hence it seems that the first day of creation was both the first day of the first year, according to solar computation, and the first day of the first month, according to lunar computation.* It is, therefore, clear that the same sunbeams which shone forth in all their splendour from the source of light, were precisely those that during the three preceding days had been transmitted through an aqueous, or a cloudy medium. Thus then, were placed on high, two most important indexes for the measurement of time, which the Creator himself ordained to serve for the notation of successive periods. The one to rule the night, to shed its mild and gentle influence over a sleeping world: the other to light up the earth, and make it glorious with all imaginable splendour. But that bright luminary set on the evening of the first day to a great portion of the earth. And then how gloriously shone the night with her faithful witness high in heaven, and the beautiful stars, and the fair planets that keep on their ceaseless dance. Mercury, and Venus, fiery Mars, and Jupiter, with his four moons and belt of uncertain use; Saturn, with his celebrated ring, and seven satellites; and the Herschel, or Georgium Sidus, which is conjectured to form the present limits of our planetary system. Worlds those are on high, beautiful worlds, though very different from our own, yet most probably the habitations of innumerable creatures, with souls fitted to admire the stupendous wonders of creation, and with bodies well Comparative Estimate of the Mineral and Mosaical Geologies, p. 196. adapted to the sphere of being which they are designed to fill. First, then, is Mercury, the nearest planet to the sun, that has been yet discovered. In size it nearly equals the habitable portion of our globe, being calculated to comprise about thirty-two millions of square miles. The unassisted eye can rarely discern this beautiful little planet which revolves so near the sun as to be seldom visible. Few discoveries, therefore, have been made on its surface; even with the assistance of the highest telescopes. All that we know respecting it, is merely, that it performs its annual journey in eighty days, and that the solar fountain must appear to its inhabitants, at least seven times larger than to ourselves; hence, if the degree of heat is in proportion to a planet's nearness to the sun, the heat of mercury must be seven times greater than what is experienced on the surface of this globe: a heat so great that, if we were to be placed in a similar position, our rivers would be dried up, and the great sea converted into vapour. How then, it may be asked, can any organized being exist on such a burning surface? We hear that it is difficult to live in the deserts of Arabia; but their heat is coolness compared with that of burning Mercury. If the Most High has decreed that Mercury should be inhabited, he undoubtedly has adapted the constitution of his creatures to the ardent atmosphere for which they are designed. It is even possible that the beings which inhabit it, may be constituted exactly like ourselves. Modern discoveries lead us to conclude that the degree of sensible heat diffused throughout the planetary system, or in the atmosphere, is in exact proportion to the quality of caloric contained in each, though qualified by the peculiar constitution of the inhabitants, according to the distance F of the planets from the sun; and that these different portions of caloric are put into action by the solar rays, so as to produce exactly the degree of heat that is essential. Mercury, therefore, may not be really hotter than the planet Jupiter, although one revolves at the distance of four hundred and ninety millions of miles from the centre of light and heat; and the other is nearly lost in the effulgence of the solar blaze. A considerable quantity of caloric may be diffused throughout the former, and a small portion over the latter, and so in proportion throughout the planetary orbs, in accordance with their distance from the sun. Facts and experiments lead to the conclusion that such is actually the case, and, therefore, we have every reason to conclude, that the planets which are nearest to our sun, are neither parched with excessive heat; nor yet that the most distant are exposed to all the rigour of insufferable cold. Venus, the beautiful planet Venus, is nearly the size of our earth; it revolves around the sun in two hundred and twenty-four days, and performs a daily rotation on its axis in twenty-three hours and twenty minutes. This fair planet is, occasionally, so brilliant as to be seen in full daylight with the unassisted eye; but its brilliancy occurs at intervals only, and sometimes it is comparatively dim. When apparent in the heavens, as a morning, or an evening star, it attracts universal notice, and none among the starry host have been so much celebrated. The mighty orbit of this planet, though small when compared with those of Jupiter and Saturn, comprises an extent which seems to overpower the imagination, even sixty-eight millions of miles; and when it approaches nearest to our earth it is twentyseven millions of miles distant. Were the whole of its enlightened surface visible, it would then appear like a clear bright moon; but at that time its dark hemisphere is turned towards us. As it journeys on in the great tract, which it has invariably encircled since the birth of time, it seems to pass successively through all the shapes and appearances of the moon; at one time, gibbous; at another, crescent-shaped; at another, round and clear; thus proving that its light, is derived from the same great fountain as our own. Astronomers relate that its surface is varied with high mountains, one of which rises to an elevation of nearly twenty-two miles, and that it is encompassed with an atmosphere the densest part of which is sixteen hundred feet high. Thus much is all that the telescope reveals to us respecting the beautiful Venus. Next comes our earth, revolving round the sun in three hundred and sixty-five days, five hours, and forty-nine minutes, at the distance of ninety-five millions of miles; and upon its axis, in twenty-three hours, sixty-six minutes, and four seconds. The former is its annual, the latter its diurnal motion. How grateful are the vicissitudes of day and night-how advantageous the succession of heat and cold. With what a steady march all things proceed, and how harmoniously the circling seasons, and the swiftly revolving days accord with the necessities of all created things! "Night wanes-the vapours round the mountain curl'd, Then mighty nature bounds as from her birth, Man goes forth to his daily occupation till the evening. Then the flowers shut up, and the birds cease their war blings. Twilight succeeds, and night comes on; the labour of the day is over, and the weary are at rest. Thus beautifully moves the day, and silently proceeds the night and for nearly six thousand years has morning thus awoke, and day closed in without a single interruption. And as the days harmoniously proceed, so does the year. Spring, the jovial playful infancy of all living creatures, has cheered the world with its glad presence since the earth was formed; summer succeeds, the fruits begin to ripen, and the meadows stand thick with grass; the arable land with corn; then comes autumn, with her grain and fruits, her gladness and her plenty. Quiet winter closes in the year-a time of apparent rest; yet much is going on for the ensuing season, that the gracious promise of spring-time, and of harvest, may continually be accomplished. All, then, is admirably arranged in this world for the good of man. A beautiful harmony every where prevails. Nothing is wanted to make us happy; and, depraved as too many are, this world might yet become a paradise, if men did but obey the precepts which God has given them, in his most blessed word. Here are wonders to delight the eye of the most inquisitive, and to call forth the admiration of the most contemplative; harmonies and concerts, whether of sounding winds, or falling water, or the melodious songs of birds among the branches, to delight the ear of the most musical; fruits to gratify the most delicate taste, and fragrant odours to please the sense of smelling. Next comes the moon, our gentle, ever-accompanying satellite. She revolves around us in twenty-seven days and eight hours; but the period from one new, or full moon to another, is about twenty-nine days and twelve hours. This beautifnl planet is the nearest to us of all the |