236 Natural Theology. 



heavens. He predicts the changes of the planets, 

 giving us a map of these heavens as they shall ap- 

 pear some night in coming ages. How perfect 

 must be the image mind, that can thus comprehend 

 and trace out the work of the Great Original ! 



In other departments, the work has not yet 

 been so perfectly done as in Astronomy. But it 

 has been well begun, although science is in its in- 

 fancy, and much remains to be accomplished before 

 man enters into the full inheritance of nature, which 

 belongs to him as the offspring and heir of God. 

 There have been mistakes, indeed ; but each true stu- 

 dent of Nature has in some points been successful. 

 These mistakes have arisen because the life of one 

 man was not long enough to read every sign cor- 

 rectly, or because he attempted to form an arch from 

 the materials at hand, while the key-stone, perhaps, 

 was fashioned on another continent, reserved as a 

 discovery for some more fortunate workman. 



In respect to material for study, Astronomy has a 

 vast advantage over almost every other natural 

 science. A man may station himself in any portion 

 of the earth, and the heavens, as they roll over him, 

 will give him the means of forming a perfect system 

 of Astronomy ; while one who would study the 

 crust of our earth, or discover the relationship of 

 plants or animals upon the globe, must either travel 

 or avail himself of the labors of others who can 

 bring to him the results of their explorations. And 

 the labor to which men will submit, that they may 

 bring the scattered blocks of this glorious temple 



