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pulsation of the blood； will not reach us from some of those remote
worlds in one hundred thousand years。 So marvellous shall be the
victories of science； that the perturbations of the planets in
their courses shall reveal the existence of a new one more distant
than Uranus； and Leverrier shall tell at what part of the heavens
that star shall first be seen。
So far as we have discovered； the universe which we have observed
with telescopic instruments has no limits that mortals can define；
and in comparison with its magnitude our earth is less than a grain
of sand； and is so old that no genius can calculate and no
imagination can conceive when it had a beginning。 All that we know
is； that suns exist at distances we cannot define。 But around what
centre do they revolve？ Of what are they composed？ Are they
inhabited by intelligent and immortal beings？ Do we know that they
are not eternal； except from the divine declaration that there WAS
a time when the Almighty fiat went forth for this grand creation？
Creation involves a creator； and can the order and harmony seen in
Nature's laws exist without Supreme intelligence and power？ Who；
then； and what； is God？ 〃Canst thou by searching find out Him？
Knowest thou the ordinances of Heaven？ Canst thou bind the sweet
influences of the Pleiades； or loose the bands of Orion？〃 What an
atom is this world in the light of science！ Yet what dignity has
man by the light of revelation！ What majesty and power and glory
has God！ What goodness； benevolence； and love； that even a sparrow
cannot fall to the ground without His notice；that we are the
special objects of His providence and care！ Is there an
imagination so lofty that will not be oppressed with the
discoveries that even the telescope has made？
Ah； to what exalted heights reason may soar when allied with faith！
How truly it should elevate us above the evils of this brief and
busy existence to the conditions of that other life；
〃When the soul；
Advancing ever to the Source of light
And all perfection； lives； adores； and reigns
In cloudless knowledge； purity； and bliss！〃
AUTHORITIES。
Delambre； Histoire de l'Astronomie； Arago； Histoire de
l'Astronomie； Life of Galileo； in Cabinet Library； Life of Galileo；
by Brewster； Lives of Galileo； by Italian and Spanish Literary Men；
Whewell's History of Inductive Sciences； Plurality of Worlds；
Humboldt's Cosmos； Nichols' Architecture of the Heavens； Chalmers'
Astronomical Discourses； Life of Kepler； Library of Useful
Knowledge； Brewster's Life of Tycho Brahe； of Kepler； and of Sir
Isaac Newton； Mitchell's Stellar and Planetary Worlds； Bradley's
Correspondence； Airy's Reports； Voiron's History of Astronomy；
Philosophical Transactions； Everett's Oration on Galileo； Life of
Copernicus； Bayly's Astronomy； Encyclopaedia Britannica； Art。
Astronomy； Proctor's Lectures。
End