and ideal fcenes of happiness; invifible to, and not to be perceived by, any of those which we call bodily fenfes ;-but that they are actual works of configuration, and as much the durable effect of an exerted operation as our earth. And indeed the words, the Heavens, do, in this verse, seem plainly to be intended to mean positively the very fixed flars, that are seen in the heaven or atmosphere above our heads-and if fo, then, from the conftant indifcriminate application of the word Heaven, it follows, that each ftar is one beaven, or one of the heavens; for we know from the words of Holy Writ, that the air, the atmosphere itself, is not properly heaven. It deferves attention, too, that in the paffage already cited from Deuteronomy, ch. iv. ver. 19, the whole beautiful adornment of beaven, πάντα τὸν κόσμον τὸ ἐραν, is mentioned, juft in the fame manner as in Genefis, chap. ii. ver. 1. where, according to the Septuagint tranflation, the beautiful adornment, both of the heavens, and of the earth, are fpoken of as having exactly one and the fame mode of expreffion very fitly applied to them. Genefis, Generis, chap. ii. Ver. I. Καὶ συνετελέσθησαν ὁ ἐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ, καὶ πᾶς ὁ κόσμος αὐτῶν. Ver. 1. And the heaven and the earth were finished, (or completed,) and all the adornment of them. Perhaps the idea of the fixed stars being really heavens, may alfo with propriety be awfully kept in view, both when we read thofe words of our BLESSED LORD, John, chap. xiv. Ver. 2. Ἐν τῇ οικίᾳ τῇ πατρίς με μοναὶ πολλαί εἰσιν· 2. In my Father's Houfe are many abodes: and even in reading that most fublime paffage in the Epiftle to the Ephefians, Chap. iv. Ver. 10. Ὁ καταβὰς, αὐτός ἐςι καὶ ὁ ἀναβὰς ὑπεράνω πάντων τῶν ἐρανῶν, ἵνα πληρώση τὰ πάλα. Ver. 10. He that defcended, is even the very fame as Him that afcended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things. No. III. No. III. A NOTE CONCERNING THE CREATION OF THE STARS: REFERRING TO Vol. I. p. 141 of the Octavo Edition, AND TO P. of the Quarto Edition. WE find it written in the Book of Genesis, That,-In the beginning GOD made (or createa) the heaven, and the earth :—and that the earth was without form, and void;-or rather was ἀόρατος καὶ ακατασκεύατος—no ob ject of fight;—not yet built up into any beautiful form.-(or was without adornment.) But it is very remarkable, that we do not in like manner read, that the heaven also was without form, and void;-which yet, we may VOL. III. E rather |