The Plurality of WorldsGould and Lincoln, 1854 - 368 pages |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Algol analogy animals appear argument assumption astronomers believe bodies brute centre Chalmers clouds comet conceive condensation condition conjecture creation creatures degree density difficulty diffused discover discoveries distance Divine doctrine earth earth's orbit Encke's comet evidence existence fact fixed stars geological periods geology globe God's habitation Herschel human hypothesis immense inhabitants intellectual intelligent Jupiter kind knowledge least less light and heat luminous matter man's mass material meteoric stones mind Moon moral motions nature nebula Nebular Hypothesis Neptune objects occupied Old Red Sandstone optical power organic perhaps period planetary planetary systems planets population present probably progress purpose race reason regard regions Religion religious remark resemblance revolution revolving round satellites Saturn Sirius solar system solid space species speculations spiral spiral nebula strata suppose supposition surface telescope terrestrial thought thousand tion truth universe Uranus vapor vast visible
Popular passages
Page 234 - Look how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold. There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st But in his motion like an angel sings, Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubims : Such harmony is in immortal souls ; But whilst this muddy vesture of decay Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.
Page 246 - With half that kindling majesty dilate Thy strong conception, as when Brutus rose Refulgent from the stroke of Caesar's fate, Amid the crowd of patriots ; and his arm Aloft extending, like eternal Jove When guilt brings down the thunder, call'd aloud On Tully's name, and shook his crimson steel, And bade the father of his country hail ? For lo ! the tyrant prostrate on the dust, And Rome again is free...
Page 245 - Look then abroad through nature, to the range Of planets, suns, and adamantine spheres, Wheeling unshaken through the void immense; And speak, O man ! does this capacious scene With half that kindling majesty dilate Thy strong conception, as when Brutus rose Refulgent from the stroke of...
Page 251 - NATURE, we learn from the past history of our globe that she has advanced with slow and stately steps, guided by the archetypal light amidst the wreck of worlds, from the first embodiment of the vertebrate idea under its old ichthyic vestment, until it became arrayed in the glorious garb of the human form.
Page 48 - Far other life you live, far other tongue You talk, far other thought, perhaps, you think, Than man. How various are the works of God! But say, what thought?
Page 283 - LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC WORKS PUBLISHED BY GOULD AND LINCOLN, 59 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY ; or, Year Book of Facts in Science and Art...
Page 283 - That wonderful man described these objects with a facility which made him ashamed of the comparative meagreness and poverty of his own descriptions in the " Bridgewater Treatise," which had cost him hours and days of labor.
Page 283 - Com. Advertiser. The* publishers have again covered themselves with honor, by giving to the American public, with the author's permission, an elegant reprint of a foreign work of science. We earnestly bespeak for this work a wide and free circulation among all who love science much and religion more.
Page 103 - The intelligent part of creation is thrust into the compass of a few years, in the course of myriads of ages ; why not then into the compass of a few miles, in the expanse of systems...
Page 99 - He has bestowed upon this small part of his creation — mankind— this special care. He has made their period, though only a moment in the ages of animal life, the only period of intelligence, morality, religion. If, then, to suppose that He has done this is contrary to our conceptions of His greatness and majesty, it is plain that our conceptions are erroneous : they have taken a wrong direction. God has not judged as to what is worthy of Him as we have judged. He has found it worthy of Him to...