insignificancy, relatively to the great features of the globe, would necessarily diminish in the same ratio. The smaller the disproportion between the man and the mountain, the less would be the relative insignificance of the former; and although the increase of magnitude in the smaller object be ever so inconsiderable, yet, if it is positive and real, its dignity must be proportionately increased in the true nature of things: the bigger the being that crawls upon the surface of this globe, the less absurd would be the supposition that he is the final object of this terrestrial creation. The Irish giant, therefore, whose altitude exceeded the measure of eight feet, would exceed in relative dignity, by the same proportion, Bacon and Newton, whose height did not attain to six feet. The Brobdignag, would far excel the Irish giant; whilst, on the other hand, that diminutive race of illustrious men, which, by Lord Clarendon's relation, distinguished the unhappy times in which he lived', would sink into extreme insignificance, compared with a magnitude so considerable and respectable as that of the Brobdignag. If this is nonsense, then must that also be nonsense from which it is the genuine conclusion: viz. that the material magnitudes of the little beings, or their duration upon the earth on which they "crawl,” determines, in any manner, their importance in the creation, relatively to the primordial moun Life, p. 28, fol.-Lord Falkland, Hales, Chillingworth, &c. tains which arise above it, or to the extent of the regions which may be surveyed from their summits. For, if the same physically small beings possess another magnitude, which can be brought to another and a different scale of computation from that of physical or material magnitude; a scale, infinitely surpassing in importance the greatest measures of that magnitude; then, there will be nothing irrational or surprising in the supposition, that the highest mountains, and the widest regions, and the entire system to which they pertain, may be entirely subservient to the ends of those smaller beings, and to that other system to which these pertain; which latter, will thus be found superior in importance to the former. Such a scale is that, by which the intelligent, moral, and immortal nature of MAN is to be measured, and which the sacred historian calls, a formation " after the image and "likeness of GOD:" a scale, so little taken into the contemplation of the science of mere physics. As soon, however, as that moral scale of magnitude once supersedes the physical scale in the apprehension of the mind; as soon as the mind perceives, that the duration of that intelligent moral nature infinitely exceeds any "epocha of Nature" which the most vigorous imagination of the mineral geology can represent to itself; and that, though the physical nature of man is limited to a very small measure of time, yet his moral nature is unlimited in time, and will outlast all the mountains of the globe; it then at once perceives the counterfeit quality of the philosophy, which at first appeared so sublime and so humble, so profound and so devout. Say, know'st thou what thou art? "Know'st thou th' importance of a soul immortal? "Behold this midnight glory! worlds on worlds! "Ten thousand add; add twice ten thousand more; "Of unintelligent creation, poor '!"' But, if we would find the principle of that crude and abortive reflection brought to its full birth, and delivered forth in all the perfection of its symmetry, we shall find it ready to our hand; not indeed in the Chanter of Nature, but, in the Psalmist of God; not in the sphere of physical inspiration only, but, where moral inspiration exalted the mind to the immediate presence of the Great First Cause, as the final scope to which universal existence, both moral and physical, invariably and immediately points. points. It will then assume this exalted form: "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, or the son of MAN, that THOU visitest him! THOU madest "him but a little lower than the angels, THOυ hast "crowned him with glory and honour. THOU hast 66 66 66 1 YOUNG, Night Thoughts. "made him to HAVE DOMINION over the works of "THY hands, THOU hast put all things in subjection "under his feet!" Here, we trace the aerial soar of the eagle, instead of the heavy ground-flight of the earthfowl; we perceive the aspiring sublimity of revelation, instead of the flatulency of a terrene philosophy; we discern the true humiliation of religious gratitude, instead of an affected depreciation of our highly favoured nature; and we become practically sensible of the infinite disparity of the effects wrought in the soul, by contemplating the chaotic crystallisations of the Mineral geology, or the Creative Fiat of the Mosaical. CHAPTER IX. LET us now return to the record, which is thus concluded by the historian : 66 "Thus, the HEAVENS and the EARTH were 'finished, and all the host of them. 66 Now, on the SEVENTH DAY GOD had ended "His work which He had made; wherefore, on the SEVENTH DAY HE rested after all His work which He had made. 66 "And GOD blessed the SEVENTH DAY, and SANCTIFIED it; because that in it HE rested after all His work, which GOD had created and 66 made." 66 Thus, in the distribution of the days, (says Bacon,) we see, that the day on which God "rested and contemplated His works, was blessed "above all the days during which the fabric of the "universe was created and arranged'.—He then 66 66 gave them constant and perpetual laws, which we call of nature, which is nothing but the "laws of the Creation;" and accordingly (as we have seen), Josephus observes, "that Moses only 66 66 begins to speak of nature, or natural operations, after the seventh day." To declare the immediate De Aug. Scient. vol. iv. lib. i. p. 37. See above, p. 202, 203. |