from disgrace, would it be reasonable to doubt the story because he had not made similar sacrifices for his children who had not fallen? Would it at all increase the probability to suppose that all the other members had fallen, and that similar sacrifices had been made? In the same way, it would not at all increase the credibility of the scheme of redemption to suppose that other intelligences had fallen, or, rather, the redemptive act needs no such hypothesis for its support.
Are we to conclude, then, that the influence of the work of redemption does not extend beyond our world or the human race? By no means. Though the merits of Christ's death be not applicable to the pardon of sin beyond the limits of the human race, yet the influence may be felt by all created intelligences. When a monarch exercises his prerogative of mercy, and pardons the offender, there is only one person pardoned, but thousands may share in the emotions of joy and gratitude. The great act of mercy to man may, in like manner, convey to thousands of bright orbs tidings of great joy. The whole tenor of Scripture sanctions the idea, that while man alone is pardoned, all holy intelligences share his joy. Astronomy has revealed the great truth, that the whole universe is bound together by one all-pervading influence. Worlds, and systems, and firmaments are linked together by the mysterious power of gravitation. No atom in the universe exists merely for itself. The very mote that dances in the sunbeam
