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lo preserve this cool, that the moon reflecting the light 

 of the sun, gives it without any sensible heat. In vain 

 do we collect her rays by the strongest burning glass. 

 An admirable caution of the Divine Artificer, who has 

 reserved for the night season, a light strong enough to 

 remove darkness, yet too weak to alter the coolness of 

 the air. 



When man is inclined to have the benefit of this, 

 he sees no more the prospects of the day ; but night in 

 her turn, favours him with another, that has charms to 

 itself. 



We cannot doubt but these immense globes of fire, 

 which enlighten our night, have all their peculiar ap- 

 pointments, which answer, in God's purposes, the magni- 

 ficence of their appearance. But who shall presume to 

 explain, what the Almighty has thought fit to conceal? 

 The small glimpses which a few are permitted to have, 

 being quite unknown to the bulk of mankind. It is not 

 in the particular destination of each star, nor in the ge- 

 neral harmony of all, that we are to look for the means 

 of instructing man, or regulating his affections. But yet 

 what we do see, and know concerning them, is matter 

 for the deepest admiration. We see innumerable fires 

 hung up in the magnificent ceiling of our abode : and 

 the dark azure which serves them as a ground, still 

 heightens their beauty and brightness. But their rays 

 are dispersed through spaces so immense, that when they 

 come to us, they are quite destitute of heat Thus by 

 the Creator's providence we enjoy the sight of a mul- 

 titude of fiery globes, without any danger of des- 

 stroying the coolness of our night, or the quiet of our 

 repose. 



The sum of what has been said, with some farther 

 improvements, I add in the words of Mr. Hervey. 



" The earth is, in fact, around body, though in some 

 parts raised into hills, or suuk into valiies, in others 



