Meditations and Contemplations

ed in the Starry Heavens; this the Chriftian's conftant Safeguard, and fure Refource, 146 The miferable Condition of the Ungodly, who have Omnipotence for their Enemy,152-The unwearied Patience of this mighty Being, 154The Wisdom of GOD, difplayed in the Skies; what abundant Reafon, to practife a chearful Submiffion to all his Difpenfations; even when they feem most frowning and afflictive; all spring from Love, and will terminate in Good, 155 The Goodnessof GOD, diffufed through the vast System of material Things, and animated Creatures ; but most illuftriously exemplified in the Work of Redemption; the former View gives a most amiable, the latter a perfectly ravishing, Idea of the Divine Beneficence, 162 The Purity of GOD, faintly represented by the unspotted Firmament: the Defilement of finful Man; the immaculate Excellence of his Surety, 171-The unmeafurable Dimensions of the Sky; the greater Extent of the Divine Bounty and Mercy; the last of these Subjects, being fo peculiarly com fortable to Sinners, inlarged on, 177—What suftains the Arch of Heaven, and fupports the Globes it contains the fame invisible Hand upholds the Chriftian in his Course, 187The Faithfulness of GOD pourtrayed in the Stability of the heavenly Bodies, and Perpetuity of their Motions; the Unreasonableness of our Unbelief Motives to, an

•

assured

Jured Faith, 191-Various Attributes of the Di vine Nature, appear, with a glimmering Light, in the celestial Luminaries; all shine forth, with the fullest Lustre, in CHRIST JESUS, 195The Dignity of Prayer, and Happiness of having GOD for our Portion, 202-The borrible Ingrati sude, and destructive Perverfeness, of living without GOD in the World, 205-All the rolling Worlds on high punctually obedient to their Maker's Orders are a Pattern, in this Refpect, and Provocative to the rational Creation, 209-The gradual Appearance of Stars, and progreffive State of a true Converfion, 215-The Multitude of Stars; efpecially in the Galaxy; the more attentively furveyed, the greater Number difcovered; yet still they appear ne larger than glittering Points; this applied to the unfearchable Treasures, of Wif dom in the Scriptures, of Merit in CHRIST, of Blifs in Heaven, 216-The celestial Bodies difpofed in fuch a Manner, as to be delightful, and ferviceable to Man; adorn bis Abode, and a mea-. fure his Time, a filent Admonition this, to improve the Talent, 220-Brightness of the Stars; •Encouragement to Fidelity in the Minifterial Office, 223-Polar Star; its invariable Situation; Guide to the antient Mariners; fuch the Word of GOD -to our Soulis Perfuafive to attend its unerring Dicsates, 224-Variety in the Magnitude and Splendor of the Stars; different Degrees in the World

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of Glory yet all the Blessed completely happy, 227→ Projection and Attraction the grand Principles that alluate the Planetary Syftem; Faith and Love 75 REY Biom bear much the fame Proportion in the Oeconomy of Christianity, 229 The admirable Effects, and extenfive? Influences of Attraction; the Agency of the HOLY GHOST on the human Mind, 232– Vaft Gradation in the Scale of univerfal Exiftence; all are the Objects of the Divine Care, and full of the Divine Prefence, 136-The furpaffing Worth of an immortal Soul, a Solicitude for its final Welfare urged, 243-An unthinking View of the Skies is affecting; much more a rational and devout one, 246-The Scantiness of our Knowledge, with regard to the celeftial Bodies; after all our Search, they are Objects of Admiration, rather than of Science; Exbortation to fuch Pursuits, as are of easy Attainment, and will be of everlasting Advantage, 247--Short Recapitulation of the Whole; and an Hymn of Praife fuited to the fublime Occafion, 250.

N. B. It may feem unaccountable to an unlearned Reader, that Aftronomers should speak fo peremptorily, as they do of the Distances, Magnitudes, and Relations, of Heavenly Bodies; but the Exactness with which ECLIPSES are foretold; the Inftant of their taking Place precisely determined; the Time of their Conti

nuance,

nuance, affigned even to the Nicety of a Moments
and all this, more than a hundred, or even a thou-"

fand Years, before they happen; These

moft remarkable, and yet indifputable Discoveries,

derived from Calculations founded on thofe

onsthofe very 7

Principles, may demonftrate to the Common Senfe

of every Obferver, that there is a Real Certainty

in them; and that they are not mere Conjecture,

or precarious Supposition only, 10

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15 m. si to da