18 THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 



elude with La Plaee, that they have been enveloped in a 

 conflagration, like that which takes place on earth when 

 bodies are set on fire, and then gradually extinguished. 

 In looking forward to that tremendous period, so clear- 

 ly foretold in the book of God, we see the subserviency 

 of all the purposes of the Almighty to his moral glory. 

 It is the connexion of yonder shining worlds with the 

 destiny of immortal beings, that gives them an interest 

 far higher than the mere astronomer can entertain for 

 them, who gazes at them with his telescope, and com- 

 putes their motions with the greatest accuracy. The 

 Christian's privilege is to see, that 



* Eternity is written in the skies !* 



and that the most profitable lesson he can read there, 

 is the value of that soul which must live in happiness 

 or misery, 



* When like a taper all these suns expire !' 



How forcibly then does the Poet of the * Night 

 Thoughts' exclaim, — 



* Know'st thou the value of a soul immortal ? 

 Behold this midnight glory : worlds on worlds ! 

 Amazing pomp ! redouble this amaze ; 

 Ten thousand add, and twice ten thousand more ; 

 Then weigh the whole : one soul outweighs them all !' 



