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to commerce with the skies。 What a masterpiece of workmanship is his form； while the beauty and intelligence of Gods seems to manifest itself in his countenance！ Look at that most consummate of all implements； the human hand； think of his understanding； how composed and penetrating； of the wealth of his imagination； of the resplendent virtues he is qualified to display！ 〃How wonderful are thy works； Oh God； in wisdom hast thou created them all！〃
But there are other parts of the system in which we live； which do not seem to correspond with those already enumerated。 Before we proceed to people infinite space； it would be as well； if we surveyed the surface of the earth we inhabit。 What vast deserts do we find in it； what immense tracks of burning sands！ One half of the globe is perhaps irreclaimable to the use of man。 Then let us think of earthquakes and tempests； of wasting hurricanes； and the number of vessels； freighted with human beings； that are yearly buried in the caverns o？the ocean。 Let us call to mind in man； the prime ornament of the creation； all the diseases to which his frame is subject；
Convulsions； epilepsies； fierce catarrhs； Intestine stone and ulcer； colic pangs； Demoniac frenzy； moping melancholy； And moon…struck madness； pining atrophy； Marasmus； and wide…wasting pestilence； Dropsies； and asthmas； and joint…racking rheums。
The very idea of our killing； and subsisting upon the flesh of animals； surely somewhat jars with our conceptions of infinite benevolence。
But； when we look at the political history of man； the case is infinitely worse。 This too often seems one tissue of misery and vice。 War； conquest； oppression； tyranny； slavery； insurrections； massacres； cruel punishments； degrading corporal infliction； and the extinction of life under the forms of law； are to be found in almost every page。 It is as if an evil demon were let loose upon us； and whole nations； from one decad of years to another； were struck with the most pernicious madness。 Certain reasoners tell us that this is owing to the freedom of will； without which man could not exist。 But here we are presented with an alternative； from which it is impossible for human understanding to escape。 Either God； according to our ideas of benevolence； would remove evil out of the world； and cannot； or he can； and will not。 If he has the will and not the power； this argues weakness； if he has the power and not the will； this seems to be malevolence。
Let us descend from the great stage of the nations； and look into the obscurities of private misery。 Which of us is happy？ What bitter springs of misery overflow the human heart； and are borne by us in silence！ What cruel disappointments beset us！ To what struggles are we doomed； while we struggle often in vain！ The human heart seems framed； as if to be the capacious receptacle of all imaginable sorrows。 The human frame seems constructed； as if all its fibres were prepared to sustain varieties of torment。 〃In the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat bread； till thou return to the earth。〃 But how often does that sweat prove ineffective！ There are men of whom sorrow seems to be the destiny； from which they can never escape。 There are hearts； into which by their constitution it appears as if serenity and content could never enter； but which are given up to all the furious passions； or are for ever the prey of repining and depression。 Ah； little think the gay； licentious proud； Whom pleasure； power and affluence surround； How many pine in want！ How many shrink Into the sordid hut； how many drink The cup of grief； and eat the bitter bread Of misery！
And； which aggravates the evil； almost all the worst vices； the most unprincipled acts； and the darkest passions of the human mind； are bred out of poverty and distress。 Satan； in the Book of Job； says to the Almighty； 〃Thou hast blessed the work of thy servant； and his substance is increased in the land。 But put forth thy hand now； and take away all that he hath； and he will curse thee to thy face。〃 The prayer of Agar runs； 〃Feed me with food convenient for me； lest I be poor； and steal； and take the name of my God in vain。〃
It is with a deep knowledge of the scenes of life； that the prophet pronounces； 〃My thoughts are not your thoughts； neither are your ways my ways； saith the Lord。〃
All reflecting persons； who have surveyed the state of the world in which we live； have been struck with the contrarieties of sublunary things； and many hypotheses have been invented to solve the enigma。 Some have maintained the doctrine of two principles； Oromasdes and Arimanius； the genius of good and of evil； who are perpetually contending with each other which shall have the greatest sway in the fortunes of the world； and each alternately acquiring the upper hand。 Others have inculcated the theory of the fall of man； that God at first made all things beautiful and good； but that man has incurred his displeasure； and been turned out of the paradise for which he was destined。 Hence； they say； has arisen the corruption of our nature。 〃There is none that cloth good； no； not one。 That every mouth may be stopped； and all the world become guilty before God。〃 But the solution that has been most generally adopted； particularly in later days； is that of a future state of retribution； in which all the inequalities of our present condition shall be removed； the tears of the unfortunate and the sufferer shall be wiped from their eyes； and their agonies and miseries compensated。 This； in other words； independently of the light of revelation； is to infer infinite wisdom and benevolence from what we see； and then； finding the actual phenomena not to correspond with our theories； to invent something of which we have no knowledge； to supply the deficiency。
The astronomer however proceeds from what we see of the globe of earth； to fashion other worlds of which we have no direct knowledge。 Finding that there is no part of the soil of the earth into which our wanderings can penetrate； that is not turned to the account of rational and happy beings； creatures capable of knowing and adoring their creator； that nature does nothing in vain； and that the world is full of the evidences of his unmingled beneficence； according to our narrow and imperfect ideas of beneficence； （for such ought to be our premises） we proceed to construct millions of worlds upon the plan we have imagined。 The earth is a globe； the planets are globes； and several of them larger than our earth： the earth has a moon； several of the planets have satellites： the globe we dwell in moves in an orbit round the sun； so do the planets： upon these premises； and no more； we hold ourselves authorised to affirm that they contain 〃myriads of intelligent beings； formed for endless progression in perfection and felicity。〃 Having gone thus far； we next find that the fixed stars bear a certain resemblance to the sun； and； as the sun has a number of planets attendant on him； so； we say； has each of the fixed stars； composing all together 〃ten thousand times ten thousand〃 habitable worlds。
All this is well； so long as we view it as a bold and ingenious conjecture。 On any other subject it would be so regarded； and we should consider it as reserved for the amusement and gratification of a fanciful visionary in the hour； when he gives up the reins to his imagination。 But； backed as it is by a complexity of geometrical right lines and curves； and handed forth to us in large quartos； stuffed with calculations； it experiences a very different fortune。 We are told that； 〃by the knowledge we derive from astronomy； our faculties are enlarged； our minds exalted； and our understandings clearly convinced； and affected with the conviction； of the existence； wisdom； power； goodness； immutability and superintendency of the supreme being； so that； without an hyperbole； 'an undevout astronomer is mad＇e＇＇70＇。'〃
＇70＇ Ferguson； Astronomy； Section I。
It is singular； how deeply I was impressed with this representation； while I was a schoolboy； and was so led to propose a difficulty to the wife of the master。 I said； 〃I find that we have millions of worlds round us peopled with rational creatures。 I know not that we have any decisive reason for supposing these creatures more exalted； than the wonderful species of which we are individuals。 We are imperfect； they are imperfect。 We fell； it is reasonable to suppose that they have fallen also。 It became necessary for the second person in the trinity to take upon him our nature； and by suffering for our sins to appease the wrath of his father。 I am unwilling to believe that he has less commiseration for the inhabitants of other planets。 But in that case it may be supposed that since the creation he has been making a circuit of the planets； and dying on the cross for the sins of rational creatures in uninterrupted succession。〃 The lady was wiser than I； admonished me of the danger of being over…inquisitive； and said we should act more discreetly in leaving those questions to the judgment of the Almighty。
But thus far we have reasoned only on one side of the question。 Our pious sentiments have led us to magnify the Lord in all his wo