RELIGIOUS VIEWS. 



affects it either way in any appreciable degree. 

 And even the velocity of the earth in her orbit 

 is inconsiderable compared with that of light ; 

 which comparison, however, we shall not make ; 

 since, according to the theory we have considered 

 as most probable, the motion of light is not a 

 transfer of matter but of motion from one part of 

 space to another. 



The extent of the scale of density of different 

 substances has already been mentioned ; gold is 

 twenty times as heavy as water ; air is eight 

 hundred and thirty times lighter, steam eight 

 thousand times lighter than water ; the lumini- 

 ferous ether is incomparably rarer than steam : 

 and this is true of the matter of light, whether 

 we adopt the undulatory theory or any other. 



4. The above estimates are vast in amount, 

 and almost oppressive to our faculties. They be- 

 long to the measurement of the powers which are 

 exerted in the universe, and of the spaces through 

 which their efficacy reaches (for the most distant 

 bodies are probably connected both by gravity 

 and light). But these estimates cannot be said 

 so much to give us any notion of the powers of 

 the Deity, as to correct the errors we should fall 

 into by supposing his powers to have any limits 

 like those which belong to our faculties: by 

 supposing that numbers, and spaces, and forces, 

 and combinations, which would overwhelm us, 

 are any obstacle to the arrangements which 

 his plan requires. We can easily understand 



