that vast magnitude of the Universe, which thou afterwards judgest to be too immense? If thou comprehendest it; wilt thou hold that thy apprehension extendeth it self farther than the Divine Power? wilt thou say, that thou canst imagine greater things than those which God can bring to passe? But if thou apprehendest it not, why wilt thou passe thy verdict upon things beyond thy comprehension?
Simpl.All this is very well, nor can it be denied, but that Heaven may in greatnesse surpasse our imagination, as also that God might have created it thousands of times vaster than now it is; but we ought not to grant any thing to have been made in vain, and to be idle in the Universe. Now, in that we see this admirable order of the Planets, disposed about the Earth in distances proportionate for producing their effects for our advantage, to what purpose is it to interpose afterwards between the sublime Orb of Saturn and the starry Sphere, a vast vacancy, without any star that is superfluous, and to no purpose? To what end? For whose profit and advantage?
Salv.Methinks we arrogate too much to our selves, Simplicius, whilst we will have it, that the onely care of us, is the adaequate work, and bound, beyond which the Divine Wisdome and Power doth, or disposeth of nothing. But I will not consent, that we should so much shorten its hand, but desire that we may content our selves with an assurance that God and Nature are so imployed in the governing of humane affairs,God & Nature do imploy themselves in caring for men, as if they minded nothing else. that they could not more apply themselves thereto, although they had no other care than onely that of mankind; and this, I think, I am able to make out by a most pertinent and most noble example, taken from the operation of the Suns light, which whilest it attracteth these vapours,An example of Gods care of mankind taken from the Sun. or scorcheth that plant, it attracteth, it scorcheth them, as if it had no more to do; yea, in ripening that bunch of grapes, nay that one single grape, it doth apply it self so, that it could not be more intense, if the sum of all its business had been the only maturation of that grape. Now if this grape receiveth all that it is possible for it to receive from the Sun, not suffering the least injury by the Suns production of a thousand other effects at the same time; it would be either envy or folly to blame that grape, if it should think or wish that the Sun would onely appropriate its rayes to its advantage. I am confident that nothing is omitted by the Divine Providence, of what concernes the government of humane affairs; but that there may not be other things in the Universe, that depend upon the same infinite Wisdome, I cannot, of my self, by what my reason holds forth to me, bring my self to believe. However, if it were not so, yet should I not forbear to believe the reasons laid before me bysome
