fince it is open to remark, that otherwise their powers would be too weak to render them vifible here. It has indeed been thought, that our fun is a star of rather moderate dimensions; and by no means fo brilliant to fome of the celestial bodies, as they appear to us. Leaving this matter thus hinted, we may proceed to obferve, that certainly these stars are endowed with native light, i. e. they are sUNS, and very probably have around them many revolving planets, whofe light being only reflected, is by far too feeble to reach this refidence of mortals.

It requires but little attention to discover, that the heaven is replete with stars ; and if these stars are at different distances, it is very fuppofable that fome fhould be behind others; indeed it may happen that the nearer fhould entirely conceal the remote; but it actually happens, in many inftances, that the nearer and the remote appear fo combined, as to feem but one to the naked eye, and are feparable only by the best glasses : further ftill, it fometimes happens, that a cluster of stars appear as one only, and form a fpeck of light by their united powers: nor is the strongest instrument happy enough to fhew any diftinct feparation between them. Of this we may easily conceive, if we advert to that part of the heavens called the milky way; which is no other than a prodigious aggregation of stars, at such small distances, as rather to produce one united efflux of light, than any distinct fplendour: yet, among this luminous path of ftars, a telescope discovers many and confiderable intervals, as well as NEBULE, or UNIONS.

There

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There are alfo PERIODICAL ftars; which fometimes are extremely bright, fometimes fcarcely visible: but which constantly preferve the fame places in the heavens. Some perfons account for them, by fuppofing there may be half funs among the ftars, or that only one part of their furfaces is fitted to emit light, the other being crufted over with fpots, which, by periodical rotations, are turned toward and from us, alternately. One hazards nothing in thefe regions of conjecture; perhaps fome funs may move to their planets, and, at their neareft approaches to us, be much brighter than at their furtheft diftances.

But there are alfo feveral ftars, which, for aught we ever can discover to the contrary, are entirely NEW: I confefs, it seems to me not unlikely, and we are certain it is not impoffible, that Deity fhould be always employed in creation. On our own terrene habitation, millions of creatures are perpetually ceafing, and other millions of new-made defcendants appointed to fupply their places; all is mortal and perifhing; but all is revived and restored; fo that death, triumphant death himfelf, is incapable of deftroying the never-ceafing renovation. What, therefore, forbids our fuppofing, that among the regions of fpace, divine power may ever employ its forming new worlds, and new fyftems of worlds?

energy, in

Whether it be fact, that any stars abfolutely new ever came to our knowledge; there is no doubt but feveral, which have been for a time extinguifhed (or whofe light at least has been too feeble to reach us), have actually been RENOVATED: whether, by bursting the fpots which covered them, or by the falling

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falling of fome comet into them, which augmented their powers with freth fuel, is beyond our determination.

The ftars themfelves are wonderful luminaries; but what fhall we fay to thofe SPACES in the firmament, which are RESPLENDENT, yet without ftars; and throughout which feem vaft expanfes of light! If any inhabitants be there, they enjoy perpetual day, and never know obfcurity or darknefs. Are we permitted to view these spaces, as exemplars of that perfect glory we are taught to expect? Are they refidences of blissful fpirits?-Are they-but by what principles fhall human knowledge answer? We confefs our ignorance, and adore in filence.

If there was no utility connected with the stars as seen from the earth, their magnificence and vivacity would ever excite admiration; but befide the advantages they afford us on fundry occafions, whereby we ascertain many useful facts, there is in particular one, the POLE STAR, to which we are beholden for almost all the facility of our navigation. This ftar, by being fituated in that part of the heavens to which the north pole of the earth points, performs the office of a director and guide, to thofe who, on the mighty waters, were elfe unable to determine their proper course. But it is evident, that if a veflel keeps any certain and fixed point, to the right hand, or to the left, it must very greatly contribute to afcertain the courfe it purfues, whether going or returning; fuch a point is the pole ftar; ever remarkable, and not less fo fince the happy difcovery of the magnetic virtue, which points the compafs to the Pole.

What

What obligations are we not under to that noble and pow erful invention, the telescope! by whofe affiftance we become acquainted with the preceding facts: how many thousand objects has it difcovered, which to human eyes were formerly invifible! In the conftellation Pleiades, commonly termed the Seven Stars, have been feen at least seventy flars. This may hint a caution to us, when reafoning on fubjects beyond our powers there exift many principles, and causes, not to be discovered without what I may term, telescopic affiftance.

This magnificent firmament, decorated with ftellar fires, has ever been among the favourite ftudies of mankind: it is true, the day is the time for activity, and diligence; man is therefore engaged to purfue his business by a flood of light poured forth around him, and few inducements divert his attention from his immediate concerns; but that none of his time may be waste, even in the periodical abfence of the moon, the ftars attract his contemplation, and direct upwards his attention, his views, and his defires.

The whole of what we fee is probably but a part of the great, the universal system :-whether we are in its extremes, or whether nearer its centre; whether its centre be the beatific prefence, around which circulates the whole; or whether our appointed heaven be nearer our abode, we know not: but we know, that Deity is every where; equally visible by the operations of his power, on our own globe, in our own country, in our own persons, as if this was the only district of his dominion, and his peculiar refidence was among the fons of men.

LADIES and GENTLEMEN,

We have now completed what we propofed, in our Survey of the Celestial Phenomena;-when fubjects of importance, and magnitude, engage our attention, it is neceffary, not only to infpect them part by part, but also to confider the general refult, the effect of the whole: thus fome magnificent edifice, not only delights and pleases by its ornaments and decora tion, but by the fymmetry and proportion of its parts, by united elegance and greatnefs, commands admiration and ap plaufe. Such is the effect of the heavenly phenomena; each in his orb is interefting; each in his orb proclaims the power and wisdom which appointed it; each in his orb exemplifies Almighty fkill, and obeys Almighty direction, folicitous to be found in his ftation, and freely performing his course, in profound fubmiffion to its author's original fiat, and continued impulfe.

The refult of the whole, is the most auguft chorus of praife of which mortals, like ourfelves, can form any conception; and, indeed, in order to form a conception (imperfect as it is) of this combination, we are obliged to ufe every art, and to fummon all our powers. We begin with an inftance moft obvious, and proximate; we rife from this to a fecond, from a fecond to a third, till we vifit tracks of light. Such is the progrefs we have pursued in this series of Lectures; our appointed luminary affitted us to imagine the properties of luminaries almoft infinitely remote; our native system fupported our gueffes at fyftems beyond our