272 RELIGIOUS VIEWS. 



in the last book) that such nebulae by further 

 condensation might become suns ; but for such 

 opinions we have nothing but conjecture. Some 

 stars again have undergone permanent changes ; 

 or have absolutely disappeared, as the celebrated 

 star of 1572, in the constellation Cassiopea. 



If we take the whole range of created objects 

 in our own system, from the sun down to the 

 smallest animalcule, and suppose such a system, 

 or something in some way analogous to it, to be 

 repeated for each of the millions of stars which 

 the telescope reveals to us, we obtain a repre- 

 sentation of the material universe ; at least a 

 representation which to many persons appears 

 the most probable one. And if we contemplate 

 this aggregate of systems as the work of a Crea- 

 tor, which in our own system we have found our- 

 selves so irresistibly led to do, we obtain a sort 

 of estimate of the extent through which his 

 creative energy may be traced, by taking the 

 widest view of the universe which our faculties 

 have attained. 



If we consider further the endless and ad- 

 mirable contrivances and adaptations which 

 philosophers and observers have discovered in 

 every portion of our own system ; every new step 

 of our knowledge showing us something new in 

 this respect ; and if we combine this considera- 

 tion with the thought how small a portion of the 

 universe our knowledge includes, we shall, with- 



