,. May through the valleys unobstructed glide. What various kingdoms does the Danube lave, Before the Euxine fea receives its wave! How many nations of the fun-burnt foil Fam'd Niger blefs! how many drink the Nile! Through what vaft regions near the rifing fun Does Indus, Ganges, and Hydafpes, run! What happy empires, wide Euphrates, teem, And pregnant grow by thy prolific ftream! How many fpacious countries does the Rhine, In winding banks, and mazes ferpentine, Traverse, before he fplits in Belgia's plain, And lost in fand creeps to the German main! Floods which through Indian realms their course purfue,
That Mexico enrich, and wash Peru,
With their unwearied streams yet farther pafs, Before they reach the fea, and end their race. And fince the rivers and the floods demand, For their defcent, a prone and finking land, Does not this due declivity declare A wife director's providential care?
See, how the Itreams advancing to the main Through crooked channels draw their crystal train! While lingering thus they in meinders glide, They scatter verdant life on either fide. The valleys fmile, and with their flowery face And wealthy births confefs the floods embrace. But this great bleffing would in part be loft, Nor would the meads their blooming plenty boast; Did uncheck'd rivers draw their fluid train In lines direct, and rapid feek the main.
The fea does next demand our view; and there No lefs the marks of perfect fkill appear. When first the atoms to the congrefs came, And by their concourse form'd the mighty frame, What did the liquid to th' assembly call, To give their aid to form the ponderous hall? First, tell us, why did any come? next, why In fuch a disproportion to the dry? Why were the moist in number fo outdone, That to a thousand dry, they are but one? When they united, and together clung, When undistinguish'd in one heap they hung, How was the union broke, the kuot unty'd ? What did th' entangled elements divide? Why did the moist disjoin'd, without refpect To their lefs weight, the loweft feat elect? Could they difpenfe to lie below the land, With nature's law, and unrepeal'd command; Which gives to lighter things the greatcft height, And feats inferior to fuperior weight? Did they forefec, unless they lay fo low, The restless flood the land would overflow, By which the delug'd earth would useless grow? What, but a confcious agent, could provide The fpacious hollow, where the waves refide?
Where, barr'd with rock, and fenc'd with hills, the deep.
Does in its womb the floating treasures keep; And all the raging regiments restrain In stated limits, that the fwelling main May not in triumph o'er the frontier ride, And through the land licentious spread its tide? What other caufe the frame could fo contrive, That, when tempeftuous winds the ocean drive, They cannot break the tye, nor difunite The waves, which roll connected in their flight? Their bands, though flack, no diffolution fear, Th' unfever'd parts the greatest pressure bear, ? Though loose, and fit to flow, they still cohere.. This apt, this wife contexture of the sea, Makes it the fhips driv'n by the winds obey; Whence hardy merchants fail from shore to fhore, Bring Indian fpices home, and Guinea's ore.
When you with liquid ftores have fill'd the deep, What does the flood from putrefaction keep? Should it lie ftagnant in its ample feat,
The fun would through it spread deftructive heat. The wife Contriver, on his end intent, Careful this fatal error to prevent,
And keep the waters from corruption free, Mixt them with falt, and feafon'd all the fea. What other cause could this effect produce? The brackish tinture through the main diffuse? You, who to folar beams this talk affign, To fcald the waves, and turn the tide to brine, Reflect, that all the fluid stores, which fleep In the remotest caverns of the deep, Have of the briny force a greater share Than those above, that meet the anibient air Others, but oh how much in vain! erect Mountains of falt, the ocean to infect. Who, vers'd in nature, can defcribe the land, Or fix the place on which thofe mountains ftand? Why have thofe rocks fo long unwasted ftood, Since, lavifh of their ftock, they through the flood Have, ages paft, their melting crystal ipread, And with their spoils the liquid regions fed?
Yet more, the wife Contriver did provide, To keep the fea from ftagnating, the tide ; Which now we fee advance, and now fubfide. If you exclude this great Directing Mind, Declare what caufe of this effect you find. You who this globe round its own axis drive, From that rotation this event derive : You fay, the fea, which with unequal pace Attends the earth in this its rapid race. Does with its waves fall backward to the west, And, thence repell'd, advances to the east : While this revolving motion does endure, The deep must reel, and rush from fhore to fhore : Thus to the setting, and the rifing fun, Alternate tides in ftated order run. Th' experiments you bring us, to explain This notion, are impertinent and vain : An orb or ball round its own axis whirl, Will not the motion to a distance hurl, Whatever duft or fand you on you on it place, And drops of water from its convex face? If this rotation does the feas affect, The rapid motion rather would eject
The flores the low capacious caves contain, And from its ample baíon caft the main; Aloft in air would make the ocean fly, And dash its scatter'd waves against the sky.
If you, to folve th' appearance, have recourse To the bright fun's or moon's impulfive force; Do you, who call for demonstration, tell How diftant orbs th' obedient flood impel? This ftrong myfterious influence explain,
By which, to swell the waves, they prefs the main. But if you choofe magnetic power, and fay Those bodies by attraction move the fea; Till with new light you make this fecret known, And tell us how 'tis by attraction done, You leave the mind in darkness ftill involv'd, Nor have you, like philofophers, refolv'd The doubts, which we to reafoning men refer, But with a cant of words abufe the ear.
Those who affert the lunar orb prefides O'er humid bodies, and the ocean guides; Whose waves obfequious ebb, or fwelling run, With the declining or increafing moon ; With reason seem her empire to maintain, As miftrefs of the rivers and the main. Perhaps her active influences cause
Th' alternate flood, and give the billow laws;
The waters feem her orders to obey,
And ebb and flow, determin'd by her sway, Grant that the deep this foreign fovereign owns, That mov'd by her it this and that way runs: Say, by what force she makes the ocean fwell; Does the attract the waters, or impel? How does the rule the rolling waves, and guide By fixt and conftant laws the reftlefs tide? Why does the dart her force to that degree, As gives fo just a motion to the sea, That it should flow no more, no more retire, Than nature's various useful ends require? A Mind Supreme you therefore must approve, Whose high command caus'd matter first to
Who ftill preferves its course, and, with refpe& To his wife ends, all motions does direct. He to the filver moon this province gave, And fixt her empire o'er the briny wave; Endued her with fuch juft degrees of power, As might his aims and wife designs procure, Might agitate and work the troubled deep, And rolling waters from corruption keep, But not impel them o'er their bounds of fand, Nor force the wasteful deluge o'er the land,
The introduction. The numerous and important bleflings of religion. The existence of a God de monstrated, from the wisdom and defign which appear in the motions of the heavenly orbs; but more particularly in the folar fyftem. I. In the fituation of the fun, and its due distance from the earth. The fatal confequences of its having been placed otherwife than it is. II. In its diurnal motion, whence the change of day and night proceeds: then in its annual motion, whence arife the different degrees of heat and cold. The confinement of the fun between the tropics, not to be accounted for by any philofophical hypothefis. The difficulties of the fame, if the earth moves, and the fun refts. The fpring of the fun's motion, not to be explained by any irreligious philofophy, The contemplation of the folar light, and the ufes made of it for the end propofed. The appearances in the folar fyftem not to be folved, but by afferting a God. The fyftems of Ptolemy, Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, and Kepler, confidered. The folar fyftem defcribed, and compared with the fixed ftars, which are fuppofed centres of the like fytems. Reflections on that comparison. The hypothefis of Epicurus, in relation to the motion of the fun. Wisdom and design difcovered in the air; in its ufeful ftructure, its elafticity, its various meteors; the wind, the rain, thunder, and lightning. A fhort contemplation of the vegetable kind.
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