The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-05-27
roRMNTIoN OF TIL. INiiLHsE.

PuNilabtb ~ I iutfssbI falHllilln > 1hNlifhi ~
Scirnce.--'fhose who lmFea londness lUr
metaphysical aud Astronomical APPROPRIATIONS
| VIII doubtless give this paper an attentive
perusm. The author, Mr.. ISAAC ORR,
one of thu Instructors in the YUM for tue
deaf aud dumb, in Hartford, las, whatever
may be the fate oi h3 theory, given proof
of astonishing powers of mind. Professor
! Fisher, who vas lost IN the Albion, took
thlscssay with him, intending To lay il be.
fore the learned 81 Europe. Mi. Ia.
We are accustomed Ii fnd eorrespon-
dcnce between the power and the operation
OF Wise moral agent aud il II eertainly
no weak argument IN favor Of nm infinite
universe, that a finite ono would fall inf
ntely short ol the power ol The Deity. II
would leave his anBeek subjects without
any practical proof ol his omnlpotenee. Ii
| seems, also, the most consistent and exalted
conception, respecting a wise moral ageut,
mat ls work is neNer terminated. From
reasoning, piiori, ihen, IL seems, n very
natural conclusion, that ontll act al crea.
tive power is expanded through IN iniint.
plane, aud that the successive aels form IN
eternal series. lfthis idea appear Loo grand,
lei II be remembered that IL i formed re-
|
physical reasoning. however, is not the un-
~ ground Oh which our opinions on this
subject may be founded. we see the eeles-
Ilh systems arranged into iorms which are
utterly unacconntabc unless their lorma-
ton has been progressive The account
which DIR. llcrsehel has given, is only pla-
cling one difficulty on the shoulders OF
another for IL is not less impraetirable IN
account for the position OF those ruling
summaries, which he snpposes may have
narshalled The starry hosts of smaller mag
hitudc INTO their present regular arrange
| ncnt, than To account for that arrangement
without such assistance. II the formation
into systems have been progressive, we are
perfectly at n loss 10 say where it begun,
or where II Will terminate. by FIR thr
most natural supposition Is, that il will
nave no termination, and had no coul-
nenccment II tlle universe Is finite, il is
obvious, that, without n constant miracle,
of which we find moi the least indication so
far ms observation can carry us, ii cannot
be permanent until tho whole is collected
together in one great mass nj The common
centre of gravity In like manner, if the
creation Of matter from nothing CONSTANT,
| n
slant miracle would be- necessary to prevent
them from ever approaching each other, by
gra'liaiIoh, from empty space, towards the
bolndless ocean oi worlds already created.
IT we suppose that matter has been eternal,
and still perfectly dependent on the Deity
tor lscxlsicnce and its properties, and that
on one side Of The infinite progressive plane
of formation, il il in quirscent nrial state,
aud on the other side collected IN worlds.
nature obtains balance, and unless pnrti-
cular grayitaiion IL absolutely infinite, the
ultimate systems must be permanent ; aud
oar minds, instead of being lost in Il clnos
of conjecture, form the same conceptions
OF order through the bonndless fields Of
space, that We derive from observation on
! the portions which are within orr yiem.-
! These opinions will undoubtedly be- universe
To the belief OF many with regard 10 the
meaning of scripture but whether they
are opposed IL its real meaning, is n anes-
ton of quite II different character. The
contests aud ;, suits respecting the Copper
nican system eannot BE- forgotien. II such
, opinions are clearly aud decidedly contra.
ry 10 the meaning ofscripture, il would be-
madness and disgrace, as we'll as iinpiely
| sophisticated argument by which scripinr.
has been assaulted, have successfully snl,si
dcd, without dong any thing more than To
clear away the little instructions In the
perception of liz inmobilIty, and To- demon
str"tc 10 the world that lis destiny is 10
break, aud not In be broken. Though the
theory Is the solution Of the problem for
which atheists from lime inmemorial,
have been seeking, and though it may in
duce pcrscrse and superficial minds to en-
q'ire, Where is the pronis. OF his co.
ming : for since the fathers fell asleep, all
things remain AS They were from the begin
ming Of the creation yet on the other
hand, il carries the design through the
whole Of the Universe, mud stamps inielli-
grncc on all its departments. Should il
be asked why coIn.ts fly through the sys.
TEN, 10 threaten ruin on its regular sld,or.
dinates, and mountains lift their barren and
Indictment lradsDnly la irown On surround
ing fertility, the answer ~ ready: They
ARE the impalpable dust on an exquisite
piece Of watchwork mere grains of sand
in The corners of m immense aud iaicsiic
cdliice. II appears from the obser, alton
of DR.. Iirr-chrl that most, or MI, of the
STAYS are collecting into subordinate spber
cal clusters, aud Turning what he calls the
chemical laboratories Of the universe. -
The principles Of gragitation will bling the
stars in each individual of these clusters. 10
their common centre of gravity in about
the same period of Time aud their APP
praIancc argues that such will be the result
IN reality. The universe then, was moi in
tended 10 be perfect III lis present state
but lis various constituent parts are adapt
ed and destined To happier aud nnore sub
lime realities. II is the shoot just spring
ing from the acorn, aud pushing its way