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PART V.

IT used formerly to be regarded as a very plausible objection to the Mosaic history, that it seemed to assign so small an antiquity to our globe or system, as to be scarcely consistent with the infinite majesty of God. Here then geologists may appear to have stepped in, very much to the relief of revelation from so weighty a charge, especially such of them, as do not consider their boundless calculations to be inconsistent with the sacred history of man; and in truth, myriads and myriads of ages must go a great way to satisfy the minds of those who think the world too new (according to Moses) to be the work of God; but what can be new or old in the eyes of an eternal Being? And have we no instances in nature, of the possibility, not to say probability, of a NEW creation of a world or worlds? Most men of education must know by this time, that the loss of stars noticed in ancient catalogues, as well as the appearance of new ones, have led very eminent and pious astronomers to the conjecture, that in the course of God's providential government of the universe, some systems are from time to time dissolved, and others called into being; and that it may continue so till the period fixed for the final consummation of all things.

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SUPERIORITY OF MAN.

which man is endowed, as any of the Mollusca or Testaceous tribes; for this actually is the fact, though people in general may not always perceive it. On the contrary, most persons I verily think, are inclined to shudder at the organized resemblance, not considering that, after all, this ugly and offensive image of man, is as wide apart from the intelligent image of GOD, as earth from the heaven of heavens.

When this is duly reflected upon, we shall learn the better to appreciate the knowledge displayed by Moses, of the wide distinction between our species, and all creatures merely animal; we shall learn to entertain more exalted ideas of the spiritual nature of man, and of the perfectibility, not merely of his earthly talents, which must be obviously confined within very narrow limits; but of his very nature and being, when the corruptible body in which he now appears, shall have put on incorruption, when from mortal he shall have become immortal, death itself being swallowed up in the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ such are the prospects of man theologically, and let me add, Mosaically; for Moses foretold this victory and it has come to pass. Death is swallowed up; "we shall not all sleep," in the graves to which we are hastening, but "we shall all be changed.” Human creatures there are indeed so heedless of these great privileges and distinctions, as seemingly to prefer to live the life of the brutes that perish; but let such persons understand, that the refuge of perishing is not open to them; these also shall be “changed" indeed, but not "to the image of the heavenly," to an image, I fear, worse than the earthy, in its most abject state of brutishness and despair!

PART V.

IT used formerly to be regarded as a very plausible objection to the Mosaic history, that it seemed to assign so small an antiquity to our globe or system, as to be scarcely consistent with the infinite majesty of God. Here then geologists may appear to have stepped in, very much to the relief of revelation from so weighty a charge, especially such of them, as do not consider their boundless calculations to be inconsistent with the sacred history of man; and in truth, myriads and myriads of ages must go a great way to satisfy the minds of those who think the world too new (according to Moses) to be the work of God; but what can be new or old in the eyes of an eternal Being? And have we no instances in nature, of the possibility, not to say probability, of a NEW creation of a world or worlds? Most men of education must know by this time, that the loss of stars noticed in ancient catalogues, as well as the appearance of new ones, have led very eminent and pious astronomers to the conjecture, that in the course of God's providential government of the universe, some systems are from time to time dissolved, and others called into being; and that it may continue so till the period fixed for the final consummation of all things.

168

DISAPPEARANCE OF STARS.

the words of an eminent astronomer, Professor Vince, of Cambridge.

"The total disappearance of a star, may probably be the destruction of its system, and the appearance of a new star, the creation of a new system of planets;" and in another place, "the disappearance of some stars may be the destruction of that system, at the time appointed by the Deity for the probation of its inhabitants; and the appearance of new stars may be the formation of new systems, for new races of beings then called into existence to adore the works of their Creator. Thus we may conceive the Deity to have been employed for endless ages, forming new systems of beings to adore him, and transplanting those beings already formed into happier regions, where they may have better opportunities of meditating on his works ; and still rising in their enjoyments, go on to contemplate system after system through the boundless universe."

I have no objection to "endless ages," and "boundless space," when associated with such objects as the Professor mentions. I mean for rational and intelligent beings fixed periods of probation, and the prospect of transplantation into happier regions; all this is consistent with what we know of that superior race of beings before our eyes, and already in existence upon the earth, but whose faculties, so far from being altogether earthly, find not scope or time enough here for their full display, if at all advanced beyond the common rate of intellectual improvement. Thus, Newton was obliged to leave many questions unresolved; a large "legacy of research'," as it has been lately most happily ex

1 Sir John Herschel's Discourse, &c.

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pressed, for want of time; and Bacon only lived to light the torch which was to guide those who should come after him, into the way of truth.

"It is beyond dispute," says Professor Robinson, "that several stars in the catalogues of Hipparchus, of Ulugh Beigh, of Tycho Brahe, and even of Flamstead, are no more to be seen: they are gone and have left no trace." My friend Mr. Gleig, in his History of the Bible, (1830) very naturally asks, how is this to be accounted for, and what is become of them?

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"Is it not reasonable," says he in reply, ❝ to suppose, that those stars which have certainly disappeared, were the luminous centres of such systems as our own, and that having served the purpose for which they were formed, they are now reduced to that chaotic state in which the sacred historian assures us, that the solar system was, when the earth was without form and void, and darkness upon the face of the deep,' and that when it shall seem good to the Divine architect, the matter of which they are composed may again be restored to beauty and regularity of form? Nor is the incontestible fact to be passed over, in the consideration of this theory, that new stars are continually appearing in the heavens. May not these be the restoration to order of systems which had formerly been reduced to chaos, and thereby rendered invisible',

1 I have put the word invisible in italics, because though this may account indeed for their disappearance, as far as our instruments can reach, it may be doubted whether they do or do not continue in existence. Professor Robinson speaks of their having left no trace, and Sir John Herschel's expression is quite as strong, who writes of" the disappearance of several stars from the heavens, so completely as to have left no vestige discernible even by powerful telescopes." Now if whole systems may, by the will of God, be withdrawn, in the course of

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