No More Learning

Jupiter is next in brilliancy to Venus, and is the largest planet of
our system, its diameter being eighty-eight thousand miles, that is,
eleven times greater than the earth's; at times it surpasses Venus in
brightness; Jupiter has four moons attendant on him, which can be
seen with a good common telescope; the knowledge of these is very
valuable. Their eclipses are marked at Greenwich in the Nautical
tables, and the same eclipses marked in another part of the globe; the
difference of time, therefore, between them, is the difference of longi-
tude : of course this cannot be done at sea. The discovery of these
Satellites and their eclipses also, determined the important astronomical
fact, that light was not communicated instantaneously, but that it
occupied time in coming from a luminous body to the eye. *
Galileo was the first who discovered the satellites of Jupiter.
Jupiter, like all the other planets, seems to have an atmosphere of
its own; it is also surrounded with a number of parallel cloudy belts.
Saturn is still more remote from the sun, as you will see by your
? See Appendix.
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THE CREATION.
table; Saturn has seven moons, and is also encircled with a brilliant
broad ring, sometimes exceeding in brightness the planet itself; its
distance from Saturn is a third of the diameter of that planet, which
distance also just equals the breadth of the ring.
Georgium Sidus. This is the last of the planets, and seems to be
placed in the utmost bounds of the solar system, its distance being
eighteen hundred millions of miles from the sun: it has six moons.
THE COMETS.
Ere we leave the solar system to pass into the regions of the fixed
stars, we must not omit to consider this singular order of heavenly
bodies.
The word Comet is derived from the Greek word for hair, and
probably the ancients thus applied the word on account of the luminous
tail that almost always accompanies them. Though irregular in their
movements, yet the return of some of the comets has been predicted
with great accuracy. * They are supposed to be of inconsiderable
size. The comet of the last year, (1843,) seems to have caused great
interest; in the southern hemisphere its tail was visible to an amazing
extent; our last letter from your dear brother J. , thus speaks of it:
? Astronomers noticed a comet in 1305, 1456, 1531, 1607, 1682. Dr. Halley
supposed that this was one and the same comet, and if so, predicted its return in
1759, which accordingly came to pass, and it doubtless was the same as appeared
in 1835.
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LETTER VII.
129
--" The wonderful comet has caused a great sensation among the
settlers: it extended, I should say, over one-sixth of the heavens;
was it seen in England ? " Australia, April 14, 1843.
THE HEAVEN OF THE FIXED STARS.
Leaving the solar system, one is lost in amazement in passing on
into the boundless regions of the fixed stars, all shining in unborrowed
lustre; the thought of the Psalmist irresistibly recurs to the mind,
" When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon
and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art
mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? "
(Ps. viii. 3, 4. ) And again, how sublime is that appeal to Job,
when the Lord, evidently in direct reference to the starry heavens,
says,* " Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the
bands of Orion ? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season ? or
canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? Knowest thou the
ordinances of heaven ? canst thou set the dominion thereof in
the earth? " (Job xxxviii. 31--33. ) Yes, beloved children, God
walketh in this circuit of the heaven, (Job xxii. 14,) and all these
orbs of light move at his direction; he has appointed them " for times,
and for signs, and for seasons. "
* Again, how striking is that reference to the constellations in Job ix. 1--10.
See also Amos v. 8.
g3
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? 130
THE CREATION.
In the absence of the moon, "the star-light of night"is most
cheering; and in an astronomical point of view, the knowledge of the
stars is very valuable; night after night have I at sea beguiled the
time in watching this or that fixed star coming to its meridian, and by
taking its altitude, ascertained the latitude of the ship: of course
these observations, from the obscurity of the horizon, cannot be so
accurate as those taken from the sun; but if the sun has not been seen
for " many days," then they become very valuable; the polar star,
with some slight variations allowed, may be thus taken any hour of the
night.
The distance of the fixed stars is beyond our calculation: it may be
thus illustrated:--" If we look down a straight road, the pathway on
each side seems to unite in the distance; and at this point, if there
were two trees, one on each side, they would appear one; but as we
walk along the road, the trees gradually separate, and we see the road
beyond them; now the earth at one period of her revolution is a hun-
dred and ninety millions of miles nearer to some fixed stars, than she
was six months before, yet this enormous space makes no difference
betwixt any of the fixed stars; how vast then must be their distances
from us! " *
The brightest of the fixed stars is Sirius, but even its rays twinkle
as they reach us; in this the fixed stars differ from the planets. We
? Rev. T. G. Hall's Exercises in Astronomy, p. 21.
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? LETTER VII.
131
have ten other stars of the first magnitude visible to us; these you will
see noticed in the table.
The ancient astronomers formed a number of imaginary figures in
the sky, and then placed the fixed stars in groups according to this
arrangement; twelve of the principal they called the Zodiac,* which
as a zone encircled the heavens; in addition to the Zodiac they had
seventy-nine other constellations, making in the whole ninety-one;
these you will find arranged in the table below, so that at a glance
the whole idea may be before you. Many of these constellations we
have watched together; and have learnt the truth of those words,
" The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth
his handy-work. " (Ps. xix. 1. )
THE CONSTELLATIONS OF THE STARRY HEAVENS.
THE SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC.
NO. OF
STARS.
KAMES OF CONSTELLATIONS.
PRINCIPAL STARS.
MAO.
67
Aries, the Ram.
143
Aldebaran . . . .
1
87
Gemini, the Twins . . . .
Castor and Pollux. .
1--2
87
Cancer, the Crab.
101
1
117
Virgo, the Virgin . . . . .
Spica Virginis . . .
1
53
Libra, the Scales.
37
Scorpio, the Scorpion . . . .
1
73
Sagittarius, the Archer.
54
Capricornus, the Goat.
119
Aquarius, the Water Bearer.
115
Pisces, the Fishes.
? From the Greek word for animals or living creatures.
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132 THE CREATION.
PRINCIPAL CONSTELLATIONS IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE.
NAMES OF CONSTELLATIONS.
PRINCIPAL STARS.
MAO.
Ursa Major, the Great Bear . . . .
Ursa Minor, the Lesser Bear . . . .
1
Polar Star . . . .
2
2
1
1
Draco.
Triangulum, the Triangle.
Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown.
Serpens, the Serpent.
Hercules, with the Branch.
Vega
1
1
1
Sagitla, the Arrow.
Altair
Delphinus, the Dolphin.
Cassiopeia, the Lady in her Chair.
Pegasus.
Andromeda.
PRINCIPAL CONSTELLATIONS IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.
NAMES OF CONSTELLATIONS.
PRINCIPAL STARS.
MAO.
Achernar . . . . .
Betelguese . . . .
1
Cetus, the Whale.
Noah's Dove.
Argo Navis, the Ship Argo . . . .
Canis Major, the greater Dog. . . .
Cants Minor, the lesser Dog . . . .
Cor Hydra . . . .
Fomalhaut . . . .
Pisces Australia, Southern Fish . . .
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LETTER VII. 133
GENERAL TABLE OF THE FIXED STARS.
CONSTELLATIONS.
NO.
MAGNITUDE OF STARS.
SIGNS.
I.
ii.
m.
IV.
VI.
TOTAL.
12
5
16
44
120
183
646
1014
Northern Hemisphere . . .
34
6
24
59
200
291
635
1215
Southern Hemisphere . . .
45
9
36
84
190
221
323
863
91
20
76
187
510
695
1604
3092
As to the number of the fixed stars, it is calculated, that on the
brightest star-light night we can seldom see more than two thousand;
yet the stars are numberless. (Gen. xv. 5. ) Dr. Herschel says, when
gazing on the milky way, that beautiful galaxy of light, that looks
like a wreath of bright silvery clouds fixed in the azure sky, that he
observed five hundred and eighty-eight stars through his telescope
at the same time, and they continued equally numerous for a quarter
of an hour. In one portion of the milky way he computed there
were two hundred and fifty thousand stars.
Thus, my dear children, I have sought to bring before your young
minds, the blessings of this fourth day's creation; little, indeed, I have
said to what might have been said, for the subject is boundless. Rela-
tive to the astronomical part of the letter, I have endeavoured to
gather as much information as I could in so small a compass, from
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THE CREATION.
the best established authorities, but I know the subject is one of pro-
found depth; " a few pebbles have been gathered on the sea-shore,"
as Sir Isaac Newton so beautifully and humbly said, " but the illimit-
able ocean is before us," and yet the little we do know is, as I before
remarked, of amazing benefit to us. A little while, and the whole
scene will fade away, for the day is hastening when the heavens shall
be gathered together as a scroll, and as a vesture shall the Lord fold
them up, and they shall be changed. (Ps. cii. 26; Heb. i. 12. )
Beloved children, may the Lord give to each of you to be his own,
so that that day shall have no terror in it to you; but with loins
girded, and lamps burning, may you wait his return, (Luke xii. 35,)
who shall rise " the Sun of Eighteousness, with healing in his
wings. " (Mal. iv. 2. ) Then shall the night pass away, and all will
be joy, unutterable joy, to those who love his appearing. (2 Tim. iv. 8,
compared with Heb. ix. 28. )
Believe me, dear Children,
Ever your affectionate Father.
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? THE CREATION.
135
LETTER VIII.
THOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING, HAST LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH; AND
THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF THINE HANDS: THEY SHALL PERISH; BUT THOU
REMAINEST: AND THEY ALL SHALL WAX OLD AS DOTH A GARMENT; AND AS A
VESTURE SHALT THOU FOLD THEM UP, AND THEY SHALL BE CHANGED: BUT THOU
ART THE SAME, AND THY YEARS SHALL NOT FAIL. --Hebrews i. 10--12.
My dear Children,
I have been thinking much of the scene to which I allnded at the
close of my last letter, and of the verses especially which I have
selected as a motto for this. That which so forcibly strikes me, is the
progression we had made in passing on from one planet to another,
thousands and millions of miles; until, having reached the Georgium
Sidus,* we found ourselves in the utmost bounds of the solar system,
eighteen thousand millions of miles from the sun: from thence we
passed on into the boundless heaven of the fixed stars, and here all
? Foreign astronomers have given this star the beautiful name of Uranus, which
is derived from the Greek word for " the heavens," probably considering it the
boundary of the solar heavens.
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THE CREATION.
calculation was at an end, and space seemed lost in infinitude: and yet
this is the language of Scripture concerning those illimitable heavens:
" as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed. "
Consider this figure, " as a vesture. " That starry sky shall be folded
up, shall be changed; whatever this in its extent may signify, it
conveys at one glance the most vast and sublime conceptions of the
power of God; yes, those hands once suspended on the cross of
Calvary, shall one day fold the azure sky together: " they shall perish,
but Thou endurest; they shall wax old as doth a garment, and as
a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed. " The
quotation of Psalm cii. , by the apostle in Hebrews i. 10, most explicitly
applies this act to that blessed One who died for us.
I will again recur to this subject at the close of this letter, but
will now seek to bring before your young minds some of the scrip-
tures that draw their illustrations more especially from the fourth
day's creation. Let us first then turn to the Old Testament, and
remember that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy,
(Rev. xix. 10;) to him gave all the prophets witness, (Acts x. 43;)
and thus whether in Moses, in the Prophets, or in the Psalms,
(Luke xxiv. 44,) we shall, (if we search, by the Spirit's guidance,)
find him there, even Jesus, the Alpha and Omega--the beginning
and end--the first and last of all Revelation. (Rev. i. 8. )
How beautiful is the nineteenth Psalm, " The heavens declare the
glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto
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LETTER VIII.
137
day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There
is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line
is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the
world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, which is 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 heaven, and his
circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat
thereof. " Now we are not left to conjecture in the application of
the figures of this Psalm; the Spirit of God, in the Epistle of Paul to
the Romans, (chap. x. ver. 18,) explains it to us, and shows, that as
the heavenly bodies visited all parts of the globe in their circuit; so
had the gospel gone out to every creature, yes, to every creature, for
there is no limit to " these glad tidings of great joy to all people,"
(Luke ii. 10,) none are to be hid from its blessing. But what is the
great character of the gospel message ? It is Jesus. Philip went
down and preached Christ at Samaria, and testified to the eunuch of
Jesus, (Acts viii. 5, 35;) this was the name wherewith he was named
by the angel, (Matt . i. 21,) because, as the name implies, he should
save his people from their sins; you remember, I believe, all of you, the
sweet hymn of Cowper:--
" How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer's ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.
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138
THE CREATION.
"It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast,
'Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary rest. "
Yes, this is the name which is above every name, (Phil. ii. 9;) and
this Psalm most beautifully sets it forth. Now suppose we look again
at the fifth verse, " In heaven hath He set a tabernacle for the sun,
which is as a bridegroom coming forth of his chamber; and rejoiceth
as a strong man to run a race. " Jesus, the true Sun of Righteousness,
(Malachi iv. 2,) is the heavenly bridegroom; and he, by the Spirit,
dwells ever in his church, (1 Cor. vi. 19,) and manifests through her
his own light. The church is his tabernacle, " the goodly building
fitly framed, (Eph. ii. 21,) and her office is to make the circuit of the
globe, to go to every creature and preach Jesus--and Jesus only, as
the way--the truth--the life, (John xiv. 6;) she is to proclaim the
blessed message of mercy far and wide, nothing is to be hid from
the heat thereof. The church of God is essentially missionary--.
her field of operation is the habitable globe, and " every creature"
her only limit, (Matt. xxviii. 19;) she has received the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, (2 Cor.
iv. 6,) not to hide it, but to manifest it; not to put her light under
a bushel, but to place it on a candlestick, that it may give light
to all that are in the house, (Matt. v. 15;) but we must read the
whole portion through, for it beautifully shows forth how the Lord
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? LETTER VIII.
139
by the ministry of the word, converts, enlightens, makes wise, makes
glad, and establishes a people unto himself; and the last verse is one
of the sweetest and most blessed of prayers for the child of God to
use: " Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be
acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. "
Commit this Psalm to memory, dear children, and whenever you find
the Old Testament quoted in the New, know that you have God's expo-
sition of his own truth; cherish it, and may his whole mind be to you,
as this Psalm says, more precious than gold, yea than much pure gold,
sweeter also than honey, and the honeycomb, (Ps. xix. 10;) but, as
I said, all the Psalms testify of Jesus, and for your instruction I just
subjoin a little selection on the life of our Lord, with New Testament
references. *
The eighty-fourth Psalm has also a beautiful illustration drawn
from this fourth day, " how amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of
hosts! " This Psalm is evidently the meditation of an Israelite absent
from the courts of the Lord, in one of the intervals of the three great
feasts (Exodus xxiii. 14. ) I shall have, however, again to recur to
this Psalm in my observations on the fifth day's creation, and will
therefore now simply allude to the closing verses. " The Lord God
is a sun and shield, he will give grace and glory, and no good thing
will he withhold from them that walk uprightly; whatever the sun is,
to gladden the day, to make fruitful the harvest, to cheer the traveller,
* See Appendix.
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THE CREATION.
such is the Lord to his children. The early blessings of grace, and the
final blessings of glory, the seed time now, and the harvest hereafter,
are all from Him, who delighteth in the happiness of his children.
The sun, moon, and stars, are introduced very strikingly in the
second dream of Joseph, which he told to his brethren; and Jacob's
application, or unfolding of the dream, shows us that he understood
the sun to set forth himself the head of the family; the moon de-
riving her light from the sun--his wife; and the eleven stars--his
family. And one may hereby get a key to the understanding of these
figures, in this relation ; for our Lord himself, the head, the bride-
groom of his church, is called the Sun of Righteousness; and the
church deriving all her light from him, is called the moon; and the
children of God are said to shine as the stars for ever and ever, (Daniel
xii. 3;) though in the passage of the Canticles that speaks of the
church as the moon, it also compares her to the sun. " Who is she
that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun,
and terrible as an army with banners? " (Song of Solomon, vi.
10;) so also (Matt. xiii. 43) the children of God are said to shine
forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father: but this blessedly
sets forth the people of the Lord under another figure, even as the
sharers of his glory, (Eph. v. 30;) sitting with him--his bride--his
elect one, in whom his soul delighteth.