. SERIES OF DISCOURSES SERIES OF DISCOURSE OK THE Yi\VEI> IN CONNEXION WITH THE MODERN ASTRONOMY THOMAS CHALMERS, D. D. MINISTER OF THE TRON CHURCH, GLASGOW, NEW-YORK: T0BLISHED BY KIRK &, MERCI1S, No, 22 Wall-Street, 1817. ;.25- J. & J. Harper, Printers. PREFACE. A HE astronomical objection against the truth of the Gospel does not occupy a very prominent place in any of our Treatises of Infidelity. It is often, however, met with in conversation and we have known it to be the cause of serious per- plexity and alarm in minds anxious for the solid establishment of their religious faith. There is an imposing splendour in the science of astronomy ; and it is not to be wondered at, if the light it throws, or appears to throw, over other tracks of speculation than those which are properly its own, should at times dazzle and mis- lead an inquirer. On this account, we think it were a service to what we deem a true and a righteous cause, could we succeed in dissipating this illusion; and in stripping Infidelity of those pretensions to enlargement, and to a certain air of philosophical greatness, by which it has often become so destructively alluring to the young? and the ardent, and the ambitious. In my first Discourse, I have attempted a sketch of the Modern Astronomy nor have I wished to throw any disguise over that comparative little- ness which belongs to our planet, and which gives to the argument of Freethinkers all its plausi- bility. This argument involves in it an assertion and an inference. The assertion is, that Christianity is a religion which professes to be designed for the single benefit of our world ; and the inference is,, that God cannot be the author of this religion, lor he would not lavish on so insignificant a field such peculiar and such distinguishing attentions as are ascribed to him in the Old and New Testa- ment. Christianity makes no such profession. That it is designed for the single benefit of our world, is altogether a presumption of the Infidel himself and feeling that this is not the only example of temerity which can be charged on the enemies of our faith, I have allotted my second Discourse to the attempt of demonstrating the utter repugnance of such a spirit with the cautious and enlightened philosophy of modern times. In the course of this Sermon I have offered a tribute of acknowledgment to the theology of Sir Isaac Newton ; and in such terms, as if not farther explained, may be liable to misconstruction* The grand circumstance of applause in the character of this great man, is, that unseduced by all the magnificence of his own discoveries, he had a solidity of mind which could resist their fascina- tion, and keep him in steady attachment to that book whose general evidences stamped upon it the impress of a real communication from heaven. This was the sole attribute of his theology which I had in my eye when I presumed to eulogise it I do not think, that, amid the distraction and the engrossment of his other pursuits, he has at all times succeeded in his interpretation of the book; else he would never, in my apprehension, have abetted the leading doctrine of a sect, or a system^ which has now nearly dwindled away from public observation. In my third Discourse I am silent as to the as- sertion, and attempt to combat the inference that is founded on it. I insist, that upon all the analo- gies of nature and of providence, we can lay no limit on the condescension of God, or on the mul- tiplicity of bis regards even to the very humblest departments of creation; and that it is not for us* who see the evidences of divine wisdom and care spread in such exhaustless profusion around us, to say, that the Deity would not lavish all the wealth- of his wondrous attributes on the salvation even of our solitary species. 8 At this point of the argument I trust that the in- telligent reader may be enabled to perceive in the adversaries of the gospel, a twofold dereliction from the maxims of the Baconian philosophy ; that, in the first instance, the assertion which forms the groundwork of their argument, is gratuitously fetched out of an unknown region where they are utterly abandoned by the light of experience; and that, in the second instance, the inference they urge from it, is in the face of manifold and unde- niable truths, all lying within the safe and accessi- ble field of human observation. In my subsequent Discourses, I proceed to the informations of the record. The Tnfidel objec- tion, drawn from astronomy, may be considered as by this time disposed of; and if we have suc- ceeded in clearing it away, so as to deliver the Christian testimony from all discredit upon this ground, then may we submit, on the strength of other evidences, so be guided by its information. We shall thus learn, that Christianity has a far more extensive bearing on the other orders of creation than the Infidel is disposed to allow ; and whether he will own the authority of this informa- tion or not, he will, at least, be forced to admit, that the subject matter of the Bible jtself is not chargeable with that objection which he has at- tempted to fasten upon it 9 Thus had my only object been the refutation of the Infidel argument, I might have spared the last Discourses of the Volume altogether. But the tracts of Scriptural information to which they di- rected me, I considered, as worthy of prosecution on their own account and I do think, that much may be gathered from these less observed portions of the field of revelation, to cheer, and to elevate, and to guide the believer. But, in the management of such a discussion as this, though for a great degree of this effect it would require to be conducted in a far higher style than I am able to sustain, the taste of the human mind may be regaled, and its understand- ing put into a state of the most agreeable exer- cise. Now, this is quite distinct from the con- science being made to feel the force of a personal application ; nor could I either bring this argu- ment to its close in the pulpit, or offer it to the general notice of the world, without adverting, ia the last Discourse, to a delusion which I fear, is carrying forward thousands, and tens of thousands, to an undone eternity. I have closed the Volume with an Appendix of Scriptural authorities. I found that I could not easily interweave them in the texture of the Work, and have, therefore, thought fit to present them in a separate form. I look for a twofold benefit from this exhibition first, on those more general 1Q readers, \vho are ignorant of the Scriptures, and of the riches and variety which abound in them and, secondly, on those narrow and intolerant professors, who take an alarm at the very sound and semblance of philosophy, and feel as if there was an utter irreconcileable antipathy between its lessons on the one hand, and the soundness and piety of the Bible on the other. It were well, I conceive, for our cause, that the latter could be- come a little more indulgent on this subject ; that they gave up a portion of those ancient and hereditary prepossessions, which go so far to cramp and to enthral them; that they would suffer theology to take that wide range of argument and of illustration which belongs to her; and that, less sensitively jealous of any desecration being brought upon the Sabbath, or the pulpit, they would suffer her freely to announce all those truths, which either serve to protect Christianity from the contempt of science, or to protect the teachers of Christianity from those invasions which are practised both on the sacredness of the office, and on the solitudes of its devotional and intel- lectual labours. I shall only add, for the information of readers at a distance, that these Discourses were chiefly delivered on the occasion of the week-day sermon that is preached in rotation by the Ministers of Glasgow. CONTENTS. DISCOURSE I. A SKETCH OF THE MODERN ASTRONOMY. Page 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 ?" PSALM viii. 3, 4. . . . 17 DISCOURSE II. THE MODESTY OF TRUE SCIENCE. "And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know." 1 COR. viii. 2 47 DISCOURSE III. ON THE EXTENT OF THE DIVINE CONDESCENSION. "Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high ? Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth ? >? PSALM cxiii. 5, 6. . 76 12 DISCOURSE IV. ON THE KNOWLEDGE OF MAN*S MORAL HISTORY IN THE DISTANT PLACES OF CREATION. Page " Which things the angels desire to look into." 1 PETER i. 12. . . <....-.... 101 DISCOURSE V. ON THE SYMPATHY THAT IS FELT FOR MAN IN THE DIS- TANT PLACES OF CREATION. tt I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance." LUKE xv. 7 127 DISCOURSE VI. ON THE CONTEST FOR AN ASCENDENCY OVER MAN, AMONGST THE HIGHER ORDERS OF INTELLIGENCE. * And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it." COL. ii. 15 149 DISCOURSE VIL OS THE SLENDER INFLUENCE OF MERE TASTE AND SEN* SIBILITY IN MATTERS OF RELIGION. cc And, lo ! thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an in- strument : for they hear thy words, but they do them not." EZEKIEL xxxiii. 32 170 Appendix, 203 DISCOURSE I. A SKETCH OF THE MODERN ASTRONOMY t: 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 ?" PSALM viii. 3, 4. J_N the reasonings of the Apostle Paul, we cannot fail to observe how studiously he accommodates his arguments to the pursuits, or principles, or prejudices of the people whom he was address- ing. He often made a favourite opinion of their own the starting point of his explanation ; and educing a dexterous but irresistible train of argu- ment from some principle upon which each of the parties had a common understanding, did he force them out of all their opposition, by a weapon of their own choosing nor did he scruple to avail himself of a Jewish peculiarity, or a heathen superstition, or a quotation from Greek poetry, by which he might gain the attention of those whom he laboured to convince, and by the skilful appli- cation of which, he might shut them up unto the faith," 18 Now, when Paul was thus addressing one class of an assembly or congregation, another class might, for the time, have been shut out of all direct benefit and application from his arguments. When he wrote an Epistle to a mixed assembly of Chris- tianized Jews and Gentiles, he had often to direct such a process of argument to the former, as the latter would neither require nor comprehend. Now, what should have been the conduct of the Gentiles at the reading of that part of the Epistle which bore almost an exclusive reference to the JeWs ? Should it be impatience at the hearing of something for which they had no relish or under- standing? Should it be a fretful disappointment, because every thing that was said, was not said for their edification ? Should it be angry discontent with the Apostle, because, leaving them in the dark, he had brought forward nothing for them, through the whole extent of