So, then, gravity may put the planets into motion, but without the divine power it could never put them into such a circulating motion as they have about the sun; and therefore, for this as well as other reasons, I am compelled to ascribe the frame of this system to an intelligent Agent.
[...]
Sir, I am your most humble servant,
IS. NEWTON
Trinity College, Jan 17, 1692/93
[From the "Letter for Mr. Bentley, at the Palace of Worchester," in Newton's Philosophy of Nature: Selections from his writings, Hafner Library Classics, 1953 ]
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