h the skill and workmanship of the
artificer surpasses the vile matter he has worked upon. Every
living creature, nay even gnats, appear wonderful to me. If one
finds them troublesome, he ought to consider that it is necessary
that some anxiety and pain be mixed with man's conveniences: for if
nothing should moderate his pleasures, and exercise his patience, he
would either grow soft and effeminate, or forget himself.

SECT. XX. Admirable Order in which all the Bodies that make up the
Universe are ranged.

Let us now consider the wonders that shine equally both in the
largest and the smallest bodies. On the one side, I see the sun so
many thousand times bigger than the earth; I see him circulating in
a space, in comparison of which he is himself but a bright atom. I
see other stars, perhaps still bigger than he, that roll in other
regions, still farther distant from us. Beyond those regions, which
escape all measure, I still confusedly perceive other stars, which
can neither be counted nor distinguished. The earth, on which I
stand, is but one point, in proportion to the whole, in which no
bound can ever be found. The whole is so well put together, that
not one single atom can be put out of its place without unhinging
this immense machine; and it moves in such excellent order that its
very motion perpetuates its variety and perfection. Sure it must be
the hand of a being that does everything without any trouble that
still keeps steady, and governs this great work for so many ages;
and whose fingers play with the universe, to speak with the
Scripture.

SECT. XXI. Wonders of the Infinitely Little.

On the other hand the work is no less to be admired in little than
in great: for I find as well in little as in great a kind of
infinite that astonishes me. It surpasses my imagination to find in
a hand-worm, as one does in an elephant or whale, limbs perfectly
well organised; a head, a body, legs, and feet, as distinct and as
well formed as those of the biggest animals. There are in every
part of those living atoms, muscles, nerves, veins, arteries, blood;
and in that blood ramous particles and humours; in these humours
some drops that are themselves composed of several particles: nor
can one ever stop in the discussion of this infinite composition of
so infinite a whole.

The microscope discovers to us in every object as it were a thousand
other objects that had escaped our notice. But how man