How does The Columbiad develop the theme of Nature and the Divine?

The Columbiad by Joel Barlow develops Nature and the Divine across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.

Nature is depicted as both a sublime force and a teacher, with the sun, stars, and landscapes reflecting divine order; the poem also explores indigenous sun worship and the conflict between pagan and Christian beliefs.

Hesper explains human diversity through natural elements, while Capac and Oella use a divine fiction (descent from the Sun) to establish their rule.