"Inanimate nature is subject to the same unvarying laws. Metals, and
rocks, and earths, and all the mineral kingdom follow one law in their
crystallization, never varying from the form assigned to them; each
atom depositing itself in the allotted place, until that form is
complete: we have order in production, order in decay; but all is
simple to him by whom the planets were thrown out into space, and were
commanded to roll in their eternal orbits."
"Yes; the stars in the heavens are beautiful," said William, "but they
are not placed there in order."
"The fixed stars do not appear to us to be in order - that is, they do
not stud the heavens at equal distances from each other as we view
them; but you must recollect that they are at very different distances
from this earth, spreading over all infinity of space; and we have
reason to suppose that this our earth is but a mere unit in the
multitude of created worlds, only one single portion of an infinite
whole. As the stars now appear to us, they are useful to the mariner,
enabling him to cross the trackless seas; and to the astronomer, who
calculates the times and seasons."
"What do you mean, papa, by saying that this world of ours is supposed
to be but one of a multitude of created worlds?"
"Our little knowledge is bounded to this our own earth, which we have
ascertained very satisfactorily to be but one of several planets
revolving round our own sun.
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