An introduction to astronomy: designed as a text-book for the use of students in college. By Denison Olmsted ...

l'RUOTUt,: oF'm,: uVNIVRitSEc, 315
4,541. This fact being now establishled, that the stars are
imencnse bodies like the sun, and that they are subllject to the
laXws of gravitation, Nwe can not conceive how they can be preserved from falling into final disorder and ruil, unless tley
move in harmonious concert like the members of the solar system. Othetrwise, thlose that are situated on the confines of
creation, being retained by no forces friom without, while they
are slubject to the attraction of all thie bodics within, must leave
their stations, and move inward with accelerated velocity, and
th.,s all the bodies in the universe would at length fall together
in the colmmon center of gravity. Thl'l immense distances at
which the stars are placed from each other would indccd delay
such a catastrophe; blut such must be the ultimate tendency of
the material world, unless sustained in one harmonious system
by nlicely-adjusted motions.''To leave entirely out of viewN our
confidence in the -wisdom and prcscrving goodness of the
Creator, and reasonillg merely frol whtat we know of the stability of tlle solar system, we should'be justified in inferring
that other worlds are not sublject to forces which operate only
to hasten their decay, and to involve them in final ruin.
We conclude, therefore, that the material universe is one great
systemC; that the combination of l)lancts wit.h their satcllites
constitutes the fil'st or lowest order of worlds; that next to
these, planlcts are linked to suns; that these are bound to other
sluns, composing a still lhigher order in the scale of being; and,
finally, that all the different systems of worlds 1move aroundl
their common center of gravity.
*t obisoxn's Physical Astronomy.