Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1845-05-22
REELEcTIoNs ON AsInONoME.A
b Tn Pnfs.---Pwf I

being who can lay claim to common intelligence,
should take the deepest interest. If we except
the Bible, no branch of study Is capable of impart
ing ideas 50 sublime-cr Of so highly elevating the
reflections, and 50 efactually purifying the heart
from pride and vain glory, as this grand subject Of
surveying and contemplating the Starry Heavens.
How can man, who Processes to be imbued with
religious sentiments and feelings, II he Overlook
this department Of literature improve those fac
uities with which he is endowed, to his own ad-
vancemenf in knowledge, and to the enkindling Of
the most intense and exalted devotional feelings,
when the Sacred Scriptures themselves contain
the most awfully majestic descriptions Of the pow
er Of God, as manifested IN the visible Creation:
have ever entertained the opinion, with how
much correctness, leave ittomy readers to judge)
that the light Of Astronomy and that Of Revelation,
to certain extent, ought to go together, and mu-
tually attract, and aid and add brillancy to each
other. Not that would desire to have the mind
trammelled too much by cold, calculating inves-
tigation Of the material laws alone, by which the
Universe is sustained; tor philosophers Of the In
fidel School have as clear and accurate a compre-
hension Of them, as the most enlightened Chris
tian. But what would most ardently desire is,
that the mind, unfettered in its flight, should have
free course, and be permitted to roam on the wings
of Contemplation, when Fancy is chastened, and
the faculties Of the soul purified and strengthened
by the religion Of the Bible, over awie and Him
liable extent Of worlds on worlds, glowing with an
ever radiant food Of glory and splendor, derived
from the Infinite and Incomprehensible Projections
Of the God Of Celestial Light, the All Perfect and
Immutable Jehovah '' et''
Over all those boundless realms Of empyrean joy,
and heavenly lustre, and angelic beauty, / could
forever indulge the yearning hope. that one eter-
nal anthem of melodious praise, from innumerable
millions OF happy and immortal beings, like the
Cherubim and Seraphim Of Heaven, might ascend
above the +" Starry Frame" and fiji the Courts Of
'sEIim who inhabiteth Eternity" with strains Of
exultation, and love, and adoring gratitude, that
should reverberate over all those crystalline orbs Of
beauty that glitter in the Firmament, till the Uni
verse should be filled to OVERLOOKING, with songs Of
praise to our Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifer.-
Then would Science herself receive a lustre that
she never knew before then would the Astrono-
rner possess sublimity Of eloquence that might
rival that of the Divine, even in his most fervent
appeals to the hearts n The fallen and rebellious
and in his most faithful presentations Of Scriptu-
raltrnths to the reclaimed and the sanctifed. wy
Y Now, If such be the motives by which the AS
tronomer is actuated, and such the irresistible feel
ings Of his heart, and the enfapturing sentiments
Of his soul, IN the lofest pursuit 81 Science that
may almost lay claims to Divinity liz his whole
end and aim be to set forth the DC enc
Creator in His formation Of the stupendous visible
things beyond the orbit Of this world, which clear
ly reveal His eternal power and Godhead," then
he will have accomplished work which must en-
dure, and impress upon the minds Of countless
millions Of his fellow beings, the healthful and en-.
tightening sentiments Of virtue and piety, which
will prove shield and an Armor of Faith, that
can never be broken or decay. lng e32at siipso
And such ,cere the views and feelings Of, q
.Ve,cton, a Herschel,a Gaiiieo, a Kepler, and a
Coparsicus, in their sublime lucubrations on AS
tronomy. Nor would it be improper here to OBJ
serve. that the excellent and popular Lectures of
M. Arago and DR.. Lardner seem almost to have
come up to that high standard which has been
planted, and which, trust is now waving with
undiminished radiancy above, that has long been
borne by their Christian predecessors. 70 {I7'.sD
In the pursuit Of Astronomy, let it be remen-
bered, that no room is left for seeking the empty
applause Of the world. For we are assured, that
God is the Creator of ten thousand millions Of
worlds, the greater proportion of which, are inf
nitely larger. and adorned with far more lustrous
scenes of beauty, and probably peopfed with far
more exalted intelligences, than the world on
which we now dwell. Let US refecty that what
ever has tendency to humble human pride, and
to check and tame the fiery, and too often destruc
tive spirit Of earthly ambition. may be the means,
in the hand of God, of bringing many to the foot
of the Cross, and Of guiding them, if they will
but be persuaded to embrace the TRUTH and live in
the love and practice of it, to mansions " not made
with hands. eternal in the Heavens 10 abodes Of
everlasting rest, and purity, and bliss, and life,
and glory; where sickness, and PAIN and death
shall never enter; but one perennial day, one new
er ending spring, unfading summer, shall shine
over all, and fill all &c tile ransomed Of the Lord
with 'ssongs Of everlasting joy and gladness.r"
Is itwrong to treat Astronomy as a sacred sub
ject? Is it unsound and irrational in the language
of an eminent and pious poet, iYp, sva m
".To kindle our devotions at the stars p ssaid25
The Infde may tell US that it is-4-that the well
organized Universe is the effect Of mere blind and
-