Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-07-21

CitNN oN'AH "a tAyNiltoall5 uut uS Al1So u"
the isles of Japan, which, on thai account.
are called Jep0n or Guepea. which signi-
ies the birth of the sun, and he sets far to
the West, behind the British isles lam
certain Of this, for / was told so, when a
boy, by my grandfather, who had sailed to
the very extremiues of the ocean. He was
proceeding, when one of our crew inter-
rupted hun: There is not a country. said
he, IN which the course of the sun is bet
ter known than in England. | can inform
YOU then, that it rises and sets no where.
il constantly makes the circuit ofthe earth
Il am very certain Of this; for we are
just returned from a circuit round the globe
and We met the sun every where
Thea taking stick from ono of his au-
ditors, he traced circle on the sand; and
eadcavorod 10 show the course Of the sun
from tropic to tropic; bat beng unable to
explain himself, he appealed to the pilot Of
his own ship for the truth of his assertion.
The pilot was q sensible man, who had at
tended 10 silence to the dispute; but when
he saw the whole company were attentive
ly waiting for his opinion, he thus address
sed them: My friends, you are mutually
deceiving each other.-The sun does not
turn round the earth; on the contrary the
earth turns round the sun, presenting to 1t,
every twenty four hours, the isles of Japan
the Mouccas, Sumatra, Africa, Europe s.
many other countries. 1t does not shine
for a single mountain only, for an island, or
a horizon; an ocean, and even for the whole
earth; bot it is in the centre Of the uni
verse. whence it enlighteus, not only the
earth, but FIVE other planets, some of which
are much larger than the earth itself, and
a far greater distance from the sun. Such,
Tor instance, is the planet Saturn, 10000
leagues in diameter, and distant from the
sun 2Sj millions Of leagues; not to men
ton their attendant moons, which reflect
the solar light to The most distant places.
You would each have an idea of these sub
lime truths, were you 10 take a nocturnal
view Of the heavens; and If you did not
foster the silly pride of believing that the
sun was made for single country only
Thus spoke, TO the great establishment Of
his auditors, tue pilot who had made yoy-
age round the world, and attenliyely OBJ
served the heavens.
1t is the same added the disciple Of
Confucious,' with God as with the sun.
Every man believes, that he exclusively
possesses the Deity In his own chapel or
a, loust 40 h,~ O',' OOsnIuy. Al tic ~
tons imagine that their respective temples
they enclose that glorious being whom the
visible universe cannot contain. But is
there a temple comparable TO that which
God himself bath erected, 10 collect all
men. as il were in one commumOnf All
the temples on the earth are but mutations
of the universal temple Of nature. In the
greatest part of them, we find places oil
absoluhon, and vases Of holy water, col
umns, cupoias, lamps, statues, Inscrp-
tons books of the law, sacrifices, alters,
and priests. But in what temple Is there
a sacred vessel so capacIous as the sea-
which is not contained ina SHELF Colums
so noble as those of the trees Of the forest,
or Of the orchards, loaded with fruit! A
cupola so Sublime as the armament! or o
lamp so Respondent as the sun! Where
ca0 we behold statues so interesting as a
number of rational beings, who mutually
love, and aid and hold converse with each
olherl Inscriptions more ineligible or
more devout than the bounties Of naturel a
bool, Of the law so universal as the love OF
God. resulting from a grateful sense oihIs
rnodness; or as the love OF our fellow crca-
lures, SO intimately connected with our
own wel(arel Sacrifice more affecting
than hymns Of praise to the universal pa
rent and bcnelactor of all; or than the ten
der sensations with which we regard those
with whom it is our duty TO participate N
all the blessings of existence! In a word,
an alter so sacred as the heart Of the good
man. Of which God himself Is the priest!
Thus. the more exalted the idea which man
eutertains Of the omnIpotence OF God, The
bette, will he heroine acquainted with him;
and the greater the degree Of indulgence
with which he treats his brethren Of man
KIND, llB IlDiJ VIII DO HIitntS i4i' 80"
ness. Let not him then who enjoys the
nqnt Of Inc Deity, diiiiis7;;d throughout The
universe, despise the superstlions Of man,
who perceive5 only a small ray Of it in an
idol. nor even the atheist who is totally
derived of 1t; lest, as punishment Of his
nride, be meet with the fate Of this philo.
sophcr. who wishing to engross TO himself
The light of the sun, became Blind, and was
reduced to aubmit t. tie guidance ola poor
negro and b.s lamp
tbs spoke the disciple Of Coniuclons +;
md the whole company in the coffee house
who bad been disputing concerning lne
excellence Of their respective religions
now unused 10 silence Oh what had ia'icn
C-,,,, ms Inns