tudes. Those which are nearest seem to us the largest, and are called stars of the first magnitude; those which are farther removed appear less, and designated stars of the second magnitude; and thus a regular gradation may be traced to those of the sixth magnitude, which are the smallest observable without a telescope. By the aid of this optical instrument, more than three thousand stars have been discovered; but the number of their attendant planets and satellites must be beyond calculation, since an eminent British astronomer who had often viewed the clusters of stars in the milky way, counted no less than two hundred and fifty eight thousand, which passed across the lenses of his magnifying telescope in the space of an hour. A French astronomer who has directed his attention to these speculations, computes, that there must be upwards of seventy-five millions of stars in the heavens, as far as our researches can enable us to trace them; but this number, amazing though it be, is only a few of those which revolve in the immeasurable regions of space, and which must for ever remain unobserved by mankind who are placed at such an immense distance.

From such discoveries of the magnitude and extent of the works of the Almighty, we are lost in astonishment and wonder, and must feel sentiments of devout admiration at his omnipotent power, "who hath created all things, and for whose pleasure they are and were created."

When we consider the infinite host of stars, and planets revolving round them in their various orbits, when we conceive other suns and worlds rising above them in endless progression and maintaining their stations with undeviating order; how can we express our sentiments of the greatness, wisdom, and goodness of Him who created and governs the whole! "For by the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth." And if we farther reflect, that these myriads of worlds are probably the residence of intelligent beings, who all know and worship their Almighty Creator, what august conceptions are we taught to entertain of the system of the universe, in which innumerable myriads of rational souls are sup

ported by the care of their Heavenly Father, and pre paring along with us for the enjoyment of future glory in the mansions of bliss. Let every creature in heaven and on the earth say, "blessing and honour and glory be unto our God for he ruleth for ever and ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end."

Ver. 17. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven, to give light upon the earth,

18. And to rule over the day, and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

19. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

The sun and moon are the two luminous bodies which enlighten our globe; the one during the day, and the other during the night; but as the splendour of the sun far exceeds that of the moon, hence the day when the former shines is justly denominated light, and the night when the latter reflects her beams is comparatively dark.

This

As

They are said to be placed in the firmament, which is a mode of expression derived from the apparent position of the heavenly bodies in the aerial regions. To a spectator who views them from the earth, they seem to revolve periodically through the sky from east to west, and though they indeed change their situations in the heavens from time to time; yet the rotatory motion which they exhibit arises in reality from our viewing them as we are carried round on the earth in a contrary direction. may be easily exemplified by a simple comparison. we walk or ride along a road, the trees and hedges on either side of us seem to be moving in a retrograde manner, though they indeed remain immoveable; so likewise, as the earth daily revolves round her axis at the rate of a thousand miles an hour from west to east; we who are stationed on her surface imagine that the sun is in motion, though in truth the earth is moving while he is at rest. It is by this progressive change of place, that the phaenomena of light and darkness are produced; for when the earth in her diurnal rotation gradually exposes any

part of her hemisphere within sight of the sun, day immediately commences, and when she withdraws any part of her surface from the reach of his beams, night or darkness as invariably ensues.

Hence we have the alternate succession of day and night according as the one half of the earth is turned towards, or from the sun.

Upon the same principle the phases of the moon may be explained; for when the disk of that luminary is not exposed to the solar rays, she is for a few days invisible; till by the successive evolutions in her orbit, she receives more and more of his light, and at her last quadrature the whole of her surface becomes visible. Such is the cause of those appearances observable among the heavenly bodies with which we are acquainted by the investigations of astronomy.

This wonderful economy of nature is well adapted to promote the most beneficial purposes to the world and its inhabitants; and may justly be said to be very good. For by the light and heat transmitted from the sun during the day, the productions of the earth are nourished, while men and other animals are thereby enabled to provide their food, and transact their business; and by the coolness and darkness of the night the earth is refreshed, while every living thing enjoys the repose of sleep, to renovate their bodies wearied out by fatigue and labour. Thus, hath our beneficent Creator provided for our comfort by the creation of the heavens and the productions of the earth, which were completed on the fourth day.

From the whole of this subject, we may learn many important lessons, for exciting in our minds admiration of the divine perfections, and gratitude for the divine goodness.

1. Let us thence learn to acknowledge the power and wisdom of God, as manifested in the works of creation. What power less than infinite could have formed such immense bodies as the sun, moon, and stars, poized them in their orbits, and supported them in those stations, which they occupy from age to age. The power of man and of every created being is nothing, yea, less than nothing and vanity, when compared with that of the Creator of the universe. We cannot make the smallest

substance on the face of the earth, even the production of a pile of grass is above the power of any human being, however sagacious. But "by the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth;" he spake and they were called into existence, he commanded and all things stood fast.-Let us therefore adore his omnipotent greatness," since the invisible things of Him are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead "

2. Let us learn to be grateful for the goodness of God manifested to us by the works of his hands. He hath prepared the earth as a comfortable residence for our accommodation; he hath supplied us with every production which is necessary for our sustenance and health, he giveth us food to eat, and raiment to put on, and filleth our hearts with joy and gladness. He hath rendered the earth prolific to nourish those vegetable substances which are suited to our use, furnished such an abundant t provision as satifies the desire of every living thing, and adapted the influences of the sun, moon, and atmosphere to contribute to the enjoyment of our lives. He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and t sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. The goodness of the Lord endureth continually, and he daily loadeth us with his benefits. "O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men."

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3. Let us learn to study and contemplate the works of the Almighty, that we may thence derive cause of devout adoration. We are every where surrounded with the productions of his hands, and shall we not endeavour to discover their nature and utility? Shall we daily walk amidst the wonders of creation, and never consider the admirable display of wisdom which they exhibit? If we accustomed ourselves to survey the works of nature with a discerning eye; we would be constantly supplied with a delightful subject of speculation, and be taught to elevate our hearts from the creatures to the Creator, saying, great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are thy ways thou King of saints. The works

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of the Lord are wonderful, sought out of all those who have pleasure in them." They will be the delightful study of saints made perfect in a future state; and therefore let us now direct our attention to this subject, that we may be qualified to join the celestial choir in their song of praise" thou art worthy, O Lord! to receive glory, and honour, and power, for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

Finally, let us apply our contemplations of the works of nature, to impress upon our minds a sense of the Deity, that we may be thereby induced to fear and serve him. They afford a constant source of religious adoration, reverence and love to that Being, "of whom and through whom, and to whom are all things." We cannot open our eyes, but we behold the most astonishing productions of Almighty power, above, and around and beneath us, on every side. Every blade of grass that springs in the meadow, every stalk of corn that grows in the field, every flower and plant that adorns the garden, and every tree or shrub that arises in the forest is a most wonderful piece of mechanical organization, sufficient to excite our admiration of its great Creator. As we have daily an opportunity of observing these objects wherever we direct our steps, we should accustom ourselves to examine their, amazing structure, and exact subserviency to the useful purposes for which they were intended. If we did so, then every time we surveyed the face of nature we would be confirmed in our belief in the perfections, agency, superintendence of God over all his works, we would be led to entertain the most august conceptions of his infinite Majesty, and establish in our souls a rational feeling of religious homage and devout adoration.

and

This should be the use to which we should apply our knowledge of the works of God, and then we shall derive an important lesson from our contemplations on this subject, yea, from our observations on the system of creation, we shall be deeply impressed with sentiments of piety, and be ever ready to exclaim with the heavenly inhabitants, "holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts, the whole universe is full of thy glory."