222 THE IMMORTALITY OF ANIMALS 



throughout all the past ages, working out the great 

 plans of cosmical arrangements, yet the process has 

 been progressive and advancing. 



The discoveries of modern astronomy lead us to 

 the conclusion that certain progressive operations 

 are going forward, analogous to those which appear 

 to have been carried forward in remote ages, and 

 many planets appear to be in stages of progress for 

 becoming habitable worlds. The appearance of 

 new stars, the disappearance of others which had 

 long shone in the heavens, and the gradual diminu- 

 tion of the light of others and the change which 

 appears to be occasionally taking place on the 

 surface of the sun and the various planets, along 

 with other celestial phenomena, are indications of 

 the progress towards the preparation of a "new 

 heaven and new earth.'" Is it reasonable to sup- 

 pose that these worlds which are greater than ours 

 have been swung into existence for no other pur- 

 pose than to occupy a useless space ? That they 

 are placed in the heavens only to adorn and be- 

 spangle a canopy over our heads for mere orna- 

 mental purposes ? Would this be a reasonable 

 conclusion of the goodness of God, when our 

 earth is full of His creatures groaning and travail- 



