ghest testimonies to the accuracy of these celestial observations
are found in the perfect predictions of eclipses, transits of planets
over the sun, occultation of stars by the moon, and those statements
of the Nautical Almanac that enable the sailor to know exactly
where he is on the pathless ocean by the telling of the stars:
"On the trackless ocean this book is the mariner's trusted friend
and counsellor; daily and nightly its revelations bring safety
to ships in all parts of the [Page 74] world. It is something more
than a mere book; it is an ever-present manifestation of the order
and harmony of the universe."

Another example of this wonderful accuracy is found in tracing
the asteroids. Within 200,000,000 or 300,000,000 miles from the
sun, the one hundred and ninety-two minute bodies that have been
already discovered move in paths very nearly the same--indeed two of
them traverse the same orbit, being one hundred and eighty degrees
apart;--they look alike, yet the eye of man in a few observations
so determines the curve of each orbit, that one is never mistaken
for another. But astronomy has higher uses than fixing time,
establishing landmarks, and guiding the sailor. It greatly quickens
and enlarges thought, excites a desire to know, leads to the utmost
exactness, and ministers to adoration and love of the Maker of
the innumerable suns.

[Page 75]
V.

THE SUN.

"And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and
the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also."--_Gen._
i. 16.

[Page 76]
"It is perceived that the sun of the world, with all its essence,
which is heat and light, flows into every tree, and into every
shrub and flower, and into every stone, mean as well as precious;
and that every object takes its portion from this common influx,
and that the sun does not divide its light and heat, and dispense
a part to this and a part to that. It is similar with the sun of
heaven, from which the Divine love proceeds as heat, and the Divine
wisdom as light; these two flow into human minds, as the heat and
light of the sun of the world into bodies, and vivify them according
to the quality of the minds, each of which takes from the common
influx as much as is necessary."--SWEDENBORG.

[Page 77]
V.

_THE SUN._

Suppose we had stood on the dome of Boston Statehouse November 9th,
1872, on the night of the great conflagration, and seen the fire
break out; seen the