De 
of Stobs’s Powder Mill, Peebleshire. 509 
even with far stronger combustibles, which, bursting, may 
strike this globe as the stone did Mr. Hunter. Or suppose 
that the Ruler of the universe occasionally sends us a cannon- 
ball about the shape and size of a comet: whether such ball 
be composed of fire, or water, or cast iron, or larger or 
smaller than the earth ; or whether with the velocity of light- 
ning or the tardiness of a stream of water; or whether such 
ball be sent by the power of gunpowder or steam, or electri- 
city, or what is most consistent with all his works — some 
clockwork machinery, still the effect must be in proportion 
to the cause. And that this globe has suffered many such 
blows-up is quite evident; and that it will undergo many more 
such, is quite probable: but as a thousand years are but as 
one day to the Eternal Being, so the times of such “ wreck 
of nature and crush of worlds? are as much understood by 
us as the strikings of a clock by the fingers and figures on 
the dial-plate. Though the heavenly bodies are immense in 
magnitude as well as in number, they are not infinite in great- 
ness, as many of them can be measured to a great nicety : : and 
as for an infinite number, it is a contradiction in terms; for 
though the whole globe, or the whole of ten thousand globes, 
were composed of mustard-seeds, which are said to be “ the 
least of all seeds,’ yet one seed taken from them would 
make the number less. But the Creator of all these globes 
must be infinite in greatness as well as in all his other at- 
tributes, at least as much superior to all his works as the 
boy is above his marbles; and though he has been pleased 
to let these bowls roll round in their spheres, with the 
greatest regularity, for the last few thousands of years, yet 
these may appear as only a few moments to Him who is 
eternal; and there can be nothing to hinder Him, at any 
time, from picking up any one of such bowls and shooting it at 
any one of the others; nay, very likely, some globe or other 
is already on its journey towards our globe, and may shatter 
it in the manner that the poor powder-maker was shattered ; 
or it may only burn it, as his companion was burnt. 
No doubt you will say that I am got a long way out 
of my depth: I grant it, but I care for no depth i in either 
salt water or fresh. I am ver y fond of swimming; wherefore, 
then, should my spirit be confined to grovel among the clouds, 
only a few hundreds of y: ards above this dirty elobe, not fairly 
out of the stench of it? No, no, Sir; my soul shall magnify 
the Lord of all worlds, of all systems; I will proclaim Him'a 
great God, and a great King above all gods. Iam no atheist 
nor blasphiemer: : those who worship little gods in the likeness 
Lis 
