mony and assertion is received with unhesitating confidence. By a rapid mode of communication which has been esta. blished, their intercourses with each other are frequent and delightful, and the discoveries which are made of the operations of infinite wisdom and benevolence, are quickly circulated through all the intelligent ranks of that abode of felicity and love. Beings from other worlds occasionally visit them, and convey interesting intelligence, and affectionate congratulations from the regions whence they came; and a glorious symbol of the Divine Majesty was lately displayed in their firmament, from which was announced, in majestic but mild and transporting language-the approbation of their Creator, and his purpose of translating them, as a reward of their obedience, to another region of his empire, to behold new displays of his beneficence and

power.

"This is a specimen of the moral order and happiness which prevail among the greater part of those worlds which shine from afar in yonder firmament, but which are distinguished by a variety of peculiar circumstances, which shall be unfolded on another occasion."

Directing their view to another distant orb, which appears like a dim ruddy speck in an obscure quarter of the firmament, he may thus proceed ::-" That, too, is a world on a different scale, and in a different condition. It is a thousand times larger than the globe you once inhabited, and was originally arrayed with all that magnificence and beauty which characterize the works of the Creator. During a considerable period its inhabitants retained their allegiance to their Maker, and their affection for each other. But certain individuals, whom a principle of pride and ambition had led to desire stations of pre-eminence, having dared to violate some of the fundamental laws of their Creator, the moral turpitude which this disposition and conduct produced, gradually spread from one rank to ano. ther, till the whole mass of its inhabitants was completely contaminated, and plunged into a gulph of misery. To such a dreadful length has this depravity proceeded, that even the external aspect of that world, which was once fair as Eden, has assumed the appearance of a gloomy waste, and a barren wilderness. The rivers have been

turned out of their course, by these infatuated beings, that they might overflow and change into a marsh the once fertile plains. The earth has been dug into immense pits and chasms, and the vegetable tribes have been torn from their roots and stripped of their verdure, in order to deface the primeval beauty of creation. By these, and other horrible devastations, the ethereal fluid in which they breathed, which formerly diffused a delightful fragrance, has now become the receptacle of noisome exhalations, which nauseate and irritate every species of sensitive existence. Its brilliancy has thereby become obscured, so that their sun appears lowering through its dense vapours, like a dusky ball; and their nocturnal sky, which once presented a splendid assemblage of shining orbs, is now covered with blackness, and darkness, and tempest, through which no celestial orb ever transmits the least glimmering ray.

For

the almighty Contriver of all worlds has so arranged, proportioned, and adjusted every circumstance in the constitution of nature, that the smallest derangement, by malevolent beings, of the order he has established, is always productive of disastrous effects.

"Instead of being animated with love to their Creator, and to one another, which is the first duty of all intelligent creatures, they hate their Maker, and curse him on account of the existence he has given them; and they hate each other, with a perfect hatred. There exists among them no peace, justice, sympathy, friendship, or confidence. Every one beholds and recognises another with the countenance of a fiend, and is ever intent upon annoying him to the utmost of his power. And, were it not that their bodies are constructed on an immortal principle, so that no power less than infinite can completely destroy them, their ferocious passions would, long ere now, have effected the utter extermination of every individual in that populous but miserable world. Their bodies, which were once fair and glorious, are now covered with every mark of vileness and deformity. They have no delight in contemplating the glories of their Creator's workmanship, for they have defaced every beauty which creation displayed, when it came fresh and fair from the hand of its Maker; and the intelli

gence and wisdom they formerly possessed, are now obliterated, and changed into ignorance and folly.

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At the commencement of this affecting scene of depravity, a messenger was despatched by their Almighty Sovereign to warn them of their danger, and to urge them to reformation; but, as they had not then felt the full effects of that wretchedness into which they were plunging -after a few temporary pangs of remorse, 'they returned every one to his evil ways.' Holy intelligences, from other worlds, have occasionally been sent, to contemplate the gloomy aspect, and the sad desolations of this wretched world; in order that they might bring back intelligence to the worlds with which they are more immediately connected, of the dismal effects produced by the violation of those eternal laws of rectitude which the Governor of the universe has ordained. The Creator has, for many ages, permitted those physical and moral disorders to exist-not because he delights in the misery of any of his creatures, but because he has a regard to the ultimate happiness of the whole intelligent system. He leaves them, in the mean time, 'to eat of the fruit of their own ways,' that they may feel the full effects of their apostacy and wickedness. He has permitted them to proceed thus far in their rebellion and depravity, in order that surrounding worlds may be fully apprised of the dismal effects that must inevitably ensue on every infringement of moral order. This désolated world and its wretched inhabitants are doomed to remain in their present deplorable state, for ages yet to come, till an extensive and indelible impression be made on the inhabitants of every province of God's empire, of their eternal obligation to conform to those laws and principles of moral order which his infinite wisdom has established for the regulation of the intelligent universe; and also, that those miserable beings themselves may be aroused to consideration, led to humble themselves in his presence, and made to feel some emotions of contrition for their impiety and ingratitude. When these ends are accomplished, a bright effulgence shall suddenly illume the darkness of their night, their atmosphere shall be cleared of its vapours, and the glorious orbs of heaven shall once more burst upon their view; the astonished inhabitants

shall lift up their eyes with amazement at the wondrous and unlooked-for spectacle, and a divine messenger, arrayed in splendid majesty, shall proclaim, 'Peace from heavenGood-will from Jehovah to this guilty world.' In both hemispheres of this globe, shall the joyful message be proclaimed. This sudden and unexpected announcement will arrest the attention of every inhabitant, and rekindle in his breast those sparks of gratitude, which had been so long extinguished. To prove the sincerity of this annunciation, the 'Power of the Highest' will be interposed to purify the atmosphere, to restore the desolations which had been produced, and to renew the face of nature. A series of moral instructions will commence, and be carried on with vigour, till all be fully convinced of the folly and impiety of their conduct. Order will be gradually re-established; affectionate intercourses will commence; an indelible impression of their ingratitude and wickedness, and of the justice and benevolence of God, will be for ever fixed in their minds, which will secure them, at all future periods, from a similar apostacy; and peace, truth, and happiness shall finally reign triumphant.'

On such topics as these, may we suppose our Redeemer, in the character of Mediator, occasionally to expatiate, with irresistible eloquence, when presiding in the assem blies of his redeemed; and the emotions produced by such communications, will doubtless excite them to join in unison in celebrating the Divine character and administration, in such strains as these :-"Halleluia! the Lord God om. nipotent reigneth. True and righteous are his judgments. Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God. Thou art worthy to receive glory, honour, and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."*

Thus I have endeavoured to show, that even that por tion of the universe which lies within the reach of our

* I hope none of my readers will consider the supposition of the Redeemer occasionally delivering lectures on Divine subjects to an

assisted vision, comprehends within its capacious sphere, at least two thousand four hundred millions of worldsthat each of these worlds, being constructed by infinite wisdom, must exhibit, even in its external aspect, a scene worthy of the contemplation of every rational being-that it is highly probable, from ascertained facts, from analogy, and from revelation, that each of these worlds has a peculiarity of scenery, and of appendages, which distinguish it from every other-that there is a gradation of intellect, and beings of different orders among the inhabitants of these worlds-that it is probable their corporeal forms and their organs of sensation are likewise wonderfully diversified-and that the natural and moral history of each presents scenes and transactions different from those which are found in any other world. So that when the mind endeavours to grasp the immense number of worlds, here presented to our mental view, and considers the variety of aspect in which each of them requires to be contemplated -there appears, to such limited intellects as ours, no prospect of a termination to the survey of a scene so extensive and overwhelming; but, on the contrary, a rational pre

assembly of his saints, as either improbable, extravagant, or romantic. Since writing the above, I find, that the pious and philosophic Dr. 1. Watts entertained a similar opinion. In his sermon, "On the happiness of separate spirits," when describing the employments of the upper world, he thus expresses his sentiments on this topic:-"Perhaps you will suppose there is no such service as hearing sermons, that there is. no attendance upon the word of God there. But are we sure there are no such entertainments? Are there no lectures of Divine wisdom and grace given to the younger spirits there, by spirits of a more exalted station? Or, may not our Lord Jesus Christ himself be the everlasting Teacher of his church? May he not at solemn seasons summon all heaven to hear him publish some new and surprising discoveries which have never yet been made known to the ages of nature or of grace, and are reserved to entertain the attention, and to exalt the pleasure of spirits advanced to glory? Must we learn all by the mere contemplation of Christ's person? Does he never make use of speech to the instruction and joy of saints above.-Or, it may be, that our blessed Lord (even as he is man) has some noble and unknown way of communicating a long discourse, or a long train of ideas and discoveries to millions of blessed spirits at once, without the formalities of voice and language, and at some peculiar seasons he may thus instruct and de light his saints in heaven,"