which seems to gain strength by every recurrence, that possibly what we understand by heaven may be THE GREAT CENTRE OF THE UNIVERSE, around which, in wider and still wider circle, revolve the innumerable orbs of heaven. The progressive discoveries of astronomy seem to me strongly to favour this idea, for, as the Sun, with its entire planetary and cometary systems, is proved to be moving towards the constellation Hercules', as if revolving round some unknown centre, so it seems to be rendered probable that that point, whatever it may be, may be also in motion round some other centre, still more remote, and thus system after system, and cluster after cluster be going on in endless revolution round that mighty, and must we not add? - awful centre where stands THE THRONE OF THE ETERNAL! The probable existence, I may add, of a great centre to the entire universe is recognised by our best authorities. แ "If," says Mrs. Somerville2, we raise our views to the whole extent of the universe, and consider the stars, together with the sun, to be wandering bodies, revolving round the common centre of creation, we may then recognise in the equatorial plane passing through the centre of gravity of the universe the only instance of absolute and eternal repose." 1 See NICHOL'S "Thoughts on some important points relating to the System of the World." Edinburgh, 1846, p. 100. And MITCHELL'S "Orbs of Heaven," Lec. x. The latter remarks: "We are now able to pronounce the following wonderful results: The Sun, attended by all its planets, satellites, and comets, is sweeping through space towards the star marked in the constellation Hercules, with a velocity which causes it to pass over a distance equal to 33,350,000 miles in every year!" 2 "Connection of the Physical Sciences," Sec. iii. |