BOOK OF NATURE LAID OPEN. 211 



downwards in our researches among the animalcule 

 creation, the more evident traces of divinity we dis- 

 cover; so the more we extend our discoveries up- 

 wards into the regions of the universe, the more do 

 we observe of the glory of God. 



The heavens, indeed, declare the glory of God 

 in a most emphatic manner; and the important in- 

 vention of the telescope, aided by modern improve- 

 ments, has brought systems and worlds to light, that 

 w^ere not dreamt of by the ancients. The heavens 

 of Tliales and Hipparchus were poor and thinly 

 -sown, indeed, when compared to hose of Tycho, 

 Bralie and Flamstead ; but what were even these to 

 what the wonderful instruments of Dr Herschel has 

 brought to notice ? Every new discovery of this in- 

 defatigable astronomer has tended to the glory of his 

 Maker, and every increase of magnifying power has 

 served to confirm the sublime truth, that " the stars 

 of heaven cannot be numbered " 



The Milky Way, or that white, luminous tract, 

 which we observe in the heavens, is found to derive 

 its appearance from the number of stars of which it 

 is composed. No less than forty little stars are said 

 to be in the Pleiades alone; and in the constellation 

 of Orion, a number has been discovered, by far ex- 

 ceeding what can be observed by the naked eye in 

 the whole heavens. 



From an attentive examination of the stars with a 

 good telescope, many which appear perfectly formed 

 or single, to the naked eye, have been found to con- 

 sist of two, three, or more stars; and Dr. Herschel, 



