words to the end of the world"-proclaiming to every attentive spectator, that, "The hand that made them is Divine." So that there is scarcely a tribe, or nation, on the face of the earth so inattentive and barbarous as not to have deduced this conclusion from a survey of the movements of the celestial orbs. "Men,"

says Plato, "began to acknowledge a Deity, when they saw the stars maintain so great a harmony, and the days and nights throughout all the year, both in summer and winter, to observe their stated risings and settings." Another heathen philosopher, Cicero, thus expresses his sentiments on this point : "What can be so plain and clear as, when we behold the heavens, and view the celestial bodies, that we should conclude there is some Deity of a most excellent mind by whom these things are governed-a present and Almighty God. Which, he that doubts of, I do not understand why he should not as well doubt whether there be a sun that shines, and enlightens the world."

"The

The sacred Scriptures, in numerous instances, direct our attention to this subject. heavens, says the psalmist, "declare the glory of God;" that is, they manifest his wisdom, and power, and beneficence to the inhabitants of the world ;—"the firmament showeth forth," or publicly declareth, "his handywork." "Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their

voice is not heard." In reference to that department of creation which astronomy explores, it may be said with peculiar propriety, in the language of Scripture, "The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. Throughout the volume of inspiration, our attention is frequently directed to the contemplation of the heavens: "Lift up thine eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things?—The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, who fainteth not neither is weary; there is no searching of his understanding. He bringeth out their host by number, and calleth them all by names: by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.-It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers.—All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.""Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God."

Hence it appears, that it is not to be considered merely as a matter of taste, or as a rational amusement, but as an imperative duty to contemplate the works of the Most High, and especially the manifestations of his power and Godhead which the heavens display-that we may derive more enlarged conceptions of his glorious attributes, and be enabled to render to him that tribute of adoration and praise which is due to his name. For it is repre

sented as one of the characteristics of the ungodly that, while "the harp, and the viol, and the tabret, and pipe, and wine are in their feasts, -they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands;" and consequently "he will destroy them, and not build them up." It is therefore the incumbent duty of the young; of every professing Christian; and of every rational inquirer, not only to study the facts, doctrines, and duties exhibited in the system of Divine revelation, but also to contemplate the manifestations of the Creator as exhibited in the system of creation. They are both revelations of the same almighty and beneficent Being-emanations from the same adorable Divinity; and the views and instructions they respectively unfold, when studied with reverence and intelligence, are in perfect harmony with each other. The study of both combined, is calculated to make the man of God perfect, and "throughly furnished unto all good works."

In the following small volume, it shall be our endeavour to direct the general reader in the study of some of those objects which the heavens unfold; and we shall chiefly select those parts of astronomical science which are most level to the comprehension of those who have had little opportunity of engaging in scientific pursuits. In the present volume, it is proposed to confine ourselves chiefly to a description of the Solar System, and the phenomena it exhibits, together with a few instruc

tions as to the best mode of contemplating the apparent motions and the diversified aspects of the firmament. The discoveries which relate to the sidereal heavens-the general arrangement of the fixed stars, their distances and magnitudes-the facts which have been discovered respecting new stars-variable starsdouble and triple stars-the milky way—the different orders of the nebula-and a variety of other topics connected with such subjects, will form materials for another volume similar to the present.

In the meantime we may just remark, that all the wonders we behold, both in the heavens above, and in the earth below, demand our serious attention and devout contemplation. They are all the workmanship of that great and adorable Being in whom "we live and move;" who at first "spake, and it was done;" who gave the command, and the whole of this stately fabric of heaven and earth started into being. It is the same God who created the planets and the host of stars, and that conducts them in all their rapid motions; who is also "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," and "the Author of eternal salvation" to all who obey him. All these works display his infinite power, his unerring wisdom, and the riches of his beneficence; and demand from every beholder that tribute of praise, reverence, and adoration which is due to Him "who created all things, and for whose pleasure they are and were created."

CHAPTER I.

ON THE GENERAL ASPECT, AND THE APPARENT MOTIONS OF THE HEAVENS.

PREVIOUS to entering on the study of astronomical science, and the phenomena of the solar system, it is requisite that the young inquirer should be directed to contemplate the general aspect of the heavens, and the apparent motions of the different bodies which present themselves to view in the regions of the firmament. No one can enter with intelligence on the study of astronomy, or acquire an accurate idea of its elementary principles, and of the arrangement and motions of the planetary bodies, unless he has been led to observe, with his own eyes, the apparent and more obvious phenomena and aspects of the celestial orbs, as they present themselves to the view of any common and attentive spectator. For although the real motions of the heavenly bodies are, in many instances, very different from their appa