Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-15
Circular and Onward Movement.

We are told by astronomers that our plan
etary system has two movements; one cir
cular, by which the motions return upon
themselves; and the other onward in infuite
space. BY the first of these, the system is
maintained as a system. The circling bodies
composing it now approach each other, and
now recede, till they return to their first
position, thus perpetuating, from age to age,
the mystic dance of the heavens. OF these
movements those that are circular can be
calculated, and in regard to them the as
tronomer, relying upon the stability OF the
order of nature, may say That which hath
been is now, and that which is TO be hath
already BEEN" But the onward movement
cannot be calculated. BY that the whole
system, the sun and all his train of planets
and secondsries and comets, is moving on
in space perhaps in right line, perhaps
around some center at an inconceivable dis
tance; and of this movement, its object and
its limit, we know nothing. We have no
data for calculation, and the mighty secret
must rest with God till he shall please to
reveal it,
Not unlike these are the two great move
ments of human life. There is a succession
of events, making up much of what we call
life, constantly beginning, never ending,
Grafton. There is also progressive move
ment, both of the individual and of the
race, which does not return upon itself, the
objects and limits of which are known to
men only as it has pleased God to reveal
| them. II is with this latter movement that
man is connected as responsible under the
moral and permanent government of God.
| That which is once past here, is fixed for.
ever, and God requireth it. 1t is only as we
keep in view these two movements, that we
have key to the apparently discrepanl
assertions of the wise man. Now we heal
him say that call things come alike to all !
aud that "there is one event to the righteou:
and the wicked" And so, for the most
part, there is in the circular movement
But again we hear him say, " | know that il
shall be well with them that fear God
which fear before him; but it shall not b,
well with the wicked" And so it always il
with the onward movement.
Looking at the circular movement, per
manent indeed in its SUGGESTIONS, yet 81
transient for the individual, Solomon speaks
OF Ill things as vanity and vexation o
spirit" and "full of labor" And regard
ing life in this aspect, how striking are thu
emblems chosen by him to represent it. IL
compares it to the sun that " ariseth, anC
goeth down, and hasteth again to the plac
, wnere he .t a.ose W eae .th w.na oh oha. eoet
.I~a,u Sne ,h sui, h;-1h a oht aouv uTu
na oro uotn,rath anain aooord;nr ~ ~ ~,
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: hsh. 'he say VI passing G?oJeIvs az
scenes oon';u i'i.aa. "a n at;I. enu, ~ uoe, ~ m ~
,essen Tu' as Tbv;st;o;a aiu aU',S,g a. . 'nol a
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