A discourse concerning the Redeemer's dominion over the invisible world, and the entrance thereinto

We need not impose it upon our selves to judge their rules infallible, ⟨p. 137⟩who, being of no mean understanding, nor indiligent in their enquiries, have thought it not improbable that there may be fixed Stars within view, at that distance from our Earth, that a movable, in as swift motion, as that of a Bullet shot from a Canon, would be fifty thousand years in passing from the one to the other^*. But how much remoter that Star may be from the utmost verge of the Universe, is left altogether unimaginable. I have been told that a very ingenious Artist going about, in exact proportions, to describe the Orb or Vortex to which our Sun belongs, on as large a Table as could be convenient for him to work upon, was at a loss to find a spot not too big, in proportion, for our Earth, and big enough, whereupon to place the point, made ⟨p. 138⟩very fine, of one foot of his Compass.

1. *Computation by the Honourable Francis Roberts, Esq Philosoph. Transactions for the Months March and April, 1694.

If any suspect extravagancy in our Modern Computations let him take a view of what is discoursed to this purpose by a Writer of most unexceptionable wisdom, and sobriety (as well as most eminent sanctity) in his time^*

1. *Bolton in his four last things, who speaking of Heaven, directs us to guess the immeasurable magnitude of it: (as otherwise —so) By the incredible distance from the Earth to the Starry Firmament; and adds, If I should here tell you the several computations of Astronomers, in this kind, the sums would seem to exceed all possibility of belief. [And he annexes in his Margin sundry computations which I shall not here recite, you may find them in the Author himself, p. 21.] And yet besides, (as he further adds) the late learnedest of them place above the 8th sphere, wherein all those glorious Lamps shine so bright, three moving Orbs more. Now the Empyrean Heaven comprehends all these; How incomprehensible then, must its compass nd greatness necessarily be! But he supposes it possible, the adventure of Mathematicians may be too audacious and peremptory, &c. And concludes the height and extent of the Heavens to be beyond all Human investigation.