70 



THE PHILOSOPHY OF A FUTURE STATE. 



It is owing, in a great measure, to ignorance 

 of the powers of numbers, and the mode of ap 

 plying them, that we find it impossible to convey 

 any distinct ideas of the velocities, distances, 

 and magnitudes of the heavenly bodies to the 

 illiterate ranks of mankind. We are told by 

 travellers, that there are some untutored tribes 

 whose knowledge of numbers is so limited, that 

 they cannot count beyond a hundred, and that 

 there are others whose notation is limited to 

 twenty, or the number of fingers and toes on their 

 hands and feet. While such ignorance of num 

 bers exists, it is quite evident, that such persons 

 are entirely unqualified for surveying, with an 

 eye of intelligence, the grand and diversified ope 

 rations of the Creator, and for appreciating their 

 number and magnificence. Even the most cul 

 tivated minds, from an imperfect knowledge of 

 this subject, find it difficult to form distinct con 

 ceptions of the plans of the Creator, and of the 

 various relations which subsist in the universe. 

 After familiarizing our minds to the classification 

 and arrangement of numbers, we can form a to 

 lerable notion of a thousand, or even of a hun 

 dred thousand; but it is questionable, whether 

 we have any distinct and well-defined idea of a 

 million, or ten hundred thousand. And if our 

 conceptions of such a number be imperfect, how 

 exceedingly vague must be our ideas of a thou 

 sand millions, of billions, trillions, and quartil- 

 Kons, when used to express the number or dis 

 tances of the heavenly bodies ? It is evident, 

 then, that beings of a superior order, or in a 

 higher state of existence, must have a more pro 

 found and comprehensive knowledge of numbers 

 than man : in consequence of which they are 

 enabled to survey the universe with more intelli 

 gence, and to form more distinct and ample con 

 ceptions of the designs and operations of infinite 

 wisdom and omnipotence. 



MATHEMATICS. 



Mathematics, including geometry, trigonome 

 try, conic sections, and other branches, is another 

 department of science which will be recognised 

 by superior beings in a future state. It is the 

 science of Quantity, and treats of magnitude, or 

 local extension, as lines, surfaces, solids, &c. 

 The demonstrated truths of this science are 

 eternal and unchangeable, and are applicable to 

 the circumstances of all worlds, wherever they 

 may exist, and in every period of duration, so 

 long as the material -fabric of the universe re 

 mains. Guided by the truths which this science 

 unfolds and demonstrates we have been enabled 

 to determine the figure and dimensions of the 

 earth, to direct our course from one continent to 

 another across the pathless deep, to ascertain the 

 distance and magnitude of the sun and planets, 

 and the laws which the Almighty has ordained 

 for preserving their order and directing them in 



their movements ; and have been led to form 

 more correct ideas of the immense distances and 

 the vast extent of the starry heavens. It was 

 owing to his profound knowledge of the truths of 

 this science that the illustrious Sir Isaac Newton 

 determined the properties and the composition of 

 light, the causes of the alternate movements of 

 the ocean, and the mechanism of the planetary 

 system ; and expanded our views of the grandeur 

 of the universe and the perfections of its Al 

 mighty Contriver. 



Some of the truths of this science may appear, 

 to a superficial thinker, as extremely trivial, and 

 almost unworthy of regard. The properties of 

 a triangle, such as, &quot; that the square of the hy 

 potenuse of a right-angled triangle, is equal to 

 the squares of the other two sides&quot; &quot; that the 

 three angles of a triangle are equal to two right 

 angles&quot; and, &quot; that the sides of a plane trian 

 gle are to one another as the sines of the angles 

 opposite to them&quot; may appear to some minda 

 as more curious than useful, and scarcely deserv 

 ing the least attention. Yet these truths, when 

 applied to the relations of the universe, and 

 traced to all their legitimate consequences, have 

 led to the most important and sublime results. 

 On the ground of such truths we have ascertained, 

 that the moon is 240,000 miles (iistant from the 

 earth, that the sun is thirteen hundred thousand 

 times larger than our globe, that the planet Her- 

 schel is removed to the distance of eighteen hun 

 dred millions of miles, and that the nearest star 

 is at least two hundred thousand times farther 

 from us than the sun. When the length of any 

 one side of a triangle is known, however large 

 that triangle may be, and the quantity of its an 

 gles determined, the length of the other sides can 

 easily be found : we know the extent of the 

 earth s diameter : we can ascertain under what 

 angle that diameter appears at the moon, and 

 from these data we can, by an easy calculation, 

 detei&amp;lt;mine the length of any of the other two 

 sides of this triangle, which gives the distance of 

 the moon. 



We have every reason to conclude, that an 

 gels and other superior intelligences proceed on 

 the same general principles in estimating the 

 distances and magnitudes of the great bodies of 

 the universe. They may not, indeed, require to 

 resort to the same tedious calculations, nor to 

 the same instruments and geometrical schemes 

 which we are obliged to use. Without such 

 aids, they may arrive at the proper results with 

 unerring precision, and their compulations may 

 be performed almost in the twinkling of an eye ; 

 and while we are obliged to confine our calcula 

 tions to lines and triangles of only a few thou 

 sands or millions of miles in extent, they may be 

 enabled to form triangles of inconceivable extent, 

 on base lines of several thousands of trillions of 

 miles in length. We are informed, in the book 

 of Daniel, that &quot; the angel Gabriel, being coiu 



