Omniscience and omnipresence of the Deity, a source of consolation to good men. † Appeared, part came in sight. 1. I was yesterday, about surset, walking in the open fields, till the night insensibly fell upon me. I at first amused myself with all the richness and variety of colors which appeared in the western parts of heaven. In proportion as they faded away and went out, several stars and plannets appeared, one after another, till the whole firmament2 was in a glow. The blueness of the ether3 was exceeding the heavens, ly heightened and enlivened by the season of the year, and the rays of all those luminaries that passed through it. 1 2. The galaxy4 appeared in the most beautiful white. To complete the scene, the full moon rose. at length, in that clouded majesty. which Milton notices; and opened to the eye a new picture5 of nature, which was more finely shaded, and disposed among softer lights than that which the sun had before discovered to us. 3. As I was surveying the moon, walking in her brightness, and taking her progress among the constellations,6 a thought arose in mne, which I bellovo very often per 2 Firmament a sky 3 Ether,s pure air. 4 Galaxy, s the milky way in the sky. 5 Picture. 9€ representation lors; any resemblance or representation. of things in co 6 Constellation & cluster of xed stars. plexes and disturbs men of serious and contemplative7 natures. David himself fell into it in that reflection; When I consider the heavens, the work of thy fingers; the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained 8 what is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou regardest him!' 7 Contemplative, a studious; thoughtful. 8 Ordained, part appointed, established. 4. In the same manner, when I considered the infinite host of stars, or to speak more philosophically.9 clly ad ration9 Philosophiof suns which were then shining ally-wisely. upon me; with those innumerable sets of planets or worlds, which were moving round their respective suns; when I enlarged the idea, supposed another heaven of suns and worlds, rising still above this which we discovered; and these still enlightened by a superior firmament of luminaries,2 which are planted at so great a distance, that they may appear to the inhabitants of the former, as the stars do to us; in short I could not but reflect on that little, insignificant figure, which I myself bore amidst the immensity 3 of God's works. 5. Were the sun, which enlightens4 this part of the creation with all the host of planetary worlds that move about him, utterly extinguished and annihilated,5 they would not be missed more than a † Discovered, part disclosed, found out. 3 Immensity, s unbounded greatness. pa 4 Enligh tens, gives light. reduced 5 Annihilated, to nothing. grain of sand upon the sea shore. The space they possess is so exceedingly little in comparison of the whole, it would scarcely make a blank in the creation. 6 Chasm, s & 6. The chasm6 would be imperceptible to an eye that could take cleft in a rock. in the whole compass of nature, and pass from one end of the creation to the other; as it is possible there may be such a sense in ourselves hereafter, or in creatures which are at present more exalted7 than ourselves. 7. By the help of glasses we see many stars which we do not disCover with our naked eyes; and the finer telescopes8 åre, the more still are our discoveries. Huygenius carries this thought so far, that he does dot think it impossible there may be stars, whose light has not yet travelled down to us, since their first creation.9 8. There is no question that the universet bas certain bounds set to it, but when we consider that it is the work of Infinitc2 power, promp ted by Infinite Goodness, with an Infinite space to exert itself in, how can our imagination set any bounds to it? 9. To return, therefore, to my first thought, I could not but look upon myself with secret horror, as 7 Exalted part lifted up. 8 Telescope, s a glass for dis tant view. 9 Creation, 's act of creating the universe. Universe, s the world, gen eral system of things 2 Infinite, a endless,unboun ded, large. a being that was not worth the smallest regard of one who had so great a work under his care and superintendency.3 I was afraid of being overlooked amidst the immensity of nature; and lost amon that infinite variety of creatures, which, in all probability, swarm through all these immeasarable4 regions of matter. 10. In order to recover myself from this mortifying thought, I considered that it took its rise from those narrow conceptions5 which we are apt to entertain of the Divine nature. We, ourselves, cannot attend6 to many different objects at the same time. are careful to inspect7 some things, we must, of course, neglect oth ers. If we 3 Superinten dancy, s over seeing, 4 Immeasurable, a not to be measured. 5 Conceptions notion. 6 Attend, v to wait on, to bar. ken unto. 7 Inspect, to look into by way of examia tion. 8 Observe to 11. This imperfection which we observes in ourselves, is an imperfection that cleaves, in some de- watch. gree, to creatures of the highest capacities, as they are creatures, that is, beings of finite and limited natures. The presence of every created being is confined9 to a certain measure of space; and quently his observation is stinted++ Stinted, part to a certain number of objects. conse 12. The sphere2 in which we move, and act, and understand, is of a wider circumference to one 9 Confined, part bound in prison. bound-limited 2 Sphere, & a compass; globe: circuit, prov ince. Scale, s re line of distances 3 Divine, a partaking of the nature of God; creature than to another, according as we rise one above another in the -scale of existence. But the widest of these our spheres has its circum-gular gradation ference. When, therefore, we reflect on the divines nature, ́we are so used and accustomed to this imperfection in ourselves, that we cannot forbear,4 in some measure, ascribing it to HIM, in whom there is no shadow of imperfection. Our reason indeed assures us, that his attributes are' infinite; but the poorness of our excellent in a supreme degree. 4 Forbear, 7 decline, spare. * Attributes, s properties inhe conceptions is such, rent qualities. that it cannot forbear setting bounds to every thing it contemplates, till our reason comes again to our succour, and throws down all those little prejudicest which arise in us unawares, and are natural to the mind of man.. 14. We shall therefore utterly extinguish this melancholy thought of our being overlooked by our Maker, in the multiplicity6 of his works and the infinity of those objects among which he seems to be incessantly employed, if we consider, in the first place, that he is omnipresent ;7 and in the second, that he is omniscient.8 15. If we consider him in his omnipresence, his being passes through, actuates and supports the # Prejudice, prepossession, damage, injury hurt. 6 Multiplicity', s state of being, many. 7 Omnipresent a present in every place. 8 Omniscient.a things, infiniteknowing all ly wise. |