Astronomy and General Physics: Considered with Reference to Natural Theology ... |
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action adaptation adjusted animals appear arrangements astronomical atmosphere bodies CHAPTER character climate comet conceive condition connexion consequence consider constitution contemplation contrivance course Creator deductive reasoning degree Deity depend discovery distance Divine earth effects elements endeavour existence fact faculties final causes fluid force friction globe gravity heat human impression intelligence Jupiter kind knowledge Laplace latent heat laws of motion laws of nature less light luminiferous ether magnitudes manner mass material world mathematical mathematicians matter means mechanical mechanical philosophy ment mind mode moral natural philosophy Natural Theology Nebular Hypothesis objects observe operation orbit organic particles peculiar period perpetual phenomena philosophers physical planets portion present principles probably produced properties purpose quantity reason relations result revolving round the sun Saturn solar system space stars steam suppose supreme intelligence surface temperature tendency things tion trace truth ture universe vapour vegetable velocity vibrations
Popular passages
Page 226 - Warms in the sun, refreshes in the breeze, Glows in the stars, and blossoms in the trees ; Lives through all life, extends through all extent, Spreads undivided, operates unspent...
Page 234 - God, or melior natura; which courage is manifestly such as that creature, without that confidence of a better nature than his own, could never attain. So man, when he resteth and assureth himself upon divine protection and favour, gathereth a force and faith which human nature in itself could not obtain. Therefore, as atheism is in all respects hateful, so in this, that it depriveth human nature of the means to exalt itself above human frailty.
Page 197 - And though every true Step made in this Philosophy brings us not immediately to the Knowledge of the first Cause, yet it brings us nearer to it, and on that account is to be highly valued.
Page 198 - This Being governs all things, not as the soul of the world, but as Lord over all; and on account of his dominion he is wont to be called Lord God...
Page 222 - ... would be to attribute to him the imperfections of human legislation ; — but rather, by creating them, endued with certain fixed qualities and powers, he has impressed them in their origin with the spirit, not the letter, of his law, and made all their subsequent combinations and relations inevitable consequences of this first impression...
Page 106 - ... then diminish. The periods which this restoration requires are, for the most part, enormous ; not less than thousands, and, in some instances, millions of years ; and hence it is, that some of these apparent derangements have been going on in the same direction since the beginning of the history of the world. But the restoration is in the sequel as complete as the derangement; and in the meantime the disturbance never attains a sufficient amount seriously to alter the adaptations of the system.•...
Page 225 - Insects, can be the effect of nothing else than the Wisdom and Skill of a powerful ever-living Agent, who being in all Places, is more able by his Will to move the Bodies within his boundless uniform Sensorium, and thereby to form and reform the Parts of the Universe, than we are by our Will to move the Parts of our own Bodies.
Page 71 - Eternal anarchy, amidst the noise Of endless wars, and by confusion stand. For Hot, Cold, Moist and Dry, four champions fierce, Strive here for mastery...
Page 118 - Amongst proofs of choice, one is, fixing the source of light and heat in the centre of the system. The sun is ignited and luminous ; the planets, which move round him, cold and dark. There seems to be no antecedent necessity for this order. The sun might have been an opaque mass ; some one, or two, or more, or any, or all the planets, globes of fire. — There is nothing in the nature of the heavenly...
Page 107 - It is further remarkable, that in the newly-discovered planets, of which the orbits are still more eccentric than that of Mercury, the masses are still smaller, so that the same provision is established in this case, also.