of which it is a part, is only one among the myriad hosts of heaven! With all its innumerable suns and systems, and the tremendous voids that lie between, it is only one company in the grand army of God; a single cluster among multitudes of others of equal and greater magnitude and splendor. 7. And, if three thousand millions of miles separate the sun from one of its planets, and twenty millions of millions of miles separate one sun from another, what, the same stupendous scale being preserved,140 what must be the breadth of that nameless profound which separates one firmament121 from another, which lies between those magnificent and mighty clusters, that, as the telescope is improved, rise upon the field of vision, troop behind troop, emerging forever out of the fathomless depths of space! ΕΙ 8. Verily, we are ready to exclaim, with the Psalmist, "O Lord God Almighty, marvellous are thy works, and thats my soul knoweth right well,―marvellous are thy works, and in wisdom and in power hast thou made them all." And, were it not that we have the assurance that they are made in goodness as well as in wisdom and power, we should almost fear lest we should be overlooked and forgotten amid this endless wilderness of worlds; often we should take up that other cry of the Psalmist,60 "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained, what is man, that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man, that thou visitest him!" EI LXV. ASTRONOMY AND IMMORTALITY. PART SECOND. 1. AND yet, after all, it is man, it is mind, it is intelligent spirit, that gives to this grand theatre of the material universe all its substantial use and worth, all its real glory! Without men and angels, without Mind to appreciate and enjoy it, to honor and glorify its Author, it would be like a splendid and costly panorama without spectators. 2. It would be as if one should compose and have performed a magnificent oratoriō without an audience! And this brings us to the argument for the endless life of the soul, the immortality of Mind, which seems necessarily and logically to grow out of the infinitude of the material universe. 3. For what is this display of worlds and suns, of galaxies and constellations and clusters, without number and without end, if the soul, so colossal in its powers, so fitted to explora appreciate, and enjoy these wonders, and through which, only these and all else can glorify God, — if this is to perish at death ana be no more forever? 4 Why is so glorious a work set out before it, and ability and energy given to perform it, but the time alone denied? For surely the present life, compared with the extent of the universe, is as a cipher to infinity. The mind has opportunity only to try its powers, to realize what it can do if time be given, and then it is crushed out, according to the gospel of unbelief, leaving the glorious work it could do all unfinished, yea, scarcely begun! ΕΙ 5. Let us look at this: let us consider how much one can do toward a thorough acquaintance with our little planet, the earth, within the space of time allotted to the ordinary life of man How much is it possible for us to accomplish in studying the surface of our globe,- its mountains, seas, rivers, plains, deserts, forests, and mines; its countless forms of animal and vegetable life, beasts and birds, fishes, reptiles, and insects, plants flowers, and fruits, — nations, languages, customs, modes of life, -history, science, and art, and so through the encyclopedia" of all knowledge possible to man in his present estate,181 - how much of this grand survey, in its endless details, is it possible for us to accomplish in a single lifetime? 82 6. Extend now this study and survey to the myriad millions of worlds and systems which we have glanced at in passing, and the myriad millions more, invisible, plunging through the fathomless profound of space. What time will be needful to this great work, what time to behold, examine, and enjoy the nameless and numberless exhibitions of the Divine power, and wisdom, and goodness, spread out on this broad and magnificent theatre of the universe, what time to become familiar with the order and arrangements, the harmonies and beauties, the life and history, of each one of these glittering orbs 2132 7. What time, but that which shall parallel this endless procession of suns and constellations? What life, but an unending one, will be long enough to look upon all the glorious wonders of Creative Power; and lift the veil from the beautiful mysteries which burn along the infinite abysses, and invite the gaze of the exulting astronomer, only to show him that they lie beyond the reach of all human efforts! 8. Is there not here, then, a presumptive proof of the endless life of the soul 2128 Has not God himself furnished us here an illustration of the great revelation of the gospel, that we live for. ever? Is He not consistent Are not all his works in har mony ? If he gives light, he gives an eye to use it. If he fills the world with a thousand delicious melodies, he forms the ear to enjoy them. If he creates us with animal needs and desires, he furnishes the means of gratifying them. 9. If he implants a religious element in man, he bestows the means of fitting culture; he gives us Revelation and Truth as an answer to the spiritual cry within. So in all things, — in all his works and arrangements, there is relation, proportion, mutual harmony. And why should it fail in the case before us now? 1. 0 THOU eternal One! whose presence bright Whom none can comprehend and none explore, 2. In its sublime research, Philosophy May measure out the ocean deep, may count And thought is lost ere thought can soar so high, 3. Thou from primēval nothingness didst call162 Sprang forth from thee, of light, joy, harmony, Thy word created all, and doth124 create; Thy splendor fills all space with rays divine. Thou art, and wert, and shalt be, glorious, great, * This first stanza affords an example of the inapplicability of rules of in flection. Many good readers will impart the rising inflection throughout in every line, even at the termination of the last; while others will introduce the falling inflection at every exclamation-point. The pupil will here experience the advantage of oral instruction from his teacher 4. Thy chains the unmeasured universe surround, Shine round the silver snow, the pageantry 5. A million torches, lighted by thy hand, Suns lighting systems with their joyous beams? 6. Yes! as a drop of water in the sea, All this magnificence in thee is lost; What are ten thousand worlds compared to thee? Heaven's unnumbered host Though multiplied by myriads, and arrayed Is but an atom in the balance, weighed Against thy greatness, - is a cipher brought 7. Naught! But the effluence of thy light divine, Pervading worlds, hath reached my bosom too; Yes! in my spirit doth thy Spirit shine, 74 As shines the sunbeam in a drop of dew.3 I am,117 O God, and surely thou must be ' 8. Thou art! directing, guiding all. Thou art! Close to the realms where angels have their birth 9. The chain of being is complete in me; I can command the lightning, and am dust! Whence came I here, and how? so marvellously 10. Creator, yes! thy wisdom and thy word 60 Its heavenly flight beyond this little sphere, 11. O thoughts ineffable! O visions blest! Though worthless our conceptions all of thee, God! thus alone my lowly thoughts can soar; DERZHAVIN, TRANSLATED BY BOWRING. LXVII. EXPRESSION IN READING. 1 'Tis not enough the voice be sound and clear, - 2. That voice all modes of passion can express 3. Some o'er the tongue the labored measures roll |