224 HERSCHEL AND HIS WORK 



are closely connected, was largely his work. He 

 laboured indefatigably himself; he invited, he also 

 aroused into honourable emulation, the rivalry of 

 others to equal or surpass his achievements. 



What Herschel could only suspect or assert, the 

 glass prism has proved. These mighty suns, "in 

 number numberless," are made of the same materials 

 as our earth and our sun iron, magnesium, hydrogen, 

 sodium, etc. The vast universe is governed by the 

 same laws, and made of the same matter. It is, so 

 to speak, the work of one and the same building 

 hand. To have risen to this simple truth by explor- 

 ing the suns and systems of the universe is a reward 

 worth all the time and trouble spent in working it 

 out. Mankind, in this respect alone, stands on a 

 loftier platform now than half a century ago. One- 

 ness of plan, manifested in this widespread oneness 

 of working, implies oneness of the worker. A lofty 

 moral truth has resulted from the labours and specula- 

 tions of which leaders of scientific truth in Europe 

 formerly saw only the inutility. The Maker, Governor, 

 and Upholder of all these worlds and universes is one 

 and the same. Who He is, what is His central seat 

 of power no telescope, no glass prism can reveal. 

 Amid the wonders of infinite space and time, our 

 standards of measurement and knowledge may be 

 said to be our five senses, and if one of these, sight, 

 were taken from us, our sphere of knowledge would 

 be immeasurably reduced in extent. On the other 

 hand, an addition to the senses we have, a quickening 

 of the inner light, might reveal this Builder of worlds, 

 His palace, His living armies, with a distinctness, a 

 fulness hitherto unknown. Herschel evidently thought 



