exert a moral influence on the temperaments and destinies of en except in so far as they tend to raise our affections to their Almighty Author, and excite us to confide in his care, and to contemplate the effects of his wisdom and omnipotence. The heavens are set before us, not as the "Book of Fate," in which we may pry into the secrets of our future destiny, which would only serve to destroy activity, and increase the pressure of our present afflictions -but as the "Book of God," in which we may read his wondrous works, contemplate the glory of his eternal empire, and be excited to extend our views to those expansive scenes of endless felicity which await the faithful in the realms above.

Independently of the considerations above stated, the study of astronomy is attended with many advantages in a moral, intellectual, and religious point of view.

1. This department of science unfolds to us the most striking displays of the perfections of the Deity,-particularly the grandeur of his Omnipotence. His Wisdom is conspicuously displayed in the general arrangement of the heavenly orbs, particularly in reference to the globes which compose the solar system-in placing near the centre of this system that immense luminary the Sun, from whence light and heat might be distributed, in due proportion, to all the worlds the roll around it-in nicely proportionating the motions and distances of all the planets primary and secondary-in uniting them in one harmonious system, by one grand universal law which prevents them from flying off in wild confusion through the infinity of space-in te constancy and regularity of their motions, no one interfering with another, or deviating from the course prescribed-in the exactness with which they run their destined rounds, finishing their circuits with so much accuracy as not to deviate from their periods of revolution, the hundredth part of a minute in a thousand years-in the spherical figures given to all those mighty orbs, and the diurnal motions impressed upon them, by which a due proportion of light and heat is diffused over every part of their surface. The Benevolence of the Deity shines no less conspicuous in those upper regions, in ordering all the movements an arrangements of the celestial globes so as to act in subserviency to the comfort and happiness of sentient and intelligent beings. For, the wisdom of God is never employed in devising means without an end; and the grand end of all his arrangements, in so far as our views extend, is the communication of happiness; and it would be inconsistent with the wisdom and other perfections of God not to admit, that the same end is kept in view in every part of his dominions, however far removed from the sphere of our contemplation. The heavens, therefore, must be considered as presenting a boundless scene of Divine benevolence. For they unfold to view a countless number of magnificent globes, calculated to be the habitations of various orders of beings, and which are, doubtless, destined to be the abodes of intellectual life. For the character of the Deity would be impeached, and his wisdom virtually denied, were we to suppose him to arrange and establish a magnificent series of means without an end corresponding, in utility and dignity, to the grandeur of the contrivance. When, therefore, we consider the innu

merable worlds which must exist throughout the immensity of space, the countless myriads of intelligences that people thein, the various ranks and orders of intellect that may exist among them, the innumerable diversified arrangements which are made for promoting their enjoyment, and the peculiar displays of Divine benig nity enjoyed in every world-we are presented with a scene of Divine goodness and beneficence which overpowers our conceptions, and throws completely into the shade all that we perceive or enjoy within the confines of this sublunary world. And, although the minute displays of Divine benevolence in distant worlds are not yet particularly unfolded to our view, yet this circumstance does not prove that no such displays exist;-and as we are destined to an immortal life, in another region of creation, we shall, doubtless, be favoured with a more expansive view of the effects of Divine benignity in that eternal scene which lies before us.

But this science exhibits a more striking display than any other of the Omnipotent energies of the Eternal Mind. It presents before us objects of overpowering magnitude and splendour-planetary globes a thousand times larger than the earth-magnificent rings which would nearly reach from the earth to the moon, and would enclose within their vast circumference 500 worlds as large as ours-suns a million times larger than this earthly ball, diffusing their light over distant worlds-and these suns scattered in every direction through the immensity of space, at immeasurable distances from each other, and in multitudes of groups which no man can numbe, presenting to the eye and the imagination a perspective of starry systems, boundless as immensity.-It presents to our view motions so astonishing as to overpower and almost terrify the imagination-bodies a thousand times larger than the earth flying with a velocity of 29,000 miles an hour, performing circuits more than three thousand millions of miles in circumference, and carrying along with them a retinue of revolving worlds in their swift career; nay, motions, at the rate of 880,000 miles an hour, have been perceived among the celestial orbs, which as far surpass the motions we behold around us in this lower world, as the heavens in height surpass the earth. Such motions are perceived not only in the solar system, but in the most distant regions of the universe, among double stars-they are regular and uninterrupted-they have been going forward for thousands, perhaps for millions of years-there is perhaps no body in the universe but is running its round with similar velocity; and it is not unlikely that the whole machine of universal nature is in perpetual motion amidst the spaces of immensity, and will continue thus to move throughout all the periods of endless duration. Such objects and such motions evidently display the omnipotence of the Creator beyond every other scene which creation presents; and, when seriously contemplated, cannot but inspire us with the most lofty and impressive conceptions of the "eternal power" and majesty of Him who sits on the throne of the universe, and by whom all its mighty movements are conducted. They demonstrate, that his agency is universal and uncontrollable --that he is able to accomplish all his designs, however incompre hensible to mortals--that no created being can frustrate his pur

poses, and that he is worthy of our highest affection, and our incessant adoration.

2. Astronomy disp.ays before us the extent and grandeur of God's universal empire. The globe we inhabit, with all its appendages, torms a portion of the Divine empire, and, when minutely investi gated, exhibits a striking display of its Creator's power, benignity, and intelligence. But it forms only one small province of his universal dominions-an almost undistinguishable speck in the great map of the universe: and if we confine our views solely to the limits of this terrestrial ball, and the events which have taken place on its surface, we must form a very mean and circumscribed idea of the extent of the Creator's kingdom and the range of his moral government. But the discoveries of astronomy have extended our views to other provinces of the empire of Omnipotence, far more spacious and magnificent. They demonstrate, that this earth, with all its vast oceans and mighty continents, and numerous population, ranks among the smaller provinces of this empire-that the globes composing the system to which it belongs, (without including the sun,) contain an extent of territory more than two thousand times larger than our world-that the sun himself is more than 500 times larger than the whole, and that, although they were all at this moment buried in oblivion, they would scarcely be missed by an eye that could survey the whole range of creation.-They demonstrate, that ten thousands of suns, and ten thousand times ten thousands of revolving worlds are dispersed throughout every region of boundless space, displaying the creating and supporting energies of Omnipotence; and consequently, are all under the care and superintendence of Him "who doth according to his will in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth." Such an empire, and such only, appears corresponding to the perfections of Him who has existed from eternity past, whose power is irresistible, whose goodness is unbounded, and whose presence fills the immensity of space; and it leads us to entertain the most exalted sentiments of admiration at the infinite intelligence implied in the superintendence of such vast dominions, and at the boundless beneficence displayed among the countless myriads of sensitive and intellectual beings which must people his wide domains.

3. The objects which this science discloses, afford subjects of sunlime contemplation, and tend to elevate the soul above vicious passions and grovelling pursuits. In the hours of retirement and solitude what can be more delightful, than to wing our way in imagination amidst the splendid objects which the firmament displays-to take our flight along with the planets in their wide career-to behold them running their ample rounds with velocities forty times swifter than a cannon ball-to survey the assemblages of their moons, revolving around them in their respective orders, and carried at the same time, along with their primaries, through the depths of space -to contemplate the magnificent arches which adorn the firmament ef Saturn, whirling round that planet at the rate of a thousand miles in a minute, and displaying their radiance and majestic movements to an admiring population-to add scene to scene, and magnitude to magnitude, till the mind acquire an ample conception of such

august objects to dive into the depths of infinite space till we be surrounded with myriads of suns and systems of worlds, extending oeyond the range of mortal comprehension, and all running their appointed rounds, and accomplishing the designs of beneficence in obedience to the mandate of their Almighty Author? Such objects afford matter for rational conversation, and for the most elevated contemplation. In this ample field the most luxuriant imagination may range at large, representing scenes and objects in endless va riety and extent; and, after its boldest excursions, it can scarcel go beyond the reality of the magnificent objects which exist withii the range of creating power and intelligence.

The frequent contemplation of such objects tends to enlarge the capacity of the mind, to ennoble the human faculties, and raise the soul above grovelling affections and vicious pursuits. For the dispositions of mankind and their active pursuits generally correspond to the train of thought in which they most frequently indulge. If these thoughts run among puerile and vicious objects, such will be the general character of their affections and conduct. If their trair of thinking take a more elevated range, the train of their actions, and the passions they display, will, in some measure, be correspondent.

Can we suppose, that a man whose mind is daily conversant with the noble and expansive objects to which I have adverted, would have his soul absorbed in the pursuits of ambition, tyranny, oppression, war, and devastation?

Would he rush like a madman through burning cities, and mangled carcasses of the slain, in order to trample under foot the rights of mankind, and enjoy a proud pre-eminence over his fellows-and find pleasure in such accursed pursuits?

Would he fawn on statesmen and princes, and violate every moral principle, in order to obtain a pension, or a post of opulence or honour? Would he drag his fellow-men to the stake, because they worshipped God according to the dictates of their consciences, and behold with pleasure their bodies roasting in the flames?

Would he drive men, women, and children from their homes, loaded with chains and fetters, to pine in misery and to perish in a distant land, merely because they asserted the rights to which they were entitled as citizens and as rational beings?

Or, would he degrade himself below the level of the brutes by a daily indulgence in rioting and drunkenness, till his faculties were benumbed, and his body found wallowing in the mire?

It is scarcely possible to suppose that such passions and conduct would be displayed by the man who is habitually engaged in celestial contemplations, and whose mind is familiar with the august objects which the firmament displays. "If men were taught to act in view of all the bright worlds which are looking down upon them, they could not be guilty of those abominable cruelties" which some scenes so mournfully display. We should then expect, that the iron rod of oppression would be broken in pieces-that war would cease its horrors and devastations that liberty would be

proclaimed to the captives-that "righteousness would run down our streets as a river," and a spirit congenial to that of the inhabitants of heaven would be displayed by the rulers of nations, and by all the families of the earth. For all the scenes which the firmament exhibits have a tendency to inspire tranquillity—to produce a love of harmony and order, to stain the pride of human grandeurto display the riches of Divine beneficence-to excite admiration and reverence-and to raise the soul to God as the Supreme Director of universal nature, and the source and centre of all true enjoy. ment; and such sentiments and affections are directly opposed to the degrading pursuits and passions which have contaminated the society of our world, and entailed misery on our species.

I might have added, on this head, that the study of this subject has a peculiar tendency to sharpen and invigorate the mental fac ulties. It requires a considerable share of attention and of intel lectual acumen to enter into all the particulars connected with the principles and facts of astronomical science. The elliptical form of the planetary orbits, and the anomalies thence arising, the mutation of the earth's axis, the causes of the seasons, the difficulty of reconciling the apparent motions of the planets with their real motions in circular or elliptical orbits, the effects produced by centrifugal and centripetal forces, the precession of the equinoxes, the aberration of light, the method of determining the distances and magnitudes of the celestial bodies, mean and apparent time, the irregu larity of the moon's motion, the difficulty of forming adequate ideas of the immense spaces in which the heavenly bodies move, and their enormous size, and various other particulars, are apt, at first view, to startle and embarrass the mind, as if they were beyond the reach of its comprehension. But, when this science is imparted to the young under the guidance of enlightened instructors-when they are shown not merely pictures, globes and orreries, but directed to observe with their own eyes, and with the assistance of telescopes, all the interesting phenomena of the heavens, and the motions which appear, whether real or apparent-when they are shown the spots of the sun, the moons and belts of Jupiter, the phases of Venus, the rings of Saturn, and the mountains and vales which diversify the surface of the moon-such objects tend to awaken the attention, to expand the faculties, to produce a taste for rational investigation, and to excite them to more eager and diligent inquiries into the subject. The objects appear so grand and novel, and strike the senses with so much force and pleasure, that the mind is irresistibly led to exert all its energies in those investigations and observations by which it may be enabled to grasp all the principles and facts of the science. And every difficulty which is surmounted adds a new stimulus to the exertions of the intellect, urges it forward with delight in the path of improvement, and thus invigorates the mental powers, and prepares them for engaging with spirit and alacrity in every other investigation.

4. The study of astronomy has a tendency to moderate the pride of man, and to promote humility. Pride is one of the distinguishing characteristics of puny man, and has been one of the chief causes of all the contentions, wars, devastations, oppressions, systems of