182 SCENERY OF THE HEAVENS. 



has operated no farther than where a limit is put to human investigation that the 

 length and breadth of the Divine dominions have been surveyed, when we have arrived 

 at a point which we cannot pass it were folly and presumption to imagine. That 

 part of space beyond which the art and genius of man fail to conduct his glance, simply 

 reminds us that we are finite beings, and that we have reached the limit which for the 

 present circumscribes finite powers. It is not the boundary of the Creator's workmanship, 

 but a point of indication, that His House, to us, is, like Himself, illimitable, and that its 

 measurement is a task to which His infinitude alone is equal. 



It is inferred from the appearance presented by many clusters, that the components 

 of each are bound together by mutual relationships, and constitute a particular assemblage 

 of stars governed by internal laws peculiar to itself, though corresponding generally 

 with those which prevail in other sidereal systems. The common occurrence of the 

 globular shape, and of great central condensation, the light there running up into an 

 unbroken blaze, may be accepted as evidence of the action of attraction. It is 

 striking to catch a glimpse of, a law with which we are so familiar the law that 

 unites the atoms that compose the earth, forms every rain- drop, and moulds the tear that 

 trickles down the cheek of sorrow in prevailing operation millions of leagues away from 

 our terrestrial residence, binding together in spherical masses whole sidereal systems. 

 Such a fact, however, commonly suggests no farther remarks than that the laws of nature 

 every where prevail, and with this, thought in general ends. But " what," says Paley, 

 " do we mean by the laws of nature, or by any law ? Effects are produced by power, 

 not by laws. A law cannot execute itself. A law refers us to an agent." An irresistible 

 conviction is forced upon us, of the universal agency, and, consequently, the omnipresence 

 of one Lawgiver, by the universal presence and execution of kindred laws ; and con- 

 fessedly incomprehensible as is the modus of His operation, it would be not more 

 irreligious to stumble at this than unphilosophical, considering the immense amount of 

 things of which we have certain evidence that they are, without having any glimpse as 

 to how they are. We cannot at all understand the physical agency of the Dlity ; but 

 paying deference to the strong facts of nature, we .are led to the conclusion that He 



" Lives through all life, extends through all extent, 

 Spreads undivided, operates unspent." 



Even the irregular shaped clusters are supposed to be in process of reduction to the spherical 

 form under control of the attraction of gravitation. Sir W. Herschel, the great exponent 

 of nebula?, took this view of those which exhibit a diverse and varied contour. " There 

 are circumstances," he remarks, " in the appearance pf extended clusters and nebula, 

 which very much favour the idea of a power lodged in the brightest part. Although the 

 form of these be not globular, it is plainly to be seen, that there is a tendency towards 

 sphericity, by the swell of the dimensions, the nearer we draw towards the most luminous 

 place, denoting as it were a course or tide of stars, setting towards a centre. And, if 

 allegorical expressions may be allowed, it should seem as if the stars thus flocking 

 towards the seat of power, were stemmed by the crowd of those already assembled,, 

 and that, while some of them are successful in forcing their predecessors sideways, out 

 of their places, others are themselves obliged to take up lateral situations, while all of 

 them seem eagerly to strive for a place in the central swelling and generating spherical 

 figure." Still bolder thoughts, yet not altogether visionary, have been entertained. 

 Lambert, in the last century, started the lofty speculation, that the universe is a col- 

 lection of sidereal schemes, the individuals of each moving round a common centre of 

 gravity, all the systems moving round some GRAND CENTRE common to the whole, that 

 being the o-tily point in the universe at absolute rest. The motion in space attributed 



