130 ASTRONOMYANDTHEBIBLE
never beholdanything not comprehended by its un-
limitedknowledge. Themindofmanwillnevergrasp
anythingbutthatwhichtheSpiritofGodhasalready
searchedoutandgivenforthebenefitofmaninits
inspiredlessons.
Sometimesthe intellect divorced from faith views
thesestupendousspectaclesintheheavenstopointthe
soulonlytodespair;butnotsotheWord. Agnosti-
cismandphilosophicalspeculationsandscientificsoph-
istrywould readbuta portionof thisscripture. It
wouldchangeittosomethinglikethis: "WhenIcon-
sider theheavens,theincomprehensible workofthe
universe,the moonand starsintheirvastness, what
is man?" Thewholeimport ofthequestionis then
tooverwhelmmanwithhisinsignificance, andmake
himfeelthathe is merelya bubbleof foam onthe
greattossingwavesofimmensity. AsDanielWebster
once said, "Philosophical objections have sometimes
shakenmymindwithregardtoChristianity,especially
the objectiondrawn fromthemagnitudeoftheuni-
verse contrasted with the littleness of this planet."
Andtheargumentbecomesmorestriking,thefeelings
areaffectedmoreintensely,whenwecontrastallthis
mightnotmerelywiththeplanet,butwitheachone
ofusasapunyindividual;butfaitharisesandfaces
thedifficulty.
ThequotationfromDanielWebsterisnotcomplete.
Hecontinued, "Butmyhearthasalwaysassuredme
andreassuredmethatthegospelofJesus Christisa
divinereality." Andhebeganhisstatementwiththe
words, "Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief."