Astronomy and the Bible;

ASTHEMOON 131
Thesewordshelefttobeinscribedonhissepulcher,
andtheyarechiseledinthemarblethatrestsoverhis
dustatMarshfield. Worthyfaith!
TheScriptureswouldcallourattentiontothegreat-
nessofGod'suniverse,andthereforetothemightof
theGod oftheuniverse,butnotto discourageorto
awakendistrust. Thescripturereads: "WhenIcon-
siderThyheavens,theworkofThyfingers,themoon
andthestars,whichThouhastordained;whatisman,
thatThouartmindfulofhim?andthesonofman,
thatThouvisitesthim? ForThouhastmade hima
littlelowerthantheangels,andhastcrownedhimwith
gloryandhonor."
Thiswastrueofmanwhencreated;andthoughby
sinhehaslostitforhimself,throughChristitisstill
trueformen. InChrist,Godstillmakeshimalittle
lowerthantheangels;andinChrist,Godstillclothes
himwithgloryandhonor. Andthisisthegreatresult
of aproper study ofastronomy. When rightly we
considertheheavens, theworkof God'sfingers, the
moonand thestars,which Hehas ordained,it does
notarouseanydistrust;itmerelycausesustorealize
thelove ofGod,thatHeshouldremember anything
sosmallasahumanbeing. Itmagnifies theloveof
God,butdoesnotthrowanydiscredituponHim. It
wondersatthecondescensionofGodasitsays,"What
isman,"thatGodshoulddothis? Itcriesoutinfaith,
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hathbe-
stoweduponus."
Whatthe starsalone, whatthemoon itself,could
nottell,thegospeloftheSonofGoddoestell. And