, 1842-01-29

and their influence upon all living end sensi-
tive beings Where is the beginning, the
centre, the end ? From every part of this
terraqueous globe where we dwell, the heav-
| ems surround US, and exhibit to our view in
every direction, a new and innumerable null
titude of stars. and suns. and worlds. Even
our naked vision can comprehend more of
them than we can count. From every side,
rays OF light come streaming upon our eyes
from the remoteSt regions of the immeasur.
able universe !; and when provided with The
instruments of art. we discover millions OF
luminous bodies, where al first we beheId a
mere blank, or gllmmering haze. And when,
IN our lmaglnatlonS, we ascend from one star
to another, from one sun TO another, and
thence contemplate the starry heavens, do
we cease to behold new theatres of wonders,
or thence catch a glimpse of the terminating
pillar of creation, towering up on the borders
of non-existence ? Is it an idle %conceit of
fancy, TO suppose there are millions of lumi-
mating bodies in the universe, whose rays of
light, even from the beginning of creation,
have been streaming down towards the eye
OF man with uncomfortable velocity, and
which are still on their way, and will be seen
and felt only by those who shall live at the
concluding ages of tine!
And now let us contemplate those more
numerous opaque bodies. for which these
fountains of life and light exist. and which
we may discover by the naked or aided eve.
Surely. then, those remote suns are not for
us. As our sun enlightcns this planet, and
all It's inhabitants warns, enlivens, and in.
fuses activity and delight into all sensitive
beings SO each of that unnumbered host of
suns accomplishes the design in the world
which its Creator prescribed it. In the
realm of Jehovah. who is in himself wisdom
and love, there nowhere can be spiendor
without use. means without design, or cause
without effect. There is no sequestered spot,
no isolated corner in those vast domains,
where the inaninate and ~joyleSS silence OF
death bears rule ; but all. every inch OF the
interminable universe lies under the influence
of onnipresent power, activity. life, and hap
piness. Yes, the whole unreasonable crea-
ton of God is filled with myriads of living,
feeling. thinking beings, that are susceptible
of happiness :; who all praise their Creator.
and rejoice in the plenitude Of his munili-
cence. Each star is a sun every planet
has its own peculiar inhabitants. who drink
in from the opened fountains ofIight, life and
JOY TO the full.
The contemplation Of the starry heavens
leads us to feel our orn nOthingness and learn
10 be humble. Does Il man walk in the in
diligence of idle pride, the vainest of all hui
man passions ; and does this suffer him to
forget his own impotence and exalt himself
above his brother, then let him view this it,
~lus;rious theatre of Gods glory. Let him
look up into these Illuminated heights, and
let his despised brother ask him to tell the
number OF the stars, TO give each and all a
name. Let him ask the proud mortal to try,
if by searching he can find out that Power
that gives them existence, and upholds them
in being that prescribes their courses, fixes
their boundaries, and commands them to rise
and set. Do you know, let him ask, the
form. the structure, the internal organization
of the millions of worlds that revolve around
those millions of suns. Know you when
each OF these suns, each of these worlds was
called into existence, how long each of them
will continue in its sphere, how long they
shall shine. and when they shall close their
spIendor and be no more Can you, from
this obscure tenement, survey the whole I'M
measurable world? At any distance. how
ever inconceivable, would you not behold
new heavens, and new suns, and new worlds?
And when you know and feel this, feel your
own ignorance and the greatness OF God
While you cast a far-reaching glance into the
I;m;,less circuit Of creation, look then upon
vour W dwelling look around you and
comnare the earth with the heavens, the WIS.,
lille with the invisible, and yourself with all
A.. e around YOU, What now is this globe