are Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. They are all fellow-members, with the Earth, of the solar system, and are, comparatively speaking, near to us, while the fixed stars are at an immensely greater distance. The sun, as seen from the planet Neptune, the outermost member of the solar system, would appear no larger than Venus does when seen from the earth, although it would be intensely more brilliant. From this statement it may be readily inferred, that could we extend our movement outwards from the sun indefinitely, we might ultimately reach a point where the sun would appear only as a stargrowing less and less brilliant as we recede from him until he would cease to be visible. In the meantime, the stars towards which we were advancing would increase in brilliancy, until they themselves became suns to our flight. Here, then, we obtain a glimpse of one of the first great truths with reference to the fixed stars, namely, that they are all in reality suns, similar to our own; and consequently, that each may have a retinue of planets attending upon it, of equal or even of superior glory to that of the subordinates of our own central orb. The sooner we can get into our minds the thought that the fixed stars are really suns, the sooner shall we be prepared to follow the investigations of those eminent men who have devoted their lives to this enchanting science.

In studying the fixed stars, it will be convenient, for the purpose of reference, to arrange them in classes, according to their apparent brilliancy, and also to group them together in clusters, or constellations. These

constellations, when accurately represented on paper, correspond to countries and provinces on a map of the world. The brighter stars correspond to cities and large towns, and the less brilliant ones to small towns, villages, and hamlets. These groups, or constellations, number ninetythree in all: twelve in the narrow belt through which the planets and the moon, as well as the sun, appear to move; thirty-four north of these, and forty-seven south. In all these constellations together, in both hemispheres, there are only seventeen very bright stars. These, on account of their great brilliancy, are denominated stars of the first order, or magnitude; their real size having been judged by their brightness, upon the supposition that they were all equally distant from us. Although this supposition has been proved incorrect, yet the term magnitude is still retained, instead of the more correct designation, brilliancy.

Of the next lower grade there are seventy-six. These are called stars of the second magnitude. Of the third order there are two hundred and twenty-three. And thus they proceed, increasing in number as they diminish in brilliancy, until we reach the sixth order, which embraces the faintest stars distinctly visible to the unassisted eye. It would thus appear that the stars visible to our unassisted eyes are not innumerable. On the contrary, we can seldom see at any one time, even in favourable circumstances, more than one thousand. By the aid of the telescope, however, the number is multiplied indefinitely.

The distances of a few of the fixed

stars have, within a few years, been determined. But so great is their remoteress, that the figures expressing their distances in miles are quite beyond our powers of comprehension. If we should represent the distance between the sun and the earth by one foot, that of the most distant member of the solar system, Neptune, would be about twenty-three feet; while that of the nearest fixed star whose distance has been ascertained (called Alpha Centauri) would be nearly or quite fifty miles! And that of another, whose distance has been calculated (Alpha Lyra), would be one hundred and eighty-three miles! Light, which moves at the rate of nearly two hundred thousand miles in a single second, would require three years to come from Alpha Centauri, and twelve years from Alpha Lyra! In the presence of such facts, the human mind sinks bewildered and appalled, oppressed with the weight of its own discoveries. Yet the stars just named are probably among the nearest of the fixed stars. Our sun, if seen from a point so remote, would appear no brighter than many of the stars now This fact would indicate

do to us.

that many of the stars may be, and probably are, very superior to our sun in real magnitude.

Although the stars are so immensely distant from us, the same laws of attraction which govern the solar system extend to them. Many of those which appear single to the unassisted eye, when viewed through the telescope, are seen to be double. And many of these pairs are found to revolve around each other; two suns revolving around each other, or

more strictly, around their common centre of gravity, while, perhaps, an entire system of planets revolve around each. Of these binary stars, as they are called, more than four thousand are known to exist. Some of these exhibit the strange phenomenon of different coloured light. Thus one sun of the pair may shine with a pale reddish light, the other with a mild blue. There are many examples of this kind. The polestar is a double star: the larger one of the pair shines with a white light, while the smaller one emits a beautiful blue ray.

Among the stars are found some even more complex than these. Some are discovered to be not only double, but quadruple, and even composed of many parts, each part being itself

a sun.

Here we may well pause before such astonishing revelations of the Creator's power and skill. If our minds sink within us at the contemplation of some of His works, what must be the result when we are brought into His immediate presence, and see His unveiled majesty and glory! A holy heart is essential to the proper study of His works. And what a field is here thrown open in which to study the works of the adorable and infinite Creator. Well may we ease our oppressed bosoms with the exclamation of the royal psalmist: "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained, what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?"

are Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. They are all fellow-members, with the Earth, of the solar system, and are, comparatively speaking, near to us, while the fixed stars are at an immensely greater distance. The sun, as seen from the planet Neptune, the outermost member of the solar system, would appear no larger than Venus does when seen from the earth, although it would be intensely more brilliant. From this statement it may be readily inferred, that could we extend our movement outwards from the sun indefinitely, we might ultimately reach a point where the sun would appear only as a stargrowing less and less brilliant as we recede from him until he would cease to be visible. In the meantime, the stars towards which we were advancing would increase in brilliancy, until they themselves became suns to our flight. Here, then, we obtain a glimpse of one of the first great truths with reference to the fixed stars, namely, that they are all in reality suns, similar to our own; and consequently, that each may have a retinue of planets attending upon it, of equal or even of superior glory to that of the subordinates of our own central orb. The sooner we can get into our minds the thought that the fixed stars are really suns, the sooner shall we be prepared to follow the investigations of those eminent men who have devoted their lives to this enchanting science.

In studying the fixed stars, it will be convenient, for the purpose of reference, to arrange them in classes, according to their apparent brilliancy, and also to group them together in clusters, or constellations. These

constellations, when accurately represented on paper, correspond to countries and provinces on a map of the world. The brighter stars correspond to cities and large towns, and the less brilliant ones to small towns, villages, and hamlets. These groups, or constellations, number ninetythree in all: twelve in the narrow belt through which the planets and the moon, as well as the sun, appear to move; thirty-four north of these, and forty-seven south. In all these constellations together, in both hemispheres, there are only seventeen very bright stars. These, on account of their great brilliancy, are denominated stars of the first order, or magnitude; their real size having been judged by their brightness, upon the supposition that they were all equally distant from us. Although this supposition has been proved incorrect, yet the term magnitude is still retained, instead of the more correct designation, brilliancy.

Of the next lower grade there are seventy-six. These are called stars of the second magnitude. Of the third order there are two hundred and twenty-three. And thus they proceed, increasing in number as they diminish in brilliancy, until we reach the sixth order, which embraces the faintest stars distinctly visible to the unassisted eye. It would thus appear that the stars visible to our unassisted eyes are not innumerable. On the contrary, we can seldom see at any one time, even in favourable circumstances, more than one thousand. By the aid of the telescope, however, the number is multiplied indefinitely.

The distances of a few of the fixed

stars have, within a few years, been determined. But so great is their remoteress, that the figures expressing their distances in miles are quite beyond our powers of comprehension. If we should represent the distance between the sun and the earth by one foot, that of the most distant member of the solar system, Neptune, would be about twenty-three feet; while that of the nearest fixed star whose distance has been ascertained (called Alpha Centauri) would be nearly or quite fifty miles! And that of another, whose distance has been calculated (Alpha Lyra), would be one hundred and eighty-three miles! Light, which moves at the rate of nearly two hundred thousand miles in a single second, would require three years to come from Alpha Centauri, and twelve years from Alpha Lyra! In the presence of such facts, the human mind sinks bewildered and appalled, oppressed with the weight of its own discoveries. Yet the stars just named are probably among the nearest of the fixed stars. Our sun, if seen from a point so remote, would appear no brighter than many of the stars now This fact would indicate

do to us.

that many of the stars may be, and probably are, very superior to our sun in real magnitude.

Although the stars are so immensely distant from us, the same laws of attraction which govern the solar system extend to them. Many of those which appear single to the unassisted eye, when viewed through the telescope, are seen to be double. And many of these pairs are found to revolve around each other; two suns revolving around each other, or

more strictly, around their common centre of gravity, while, perhaps, an entire system of planets revolve around each. Of these binary stars, as they are called, more than four thousand are known to exist. Some of these exhibit the strange phenomenon of different coloured light. Thus one sun of the pair may shine with a pale reddish light, the other with a mild blue. There are many examples of this kind. The polestar is a double star: the larger one of the pair shines with a white light, while the smaller one emits a beautiful blue ray.

Among the stars are found some even more complex than these. Some are discovered to be not only double, but quadruple, and even composed of many parts, each part being itself

a sun.

Here we may well pause before such astonishing revelations of the Creator's power and skill. If our minds sink within us at the contemplation of some of His works, what must be the result when we are brought into His immediate presence, and see His unveiled majesty and glory! A holy heart is essential to the proper study of His works. And what a field is here thrown open in which to study the works of the adorable and infinite Creator. Well may we ease our oppressed bosoms with the exclamation of the royal psalmist: "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained, what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?"

It is not by great deeds, but by little ones, often repeated, that the mightiest results are accomplished. One brick upon another, one layer upon another, and the pyramids of Egypt, the most solid shadow of eternity which has fallen from the figure of our humanity," were reared in the desert, to be the astonishment and admiration of all future ages. And the coral-workers, those tiny creatures, that must be magnified before they can be perceived, have, by their small but continuous efforts, constructed islands in the midst of the ocean which shall remain while our globe itself lasts. "Little by little;" it is thus that all great works proceed, and are consummated.

Have you ever understood this, my reader?-or if so, have you not too often forgotten it? Have you not often failed in your most laudable resolves, through want of perseverance?

Shall I remind you how powerfully you were impressed, some time since, as you rose from the perusal of that spirit-stirring biography of one of God's eminent servants, with the importance of cultivating those holy habits that threw such a radiant loveliness around his character? Comparing yourself with him, you were ashamed of the contrast, and you earnestly purposed, depending on Divine assistance, to follow him as he followed Christ, and to strive after the development of those winning graces for which he was so remarkable, and in which you were

so deficient. And for a little while you struggled against temptation, and watched, with prayerful solicitude, over the growth of good feelings and the budding of generous actions; but it was only for a little while; all seems at a stand-still now, and your spiritual improvement is a beautiful imagining, instead of a living reality. "You did run well; what hindered you?" Your dislike of unremitting self-discipline,—your lack of perseverance. You were willing to begin, but you were not willing to keep on. Had you been told to do some great thing, however large the sacrifice which it involved, or the labour which it required, you would cheerfully have done it; but a life of incessant pains-taking in little things-of the daily, nay, the hourly pruning and training of your wayward tendencies, did not exactly suit you; you wanted to reach the mountain-top, not by a number of successive steps, but by one or two long strides; and as you could not do that, you gave up doing anything. Was this wise, or even

rational?

Will you let me take another leaf out of the records of your experience ? Do you remember that useful and benevolent enterprise, in which you engaged with such cheerful energy, and such ardent zeal? Your example was quite a stimulus to your more tardy associates; they caught your enthusiasm, and emulated your labours. But success did not come so speedily as you had expected or hoped for; unlooked-for obstacles presented themselves; you had to buffet your way through storms, and to face frowns of contempt; and the consequence was, that you were disheartened; your interest in the undertaking declined; and if it still goes on, it is not indebted to you for its continuance, for you are no longer to be seen in the ranks of