268 RELIGIOUS VIEWS. 



consider him as the Author, in us, of a reverence 

 for moral purity and rectitude ; and, if the author 

 of such emotions in us, how can we conceive of 

 Him otherwise, than that these qualities are parts 

 of his nature ; and that he is not only wise and 

 great, and good, incomparably beyond our highest 

 conceptions, but also conformed in his purposes 

 to the rule which he thus impresses upon us, that 

 is, Holy in the highest degree which we can 

 image to ourselves as possible. 



CHAPTER II. 



On the Vastness of the Universe. 



1 . THE aspect of the world, even without any of 

 the peculiar lights which science throws upon it, 

 is fitted to give us an idea of the greatness of the 

 power by which it is directed and governed, far 

 exceeding any notions of power and greatness 

 which are suggested by any other contemplation. 

 The number of human beings who surround us 

 the various conditions requisite for their life, 

 nutrition, well-being, all fulfilled ; the way in 

 which these conditions are modified, as we pass 

 in thought to other countries, by climate, tempe- 

 rament, habit ; the vast amount of the human 

 population of the globe thus made up ; yet man 

 himself but one among almost endless tribes of 



