Astronomy and the Bible;

ASTRONOMYANDFAITH 25

themthepower of Godthat forever keepsthem as
theyare,"bythegreatnessofHismight,forthatHe
isstronginpower;notonefaileth."
Rarelynowadaysisastronomystudiedwithanysuch
purposeasishereindicated. Yet,ifnotsostudied,it
failsofitshighestpurpose. In fact, divorced from
thoughtsofGod,itcanonlydiscourageman,because
of his infinite littleness in contrast with the grand
immensityoftheuniverse,intobelievingthatheis a
forgottenatom inthe dustcloudof thecosmos; or
encouragehimintothinkingthatheknowsatriflemore
thanhis fellows,andthathe,withhisgiant(?) intel-
lect,candelveintotheprofunditiesofspace,andcom-
prehendtheinfinite. Thusheispuffedupwithpride
andself-complacency.
Someonehassaidthat"theundevoutastronomeris
mad"—mad because, with such a spectacle before
him,heisstillundevout. Hourstudyofastronomy
cannot put some devout thoughts and feelings into
oursouls,ithasprovedtousquiteafailure.
Andwhilethisviewofnatureasameansofquick-
eningfaithseemsa reasonableonetotakeas thein-
tentofastronomicalstudy,neverthelessthere areper-
sonswhowillopposethis idea. However, there are
those who have gained distinction as scientists and
astronomers,whoviewthesubjectinthisattitudeof
faithandreverence. Afewquotationsfromsomeof
thesemayhaveaninfluencein startingusintheright
direction.
"The great domeof thesky, filledwith glittering
stars,isoneofthemostsublime spectaclesinnature.