fleecy mantle, which melts away from the heat of a more vertical sun; and that other worlds bear a resemblance to our own, in the same yearly round of beneficent and interesting changes.

the concave of their firmament. They let us know, that though this mighty earth, with all its myriads of people, were to sink into annihilation, there are some worlds where an event so awful to us would be Who shall assign a limit to the discove- unnoticed and unknown, and others where ries of future ages? Who can prescribe to it would be nothing more than the disapscience her boundaries, or restrain the ac-pearance of a little star which had ceased tive and insatiable curiosity of man within from its twinkling. We should feel a senthe circle of his present acquirements? We timent of modesty at this just but humilimay guess with plausibility what we can-ating representation. We should learn not not anticipate with confidence. The day to look on our earth as the universe of may yet be coming, when our instruments God, but one paltry and insignificant por of observation shall be inconceivably more tion of it; that it is only one of the many powerful. They may ascertain still more mansions which the supreme Being has decisive points of resemblance. They may created for the accommodation of his worresolve the same question by the evidence shippers, and only one of the many worlds of sense which is now so abundantly con- rolling in that flood of light which the sun vincing by the evidence of analogy. They pours around him to the outer limits of may lay open to us the unquestionable ves- the planetary system. tiges of art, and industry, and intelligence. We may see summer throwing its green mantle over these mighty tracts, and we may see them left naked and colourless after the flush of vegetation has disappeared. In the progress of years, or of centuries, we may trace the hand of cultivation spreading a new aspect over some portion of a planetary surface. Perhaps some large city, the metropolis of a mighty empire, may expand into a visible spot by the powers of some future telescope. Perhaps the glass of some observer, in a distant age, may enable him to construct a map of another world, and to lay down the surface of it in all its minute and topical varieties. But there is no end of conjecture, and to the men of other times we leave the full assu-each, like the independent sovereign of his rance of what we can assert with the highest probability, that yon planetary orbs are so many worlds, that they teem with life, and that the mighty Being who presides in high authority over this scene of grandeur and astonishment, has there planted worshippers of his glory.

But is there nothing beyond these limits? The planetary system has its boundary, but space has none; and if we wing our fancy there, do we only travel through dark and unoccupied regions? There are only five, or at most six, of the planetary orbs visible to the naked eye. What, then, is that multitude of other lights which sparkle in our firmament, and fill the whole concave of heaven with innumerable splendours? The planets are all attached to the sun; and, in circling around him, they do homage to that influence which binds them to perpetual attendance on this great luminary. But the other stars do not own his dominion. They do not circle around him. To all common observation, they remain immoveable; and

Did the discoveries of science stop here, we have enough to justify the exclamation of the Psalmist, "What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou shouldest deign to visit him?" They widen the empire of creation far beyond the limits which were formerly assigned to it. They give us to see that yon sun, throned in the centre of his planetary system, gives light, and warmth, and the vicissitude of seasons, to an extent of surface several hundreds of times greater than that of the earth which we inhabit. They lay open to us a number of worlds, rolling in their respective circles around this vast luminaryand prove, that the ball which we tread upon, with all its mighty burden of oceans and continents, instead of being distinguished from the others, is among the least of them; and, from some of the more distant planets, would not occupy a more visible point in

own territory, appears to occupy the same inflexible position in the regions of immensity. What can we make of them? Shall we take our adventurous flight to explore these dark and untravelled dominions? What mean these innumerable fires lighted up in distant parts of the universe? Are they only made to shed a feeble glimmering over this little spot in the kingdom of nature? or do they serve a purpose worthier of themselves, to light up other worlds, and give animation to other systems.

The first thing which strikes a scientific observer of the fixed stars, is their immeasurable distance. If the whole planetary system were lighted up into a globe of fire, it would exceed, by many millions of times, the magnitude of this world, and yet only appear a small lucid point from the nearest of them. If a body were projected from the sun with the velocity of a cannon-ball, it would take hundreds of thousands of years before it described that mighty interval which separates the nearest of the fixed stars from our sun and from our system. If this earth, which moves at more than the inconceivable velocity of a million and a half miles a day, were to be hurried from

its orbit, and to take the same rapid flight | world. These stars are visible to us, not over this immense tract, it would not have because the sun shines upon them, but bearrived at the termination of its journey, cause they shine of themselves, because after taking all the time which has elapsed they are so many luminous bodies scattered since the creation of the world. These are over the tracts of immensity; in a word, great numbers, and great calculations, and because they are so many suns each throned the mind feels its own impotency in at- in the centre of his own dominions, and tempting to grasp them. We can state them pouring a flood of light over his own porin words. We can exhibit them in figures. tion of these unlimitable regions. We can demonstrate them by the powers of a most rigid and infallible geometry. But no human fancy can summon up a lively or an adequate conception-can roam in its ideal flight over this immeasureable largeness-can take in this mighty space in all its grandeur, and in all its immensity-can sweep the outer boundaries of such a creation or lift itself up to the majesty of that great and invisible arm, on which all is suspended.

At such an immense distance for observation, it is not to be supposed, that we can collect many points of resemblance between the fixed stars, and the solar star which forms the centre of our planetary system. There is one point of resemblance, however, which has not escaped the penetration of our astronomers. We know that our sun turns round upon himself, in a regular period of time. We also know, that there are dark spots scattered over his surface, which, But what can those stars be which are though invisible to the naked eye, are perseated so far beyond the limits of our plane- fectly noticeable by our instruments. If tary system? They must be masses of these spots existed in greater quantity upon immense magnitude, or they could not be one side than upon another, it would have seen at the distance of place which they the general effect of making that side darker, occupy. The light which they give must and the revolution of the sun must, in such proceed from themselves, for the feeble re-a case, give us a brighter and a fainter flection of light from some other quarter, would not carry through such mighty tracts to the eye of an observer. A body may be visible in two ways. It may be visible from its own light, as the flame of a candle, or the brightness of a fire, or the brilliancy of yonder glorious sun, which lightens all below, and is the lamp of the world. Or it may be visible from the light which falls upon it, as the body which receives its light from the taper that falls upon it-or the whole assemblage of objects on the surface of the earth, which appear only when the light of day rests upon them-or the moon, which, in that part of it which is towards the sun, gives out a silvery whiteness to the eye of the observer, while the other part forms a black and invisible space in the firmament or as the planets, which shine only because the sun shines upon them, and which, each of them, present the appearance of a dark spot on the side that is turned away from it. Now apply this question to the fixed stars. Are they luminous Shall we say, then, of these vast luminaof themselves, or do they derive their light ries, that they were created in vain? Were from the sun, like the bodies of our plane- they called into existence for no other purtary system? Think of their immense dis- pose than to throw a tide of useless splentance, and the solution of this question be-dour over the solitudes of immensity? Our comes evident. The sun, like any other body, must dwindle into a less apparent magnitude as you retire from it. At the prodigious distance even of the very nearest of the fixed stars, it must have shrunk into a small indivisible point. In short, it must have become a star itself, and could shed no more light than a single individual of those glimmering myriads, the whole assemblage of which cannot dissipate, and can scarcely alleviate the midnight darkness of our

side, by regular alternations. Now, there are some of the fixed stars which present this appearance. They present us with pe riodical variations of light. From the splen dour of a star of the first or second magnitude, they fade away into some of the inferior magnitudes-and one, by becoming invisible might give reason to apprehend that we had lost him altogether-but we can still recognize him by the telescope, till at length he re-appears in his own place, and, after a regular lapse of so many days and hours, recovers his original brightness. Now, the fair inference from this is, that the fixed stars, as they resemble our sun in being so many luminous masses of immense magnitude, they resemble him in this also, that each of them turns round upon his own axis; so that if any of them should have an inequality in the brightness of their sides, this revolution is rendered evident, by the regular variations in the degree of light which it undergoes.

sun is only one of these luminaries, and we know that he has worlds in his train. Why should we strip the rest of this princely attendance? Why may not each of them be the centre of his own system, and give light to his own worlds? It is true that we see them not, but could the eye of man take its flight into those distant regions, it should lose sight of our little world, before it reached the outer limits of our system-the greater planets should disappear in their turn-be

fore it had described a small portion of that | impulse; or, this movement may be coeval abyss which separates us from the fixed with his being, and he may have derived stars, the sun should decline into a little both from an immediate fiat of the Creator. spot, and all its splendid retinue of worlds But there is an actually observed phenomebe lost in the obscurity of distance-he non of the heavens which advances the conshould, at last, shrink into a small indivisi-jecture into a probability. In the course ble atom, and all that could be seen of this of age, the stars in one quarter of the celesmagnificent system, should be reduced to tial sphere are apparently receding from the glimmering of a little star. Why resist each other; and in the opposite quarter, any longer the grand and interesting con- they are apparently drawing nearer to each clusion? Each of these stars may be the other. If the sun be approaching the fortoken of a system as vast and as splendid mer and receding from the latter, this pheas the one which we inhabit. Worlds roll nomenon admits of an easy explanation, in these distant regions; and these worlds and we are furnished with a magnificent must be the mansions of life and intelligence. step in the scale of the Creator's workmanIn yon gilded canopy of heaven we see the ship. In the same manner as the planets, broad aspect of the universe, where each with their satellites, revolve round the sun, shining point presents us with a sun, and may the sun, with all its tributaries, be each sun with a system of worlds-where moving in common with other stars, around the Divinity reigns in all the grandeur of some distant centre, from which there emahis attributes-where he peoples immensity nates an influence to bind and to subordiwith his wonders; and travels in the great-nate them all. Our sun may, therefore, ness of his strength through the dominions be only one member of a higher family of one vast and unlimited monarchy. -taking his part, along with millions of

The contemplation has no limits. If we others, in some loftier system of mechanism, ask the number of suns and of systems, the by which they are all subjected to one unassisted eye of man can take in a thou-law, and to one arrangement-describing sand, and the best telescope which the the sweep of such an orbit in space, and genius of man has constructed can take in eighty millions. Fancy may take its flight far beyond the ken of eye or of telescope. Shall we have the boldness to say, that there is nothing there-that the wonders of the Almighty are at an end-that the creative energy of God has sunk into repose, because the imagination is enfeebled by the magnitude of its efforts?

completing the mighty revolution in such a period of time, as to reduce our planetary seasons and our planetary movements, to a very humble and fractionary rank in the scale of a higher astronomy. There is room for all this in immensity; and there is even argument for all this in the records of actual observation; and, from the whole of this speculation, do we gather a new emphasis to the lesson, how minute is the place, and how secondary is the importance of our world, amid the glories of such a surrounding magnificence!

There are two points of interesting speculation, both of which serve to magnify our conceptions of the universe. If a body be struck in the direction of its centre, it obtains a progressive motion, but without any Another very interesting tract of speculamovement of revolution being at the same tion, has been opened up to us by the more time impressed upon it. But, again, should recent observations of astronomy, the disthe stroke not be in the direction of the cen-covery of the nebule. We allow that it is tre-should the line which joins the point of percussion to the centre, make an angle with that line in which the impulse was communicated, then the body is both made to go forward in space, also to wheel upon its axis. Thus, each of our planets may have had their compound motion communicated to it by one single impulse; and, on the other hand, if ever the rotatory motion be communicated by one blow, then the progressive motion must go along with it. In order to have the first motion without the second, there must be a twofold force applied to the body in opposite directions. It must be set agoing in the same way as a spinning-top, so as to revolve about an axis, and to keep unchanged its situation in space.

But at this stage of the argument, the matter only remains a conjectural point of speculation. The sun may have had his rotation impressed upon him by a spinning

K

but a dim and indistinct light which this discovery has thrown upon the structure of the universe; but still it has spread before the eye of the mind a field of very wide and lofty contemplation. Before this the universe might appear to have been composed of an indefinite number of suns, about equidistant from each other, and each encompassed by such a planetary attendance as takes place in our own system. But, it now appears instead of lying uniformly and in a state of equidistance from each other, they are arranged into distinct clusters-that, in the same manner as the distance of the nearest fixed stars, marks the separation of the solar systems, so the distance of two contiguous clusters may be so inconceivably superior to the reciprocal distance of those fixed stars which belong to the same cluster, as to mark an equally distinct separation of the clusters, and to constitute each of them

an individual member of some higher and | which teems with them-and what are they more extended arrangement. This car- who occupy it? The universe at large ries us upwards through another ascending step in the scale of magnificence, and there leaves us wildering in the uncertainty, whether even here the wonderful progression is ended; and at all events fixes the assured conclusion in our minds, that, to an eye which could spread itself over the whole, the mansion which accommodates our species might be so very small as to lie wrapped in microscopical concealment; and, in reference to the only Being who possesses this universal eye, well might we say, "What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou shouldest deign to visit him?"

would suffer as little, in its splendour and variety, by the destruction of our planet, as the verdure and sublime magnitude of a forest would suffer by the fall of a single leaf. The leaf quivers on the branch which sup ports it. It lies at the mercy of the slightest accident. A breath of wind tears it from its stem, and it lights on the stream of water which passes underneath. In a moment of time, the life which we know, by the microscope, it teems with, is extinguished; and, an occurrence, so insignificant in the eye of man, and on the scale of his observation, carries in it, to the myriads which people this little leaf, an event as terrible and as decisive as the destruction of a world. Now,

But

And, after all, though it be a mighty and difficult conception, yet who can ques-on the grand scale of the universe, we, the tion it? What is seen may be nothing to occupiers of this ball, which performs its what is unseen; for what is seen is limited little round among the suns and the systems by the range of our instruments. What is that astronomy has unfolded-we may feel unseen has no limit; and, though all which the same littleness and the same insecurity. the eye of man can take in, or his fancy can We differ from the leaf only in this circumgrasp at, were swept away, there might still stance, that it would require the operation remain as ample a field, over which the Di- of greater elements to destroy us. vinity may expatiate, and which he may these elements exist. The fire which rages have peopled with innumerable worlds. If within, may lift its devouring energy to the the whole visible creation were to disappear, surface of our planet, and transform it into it would leave a solitude behind it--but to one wide and wasting volcano. The sudden the infinite Mind, that can take in the whole formation of elastic matter in the bowels of system of nature, this solitude might be the earth-and it lies within the agency of nothing, a small unoccupied point in that known substances to accomplish this-may immensity which surrounds it, and which explode it into fragments. The exhalation he may have filled with the wonders of his of noxious air from below, may impart a omnipotence. Though this earth were to be virulence to the air that is around us; it may burned up, though the trumpet of its disso- affect the delicate proportion of its ingrelution were sounded, though yon sky were dients; and the whole of animated nature to pass away as a scroll, and every visible may wither and die under the malignity of glory, which the finger of Divinity has in- a tainted atmosphere. A blazing comet scribed on it, were to be put out for ever- may cross this fated planet in its orbit, and an event so awful, to us and to every world realize all the terrors which superstition has in our vicinity, by which so many suns conceived of it. We cannot anticipate with would be extinguished, and so many varied precision the consequences of an event scenes of life and of populatiou would rush which every astronomer must know to lie into forgetfulness-what is it in the high within the limits of chance and probability. scale of the Almighty's workmanship? a It may hurry our globe towards the sunmere shred, which, though scattered into or drag it to the outer regions of the planenothing, would leave the universe of God tary system: or give it a new axis of revoone entire scene of greatness and of majesty. | lution-and the effect which I shall simply Though this earth, and these heavens, were to disappear, there are other worlds, which roll afar; the light of other suns shines upon them; and the sky which mantles them, is garnished with other stars. Is it presumption to say, that the moral world extends to these distant and unknown regions? that they are occupied with people? that the charities of home and of neighbourhood flourish there? that the praises of God are there lifted up, and his goodness rejoiced in? that piety has its temples and its offerings? and the richness of the divine attributes is there felt and admired by intelligent worshippers?

And what is this world in the immensity

announce, without explaining it, would be to change the place of the ocean, and bring another mighty flood upon our islands and continents. These are changes which may happen in a single instant of time, and against which nothing known in the present system of things provides us with any security. They might not annihilate the earth, but they would unpeople it; and we who tread its surface with such firm and assured footsteps, are at the mercy of devouring elements, which, if let loose upon us by the hand of the Almighty, would spread solitude, and silence, and death over the dominions of the world.

Now it is this littleness, and this inse

curity which make the protection of the Almighty so dear to us, and bring, with such emphasis, to every pious bosom, the holy lessons of humility and gratitude. The God who sitteth above, and presides in high authority over all worlds, is mindful of man; and, though at this moment his energy is felt in the remotest provinces of creation, we may feel the same security in his providence, as if we were the objects of his undivided care. It is not for us to bring our minds up to this mysterious agency. This is a popular argument against ChrisBut, such is the incomprehensible fact, that tianity, not much dwelt upon in books, but, the same Being, whose eye is abroad over we believe, a good deal insinuated in conthe whole universe, gives vegetation to versation, and having no small influence on every blade of grass, and motion to every the amateurs of a superficial philosophy. particle of blood which circulates through At all events, it is right that every such the veins of the minutest animal; that, argument should be met, and manfully conthough his mind takes into its comprehen- fronted; nor do we know a more discreditasive grasp, immensity and all its wonders, I ble surrender of our religion, than to act as am as much known to him as if I were the if she had any thing to fear from the ingesingle object of his attention; that he marks nuity of her most accomplished adversaries. all my thoughts; that he gives birth to every The author of the following treatise enfeeling and every movement within me; and gages in his present undertaking, under the that, with an exercise of power which I full impression that a something may be can neither describe nor comprehend, the found with which to combat Infidelity in all same God who sits in the highest heaven its forms: that the truth of God and of his and reigns over the glories of the firma- message, admits of a noble and decisive ment, is at my right hand, to give me every manifestation, through every mist which the breath which I draw, and every comfort pride, or the prejudice, or the sophistry of man which I enjoy. may throw around it; and elevated as the

of so insignificant a province in the mighty field of his creation? Are we the befitting objects of so great and so signal an interposition? Does not the largeness of that field which astronomy lays open to the view of modern science, throw a suspicion over the truth of the gospel history; and how shall we reconcile the greatness of that wonderful movement which was made in heaven for the redemption of fallen man, with the comparative meanness and obscurity of our species?

But this very reflection has been appro- wisdom of him may be, who has ascended priated to the use of infidelity, and the very the heights of science, and poured the light language of the text has been made to of demonstration over the most wondrous bear an application of hostility to the of nature's mysteries, that even out of his faith. "What is man, that God should be own principles, it may be proved how much mindful of him, or the son of man, that he more elevated is the wisdom of him who should deign to visit him?" Is it likely, sits with the docility of a little child, to his says the Infidel, that God would send his Bible, and casts down to its authority all eternal Son to die for the puny occupiers his lofty imaginations.

DISCOURSE II.

The Modesty of True Science.

“And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know."

1 Corinthians vii. 2.

THERE is much profound and important we cannot, with every power of expression wisdom in that proverb of Solomon, where make an adequate conveyance, as it were, it is said, that the heart knoweth its own bit-of all our sensations, and of all our circumterness. It forms part of a truth still more stances, into another understanding. There comprehensive, that every man knoweth his is a something in the intimacy of a man's own peculiar feelings, and difficulties, and own experience, which he cannot make to trials, far better than he can get any of his pass entire into the heart and mind even of neighbours to perceive them. It is natural the most familiar companion-and thus it is, to us all, that we should desire to engross, that he is so often defeated in his attempts to the uttermost, the sympathy of others to obtain a full and a cordial possession of with what is most painful to the sensibili- his sympathy. He is mortified, and he wonties of our own bosom, and with what is ders at the obtuseness of the people around most aggravating in the hardships of our him-and how he cannot get them to enter own situation. But, labour it as we may, into the justness of his complainings—nor