gods, such as heathen poets and philosophers vainly imagined, appears in all the earth, the ocean, or the atmosphere.

But our chain of evidence to the unity of creation does not terminate with our own globe. Though the earth is a separate and distinct world, yet it has its connections and relations with other worlds; and we now advance to contemplate these evidences in the loftier realms of the universe.

The earth is a dependent satellite of the sun; it could not have existed before the sun, any more than the eye before the head; nor could it now continue to exist without him save as a mass of cold and dark and dead materials. The welfare of our world-the welfare and existence of all terrestrial plants and animals are dependent upon the seasons, and the alternation of light and darkness; but these again are dependent upon the earth's twofold revolution in reference to the sun; by the mighty power of the sun's gravitation its yearly circuit is accomplished. And from the sun comes down to us our light and heat and other essential forces. Whatever of tides or currents there are in the ocean; whatever flowing streams or gushing fountains there are on the dry land; whatever rain, or wind, or moisture there may be in the atmosphere; whatever of beauty in form or color there is in the vegetable kingdom; whatever of activity or happiness there is found among animated beings-all, all result from the manifold and benign influences of this glorious luminary. What the action of the heart is to the body, that the action of the

sun is to the earth; it is the motive power of all its varied activities. The water and the air, the vegetable productions, and the animated beings of the whole earth, have been constituted with specific reference to the light and heat and actinism of the sun; and the sun has been made the depository and dispenser of such light and heat as are specifically adapted to produce the motions, to supply the stimuli, and to afford the conveniences, which all these require. In view then of such a concourse of essential relations, and striking adaptations, we cannot resist the conclusion, that He who made the earth made the sun also.

Being thus related to the sun, we find ourselves related likewise to a family of a hundred other worlds-planets, planetoids and satellites-that revolve with us around him as a common centre. What the sun is to our world, he is to each of these. All are governed by the same gravitating power, all are illumined by the same light, all pursue the same rounds, all exhibit the same forms, all enjoy similar changes of seasons and of day and night, while all constitute together one complete and harmonious system.

That the members of this great family of worlds are of one origin, are the works of one and the same omnipotent Being, we have various evidences of a still more direct nature. The solar system is a complete whole; all its parts are related, and mutually influence one another; and so nicely are their respective attractions balanced, that not a member could be struck out, or removed, without destroying the equilibrium and endan

gering the safety of all. Again: under the telescope the moon exhibits a surface diversified like that of the earth, with plains and hills and valleys; it abounds, moreover, with the craters of volcanoes, having forms that are well illustrated by some of the earth's volcanoes, although of immense size. The principles exemplified on the earth are but repeated in the moon. The telescope reveals on the surfaces of the planets also clear indications of arrangements strikingly analogous to those on our own globe-such as land and water, mountain ridges, agitated atmospheres, floating clouds, summer heat, and winter snows. (See the accompanying Map of the Planet Mars.) And that instrument of recent invention but marvellous powers, the spectroscope, has proved that many of the very materials composing our globe are found also in the composition of the sun. Hydrogen abounds in it, and sodium has been discovered there; besides these, the sun's atmosphere contains the vapors of calcium, magnesium, and chromium; iron, copper, zinc, and other metals appear also to exist in the sun. Here, then, we have, not similarity only, between the earth and the sun, but, in a great measure, kindred and identity of composition. And the same obviously holds equally true of all the other planets and the sun. Add to all the above the interesting fact, that we have sent down to us from the heavens specimens of these celestial bodies in the meteoric stones that have frequently fallen to the earth. It is now regarded as proven that these proceed from the inter-planetary spaces. Now these meteoric bodies, which have been found of all sizes, from

a few ounces to many tons in weight, exhibit the operation of precisely the same chemical and crystallographic laws as the rocks of the earth; and in them has been discovered no new element, no new principle of any kind. Now, all the foregoing facts and considerations constitute a complete demonstration, that the sun, the earth, and all the other planets are the contrivance of one Mind, the work of one Hand, and under the dominion of one wise and almighty Being. We can discover nothing on the earth below, or in the heavens above, that lends the shadow of countenance to the idea, that these great orbs are under the rule of different deities; nothing, indeed, that indicates the existence of such fabulous beings.

The solar system, numerous and diversified as are the globes composing it, is but a member of a system still higher-a Sidereal System. As the planet Jupiter carries along with it its four revolving moons in its circuit round the sun, so the sun itself, with all its vast and magnificent retinue of planets and satellites, has been discovered to advance and revolve around a fixed centre, situated at an immeasurable distance in the depths of space. This centre is said to be the beautiful star named Alcyone, one of the Pleiades. Other suns (for such the fixed stars are believed to be), carrying with them equally large and splendid retinues of worlds, have been observed to revolve in a similar manner, along orbits of incalculable dimensions. In short, all the stars of heaven, countless as they may be, there are reasons to believe, are in like manner in incessant revolution through the trackless voids of immensity. Thus globe