68 



THE PHILOSOPHY OF A FUTURE STATE. 



the same colours. No opinion therefore, can be 

 formed of the solar light which must not also be 

 adopted with respect to the light of the fixed 

 stars. The medium of vision must be acted on 

 in the same manner by both, whether we sup 

 pose it the undulations of an ether, or the emis 

 sion of matter from the luminous body.&quot; From 

 these facts we may conclude, that the general and 

 fundamental principles of the science of Optics 

 are recognised and acted upon in the remotest re 

 gions which the telescope has explored, and from 

 a portion of that knowledge which is possessed 

 by the intelligences which occupy those distant 

 provinces of the Creator s empire always, how 

 ever, making proper allowances for those local 

 varieties and modifications, which must produce 

 an infinite diversity of scenery throughout the 

 universe, although the same general laws operate 

 throughout the whole. 



What has been now stated in reference to light, 

 gravitation, and other affections of matter, might 

 be extended to various other properties, and to 

 the sciences which have been founded upon them ; 

 such as, the pressure and motions of fluids, the 

 properties of gaseous bodies, the phenomena of 

 electricity and magnetism, and aU those affinities, 

 decompositions and changes, which are the ob 

 jects of chymical research. For, in a material 

 fabric, in whatever portion of space it may be 

 placed, there must, from the very nature of things, 

 be a diversity of objects for the investigation of 

 the naturalist, the chymist, and the philosopher, 

 in which the wisdom and goodness of the Deity 

 will always be displayed. Every system of mat 

 ter, wherever existing in infinite -p%ce, has a 

 determinate size and figure ; it is composed of an 

 infinite number of atoms, variously modified and 

 arranged ; it has certain diversities of surface 

 and internal arrangement ; it is susceptible of 

 certain motions ; it stands in certain relations to 

 surrounding bodies, and it is destined to accom 

 plish some wise designs corresponding to the 

 eternal plan of the infinite Creator. There is 

 no portion of organized matter now existing, or 

 which may hereafter exist, but which must be 

 considered in these and similar points of view. 

 Now the object of every rational intelligence, 

 whether designated by the appellations of philo 

 sopher, astronomer or chymist, when contemplat 

 ing any material system, is, or ought to be, to 

 trace the various properties and arrangements 

 which exist in that system, in order to perceive 

 the intelligence, wisdom and benevolence that 

 appear in its construction, and thus to acquire a 

 more correct and comprehensive view of the plans 

 and perfections of his Creator. But such con 

 templations necessarily suppose, the cultivation 

 of those sciences which will enable him to make 

 Buch investigations with spirit and effect, with 

 out which he would be unable to trace either the 

 qualities and relations of material objects, or to 

 oerceive the admirable designs of the all-wise 



Creator in the works which his almighty powe? 

 has produced. 



SCIENCES WHICH WILL BE CULTIVATED IIS 

 A FUTURE STATE. 



In order to illustrate this subject a little far 

 ther, I shall offer a few brief remarks on some 

 of those sciences which will be recognised and 

 prosecuted in a future world. 



ARITHMETIC. 



Arithmetic, or the knowledge of numbers, and 

 their various powers and combinations, is a sci 

 ence which must be understood in a greater or less 

 degree by all intelligent beings wherever exist 

 ing ; without some knowledge of which, no ex 

 tensive progress could be made in the study of- 

 the works of God, and in forming just concep 

 tions of the immense number and variety of be 

 ings which exist within the limits of his empire. 

 By the application of the science of numbers 

 the bulk of the earth has been ascertained ; the 

 distances and magnitudes of many of the hea 

 venly bodies have been computed ; the propor 

 tion which one part of the universe bears to 

 another has been determined ; the inconceivable 

 minuteness of the particles of efrluvia, of ani 

 malcule, and of the atoms of light, has been 

 brought within the limits of our contemplation ; 

 and we have been enabled to form some faint 

 conceptions of the amazing velocities with which 

 the celestial orbs are carried forward in their 

 courses. The universe presents to our view an 

 assemblage of objects, relations, and movements 

 calculated to draw forth into exercise all the 

 knowledge of numbers we can possibly acquire. 

 We are presented with magnitudes so stupend 

 ous, and with spaces and distances so vast, that 

 the mind is obliged to summon up all its powers 

 of calculation, and all its knowledge of propor 

 tions, progressions and equations, and to add one 

 known magnitude to another, in a long mental 

 process, before it can approximate to any thing 

 like a well-defined idea of such sublime and ex 

 pansive objects ; and, after all its mental efforts, 

 computations and comparisons, it is frequently 

 under the necessity of resting satisfied with ideas 

 which are vague, inaccurate, and obscure. With 

 regard to the multiplicity and variety of the ob 

 jects which creation contains, our present know 

 ledge of the powers of numbers is altogether 

 inadequate to convey to the mind any thing ap 

 proaching to a distinct and comprehensive con 

 ception. The number of systems in the heavens 

 which lie within the range of our telescopes, is 

 reckoned to be at least a hundred millions (100,- 

 000,000.) In the regions of infinite space, be 

 yond the boundaries of all these, it is not im 

 probable, that ten thousand times ten ih 



