STACTE

40; 1 Cor. ii. 11); counsel and will (Exod. xxxv. 21; Hag. i. 14; Matt. xxvi. 41); passions, affections, emotions (Prov. xvi. 32; xxv. 28), as of patience, impatience, pride (Eccles. vii. 8, 9), humility (Prov. xxix. 23), meekness (Gal. vi. 1), contrition (Ps. xxxiv. 18), bondage (Rom. viii. 15), fear (2 Tim. i. 7), grief (Gen. xxvi. 35, marg.); nature, disposition, or character (Ezek. xxxvi. 26, 27; Luke ix. 55; Eph. iv. 13, but see also context).

V. To angels.

1. Good angels. Who maketh his angels spirits' (Ps. civ. 4; Heb. i. 7). Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation' (Heb. i. 14). 2. Evil angels. The demons whom our Lord and his disciples cast out are called unclean spirits (Matt. x. 1; Luke iv. 33; Acts v. 16), and evil spirits (Luke vii. 21; viii. 2). The apostle Paul speaks of the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience' (Eph. ii. 2). VI. To God.

reckoned six in number-Mercury, Venus, the Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn; but in 1781 a seventh and more distant one was discovered by Sir W. Herschell, the Astronomer-Royal; and in 1846 an eighth, at a still greater distance, was discovered, its place having been first indicated by theory by M. Le Verrier in Paris and Mr. J. C. Adams of Cambridge-a singular proof of the maturity of astronomical science. The former is now called Uranus; the latter is called Neptune.* These planets are great globes, several of them much greater than the earth. When examined through powerful telescopes they are seen to be round bodies of sensible and even considerable apparent diameter, and presenting distinct and characteristic peculiarities, which shew them to be solid masses, each possessing its individual structure and mechanism, and in the instances of Jupiter and Saturn an exceedingly artificial and complex one. Their distances from us are great-much greater than that of the moon, and some of them even greater than that of the sun (Herschel, Outlines, 275, 278, 309).

2. The Son. The first Adam,' says Paul, was made a living soul (yuxý); the last Adam a quickening spirit' (Tveûua; 1 Cor. xv. 45).

3. The Holy Spirit receives in a special manner this designation. It is the name under which he is made known to us. (a) It is applied to him as a person, and in a way which shews that he is the equal of the Father and the Son. 'Go ye,' said our Lord to his disciples, and teach all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit' (Matt. xxviii. 19). 'Now,' says Paul, there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord; and there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all' (1 Cor. xiii. 4-6). His Second Epistle to the Corinthians he thus closes: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen' (2 Cor. xiii. 14). To the Holy Spirit, divine perfections, divine honours, divine works are ascribed in the Scriptures. (b) It is applied to his agency, influence, gifts, or operations (Luke i. 41; xi. 13; John iii. 5, 6; vii. 38, 39; Acts i. 5; ii. 4; viii. 15-17; x. 38; xi. 15-18; 1 Cor. xii. 7-13; Gal. iii. 2, 3, 5; v. 17, 22-25; Heb. vi. 4).

STACTE. [NATAF.]

STARS consist of two great classes-planets and fixed stars, or stars properly so called. The planets are those which revolve like our earth, which is one of them, round the sun in certain regular periods. The planets were long |

moon. This proves that they are opaque bodies, shining only by reflected light, which can be no other than that of the sun. It is accordingly found that when we refer the planetary movements to the sun as a centre, their motions are resolved into one simple and general law, of which the earth is only a particular example (Lardner, Handbook, 279, 280).

The following tables contain a variety of particulars relative to the planets:—

On

* Since the commencement of the present century a number of smaller bodies which circulate round the sun have been discovered, and have received the name of planetoids. the 1st of January 1801 Professor Piazzi observed at Palermo the first of these which have been discovered, and which has been called Ceres. From time to time other similar bodies were discovered (in 1852 no fewer than eight), until in November 1854 they amounted to no fewer than thirty-three. They were all found between Mars and Jupiter, and it was conjectured, with great probability, that they were fragments of a planet which had formerly existed between these two planets, and which had been broken up by internal explosion from some cause analogous to volcanic action, or some other unknown catastrophe. Between Mars and Jupiter there was, according to the ordinary progression of the planets, a vacancy for another planet-an apparent breach of continuity, when compared with the series of distances between the other planets. The planetoids are all inconsiderable in size; most of them it is probable do not exceed 100 miles in diameter (Lardner, Handbook, 322, 328, 488; Nichol, Cyclop. 42).

STARS

ous stars which are in near apparent vicinity to each other have from the most remote antiquity received the name of constellations. These have been invested with the forms of mythological figures; such as Ursa the Bear, Leo the Lion, Draco the Dragon, Serpens the Serpent, Taurus the Bull, Aries the Ram, Virgo the Virgin, Lyra the Harp, Sagitta the Arrow. Though there is something absurd in giving to the constellations the names and forms of animals and other such figures, yet it is not without its use as a means of reference and as an artificial aid to the memory, and it has been so long established that it would now be scarcely advisable to change it (Lardner, Handbook, 761).

To several of the constellations we appear to have reference in Scripture so early as the times of Job: 'Which maketh Arcturus (the Great Bear; Gesenius, Lex. 659), Orion and Pleiades' (ix. 9; see also xxxviii. 31, 32). It is likewise very probable that the 'crooked serpent' mentioned in xxvi. 13 is the constellation of the Serpent or Dragon, which spreads itself in windings across the northern part of the heavens (Ib. 545). Mazzaloth (2 Kings xxiii. 5) and Mazzaroth (Job xxxviii. 22) are interpreted on the margin of the E. T. 'the signs or constellations of the zodiac;' Gesenius also gives this sense to both the words (Lex. 461, 462).

Of the number of the stars no calculation can be made. Even to the naked eye they appear innumerable; but the telescope has brought into view vast numbers which were formerly invisible, and every increase in the dimensions and powers of instruments which successive improvements in optical science have made has brought into view innumerable objects invisible before; so that, for anything experience has hitherto taught us, the number of the stars may be infinite in the only sense in which we can assign a meaning to that word (Herschel, Outlines, 520).

STARS

est evidence and most striking analogies to prove. Every augmentation of power and improvement of efficiency which the telescope receives, augment the number of nebula, which are converted by that instrument into clusters. Nebula, which were irresolvable before the time of Sir W. Herschel, yielded in large numbers to the powers of the instruments which he brought to bear upon them. The labours of Sir John Herschel, the colossal telescopes constructed by Lord Rosse, and the erection of observatories in multiplied numbers in climates and under skies more favourable to observation, have all tended to augment the number of nebula which have been resolved; and there is no reason to doubt that this progress will continue, the resolution of these objects into stellar clusters being coextensive with the improved powers of the telescope and the increased number and zeal of observers (Ib. 800).

The planets shine, not by any light of their own, but by reflecting the light they receive from the sun; but this cannot be the case with the stars. These doubtless are themselves the suns, and may perhaps each in its sphere be the centre round which other planets or bodies, of which we can form no conception from any analogy offered by our own system, may be circulating (Herschel, Outlines, 554). The heavens, if we were able to examine and observe them in all their extent, would appear to present to us a universe of solar systems (Lardner, Handbook, 797).

Stars are a frequent symbol employed in the Scriptures. The Lord Jesus says of himself: I am the bright and morning star' (Rev. xxii. 16). The figure is splendid and sublime. His nature, how glorious; and how glorious his office! He ushered in the light of the glorious gospel into our benighted world; and he ushers in his people to an eternal day. The reference is to one of the planets of the solar system, that commonly known by the name of Venus. Of all the planets it is the nearest to the sun, with the exception of Mercury. It revolves in an orbit within that of the earth, which is the next planet to it; and, after sun and moon, is the most splendid object in the firmament. Of all the planets it is the most difficult to observe with the telescope. The intense lustre of its

Besides the Milky Way there are clusters of stars innumerable. These appear mere specks of whitish light, because of their enormous distance. An entire cluster will appear to the naked eye, if it be visible at all, but as a single star. Cluster compared with cluster shews all gradations of smallness and closeness of the component parts, until they assume the appearance of patches of starry powder (Lardner, Handbook, 798, 800).

Then follow those patches of starry light which are seen in so many regions of the heavens, and which have been denominated nebula. That these are still clusters of which the component stars are indistinguishable by reason of their remoteness, there are the strong

ates all the optical imperfections of the instrument. Venus, and also Mercury, in performing their circuit in the heavens, evidently do it as attendants on the sun, never departing from its vicinity beyond a certain limit. They are sometimes to the east, and sometimes to the west, according to the elongation of their orbits in either direction. In the former case they appear conspicuous over the western horizon just after sunset, and are called evening stars: in the latter they rise before it in the morning, and appear over the eastern horizon as morning stars. But as the elongations of the orbit of Venus are much greater than those of Mercury, that planet is seen at a considerable elevation long after the cessation of evening and before the commencement of morning twilight. Hence it is known by way of eminence as the evening and the morning star. The ancients gave it in the former position the name of Hesperus, and

in the latter Lucifer, as being the harbinger of day. Mercury is never seen except in strong twilight (Lardner, Handbook, 304, 307; Herschel, Outlines, 280).

'How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cast down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!' (Is. xiv. 12). Such was the address to the king of Babylon. The comparison of him to Lucifer, the morning star, is singularly expressive of his grandeur, in which he appears, as it were, to stand forth alone, while all the other stars-the rulers of the nations-are totally obscured. Yet so much the greater is his fall. Thou saidst in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. | Yet thou shalt be brought down to hades' (E. T. hell), 'to the sides of the pit. All the kings of the nations, even all of them lie in glory, every one in his own house. But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch; as a carcase trodden under feet. Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial' (Is. xiv. 12-20).

There is also a reference to the morning star in 2 Pet. i. 19: We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn,' when the Lord shall be unto you an everlasting light, and the morning star' (Gr. pwopopos; Lat. Lucifer), its first beams, shall arise,' as its harbinger, in your hearts.' So also in Rev. ii. 28: 'I will give him the morning star'-a sure hope and prelude of everlasting blessedness in heaven.

Stars are employed as symbols of princes and conquerors: I shall see him,' said Balaam, 'but not now; I shall behold him, but not nigh there shall come a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab and destroy all the children of Sheth' (Num. xxiv. 17). As princes are symbolised by stars, so when their enemies overthrow them they are represented as casting them down to the ground and stamping upon them (Dan. viii. 10).

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such passages in the eyes of intelligent readers such as they did not feel before. 'He telleth," says the Psalmist, 'the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names' (Ps. cxlvii. 4). To whom will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth' (Is. xl. 25, 26).

An extraordinary star appeared at the time of our Saviour's birth and conducted the Magi to him. This was probably a meteor which moved in the middle region of the sky, somewhat perhaps in the manner of the cloudy pillar before the Hebrews in the wilderness (Matt. ii. 1, 2, 7-10). Indeed the birth of Christ, the Saviour of the world, was such a grand event that it might well be signalised by the creation of a new star. In its appearance (supposing it no longer to exist) there is nothing inconsistent with the power of God, and nothing inconsistent even with the experience of astronomers.

Temporary stars,' says Sir John Herschel, have appeared from time to time in different parts of the heavens, blazing forth with extraordinary lustre; and after remaining a while apparently immovable, have died away and left no trace. Such is the star which, suddenly appearing sometime about the year 125 B.C., and which was visible in the day-time, is said to have attracted the attention of Hipparchus and led him to draw up a catalogue of stars, the earliest on record. Such too was the star which ap peared A.D. 389 near a (Aquilæ), remaining for three weeks as bright as Venus, and disappearing entirely. In the years 945, 1264, and 1572, brilliant stars appeared in the region of the heavens between Cepheus and Cassiopeia; and from the imperfect account we have of the places of the two earlier, as compared with that of the last-which was well determined-as well as from the tolerably near coincidence of the intervals of their appearance, we may suspect them, with Goodricke, to be one and the same star, with a period of 312 or perhaps 156 years. The appearance of the star of 1572 was so sudden that Tycho Brahe, a celebrated Danish astronomer, returning one evening (the 11th of November) from his laboratory to his dwellinghouse, was surprised to find a group of country

The stars, as well as the sun and moon, were anciently the objects of worship (Amos v. 26; Acts vii. 42). They appear to have been specially designated the host of heaven, the worship of which greatly prevailed among the children of Israel, particularly after their division into two kingdoms (Deut. iv. 19; xvii. 3; 2 Kings xvii. 16; xxiii. 4, 5; Jer. viii. 2).

In the Scriptures there are repeated references to the vast number of the stars (Gen. xv. 5; Heb. xi. 12). The most ordinary observer cannot fail to be struck with the fact, and therefore can be at no loss to enter into the spirit of such passages. But yet the views we have given of the starry system give a force and a beauty to

exist half an hour before. This was the star in question. It was then as bright as Sirius, and continued to increase till it surpassed Jupiter when brightest, and was visible at mid-day. It began to diminish in December of the same year, and in March 1574 had entirely disappeared. So also, on the 10th of October 1604, a star of this kind, and not less brilliant, burst forth in the constellation of Serpentarius which continued visible till October 1605.

'Similar phenomena, though of a less splendid character, have taken place more recently, as in the case of the star of the third magnitude discovered in 1670 by Anthelm in the head of the Swan, which, after becoming completely invisible, reappeared, and after undergoing one of two singular fluctuations of light during two

STATER

No part of creation gives us such vast ideas of the extent and magnitude of the universe as the heavenly bodies, and of the power and skill of him who created them. The blinded heathen

worshipped them. The pious Jew turned from them to their great author, and beheld in them a display of his glory and greatness (Ps. xix. 1-6), and of his own meanness and insignificance (viii. 1, 3, 4); and he breaks forth in that sublime anthem: Praise ye the Lord from the heavens praise him in the heights: praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created' (cxlviii. 1-3, 5).

STATER, a Grecian silver coin. It had on one side the head of Minerva and on the reverse

an owl, together with a short inscription (Jahn, Bib. Antiq. 57). Among the Jews it was probably reckoned as of about the same value as the shekel. The word occurs only in Matt. xvii. 27, where it is rendered a piece of money; but the original term should have been transferred, not translated. There was also a gold stater (Robinson, Gr. Lex. 767).

STO'ICS, a sect of Grecian philosophers which took its rise from Zeno, a native of Cyprus who settled at Athens, and there founded a new school of philosophy, about 300 years B.C. As he usually taught in a porch, his followers were called Stoics, from the Greek word σToα, which signifies a porch. They were long the most popular sect of philosophers in Greece and Rome. They generally taught that it is wisdom and virtue alone which render men happy; that pain, poverty, and the like are only fancied evils; that a wise man ought not to be affected with either joy or grief; and in their practice they affected much equanimity, patience, austerity, and insensibility. They were greatly characterised by pride, pluming themselves not a little on such qualities as these. When Paul was at Athens certain philosophers of the Epicureans and the Stoics encountered him'-two sects whose leading opinions were quite opposed to each other.

years, at last died away entirely, and has not since been seen.

'On the night of the 28th of April 1848 Mr. Hind observed a star of the fifth magnitude, or 54 (very conspicuous to the naked eye), in a part of the constellation Ophiuchus, where, from perfect familiarity with that region, it was certain that up to the 5th of that month no star so bright as 9.10 m. previously existed. Neither has any record been discovered of a star being there observed at any time previous to him. From the time of its discovery it continued to diminish, without any alteration of place, and before the advance of the season rendered further observation impracticable, was nearly extinct. Its colour was ruddy, and was thought by many observers to undergo remarkable changes-an effect probably of its low situation' (Herschel, Outlines, 560). His statements are repeated by Lardner (Handbook, 772); and it may not be improper to add that in making them neither of them has any reference to the star of Bethlehem.

SUN

STORK, a bird about the size of a turkey, with a neck resembling a swan, a stout-pointed long bill, which, together with its long legs, is of a bright scarlet colour, while the plumage is nearly wholly white. Storks live in marshy situations, and feed chiefly on frogs, toads, lizards, and also on fish. In many countries they are a privileged race on account of their destroying these and other noxious creatures. They build their nests on lofty old buildings, the battlements of towers and ruined walls, and sometimes in the tops of tall trees or on the projections of precipitous rocks. They are of gentle manners and are easily tamed; but though readily domesticated they never breed in confinement, which is the less to be regretted as their flesh is far from savoury. The tender affection which the stork manifests towards her She has been known rather to perish with them young has been proverbial from remote ages. than abandon them to their fate when death was inevitable.

visit this country, but they are common on the Storks are migratory birds. They rarely out Asia. They migrate from northerly councontinent of Europe, and are met with throughtries to southern regions in the autumn, and come back again in spring. Though a large bird, they are capable of sustaining a lofty flight and of performing long voyages even in tempestuous weather (Edin. Encyc. art. 'Ornithology' xvi. 129).

Under the law storks were ranked among unclean birds (Lev. xi. 19). The food on which they live will readily account for this; and we have already mentioned that their flesh is far from being savoury. Referring to the nestling of birds, the Psalmist says: As for the stork, the fir-trees are her house' (Ps. civ. 17); and Jeremiah thus applies its migration: Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed time; but my people know not the judgment of the Lord' (viii. 7).

SUMMER. [SEASONS OF THE YEAR.]

SUN (THE), the well-known luminary, the great source of light and heat to the earth and to the other planets. It is a body of immense magnitude, being by far the largest body known to man. It has a real diameter of 882,000 miles, and it contains 354,936 times the quantity of ponderable matter that the earth consists of. When, however, we come to compare its mass with its bulk, we find its density to be less than that of the earth, being no more than 0-2543; so that it must consist in reality of far lighter materials, especially when we consider the force under which its central parts must be condensed. This consideration renders it highly probable that an intense heat prevails in its interior, by which its elasticity is reinforced, and rendered capable of resisting this almost inconceivable pressure without collapsing into smaller dimensions (Herschel, Outlines, 212, 271).

Magnitudes such as that of the sun so far transcend all standards with which the mind is familiar, that some stretch of imagination and some effort of the understanding are necessary to form a conception, however imperfect, of them. The expedient which best assists to obtain some adequate idea of them is to compare them with