OF INFINITE SPACE. 81 



our world dates its origin from a few primordial elements, 

 endowed with properties to complete the structure, than a 

 colony of ants, at a tree root, would have cause to start at 

 the fact, could they be made cognizant of it, that leaves, 

 branches, and trunk proceeded from a single seed. The law 

 that unites the atoms that compose the earth, forms every 

 rain-drop, and moulds the tear that trickles down the cheek 

 of sorrow -in prevailing operation millions of leagues away 

 from our terrestrial residence, binding together in spherical 

 masses whole sidereal systems. Such a fact, however, com- 

 monly suggests no farther remarks than that the laws of 

 nature every where prevail, and with this, thought in general 

 ends. But " what" says Paley, " do we mean by the laics 

 of nature, or by any law ? Effects are produced by 

 power, and not by laws. A law cannot execute itself. A 

 law refers us to an agent" An irresistible conviction is 

 forced upon us, of the universal agency, and, consequently, 

 the omnipresence of one Lawgiver, by the universal pres- 

 ence and execution of kindred laws ; and confessedly incom- 

 prehensible as is the modus of His operation, it would bo 

 not more irreligious to stumble at this than unphilosophical, 

 considering the immense amount of things of which we 

 have certain evidence that they are, without having any 

 glimpse as to how they are. We cannot at all understand the 

 physical agency of the Deity ; but paying deference to the 

 strong facts of nature, we are led to the conclusion that He 



" Lives through all life, extends through all extent 

 Spreads undivided, operates unspent," 



However it may savor of the gigantesque, it is suffi- 

 ciently evidenced that an area of the heavens not exceeding 

 T L of the lunar diameter, contains a system of stars ri- 

 valling' in number those which constitute our firmament, 

 and appearing only as a single faint luminosity to its. 

 Yet there are thousands of areas so occupied. It follows. 



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