Here then is a mighty Image (as represented on the map of the Heavens,) stretched across mid heaven, with his gold and silver epaulettes (four hundred and eighty miles apart) and two burning stars denoting his Northern and Southern extremities: the golden one on his upraised left foot, the other of silver on his right knee, answering to the one on his left shoulder; girded with his brilliant studded belt and flaming sword; "doubtless, to subserve some important purpose even at the present moment." Let it be distinctly understood, with what has already been stated by the Astronomers, that this "constellation is one of the most brilliant and noted in the Heavens," that its nebula, (according to the celebrated Sir William Herschel) far exceeds any other object, and its magnitude utterly inconceivable, two trillions times larger than the Sun; while the Sun is allowed to be thirteen hundred thousand times larger than our globe. That it "never yet has been resolved into stars by the highest power of the telescope," and there is no evidence of any change, even if it were discovered to be resolvable, (as is stated by a writer somewhat acquainted with Lord Rosse's monster telescope.) If so, it goes to strengthen the argument of its first discoverer, who says "through which one had a free view into another region which was more enlightened."
If, then, there is nothing to be seen on Earth or in the Heavens except what Joshua and David saw, v: 13, 14; 1 Chro. xxi: 15, 16, that looks like this constellation, would it be thought strange for a Christian to believe that the Prophet Moses had recorded for our instruction the very answer to be given, viz. "to keep the way of the tree of life."
I have now given a general description of this celestial wonder, but some may still doubt whether any thing can be ascertained with respect to objects so far removed. If the most accurate calculations had not already been made in respect to many of the heavenly bodies, how could the tempest tossed mariner, after being driven for days, and sometimes weeks, sailing on all points of the compass, and perhaps, not have known his position from the time he had taken his departure from his port, only by dead reckoning, nothing in sight but sea and sky, ascertain his true position? Just look,—there stands the captain, on some convenient part of the deck of his ship, holding in his hand a three cornered instrument, called a Sextant, measuring the distance between the sun and moon, or if it be in the night, between the moon and some lunar star, (which is millions on millions of miles removed from the Solar System,) noting the moment by his watch when he brings the outer or inner edges of these two celestial objects to touch; then measuring their distance from the horizon. With the help of a Nautical Almanac, (which had been published years before,) in the course of twenty minutes he so confidently ascertains his position, (however strange it may appear to landsmen,) that he would, after running ten or one hundred miles more or less, as the case may be, direct one of his crew to go to the mast head, and tell him at the same time in what direction to look for land. Presently the cry would come down, thrilling through every soul in the ship, "Land ho!" "Where away?" "Off the starboard bow, sir, where you told me to look." Such instances are not rare, but of daily occurrence. "How could that be?" says one, "it looks like a miracle!" So it would be, if the great God had not directed these celestial objects to move in perfect harmony. A place for every one, and every one in its place.
One at a certain time said, "Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection?" The wise man answers, "No man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end." Ecl. iii: 2; Job xi: 7. These texts alone teach us that we yet know but little of the power and wisdom of the Sovereign of the universe, whose spirit fills unlimited space; which space is undoubtedly coeval and coextensive with eternity; studded with millions on millions of worlds, each moving in its appropriate Sphere, like our own Planet. But a still greater wonder is the thousands and millions of blazing Comets, even in the Solar System, (Dick, vol. viii: p. 339,) seemingly sailing with a roving commission, sweeping their burning trails all over the perceptible universe of God, each moving in its proper Orbit! some of them shooting, at times, almost with the velocity of lightning! And yet, with what precision does the Astronomer calculate their appearing again after hundreds and thousands of years, without interfering with any of the celestial scenery. Just turn over to the second page of your Almanac and learn with what admirable accuracy the Astronomer has calculated, even to a moment of time, when the moon of yesterday will be passing under the sun, and cause the darkness to be seen and felt.
Some minds may be troubled about the flaming sword being placed at the East of the Garden, or that we could see the Eastern side. This will be better understood by looking at the motion of our Planet. It is said by Astronomers that this Earth in its annual motion, is booming round the sun at the rate of nineteen miles per second; at the same time her diurnal motion from East to West is at the rate of ten miles per minute: consequently all the objects we see in the heavens, comes from the East, and among the rest this glorious constellation of Orion, all just as natural as it is for us to see the Sun rise in the East; and in the same direction the world will soon see what the Second Advent believer has long and anxiously been waiting for: viz. the "glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." Titus ii: 13. Now let us take another view; not through Lord Rosse's, but God's great Telescope, which "declares the end from the beginning." Isa. 46: 10.
BIBLE VIEW.
The patriarch Jacob said to his sons that "God Almighty appeared unto him at Luz, which is Bethel." Gen. 48: 3; 25: 26. Here, while a Pilgrim traveller and stranger, he had laid himself down for the night, he "dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to Heaven; and behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it." Gen. xxviii: 12. Seventeen hundred and ninety years after this, the Lord says to Nathaniel, "hereafter ye shall see HEAVEN OPEN, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the son of man." This, then, is in the future. Next in order, Ezekiel has a vision, in the thirtieth "year of the Babylonish captivity by the river Chebar." He says, "the Heavens were OPENED, and I saw visions of God." He proceeds to describe his vision; please read Chap. i: 5, 10; 24, 28. He sees as the appearance of a man—describes also the stormy cloud with the brightness round about it; he also hears a voice from the firmament, and says that the Lord God spake to him. Now see Chap. x: 4, 5; 19, 20. Here he says "the Cherubims stood at the door of the East gate (where Moses says they were placed) of the Lord's House, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above." "This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar, and I knew that they were Cherubims." Is it not plain that Ezekiel has shown the same place and station of the Cherubims which Moses has, on the East side, keeping the way of the tree of life. Jacob calls them angels, and cries out in terror, "How dreadful is this place, this is none other but the House of God and this is the gate (or opening) of Heaven." 17 v. Isaiah in a vision sees "the throne high and lifted up, and hears the voice of God," as did the others. Let us examine here a few moments to see what Cherubims are, and their use. One writer says, "they appear to be servants of God sent to do his will." Hear God concerning them, "and there will I meet with thee and I will commune with thee from between the two Cherubims which are upon the Ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel." Exo. xxv: 16, 22. Proof—"And Hezekiah (in his distress) prayed before the Lord, and said O Lord God of Israel which dwelleth between the Cherubims," 2 Kings, xix: 15. "And God sent the prophets to tell him that his prayer was heard." v. 20.
"The Lord reigneth let the people tremble; he setteth between the Cherubims, let the earth be moved." Psl. xcix: 1. Then here is where we are to look for the Paradise of God, the Holy City, and where we shall soon hear the voice of God, for he "sitteth above between the Cherubims," as is represented in the old Tabernacle and Temple. "For see, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount." Heb. viii: 5; ix: 5. St. John also describes them, and tells what their occupations were in heaven. Rev. v: 11, 12.
Now we will proceed with the testimony concerning the opening heavens. John the Baptist bears record, that when he was coming up out of the water from baptising the Saviour, he "saw the heavens OPENED (or cloven or rent) and the spirit like a dove descending upon him, and there came a voice from heaven," &c. Mark i: 10, 11; Luke iii: 20, 22; Matt. iii: 16, 17; John i: 32.
Here is the opening heavens, and the voice of God as before. When Jesus was transfigured on the Mount the Disciples saw the cloud and heard the voice of God.