HEAVENLY BODIES. 419 



thoughts of future worlds and states pass before 

 us. Where rest the souls of those loved, those 

 dear ones, which have left us ? Are they in any 

 of those (e many mansions of our Father's house ?" 

 Shall our spirit be glorified and reunited with 

 theirs in a state of rest from earthly cares ? Which 

 of these shining orbs will receive it ? What will be 

 our vision, our condition then ? And all the hopes, 

 the fears, the trusts of man become awakened in 

 us. Such contemplations as these, perhaps, many 

 of us have experienced in viewing the calm, the 

 seemingly benevolent aspect of our attendant 

 planet, and all the mysterious lights that sparkle 

 in the sphere above us ; and if they excite this 

 disposition to thoughtful meditation, this is surely 

 influencing the mind, and the body through the 

 impulses of mental action. The shining of the sun 

 elevates and enlivens, the light of the moon calms, 

 subdues, softens, and various minds are affected by 

 influences imperceptible to others ; but when " the 

 light of the moon shall be as the sun, and the sun 

 as the light of seven days," we shall perceive alike. 



Sept. 8th, 1828. A remarkable dry and ex- 

 hausting day, not from any peculiar influence of 

 the solar heat, but from the arid state of the air, 

 which was very distressing to our feelings, and all 

 tender vegetation became languid and suffering 



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