232 ASTRONOMY. 



another's motions, in a degree inconsistent with any con- 

 tinuing order ; i. e. to cause them to form planetary systems, 

 systems that, when formed, can be upheld, and, most es- 

 pecially, systems accommodated to the organized and sen- 

 sitive natures which the planets sustain, as we know to be 

 the case, where alone we can know what the case is, upon 

 our earth ; all this requires an intelligent interposition, be- 

 cause it can be demonstrated concerning it, that it requires 

 an adjustment of force, distance, direction, and velocity, 

 out of the reach of chance to have produced ; an adjust- 

 ment, in its view to utility similar to that which we see in 

 ten thousand subjects of nature which are nearer to us, 

 but in power, and in the extent of space through which 

 that pov/er is exerted, stupendous. 



But many of the heavenly bodies, as the sun and fixed 

 stars, are stationary. Their rest must be the effect of an 

 absence, or of an equilibrium of attractions. It proves also 

 that a projectile impulse was originally given to some of the 

 heavenly bodies, and not to others. But further ; if attrac- 

 tion act at all distances, there can be only one quiescent 

 centre of gravity in the universe ; and all bodies whatever 

 must be approaching this centre, or revolving round it. 

 According to the first of these suppositions if the duration 

 of the world had been long enough to allow of it, all its 

 parts, all the great bodies of which it is composed, must 

 have been gathered together in a heap round this point. 

 No changes, however, which have been observed, afford us 

 the smallest reason for believing that either the one sup- 

 position or the other is true ; and then it will follow, that 

 attraction itself is controlled or suspended by a superior 

 agent ; that there is a power above the highest of the pow- 

 ers of material nature ; a will which restrains and circum- 

 scribes the operations of the most extensive.* 



* It must here, hov.ever, be stated, that many astronomers deny that 

 any of the heavenly bodies are absolutely stationary. Some of the 

 brightest of the fixed stars have certainly small motions; and of the 

 rest, the distance is too great, and the intervals of our observation too 

 short to enable us to pronounce with certainty that tliey may not have 

 the same. The motions in the fixed stars which have been observed, 

 are considered either as proper to each of tliem., or as compounded of 

 the motion of our system, and of motions proper to each star. By a 

 comparison of these motions, a motion in our system is supposed to be 

 discovered. By continuing this analogy to other, and to all systems, it is 

 possible to suppose that attraction is unlimited, and that the whole ma- 

 terial universe is revolving round some fixed point within its con- 

 taining sphere or space, paley. 



The milky way is known to derive its appearance from a congerief? 

 of very small stars, but there are luminous spots in the heaven, which 



