230 ASTRONOMYANDTHEBIBLE
treasures of knowledge and understanding gained
through ages upon ages in contemplation of God's
handiwork. With undimmedvision they gaze upon
theglory of creation,—suns and stars and systems,
all in their appointed order circling the throne of
Deity."
—''GreatControversy,"page(5//.
"Suns andstarsandsystems,allintheirappointed
ordercirclingthethroneofDeity." Thisisthemar-
velousconception. Itisthegrandandfinalthoughtin
all studyof astronomy. More than oneastronomer
hasfelttheforceofthegeneralization,andhasrisento
the conception, and has attemptedto verify, by as-
tronomicalobservation,whathebelievedtobetrue.
Giftedwithmorethanmortal sight,fromthevan-
tagepointofsuchacenter,onemightseehow—
"Belowlaystretchedtheuniverse.
There,farastheremotestline
Thatboundsimagination'sflight,
Countlessandunendingorbs
Inmazymotionintermingled,
Yeteachfulfilledimmutably
Eternalnature'slaw.
Above,below,around.
Thecirclingsystemsformed
Awildernessofharmony;
Eachwithundeviatingaim,
Ineloquentsilence,throughthedepthsofspace,
Pursueditswondrousway."
—Shelley.
From sucha viewpoint,we couldseestars bythe
million. "Theyarestrewnthroughendlessspacelike
theblindingsnowflakesofaWesternblizzard. They
areasthickastheleavesofanearthlyforest."
Aswecontemplateit,wesay:
"Thisisawondroussight,
Andmocksallhumangrandeur."