other; but his thoughts are more particularly employed in investigating the nature of those great bodies that compose the visible system of the univerfe, which, in common speech, are comprehended under the appellation of the Sun, Moon, and Stars.-Thofe unacquainted with this fublime fcience, have no greater ideas of the Stars, than a multitude of bright fpangles dropped over the ætherial blue, they conceive no other of these fine appearances, than of their being fo many golden ftuds, with which the Empyreal Arch is decocorated. But ftudious minds, that carry a more accurate and ftri&t enquiry among these cœleftial lights, bring back advice of the most aftonishing import, concerning their beautiful order, and the laws which govern them; which loudly proclaim the infinite wifdom of the divine Architect, in thus difpofing of the matter with which the univerfe is compofed. There is indeed no part of the creation but what difplays the wifdom, goodness and power of the Great Firft Caufe, to an attentive mind: but the heavens, in a most emphatical manner, declare the glory of God, and are nobly eloquent of the Deity, as well as the most magnificent heralds of their Maker's praife; fo that in this divine book of creation the most unlettered may find enough to excite their admiration and praife. By: By a little knowledge in this pleafing and wonderful science we are enabled to contemplate that magnificent œconomy which pois'd the ftars with fuch inexpreffible nicety, and meted out the Heavens with a span; where all is prodigiously vaft, furprisingly various, yet more than mathematical-ly true. By aftronomy we alfo learn to confider those golden luminaries in the heavens, which appear but as twinkling flames, to be in fact prodigious bodies, and as many funs to fo many fyftems, each accompanied with its particular planetary equipage; therefore what a multiplicity of mighty. fpheres and worlds, unknown to us, must be perpetually running their various rounds in the immenfe regions of space; yet none mistake their way nor wander from the paths affigned them; and though they travel through tracklefs and unbounded space; yet none fly from their orbs into extravagant excurfions, none prefs in upon their center with too near an approach, but all their revolutions proceed with eternal harmony keeping fuch time, and obferving fuch laws as are most exquifitely adapted to the perfection of the whole. How aftonishing capacious must be the expanse which yields room for thofe mighty globes, and their widely diffused operations?. "To what mighty lengths did the Almighty Architect stretch his line when he measured the ftupendous platform. Inconceivable extent! It fwallows up our thoughts! Where are the pillars that fupport this grand ma jeftic concave of the fky? How is that immeasu reble arch upheld, unfhaken, and unimpaired, while fo many generations of bufy mortals have funk and disappeared, as bubbles upon the ftream? The ftars, which are fuch prodigious bulks, how are they faftened in their lofty fituations? By what miracle in mechanics are so many thousand ponderous orbs preferved from collifion, or striking against each other? Are they hung in golden or adamantine chains? Reft they their enormous load on rocks of marble, or on columns of brafs? It is the Almighty Fiat that has breathed upon it, and hath thus animated nature with thofe wonderful principles or laws of projection and attraction, by which this mighty fabric is fupported; the latter, the all-combining cement, the former the ever-operating fpring. 'Tis by the mighty power of attraction that the vast worlds of matter hang felf balanced on their own centers; and though orbs of prodigious bulk, yet require nothing but this amazing property for their fupport and continuance. Thus, by means of the projectile impulfe on one hand, and the attractive energy on the other, being both most nicely proportioned, and under the immediate operation of the Deity, the various globes run their radiant races without the leaft interruption or deviation, fo as to produce the alternate changes of day and night, the pleafing viciffitudes of the seasons, the flux and reflux of the tides, (fo useful to navigators,) and a thoufand others. Let us then adore, with a reverential awe, that great and glorious being, whofe word gave birth to universal nature, and endued it with thefe furprizing properties; that incomprehenfible being, who is perfect in knowledge, mighty in power,whofe name, whofe nature, and operations, are great and marvellous; who fummons into being, with equal cafe, a fingle atom or ten thoufand worlds. He fees with equal eye as lord of all, And now a bubble burit and now a world. Are our thoughts raifed to admiration at this fmall sketch of nature? How then must we be loft in amazement at the confideration of the Creator himself, who is fo far exalted above these his glorious works, that he looks far down on thefe daz zling fpheres, and "fees the fummit of creation as in a vale, "fo great, that this prodigious extent of space is but as a point in his presence; and all this confluence of worlds, compared with his own glory, as the lighted atom that fluctuates in air, and fports in the meridian ray. Hail fovereign Goodness! all productive mind; How perfect then must the great parent shine,) Laid the vaft plan, and finifh'd the defign. ANECDOTE O F BISHOP BERKÉLY. THE very ingenious and amiable Bishop Berkely, of Cloyne in Ireland, was fc entirely contented with his income in that diocefe, that when offered by the Earl of Chesterfield (then Lord Lieutenant) a bishoprick much more beneficial than that he poffeffed, he declined it with thefe |