soul or animating principle of the world, expressed himself with physical accuracy, but with gross theological error. This triune agent is FIRE, LIGHT, and SPIRIT. It is fire at the central orb; it is light, when in efflux from its source and centre; and it is spirit, or æther, on its return to it again

The stationary and central position of the solar orb is no new discovery of these later ages. For the Psalmist says that in them,” THE HEAVENS, (not a vacuum, an empty space, but in the etherial

theism and idolatry; and the only modification of this principle, which seems to bring it nearer to a rational notion of a Supreme Being (and which has accordingly led some of the learned to contend for their supposed knowledge of the Divine Unity), is their imaginary doctrine of the anima mundi, or intelligent Spirit pervading the universe, and giving life and activity to the whole. This, however, proved no check to polytheism, because the subordinate powers of nature were still held to be fit objects of worship, however dependant upon this universal agent. Moreover, if the doctrine of the anima mundi be thoroughly scrutinized, it will perhaps be found to mean nothing more than that there is a subtle and imperceptible, yet material principle, possessed of an inherent self activity, by which it becomes the originating cause of activity in all other bodies; or, at most, that it is the parent mass of intellect or spirit, whence all other intellects or spirits emanate (as of physical necessity, not by any act of volition) and into which they are all ultimately resolved. But in neither of these senses, nor in any other whereby it can consistently be explained, does it convey any notion correspondent with that of a Deity endued with moral and intellectual perfection." Dr. (now Bishop) Van Mildert's Sermons. at Boyle's lectures, vol. ii. p. 92. Edit. 3d. 1820.

,"* or pitched a

fluid) "hath He set a tabernacle,"

tent for "the sun," or solar light; which light is

66

as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heavens, and his circuit unto the ends of them, there is nothing hid from the heat thereof." In this description the fixed station of the solar orb, the efflux of its light to the utmost extremities of its system, and its

* With what the Psalmist has said of the solar light, may be contrasted what Bildad says of the light of the moon, Job. xxv. 5. Behold even to the light of the moon, and he (God) hath not fixed its tent." The root is the same in both passages, and that which the Psalm affirms of the solar light, Bildad denies of the lunar: "it has no fixed tabernacle, but the orb which reflects it revolves round the sun in company with the earth, and, from this complex motion, it is to the inhabitants of the earth sometimes luminous, sometimes partly dark, and sometimes totally so."

†The end, in the singular number, seems to denote the point where the celestial fluid emanates, and where, in its reflux, its progress is stopped; while ends, in the plural, denote the vast circumference to which it flows, which we distinguish by the four points of the compass.

‡ "The mind reason or providence, like a great artificer, turns back the wheels of its own machine, changing all its parts, with the utmost velocity. At a word, combining together all its different motions, and by an established order, or command, to revolve from a beginning without a beginning, and to an end without an end; for the motion begins always where it ends." Mercurius Trismegistus (who is supposed to have flourished about 1900 before Christ) quoted by Catcott, in his ancient principles of true and sacred Philosophy. So also Plato: "The mind dwells in the centre of the universe, extending its influence

return to its focus; the swiftness of its motion, and the vigour of its operations, together with its pervasion of all passive matter, seem to be distinctly affirmed. Whether the solar orb be a globe of fire, or, whether its atmosphere only, as Dr. Herschel supposes,* consist of that element, no objection arises from either hypothesis to the scheme which considers the universe as a machine, and the sun as its main spring.

The co-essentiality of this threefold fluid appears in every common candle we use. It burns as fire; it emits light; and is itself fed by

to the remotest parts; moving all things, and by its own agency changing its different motions, until it reaches the utmost boundary of the universe." What is the mind, reason or providence of the former quotation, and the mind of the latter, but the sun acting throughout the universe by its efflux and reflux?

* "That illustrious astronomer (Sir William Herschel) has discovered, that the body of the sun is an opaque substance; and that the splendid matter which disperses to the world light and beat, is a luminous atmosphere, attached to its surface, figuratively though not physically, as flame is attached to the wick of a lamp or a torch, so that the creation of the sun as a part of the host of heaven,' does not necessarily imply the creation of light; and conversely, the creation of light does not necessarily imply the body of the sun. In the first creation of the heavens and the earth, therefore, not the planetary orbs only, but the solar orb itself, was created in darkness; awaiting the light which, by one simple divine operation, was to he communicated at once to all. When then the Almighty Word, in commanding light, commanded the first illumination of the solar atmosphere, its new light was immediately caught and reflected throughout space, by all the members of the planetary system. And well may we imagine that, in that first, sudden, and magnificent

air. It is reasonable, I think, to suppose that the same character belongs to the orb of day, as to that which comes under our observation in the instance of a glimmering taper. The latter will cause a vane to turn on its own axis, as experiment has shown; while the former, by the inconceivable powers of its efflux and reflux, causes the revolutions of planets, according to the will and purpose of its Almighty Creator.

For evidence and further explanation of this system which its advocates think they can clearly trace in the volume of inspiration, I must refer you to those authors, to whom I am myself indebted for these physico-theological views. Some of these authors I proceed to name, apprizing you of what you may expect to find in each of them.

And, first, I recommend to your perusal a little work, published in the years 1748 and 1754, and entitled, "The Principles of Natural Philosophy, with some remarks upon the fundamental principles of the Newtonian Philosophy, in an introductory letter to Sir Hildebrand Jacob, Bart." Its subject is the mechanism of the universe, which appears to me to be proved, on philosophical principles, beyond all contradiction.

illumination of the universe, the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy." PENN'S MINERAL AND MOSAICAL GEOLOGIES, p. 150.

I mention, in the next place, Bishop Horne's "Fair, candid, and impartial state of the case between Sir Isaac Newton and Mr. Hutchinson in which is shown how far a system of PHYSICS is capable of MATHEMATICAL DEMONSTRATION; how far Sir Isaac's, as such a system, has that DEMONSTRATION; and consequently, what regard Mr. Hutchinson's claim may deserve to have paid to it." In this little work the Bishop has endeavoured to prove, that there is no contradiction between the mathematical demonstrations of Sir Isaac, and the mechanism of nature; and that Sir Isaac himself often expressed his doubts whether its phoenomena were not produced by mechanical agency. In the 62d page occurs the following note, “The reader may perhaps obtain a more satisfactory idea of the manner of this operation," (viz. that of the heavens on the earth and other planets,) "than I can give him, from a well known electrical experiment, shown by the ingenious Mr. Rackstrow, in Fleet-Street, (London.) A large copper globe A large copper globe being placed in the centre, and a smaller one of glass in a circular groove at some distance from it, the electrical stream, conveyed to the central globe, irradiates from thence against the hemisphere of the small glass one which is turned towards it, as the light from the sun does against the earth and planets; and produces exactly the same effect, the glass globe being caused to revolve upon its