GEJ\ERAL VIEW OF NATURE. 
a37 
By the word Nature, derived from a term signifying born or pro- 
duced, in a general sense we mean all the works of God. Using a 
figure of speech called Metonomy, we often put the effect for the 
cause; as when we speak of the "works of nature," meaning what 
the Almighty has brought forth: or we often mean by nature the 
Deity himself; as when we say that "nature produces plants and 
animals." 
With respect to the heavenly bodies, which manifest themselves to 
us with so much magnificence, we know them to be matter, because 
we observe them to be subject to the laws which govern matter; 
and we have been able, by the discoveries of astronomers, to un- 
derstand their various revolutions ; we have, in general, clearer ideas 
of their motions than even of our own planet ; it is more easy for 
us to imagine them as moving, than that our firm earth is whirling 
with inconceivable velocity. Were it possible for us to conceive 
the quantity of matter which even one world as large as our sun con- 
tains, the thought would be overwhelming; and of all the worlds 
which we behold at one view in a serene night, what finite being 
could imagine their united extent? They are suspended over our 
heads, each one pursuing its destined course ; why do we not fear 
that some one may be precipitated upon our httle world, and crush 
it to atoms? It is because we know that they are all upheld by that 
Power which " created the heavens and the earth," and who governs 
the universe by regular laws. This universe is as infinite as the God 
who formed it; our sun, with all its systems, is but a point lost in 
immensity. Astronomers have proved that the fixed stars are at 
such an immense distance from us, that moving at the rate of 500 
miles an hour, we should not reach the nearest of them in 700,000 
years, a distance more than 200,000 times greater than that of the 
sun from the earth. The same space probably separates all the 
fixed stars. Around those stars revolve millions of opaque globes, 
as our earth revolves around the sun, w^hich is also one of the fixed 
stars. The satellites describe around the primary planets almost 
circular orbits ; they are carried with their primaries around the 
sun in their annual motion ; the sun himself, with all his numerous 
train of primary planets, each with its satellites, revolves around the 
common centre of gravity of the fixed stars, of which himself con- 
stitutes a part; and these are supposed to revolve around the centre 
of the universe. Here may be the throne of the Almighty Creator 
and Director of all these stupendous objects. 
Yet we need not fear that we shall be forgotten in the immensity 
of creation ; the same Being who created and rules the host of 
heaven, made the little moss and the lilies of the field, which are so 
beautifully arrayed. If God condescends to care for them, he will 
not neglect us, who are made in his own image, and destined to an 
immortal existence. 
Turning our thoughts from the heavenly host to our own little 
globe, and considering the matter which exists upon it, we find two 
great classes of substances ; 1st, inorganized, and 2d, organized. 
The 1st class of substances, viz., such as are inorganized, com- 
prehends all matter destitute of a living principle ; such as Jiuids, 
gases, and minerals. The particles which comj)ose them are en- 
tirely subject to chemical and mechanical laws. 
The 2d class, viz., organized substances, includes animals and 
vegetables ; the particles constituting tht m are in a perpetual state 
Definition of nature — Tiie heavenly bodies — Substances divided intf> t'vo classes— 
ist class of subatauces— 4d class of substancas. 
