OMNIPOTENCE OF THE DEITY. 



rf light which modern science has thrown upon 

 the scenery of the sky, in order that we may con 

 template, with fixed attention, all that enlighten 

 ed reason, aided by the nicest observations, has 

 ascertained respecting the magnificence of the 

 Celestial orbs. To overlook the sublime disco 

 veries of modern times, to despise them, or to 

 call in question their reality, as some religionists 

 have done, because they bring to our ears such 

 astonishing reports of the &quot; eternal power&quot; and 

 majesty of Jehovah is to act as if we were afraid 

 lest the Deity should be represented as more 

 grand and magnificent than he really is, and as if 

 we would be better pleased to pay him a less share 

 of homage and adoration than is due to his name. 

 Perhaps some may be disposed to insinuate, 

 that the views now stated are above the level 

 of ordinary comprehension, and founded too 

 much on scientific considerations, to be stated 

 in detail to a common audience. To any in 

 sinuations of this kind, it may be replied, that 

 such illustrations as those to which we have re- 

 ferred, are more easily comprehended than many 

 of those abstract discussions to which they are 

 frequently accustomed; since they are definite 

 and tangible, being derived from those objects 

 which strike the senses and the imagination. 

 Any person of common understanding may be 

 made to comprehend the leading ideas of extend 

 ed space, magnitude, and motion, which have 

 been stated above, provided the descriptions be 

 Bufficiently simple, clear, and well-defined ; and 

 should they be at a loss to comprehend the prin 

 ciples on which the conclusions rest, or the mode 

 by which the magnificence of the works of God 

 has been ascertained, an occasional reference 

 to such topics would excite them to inquiry and 

 investigation, and to the exercise of their powers 

 of observation and reasoning on such subjects 

 which are too frequently directed to far less impor 

 tant objects. The following illustration, however, 

 stands clear of every objection of this kind, and 

 is level to the comprehension of every man of 

 common sense : Either the earth moves round 

 its axis once in twenty-four hours or, the sun, 

 moon, planets, comets, stars, and the whole frame 

 of the universe move round the earth, in the 

 same time. There is no alternative, or third 

 opinion, that can be formed on this point. If 

 the earth revolve on its axis every 24 hours, to 

 produce the alternate succession of day and night, 

 the portions of its surface about the equator must 

 move at a rate of more than a thousand miles an 

 hour, since the earth is more than twenty-four 

 thousand miles in circumference. This view 

 of the fact, when attentively considered, fur 

 nishes a most sublime and astonishing idea. 

 That a globe of so vast dimensions, with all its 

 load of mountains, continents, and oceans, com 

 prising within its circumference a mass of two 

 hundred and sixty-four thousand million of cubi 

 cal miles, should whirl around with so amazing 



velocity, gives us a most august and impressive 

 conception of the greatness of that Power which 

 first set it in motion, and continues the rapid 

 whirl from age to age ! Though the huge masses 

 of the Alpine mountains were in a moment 

 detached frofh their foundations, carried aloft 

 through the regions of the air, and tossed into the 

 Mediterranean sea, it would comey no idea of 

 a force equal to that which is every moment ex 

 erted, if the earth revolve on its axis. But 

 should the motion of our earth be called in ques 

 tion, or denied, the idea of force, or power, wil. 

 be indefinitely increased. For, in this case, it 

 must necessarily be admitted, that the heavens, 

 with all the innumerable host of stars, have a 

 diurnal motion around the globe ; which motion 

 must be inconceivably more rapid than that of 

 the earth, on the supposition of its motion. 

 For, in proportion as the celestial bodies are 

 distant from the earth, in the same proportion 

 would be the rapidity of their movements. The 

 sun, on this supposition, would move at the rate 

 of 414,000 miles in a minute ; the nearest stars, 

 at the rate of fourteen hundred millions of miles 

 in a second : and the most distant luminaries, 

 with a degree of swiftness which no numbers 

 could express.* Such velocities, too, would be 

 the rate of motion, not merely of a single globe 

 like the earth, but of all the ten thousand times 

 ten thousand spacious globes that exist within 

 the boundaries of creation. This view conveys 

 an idea of power still more august and over 

 whelming than any of the views already stated, 

 and we dare not presume to assert, that such a 

 degree of physical force is beyond the limits of 

 infinite perfection ; but on the supposition it 

 existed, it would confound all our ideas of the 

 wisdom and intelligence of the Divine mind, and 

 would appear altogether inconsistent with the 

 character which the scripture gives us of the 

 Deity as &quot; the only wise God.&quot; For, it would 

 exhibit a stupendou &amp;gt; system of means altogether 

 disproportioned to t ne end intended namely, to 

 produce the alternate succession of day and night 

 to the inhabitants of our globe, which is more 

 beautifully and harmoniously effected by a simple 

 rotation on its axis, as is the case with the other 

 globes which compose the planetary system. 

 Such considerations, however, show us, that, on 

 whatever hypothesis, whether on the vulgar or 

 the scientific, or in whatever other point of view, 

 the frame of nature may be contemplated, the 

 mind is irresistibly impressed with ideas of 

 power, grandeur, and magnificence. And, there 

 fore, when an inquiring mind is directed to con 

 template the works of God, on any hypothesis it 

 may choose, it has a tendency to rouse reflec 

 tion, and to stimulate the exercise of the moral 

 and intellectual faculties, on objects which are 

 worthy of the dignity of immortal minds. 



* See Appendix, No. I. 



