gardeners in sowing and planting. Oh, how happy would the philosophers of old, who spent their lives studying the moon—how happy would they have been if they had known and seen as much of it as we do now! What do you think, my dear brethren, of the journey we have made so far and in such a short time? And at what distance are we from the valley of Josaphat? If we are to believe mathematicians and astronomers, we are already a hundred and twenty thousand, six hundred and thirty Italian miles, that is, fifty-five thousand, one hundred and eighty-three German miles away from the earth; for such, according to the celebrated mathematician, Christopher Clavius, is the distance of the moon from the earth. But we are still a long way from the region of eternal joys.
In that of the sun. Higher still therefore we must go. The other planets that we meet with on the way, although they are much larger than the moon, we shall merely give a glance at, until we come to the sphere of the sun, a region which is, according to Clavius, nine hundred and sixty-four thousand, three hundred and sixty-one German miles from the earth, for if it were nearer to us, it would scorch us up. Here again we have a pleasant surprise awaiting us in the sight and contemplation of such a vast, swift, and beautiful globe of fire, which in the Holy Scripture is called a bridegroom on account of its beauty, and a giant on account of its size; for the sun is a hundred and sixty-six times greater than the earth. Reason indeed shall we have to admire this wonderful masterpiece of the divine omnipotence, which by its rays forms all the metals in the earth, and gives life and increase to trees, plants, flowers, and herbs. We shall say to ourselves with astonishment: how is it possible that such a mighty body runs its whole course in four and twenty hours, as we now know to be the case by our own daily experience, but without wondering at it, for we know not the extent of the sun’s orbit. Those experienced in astronomy tell us that in one hour the sun covers a distance of two hundred and sixty thousand German miles. O infinite power and majesty of God! we shall exclaim; how beautiful and glorious must Thou be in Thyself if a lifeless image of Thee is so glorious and brilliant? Ah, and are we not yet arrived at the place where we shall behold Thee; that place of which Thy servant David said: “The Lord hath built up Sion: and He shall be seen in His glory”?[1] Are we not yet
- ↑ Ædificavit Dominus Sion, et videbitur in gloria sua.—Ps. ci. 17.
