suns, standing far out in the sidereal regions of illimitable
space--created, and placed there by the "Word" of the Almighty
architect--may have been shining thus for untold billions of years;
and so, also, the sun which shines upon and lights up and warms this
earth, and the other planets within its domain; and will thus remain
forever, as God's own lamps of eternal light, to all created
intelligences.
Hear the Psalmist break forth again,
"Thy testimonies are wonderful. Who alone doeth great
wonders.
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament
sheweth His handy works.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me."
Job tells us,
"He alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the
waves of the sea, and doeth wonders without number."
_Fixed stars_--held by astronomers to be suns--are known from the
planetary stars by their perpetual "twinkling," and by their being,
apparently, always in the same position relative to each other. Now,
while the number of stars to be seen in the heavens by the naked eye
on a clear night does not exceed about 3,000 in each,--the northern
and southern hemispheres,--yet Herschel, Olmsted, and other examiners
tell us that by the aid of the telescope, many millions stand out in
brilliant array--so vast their number that they cannot be correctly
computed, but are supposed to be at least _one hundred millions_.
Prof. Olmsted declares it fully demonstrated that "_the fixed stars
are suns_," and, with other astronomers, argues the fair probability
of many of them being of far greater magnitude than our own sun. Dr.
Wollaston, a distinguished English philosopher, attempted to estimate
the magnitude of certain of the fixed stars from the light which they
afforded. "By means of an accurate _photometer_ (an instrument for
measuring the relative intensities of light), he compares the light of
Sirius with that of the sun. He next computed how far the sun must be
removed from us in order to appear no brighter than Sirius. He found
it would require to be _one hundred and forty-one thousand times_ its
present distance, and even at that great distance Sirius must give out
twice as much light as the sun, or that, in point of splendor, Sirius
must be at least equal to two suns." "But," adds Prof. Olmsted, "as
_Sirius_ is more than _two hundred thousand times_ as far off as the
sun, he has rendered it probable that its light is equal to that of
_fourteen suns_." (We wish you to bear these facts in mind, they will
serve you when we come to speak of the magnitude of our own sun.)
But let us follow Prof. Olmsted a little farther. He says, "We have
already seen that they are large bodies; that they are immensely
farther off than the farthest planet; that they shine by their own
light; in short, that their appearance is, in all respects, the same
as the Sun would exhibit if removed to the region of the stars. Hence,
we infer that they are bodies of the same kind with the Sun.
"We are justified, therefore, by a sound analogy, in concluding that
the stars referred to were made for the same end as the Sun; namely,
as the centres of attraction to other planetary worlds, to which they
severally dispense light and heat. Although the starry heavens
present, in a clear night, a spectacle of unrivalled grandeur and
beauty, yet it must be admitted that the chief purpose of the stars
could not have been to adorn the night, since by far the greater part
of them are ever invisible to the naked eye, nor as landmarks to the
navigator, for only a small proportion of them are adapted to this
purpose, nor, finally, to influence this Earth by their attraction,
since their distance renders such an effect entirely insensible."
Therefore, arriving at the only rational conclusion _that they are
Suns_, many of them suns of vast magnitude; shining with splendor and
brilliancy equal to, or surpassing that of our own Sun; each giving
out light and heat to their attendant planets and revolving worlds
within their own domain, or sphere,--"may we not ask, for what purpose
are these gifts dispensed to those surrounding worlds, if not for the
use of percipient beings?
"We are therefore led to the inevitable idea of a plurality of worlds;
and that they are inhabited by some order of intelligences, and the
conclusion is forced upon our minds that the spot which the Creator
has assigned to us is but a humble province in his boundless empire."
None, however, can form a correct estimate, or comparison, between
this, our diminutive Earth, and those vast orbs--suns--fixed so remote
from us in the sidereal regions, nor of the numbers, until in some
measure they have familiarized their minds with, and understand, to
some extent, the science of astronomy, and then survey the vast field
through a suitable telescope. "Even the first view through it, pointed
heavenward, will astonish and fill the mind with awe and wonder; and
as each new-grasping power is given to the instrument; new fields of
those regions are joined on to those already explored, and every new
stratum of space thus added is found to be studded with stars in ever
increasing ratio; until myriads have come forth from the dark depths
of the firmament, and they have a grand panoramic view of a Universe
of Worlds peopling the realms of boundless space." Then, in wonder and
amazement, they will more fully realize and comprehend the Omnipotent
power of God in the manifestations of His creative word. Then, in
comparison, each realizing his own diminutiveness: that he is even
less than an unperceived infinitesimal atom floating along in the
gentle breeze, he will be led to exclaim with the Psalmist:
"How wonderful are thy works, O Lord of hosts!
What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man
that thou takest knowledge of him?"
Dismissing, for the present, the further contemplation of those
far-off millions of stars, or suns, and their multiplied millions of
attendant planets and worlds, we come back to the contemplation of our
own Sun, and its attendant planets, things with which we are more
familiar, and which are--seemingly--more tangible.
As we have before remarked, the Sun governs and controls our Earth,
and the other planets and worlds within its domain. Some of these
worlds are not greatly dissimilar to this in which we live; some are
smaller, while others are vastly larger--some computed to be even a
thousand times larger than this Earth, and, as we believe, all are
peopled with some high order of intelligence.
Having gathered the foregoing facts from the most undoubted
authorities--astronomers, whose mathematical and philosophical
calculations have for their base the immutable laws established by
creative wisdom, as now revealed in Nature, we shall still rely--more
or less--upon them for statistical facts and data, in further
expositions from which to make deductions and draw our conclusions.
We are desirous of familiarizing your mind with the mighty and
wondrous works of God, so plainly manifested in His creating and
sustaining power, which few, comparatively speaking, seem to
comprehend in any other way save in the daily temporal blessings of
life. Should our feeble efforts raise your thoughts higher, and enable
you to contemplate Him with the eye of faith in the light of reason,
and Divine revelation; to know more of His greatness and power, and
your entire dependence upon Him for all temporal blessings in life;
for the _only_ consolation you can have in the dying hour, and as your
only hope for the future, and should such contemplation draw your mind
and heart to Him in holy love, and godly fear, we shall be well
rewarded for our efforts.
_FIXED STARS ARE SUNS._
We now propose to dwell for a short time upon the distance, magnitude,
elements, and offices of the Sun.
The Sun itself speaks to us with its voice of light, and it is our
high privilege to understand, and thus comprehend mysteries long
hidden, which are now being revealed. Special manifestations were long
since made by Jehovah, which were left for those of the present
enlightened age to comprehend; when the mind of man is more fully able
to grasp His truths, and look up through Nature to Nature's God.
Now fix your mind's eye upon that brilliant orb of--seeming--eternal
day; that Sun which is ever shining, ah! whose light never pales, nor
fails its vast empire. No storm-clouds obscure its brightness in the
higher realm, neither is there waning of light, nor a wasting of its
substance. Possibly, from all eternity of the past it has been, and
through eternity to come it will remain the same. We, on this Earth,
have our days and nights, our sun-shine and shadows, tempests and
storms. Our nights are the result of the daily revolution of the
Earth, these are when that portion of it on which we dwell is turned
away from the Sun, and the shadow of the Earth--which is surrounded by
a dense atmosphere--is that which constitutes our darkness. This
atmosphere is a screen to us by day to modify the intense heat of the
Sun's rays. Otherwise, it is possible that no animated life could
exist. This atmosphere has in it the elements of production,
which--when absorbed by the Earth--assists in bringing forth for the
sustenance of man and beast, and all living things. Did not this
atmosphere exist, our midnight hours would be almost as bright as
noonday. See in this the wise provision of our heavenly Father.
That Sun is farther away, and of far greater magnitude, than you now
comprehend, or even imagine. We will now state its dimensions,
distance, elements, &c., as measured and determined by the science of
astronomy, and as agreed upon by all the best informed and most
profound mathematicians and astronomers throughout the world.
The diameter of the Sun is _eight hundred and fifty-five thousand
miles_. It would require _one hundred and seven worlds_, the size of
this Earth, set side by side to reach across it, and _one million four
hundred thousand Earths_, the size of this, to make a globe of equal
magnitude. It is _two millions six hundred and fifty-five thousand
miles round it_, while its bulk is not less than _six hundred times_
as great as all the worlds and planets it controls within its sphere
put together,--some of which, as we have told you, are estimated to be
a thousand times larger than this Earth.
Is your mind expanding? are your views enlarging, so as to enable you
to comprehend its vast dimensions? Let the revelations of astronomy
assist you. Look at it again. From the comparatively small size of its
disk as we see it from the Earth, the distance must be vast indeed to
dwarf it down thus. The distance is great, no less than about
_ninety-five millions of miles_. It is three hundred and eighty-five
times as far away as the Moon: it is estimated that a cannon ball
fired from this Earth and keeping up its velocity at the rate of _five
hundred miles an hour_, would not reach it in less time than about
twenty-two years. Still, though these are well demonstrated facts,
ascertained by very correct measurement, by the most scientific
mathematical surveyors of the heavens, yet we desire some more plain
or familiar illustration. Let us investigate. Here we have it; are you
ready for a journey? The celebrated Braley has calculated the time
required for a trip of ocular exploration. He observes, "A railway
train starting from this Earth, and running continuously, at the rate
of _thirty miles an hour_, would arrive at the Moon in eleven months,
but would not reach the Sun in less time than about _three hundred
and fifty-two years_." We can partially comprehend this by calculation
(although the years of the oldest individual of our country have not
been sufficient to take him more than one third of the journey, even
had he been placed on such train and started when an infant at his
mother's breast). Had the train been started only nineteen years later
than the discovery of North America by Columbus, in 1498, and
travelled thirty miles each hour since, it would just now be
approaching the border of the Sun, and, on arriving there, if a tunnel
was opened and a track laid direct through it, "this train, continued
at the same speed, would require more than a year and a half to reach
the Sun's centre; three years and a half to pass through it, and more
than ten years to pass round it.
"Now this same train would attain the centre of this Earth in five
days and a half; pass through it in eleven days; and go round it in
about thirty-five days." Thus you see the diminutiveness of this Earth
as compared to the Sun. These calculations are founded on facts so
clearly demonstrated by the science of astronomy, that but few who
examine into it will question their approximation to correctness.
Now while the mind is somewhat familiarized with that vast globe, the
Sun, let us contemplate it further.
Sir John Herschel, the most profound philosopher in the science of
astronomy the world has ever known; one whose inventions and
improvements in the telescope have far surpassed those of all others;
one who has enjoyed the highest advantages in the study and
demonstration of the science, and who has made most important
discoveries in regard to the sun, and moon, and the planets--and even
the fixed stars, or suns, in the far off sidereal regions--tells us
that from his investigations and discoveries in regard to the Sun,
there appears to be _a vast globe within_ the surrounding _photosphere
of fire_, shielded by a void or non-luminous atmosphere, thus
apparently protecting it from the surrounding flame of fire, and
rendering it possible that the vast globe within is susceptible of
animated life, which may exist there in some form. This, with the
general corroboration of other astronomers, as to the two encircling
volumes of atmosphere--the outer a luminous, and the inner a
non-luminous one--is strong evidence confirmative of our hypothesis of
the existence of that immense inner globe, or world, which is
doubtless in reality the _Heavenly world_; the Saviour's empire, and
the abode of the righteous.
Methinks, had Sir John Herschel but turned his attention for awhile to
the flood-lights of Divine Revelations, made by God himself through
His Spirit to fallen man, he would ere this have opened the "gate" to
the eye of faith, and bid the weary Christian to look and behold the
confines of that bright world which was opened, and flashed its inner
light upon the eyes of the dying martyr Stephen, when,
"Being full of the Holy Ghost, he looked up steadfastly into
heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the
right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see heaven opened."
Thus, we are led to the inevitable conclusion that heaven is not so
far distant but that it can be seen from earth by the _spirit-eye_, if
God shall but open, and disclose it to view. Where else can we imagine
its location, to be within range of--even immortal--vision from this
earth? St. John, while in the spirit, had a view of that heavenly
world, and the vast city with glittering jasper walls, and gold-paved
streets, and even the "great white throne," the Saviour on that
throne, surrounded by an innumerable company that no man can number.
St. Paul, in spirit, was caught up, even into the "third heaven," and
"saw and heard things which it were not lawful for man to utter" to
mortals on earth. He tells us that "eye hath not seen, neither ear
hath heard, nor hath it entered the heart of man, the glory that shall
be revealed." But we will not here anticipate the still stronger
evidence we have yet to lay before the mind as we pursue this
interesting theme.
Bear in mind the fact that heaven is considered by the most learned
and ablest writers on theology, as "a fixed place," permanent and
abiding. That it is vast in extent, and glorious in appearance, and
has, within, all the necessary elements and arrangements for complete
happiness. And, we believe, that not very remotely distant from it is
the place where is the element of punishment for the wicked. We think
the revelations of God, and the manner and mode of his manifestations
to the children of men, together with the revelations of astronomy in
regard to the Sun; its magnitude and elements, will, when we come to
consider them further, not only startle the mind, but prove our
hypothesis well-founded.
_A CONTEMPLATION._
Just here, may we not, for a few moments, speculate in mind upon a
possibility, which, as we advance, will assume more the form of a
probability?
Look once more upon that brilliant orb, whose light, _without_, may be
one of the lamps of eternal day. Look but for one second of time only;
for, as we have told you, a steady gaze into its fiery flame of
brightness for one minute alone is fatal to the blinding of the
unprotected eye. May not _within_ be the place of which the poet's
spiritual eye caught a glimpse, when alone in silent meditation he
penned those sublime and beautiful lines:
"There, on those wide extended plains, shines one eternal day,
There God, the Son, forever reigns, and scatters night away.
No chilling winds, nor poisonous breath, can reach that healthful shore,
Sickness and sorrow, pain and death, are felt and feared no more."
May not that be the _Heavenly world_ wherein stands the "City of God,
whose foundations are eternal," and whose maker and builder is the
great Architect of the Universe? Its walls are Jasper, and are ever
glittering in the glory-light of eternal day. Its apartments are
gorgeously furnished in brilliant array. "_I go_" said the Saviour,
"_to prepare a place for you._" There "the gold-paved streets," there
the "Great white Throne" and "Christ the Lord" who sits thereon as the
judge and ruler of His own native Empire--for it is He that shall
judge the nations of this Earth, and in the "great day" of "final
judgment" he will recount, in evidence, some of the scenes through
which he passed on this Earth, to justify his final and unalterable
decision.
May not there gush forth the crystal "fountains of life" from which to
drink will quench all thirst; and there the "rivers of life" ever
flowing, in whose waters to bathe will renew eternal youth, and
immortality, to dwell on and on with eternity itself? May not Moses,
and Elijah, and the Prophets, and Martyrs be there? May not many of
us, who are still on this Earth, contemplate the theme that there (in
that bright world at whose boundary surface we cannot, while dwelling
in mortality, gaze for even one minute of time without being blinded)
we have a father, a mother, sister, brother, husband, wife, a child,
or some loved friends, who have left the shores of Time, and are safe
with their blessed Saviour, to dwell in his sun-light throughout
"eternal day?"
May we not contemplate the possibility of these things, when we
remember that it is said of Heaven, "the Righteous shall dwell
_therein_," and that "God" in His eternal manifestations "dwells in
light unapproachable" to us in our mortality, and is only manifest to
us here by His invisible SPIRIT VEILED IN FIRE?
Startle not when we come to lay before you the well-defined elements
surrounding that vast globe. The timid mind might naturally recoil,
and stand aghast at the thought of approaching such volume of intense
heat and "devouring flames." Remember that you are still in the body,
subject to all the pains and penalties of fallen humanity. Remember
that God has created no element incompatible with his own nature;
remember that He is the Almighty power who hath created all things,
and in the infinity of His power, can control any element for our
happiness, and also the same for our misery. Thus it will appear that
"every man's work shall be tried as by fire;" the righteous to be
saved as by fire, and yet the wicked to be destroyed or tormented by
fire. In this we can see the Infinity of the power of God in the
salvation and happiness of His children--who are "the children of
light," as also in the torments of the "children of darkness."
But we shall be able to show that "God's Spirit _is fire_" and that He
_does_ so control this element, or change our nature, that whatever
these may be, they are properly adapted to constitute ineffable
happiness to the immortal state of the righteous. This, we trust, will
appear plain to you before you have finished the perusal of these
pages.
_THE SUN, AND GLOBE WITHIN._
We now propose to continue our investigations of the Sun; in
considering its surrounding elements, offices, &c.
We have already said that it is the main-spring, and we may add,
barring the Great Author, the source and fountain of animated Nature;
the source of light and heat, the two stimulants of vital force,
without which no animated life could exist on this earth; and so,
doubtless, with all the other planets and worlds which it controls.
And, while contemplating it thus as the immediate source of unnumbered
blessings to the human race, and to all intelligences or animation
belonging to this, or other worlds within its domain, we should not
fail in devout reverence to the _great Author_, who created all by the
"Word of His Power"--not only our Sun and its retinue of attendant
planets, but those innumerable, far distant ones of which we have told
you, with all _their_ attendant trains, yea, even all things, above,
around, and beneath; the computation of whose numbers, their
magnitude, grandeur, and transcendent glory so far exceeds our finite
comprehension, that we are lost in wonder and amazement, and can but
feel that, in comparison, we are less than an _atom_ of this vast and
boundless Universe of Creation.
The Sun, represented as a "brilliant orb" a "luminary" or "luminous
body," has also been denominated a "globe of fire." Some astronomers
consider it an "_incandescent_ body" (_glowing whiteness of intense
heat_).
Dr. Herschel's views respecting the Sun are, that it is a planetary
body like our earth, diversified with mountains and valleys, to which,
on account of the magnitude of the Sun, he assigns a prodigious
extent--some mountains six hundred miles high, and valleys
proportionately deep. He does not employ in his explanations volcanic
fires, as some others have done, but supposes two separate regions of
dense clouds floating in the solar atmosphere at different distances
from the sun. The exterior stratum of clouds he considers as the
depository of the sun's light and heat, while the interior stratum
serves as an awning or screen to the body of the sun itself, which
thus becomes fitted to sustain life-animation. This refutes the idea
advanced by that celebrated French Astronomer, La Lande, who held
"that the sun is a solid opaque body, having its exterior diversified
with high mountains and deep valleys, and covered all over with a
burning sea of liquid matter. The solar spots, he supposed, were
produced by the flux and reflux of the fiery sea, retreating
occasionally from the mountains, and exposing to view a portion of the
dark body of the sun."
But Prof. Olmsted (to whom we are indebted for this and much other
information on this subject), refutes this hypothesis by showing the
inconsistency that fluid, of the nature here spoken of, or supposed to
exist, should depart so far from its equilibrium and remain so long
fixed, as to lay bare the immense space occupied by the solar
spots--some of which are supposed to be fifty thousand miles in
diameter.
Prof. Olmsted also examines the hypothesis of Dr. Herschel, relative
to clouds surrounding the sun, and reasons as follows: "I am compelled
to think the hypothesis (of Dr. H.) is encumbered with very serious
objections. Clouds analogous to those of our atmosphere (and Dr. H.,
expressly asserts that his lower stratum of clouds are analogous to
ours, and reasons respecting the upper stratum according to the same
analogy) cannot exist in hot air; they are tenants only of cold
regions. How can they be supposed to exist in the immediate vicinity
of a fire so intense, that they are even dissipated by it at the
distance of ninety-five millions of miles? Much less can they be
supposed to be the depositories of such devouring fire, when any thing
in the form of clouds floating in our atmosphere, is at once
scattered and dissolved by the accession of only a few degrees of
heat. Nothing, moreover, can be imagined more unfavorable for
radiating heat to such a distance than the light, inconstant matter of
which clouds are composed, floating loosely in the solar atmosphere."