infpection; and our planetary chorus aided our ideas of that general, that univerfal chorus, that fyftem of systems, whose combination affords perpetual meditation and reflection. Yet, after all which can be faid on the contrivance of worlds, after all our remarks on the wisdom evident in their formation, and the fkill manifeft in their conftruction, one adoring thought in the human mind, one effort of rifing gratitude, one ejaculation of genuine praife, is infinitely fuperior in value to all their fplendour: actuated by no principle of love, but impelled by power, excited by no defire of acceptance, but obedient merely as revolved, they esteem not, nor adore, nor praise, (but paffively) their omnipotent Author; let then those who can actively esteem, admire, and adore, let thofe fupply their deficiency. These heavenly objects call, and with no feeble voice, on every power of our minds, and excite to fuch duty every principle of reafon, reflection, and thought.

Reflective adoration is not only the moft proper and direct, but also the most facile and easy employment of our faculties ; it requires not depth of ftudy, unweariable continuance of obfervation, life-long engagement of attention and remark ; yet is unquestionably certain of divine fuccefs and acceptance. If, on many occafions during the courfe of thefe Lectures, we have had occafion to acknowledge our ignorance, to own that the works of Deity are beyond our conception, with what humility fhould we think and fpeak of DEITY itfelf! The whisper of his ability we hear, but the thunder of his power who can tell? A ray of his fplendour we difcern,

but what is the weight of his glory? A fpan repletes our limited faculties; if we extend our ideas beyond fubjects with which we are intimate, we quickly feel a memento which advises us, that moderation is wisdom. Though we conceive a period antecedent to the ftellar fires, though we await the close of their existence, and thus conceive of duration; though we add to regions of conftellations other regions beyond them, roving in idea through realms of fplendour, and thus conceive of space; by all this, what advance have we made in conception of HIM, to whom all time is Now, and all space

2 POINT!

Upon much the fame principles as the Zodiac was origi nally diftinguished, have the other parts of the heavens been peopled with men, animals, and objects, according as the imagination of beholders made or found a likenefs. Most of these figures (termed CONSTELLATIONS) are of high antiquity, and many of them refer to the Argonautic expedition (before A. D. 955 years). Others are added fince, in allufion to posterior incidents; and, but in the last century, one particular star was named (cor Caroli) Charles's heart, in memory of Charles I. of England. What ftars are not included in any conftellation are termed unformed; but the conftellations are now drawn fo as to omit as few as poffible. These contrivances arc of great ufe to aftronomers, but to them only; and are feldom well understood without the affiftance of a Globe.

The conftellations and their forms differ in various nations.

LECTURE

VII.

T

66

HE eagle, in elevated ether, rifing beyond the track of mortal eye, and foaring in regions of aerial space-yet feels, that far below is his aerie, his habitation, his abode, the objects of his care, his tenderness, his anxiety, to whom he returns with rapid wing, with energetic velocity: fo we, who have mounted, in former difcourfes, beyond this vifible diurnal sphere," who have traverfed realms of light, and expanfes of fplendor, who have examined refulgent orbs, distant, -immensely diftant! yet, with invigorated delight and complacency, we turn our attention to that globe of which we are n to natives in contemplating other fpheres furprised and pleafed, not interested; our admiration is the not to be withheld applaufe of a cafual fpectator, but void of the heart-felt rapture of permanent enjoyment: whereas, when we furvey the earth, our dwelling-when we inquire its properties, explore its conftruction, or investigate its productions, it awakens the finer feelings of the mind, it claims an intimate relation, a perfonal concern, a fentiment, which strongly connects with the tendereft paffions of humanity.

The Earth, LADIES and GENTLEMEN, is a planet among the planets; and performs its revolution around the central fun; whose invigorating beams vifit every part of it, but not

VI.

D d

at

at all times in equal proportion: the cause of this inequality, as producing the SEASONS, fhall be, if you please, our first inquiry..

If the earth was upright (i. e. perpendicular to the plane of its orbit), the fun would of course be perpendicular to the middle (or equator) of the earth, and exacly equal in distance from each extreme (or pole) of the globe; each extreme would enjoy as long continued fight of the fun as the midft; and the fame light, heat, and feafons, would be univerfal and permanent. The earth would indeed revolve on its axis, producing equal night and day; but no other revolution would be fenfible to creatures, upon it. Was this the original conftitution of our globe? I fometimes think it was; fancy catches the idea, fuggefts the vivid landscape, paints perpetual spring, ever-blooming flowers, ever-delicious fruits, at once in bloffom and mature on the fame fertile tree, offering to the ravished fight tints of exquifite beauty; to the delighted tafte juices of nectareous flavour: fancy views around brilliant verdure, groves of majestic trees, alleys of fragrant fhrubs, myrtle bowers, and violet banks; unites the crocus and the lily, the fnow-drop and the rofe; hears the murmuring cafcade, the tinkling rill, or stands enraptured at the broad limpid stream, which, rushing from the hill fide, pursues its courfe in circling eddies, or in tranfparent mift difperfes gentle dew o'er every herb;-these are the delights of fancy; but ('tis like awaking from a pleafant dream) fact denies their existence; or if it fuffers a glimpfe at fome of them, it forbids their union and their perpetuity.

J J..

By

By the fimple principle of changing the fituation of the earth from perpendicular to inclined, and especially, when that inclination is fo great as twenty-three degrees and a half, the face of nature is changed alfo; and now the earth, at one part of its furface, fuffers extreme heat, at the other, intense cold; here the luminous eye of heaven quits not the constantly enlightened region, while there he refuses to shed one fingle ray, to cheer the torpid ftagnation of frozen nature.

If the earth had no annual revolution, but abode conftantly in the fame place, it is clear there could be no change of feafons but if in the northern hemifphere it was fummer, it muft fo continue; as the fouthern hemifphere would be involved in winter: the caufes for which may be reduced principally to thefe (1.) This fituation of the earth would expose the northern part of it conftantly to much longer action of the folar rays; it needs no enlargement to prove, that proportionately ardent heat would be excited by this circumftance, or that heat would promote vegetation, and fo on; (2.) Such a fituation of the earth would expofe the northern part of it conftantly to the more direct action of the folar rays, whereby the heat would be, exceedingly augmented, as well, because a greater number of rays would fall on any given fpace, as becaufe, when they had fallen, they would be reflected to a much less diftance, and in a much fharper angle. As when you have thrown a ball against a wall, if you throw it nearly ftrait, it rebounded nearly ftrait to you; but if you threw it obliquely, off it went to a yet farther distance; it did but juft glance, and was gone. This you have often obferved.