one of the planets been luminous and the sun opake.

It

10. Before we conclude this part of our enquiry, we must briefly allude to one other circumstance in the planetary system, which most strongly suggests the agency of a designing mind. I mean the rings which surround the planet Saturn. In order that these rings may revolve about the planet in such a manner as never to fall upon its surface, there is required a very nice adjustment of forces, both to originate, and to continue the motion. cannot be conceived that they were gradually formed by the aggregation of matter endued with gravity. For until they were fully formed they could not be supported.n It cannot be conceived that they were set in motion by one force only. For a single impulse applied at any point of one of the rings, would have brought it into contact with the planet; unless either the same impulse were impressed upon the planet, or an equal and opposite impulse were given at the same time to the ring. Again, in all the other parts of the system, regularity of form, within certain limits, is necessary in order to preserve the equilibrium of the different fluids upon the surface of

" See Vince's Sermons on the Proofs of a Deity derived from Astronomy, p. 126, &c.

the planetary bodies. And such regularity is found to exist. In these rings, on the contrary, considerable irregularity of form is necessary; for had the rings been perfectly regular, although their motion might have commenced, it would have been disturbed by the action of the other planetary bodies, and they would in time have fallen upon the surface of the planet. And in this instance, where irregularity of form is wanted, there it is found. Their figure being thus irregular, and the plane in which they move being coincident with that of the planet's equator, and also with the orbits of six of its seven satellites, the motion although so delicately balanced, is not liable to be disturbed by the mutual action of the other bodies in the system. It is impossible to contemplate these various adjustments, without the fullest conviction that herein is displayed the design of God.

11. An accurate numerical relation P is also found between the positions, and consequently between the mean motions, of the three principal

° Méc. Céleste, Part. I. Liv. III. ch. vi. § 46.

P The relation is such that the mean motion of the first, together with twice the mean motion of the third, is equal to three times the mean motion of the second: and the mean longitude of the first, together with twice the mean longitude of the third exceeds three times the mean longitude of the second by half the circumference. Méc. Celeste, Part. I. Liv. II. ch. viii. §. 66.

Relation between the Motions of Jupiter's Satellites. 59

satellites of the planet Jupiter, which it is impossible to account for without design. Although we may not be able to shew what the ultimate intention of such a relation is, we may perceive one beneficial consequence derived from it; that the surface of the planet during the night is always illuminated by the reflected light of, at least, one of its satellites. And the most hardy advocates for the effects of chance could never advance an assertion so utterly improbable as that this relation could have taken place without design, even to such a degree of accuracy as would permit the mutual action of the bodies to establish the relation exactly. Neither has observation hitherto detected such a periodical inequality as would subsist, if the initial motions had sensibly varied from the present.

The consideration of circumstances such as these can leave no doubt upon a reasonable mind that the heavens and the earth display the wisdom of their Creator by affording explicit evidence of design. The study of the works of nature leads us to acknowledge, that the Lord

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created the heavens," that it is "God himself that formed the earth and made it: he hath established it, he created it not in vain: he formed it to be inhabited."

Isaiah xlv. 18.

LECTURE IV.

CONSIDERATION OF THE OBJECTIONS TO NATURAL AND REVEALED RELIGION, WHICH HAVE BEEN DRAWN FROM ASTRONOMICAL PRINCIPLES.

Psalm XIX. 1—6.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handy work. Day unto day uttereth speech; and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words unto the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun; which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it; and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

The conclusion has already been drawn, from circumstances connected with the study of astronomy, that the material heavens were framed by a Being of the greatest power and of consummate wisdom. It might appear almost incredible, that so obvious a consequence should ever have been denied. And yet there have been found those, who have attempted, by continually removing the point at which Divine interference

was necessary, to insinuate at least the possibility that the whole scheme of the universe is nothing more than the necessary consequence of properties inherent in matter: that, consequently, the heavens do not declare the glory of God, nor does the firmament shew his handy work.

I. 1. Among other hypotheses far too visionary to deserve mention, the theory, by which one celebrated philosopher attempted to account for the motions of the planets and satellites, is well known. Buffon conceived that a comet grazed the surface of the sun, and drove from it torrents of liquid matter, which, uniting in several masses by the mutual gravitation of their particles, assumed a spherical form, and became planets and satellites. He thus attempted to remove the necessity of the interference of the Divine counsel to direct, and of the Divine arm to set in motion, the bodies which compose one system.

There are, however, circumstances in the planetary motions entirely irreconcileable with this supposition. Planets so formed might have moved in orbits, which deviated little from one plane and all their motions about the sun might have been in the same direction. But the uniformity which is found to exist in the direction of their rotation about their axes, and in the motions of their satellites would be entirely