When I concider thy Heavens, the Work of thy Fringer: the Moon and the Stars which thou hast ordained. Lord what is Man that thou art mindfull of him, The FRONTIS PIECE Exhibits a View of the nocturnal Heavens. -On the Top of an OBSERVATORY, two Perfons examine the celeftial Bodies with their Telescopes: Inftruments, which gave Rife to the most important Improvements in the Science of Aftronomy. An aged Philofopher is reprefented, inftructing his Pupils. He defcribes, with his Compaffes, the Order and Courses of the Planets; according to the Newtonian Hypothefis, intimated by a Book bearing that great Author's Name. The whole Tenour of the Lecture, in Concert with the whole Structure and Economy of the Skies, ENARRANT GLORIAM DEI, Profeffedly declare the Glory of GOD.-Behind the Philosopher stands one of his Scholars, with an Air of clofe Attention, computing on his Fingers the Distances, the Magnitudes, the Velocities of the planetary Orbs.—Another at his Right-hand, attending to the Description of the flupendous Syftem, is ftruck with Surprize, and impressed with Awe.-A third, with conscious Humiliation in his Countenance, holds a Scroll, infcribed with a Diagram; expreffing the joint Action of the centrifugal and centripetal Forces. As by the one, the Planets are continually enVOL. II. dea a deavouring to fly off; but by the other, ate perpetually drawn towards the Centre of their Motion; SIC GRATIA DEI, Such is the Operation of Divine Grace: correcting the irregular Impulfe of our natural Depravity; determining our Defires to the Centre of Happiness; and directing our Goings in the Circle of Duty. A Youth on the Left, overwhelmed with Veneration for the Almighty Maker, in a Transport of Gratitude, and a Pofture of Adoration, pours out his Soul in those emphatical Words; When I confider thy Heavens, the Work of thy Fingers, the Moon and the Stars which thou haft ordained :-LORD, what is Man, that thou art mindful of him; and the Son of Man, that thou vifiteft him? Pfal. viii. 3, 4. |