Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

262 INFLUENCE OF SCRIPTUREbeing doubled, it would rc(|uire light twice the time to perceive it, or onehundred and eighty-four thousand years. Suppose a spherical space ofwhich that line forms a diameter, or we may suppose a larger sphere, includingall the nebula visible by the Rosse telescope. It is estimated thatthere are in allnot less than one hundred millions of stars visible with theaid of that magnificent instrument, each of which isa sun with its planets;so that we have reason to suppose that there are an hundred millions ofsolar systems. Some of the suns arc, like Sirius, estimated to give sixtythreetimes as much light as our sun emits. Our planet is to Jupiter asone to twelve hundred; to Saturn, as one to one thousand; to the sun,as one to one million four hundred thousand. It is hardly to be seen bythe naked eye from Jupiter, and would be invisible to any haman eyesituated upon any planet more remote than Jupiter.siderealTo the whole of thecreation, it is as a globule of water in the ocean, and the inhabitantsare as animalcules in that globule.1342. Having thus prepared his mind with a proper conception of thevastnessof the attributes of the Deity, and the degree of the comparativeimportance of the human race in the divine mind, as it surveys the wholecreation, let the reader take up the book of Genesis, and compare the impressionswhich that alleged word of God would convey with those whichthe preceding facts and considerations would induce.It may be expedientthat the reader, while under the sublime impression of the majesty andmagnificence of the Deity, as displayed in his works, should consider whatevidence there is of any entity having the relation to him of a female; andif it be irrational to suppose a commensurate being of the other sex, letthe reader consider how this Supreme Deity could have a son ? The existenceof a son requiring both a father and mother, it may be well to thinkhow a male without a female god could have a son. lie may take intoview the opinions of Newton, that God cannot be presumed to have organs.Doubtless it will be perceived that this all-pervading, magnificent beingcannot require eyes to see, cars to hear, a nose to smell, a tongue to speak,or a mouth to eat, legs with which to walk, or arms with which to strike.Of course he will not consider him as having a person made of those organs,as in the instance of his creature, man. He will agree with Newton, thatit were absurd to ascribe even one person to God, and would be stillmoreso to ascribe three persons. Again, if three persons be essential to God,he being eternal, thethree persons must be eternal, and of course neithercan bear the relation of a son to the other; nor can the coeval Holy Ghostproceed from two of the trio, forming the third person, who, by the premises,existed hcfore he came into his suhscqucnt existence, as alleged bythe contradictory conclusion. If the individuals composing the Godheadhave any distinct will or reason, the admission of the trinity amounts topolytheism ; and if they have not severally independent natures and reason,then the association of the idea of three persons is useless. Is it not