"From the superior magnitude of those that have been measured--as compared to our Sun--it may be assumed that the average diameter of their solar systems must exceed our own; but taking them as nearly equal, it would give a breadth of at least _six thousand millions of miles_ as the field of space occupied by each, while every star, or sun-system, is probably begirt with a gulf or void like that encircling our own, in which the antagonistic forces of attraction are lost, so as not to disturb each other. Hence, the distance from each of those suns to its nearest neighbor is probably not less than that which intervenes between our Sun and the nearest star, which cannot be less than about _twenty_ billions of miles. How inconceivably vast, therefore, must be the space required to give room for so many and such stupendous solar systems. The mind absolutely reels under the load of conceptions so mighty. _Yet Infinity still lies beyond_." "For what purpose," says Sir John Herschel, "are we to suppose such magnificent bodies scattered through the abyss of space? Surely not to illume our nights, which an additional moon of the thousandth part of the size of our own would do much better; not to sparkle as a pageant, void of meaning and reality, and to bewilder us among vain conjectures. He must have studied astronomy to little purpose, who can suppose man to be the only object of his Creator's care, or who does not see, in the vast and wonderful apparatus around us, provisions for other races of animated beings." The Psalmist says: "Whoso is wise will ponder these things, and they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord." Let us here suggest the reasonable hypothesis, that those distant suns, standing far out in the sidereal regions of illimitable space--created, and placed there by the "Word" of the Almighty architect--may have been shining thus for untold billions of years; and so, also, the sun which shines upon and lights up and warms this earth, and the other planets within its domain; and will thus remain forever, as God's own lamps of eternal light, to all created intelligences. Hear the Psalmist break forth again, "Thy testimonies are wonderful. Who alone doeth great wonders. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth His handy works. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me." Job tells us, "He alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea, and doeth wonders without number."