planets; for if they bear the same proportion to their respective suns as the planets in our system do to our sun, their vast distance must render them invisible. There is reason to believe, that, like the sun, the stars have a rotary motion.

5. The number of these luminaries is as surprising as their distance; and though with the naked eye we can never discover more than 3186, yet the telescope proves them to be innumerable. In some parts of the heavens we perceive white clouds, which, on examination, prove to be clusters of stars; those are called Nebulæ. The most remarkable of these is the Galaxy, or Milky Way.

6. What an idea does this give us of the works of the great Creator! when, instead of one world and one sun, we find thousands and thousands of suns arranged around us at immense distances, attended by innumerable worlds, and these all in rapid motion, yet calm, regular, and harmonious, observing, without the slightest variation, the path marked out by Him who ruleth among the armies of heaven, and these worlds perhaps, peopled by myriads of intelligent beings! When we take a view of the universe, how little does the earth itself appear!

"A spot, a grain,

An atom, with the firmament compar'd :

And all her number'd stars, that seem to roll
Spaces incomprehensible; for such
Their distance argues !"

MILTON.

7. What then is man, who, to use the words of Dr. Paley," is confined to one of these heavenly bodies, yet bearing a less proportion to it than the smallest microscopic insect does to the plant it lives upon." (Nat. Theology, p. 411.) Yet man, so mean, comparatively so insignificant, has dared to disturb the harmony that prevails through the vast universe, and to lift up his feeble arm against the great Ruler of all.

8. How astonishing is the folly and madness of sin! yet not more astonishing than the grace and love of Jehovah. He who made the sun and moon,

And sow'd with stars the heavens thick as a field,"

bowed his heavens and came down!" was born of wo man! lived and died!" Died, that he might make peace between weak guilty man and the Lord God omnipotent!

9. He arose again for our justification, and ascended on high. And now he sends forth his heralds to proclaim peace, and, as the Ambassadors of God, to beseech and intreat these rebels that they receive not the grace of God in vain. Yea, more, he sends forth his Spirit into the world to give effect to their labors, and, to this end, to take up his dwelling in the hearts of men.

Sovereign of nature, all is thine;
The air, the earth, the sea;
By thee the orbs celestial shine,
And cherubs live by thee.

Rich in thine own essential store,
Thou call'st forth worlds at will;
Ten thousand, and ten thousand more
Would hear thy summons still.

What treasure wilt thou then confess,
And thine own portion call?

What by peculiar right possess,
Imperial Lord of all?

Thine Israel thou wilt stoop to claim,
Wilt mark them out for thine;

Ten thousand praises to thy name
For goodness so Divine!

DODDRIDGE

No. VIII.

THE TERRAQUEOUS GLOBE.

IT is not difficult to discern marks of the Divine wisdom in the form of the earth, in the distribution of it into land and water, and in the variety of its component parts.

2. The spherical form of the earth renders it capable of containing a greater number of inhabitants than it possibly could if it had been of the same bulk, and of any other shape. It is also more convenient for the dif

fusion of light, as its return is more regular and gradual than if the earth had been, as some have absurdly supposed, a spacious plain. This form is better adapted to the more general distribution of water.

3. If, for example, the mass of the earth was like a cube, or any other angular figure, the water, by the laws of grity, would flow to the lowest parts, or those nearest the centre; these would be drowned, whilst the rest would be parched with drought. In this case, the motion of the winds would be considerably impeded. We know, by experience, what influence ranges of lofty mountains have on the winds, though the highest mountaius bear but a very small proportion to the earth's diameter: any considerable angles, therefore, like what we are supposing, would stop the current of the atmosphere, and deprive some parts of the earth of those healthful gales.

4. Another disadvantage would be, that a communication between the different parts of the earth would be very difficult, and a large portion of it be quite uninhabitable, in consequence of its being composed, as it would in this case, of vast mountains. That form of the earth which the great Creator has made choice of, is wisely calculated, as much as possible, to obviate these difficulties.

5. At the beginning, the solid and fluid parts of the earth were mingled together, till the voice of the great Creator said, "Let the waters be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear ;" and herein appears both the wisdom and goodness of God. The water nourishes an immense variety of plants and animals, while the dry land supports and feeds as great a variety of them. Millions of beings exist which could never have been supported, if this separation had not taken place.

6. In the dry land we discover an amazing variety of parts, as sand, gravel, stone, clay, &c. ; on the surface of the earth, soils of different kinds, suited to the production and support of the different plants which grow in it ; so that in some part of the earth every plant will grow and flourish. The utmost industry of man can penetrate but a little way into the internal parts of the earth; as

far as we can reach, it is found to be composed of dis similar strata, or layers, lying one upon another, usually in an inclined position. These strata consist of earths of various kinds, metals, minerals, &c.

7. Nor let the miner grudge the fatigue of digging into the bowels of the earth for the minerals he raises there, when it is considered, that if coal or ore lay on the surface of the earth, instead of mould, it would be. barren and unfruitful. Were our fields covered with gold dust, they would not bring forth those vegetables which supply the wants of man and beast, and without which both would perish.

8. The knowledge of the original formation of the earth, and by what means the materials of which it consists were disposed in their present order, has exercised the ingenuity of philosophers in all ages. Various and opposite have been their theories, and each of them clogged with difficulties.

9. Whether the different combinations were by the action of gravity, or by any other means, we have it not in our power to determine, nor will our speculations on the subject be probably attended with much benefit. "It is impossible," says a judicious author, "to shew how, by any natural means, matter could put itself in the order in which we now see it." The word of God says, "He spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast." With this declaration the Christian Philosopher should be satisfied.

10. Indeed, there seems in every branch of knowledge, natural as well as religious, a certain point, of which it may be said, "Thus far shalt thou go, and no farther :" but vain man would be wise; and aiming higher than God permits, be sinks into absolute folly: like the fabled Icarus, who, seeking to rise in the air on his waxen wings, melted them in the heat of the sun, and fell into the depths of the ocean.

11. Of this absurdity there cannot be a stronger instance than the conclusion of Sir W. Hamilton, from certain appearances of the lava of Vesuvius, that the scriptural account of the creation of the world is not to be relied on. Let the follies into which men of the finest minds have been betrayed, teach us humility and

simplicity in the pursuit of truth; and let us be content to admire and adore where we cannot penetrate.

12. O, reader! forget not that the earth, on whose surface you now tread, and which furnishes you with the food you eat, must soon be your resting-place: its bowels will contain your dust, with the dust of millions. There is a grave waiting for you: nor need you fear to be laid in it, trusting in his righteousness, whose sacred body, though now seated on a throne, once inhabited the grave; who died for our redemption, and rose again for our justification.

THE sea is supposed to cover a part of the surface of the earth which equals, if not exceeds, the dry land. In the existence of this vast body of water we may discover the same proofs of Divine wisdom, and the same designs of general utility which appear in the other parts of the creation. "O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches, so is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great." Psalm civ. 24, 25.

2. Naturalists have taken great pains to inform themselves of the varieties which prevail amongst the inhabitants of the deep more than 6000 different species of fish have been discovered; but Mr. Ray imagines that we are not acquainted with half the kinds which really exist. Of some species of fish the number seems almost infinite! For ages past, how many of the human race have been supplied with food from the sea, and yet its riches seem unexhausted.