Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1845-05-29
~ H, wAnp.

~ NJ 1SO0 Edfxos-=E1Tt H. i
Another doctrine which bur modern Astrono-
mers teach, is, that the worlds which fesOlve in
Che immensely Of space. are an peOplsd with in
telligences who are. in an probability, f more ex
allied than ourselves, ID their iscuIties of mind,
knowledge and understanding. In proof Of this
almost demonstrative ruth, take the following
clear and admirable description from Dr. tardner.
on the planet Mas hi
Proceeding onward in the Solar System from
the Sun, the FIRST planet which we find revolving
beyond the Earth, Ind including the annual path
Of the Earth within its periodical course, is the
planet Mars. This body makes its revolution
round the Sun at distance of nearly one hundred
and fifty millions of miles from that iuminary, and
completes its revolution in six hundred and eighty
six days, OF little less than two years When the
Earth IS between Mars and the SUM- the distance Of
the planet from the Earth, is less than fifty mil
lions Of miles, and as it is then seen in the merid.
ian at midnight, the circumstances are extremely
favorable to telescope observation. Although its
distance from the Earth at that epoch is greater
than that of Venus, when near her inferior con-
JUNCTION; yet as Venus in that position, has her
dark hemisphere turned to the earth, while the
enlightened hemisphere Of Mars is turned fully to-
ward US, the observations made on the latter are
more satisfactory. The existence Of an atmosphere
upon Mars. Is proved by the gradual diminution
which the light OF star SUFFERS as his disk APP
proaches it, and by the variable character of the
lights and shadows apparent upon the disk. The
rudy appearance of the planet has been explain
ed by the superstition Of an atmosphere of great
density around il; but more accurate telescope
observations have led Herschel and others rather
to incline to the opinion, that this redness must be
ascribed to peculiar color prevailing on the sur.
face of the planet like that Of the red sand stone
districts upon the earth. slight appearance of
belts has always been rotced on this planet, which
affords another Indication of an atmosphere. Tel
escoPic inquiry has been directed to determine the
physical condition Of this planet, and with de-
gree OF success greater, perhaps, than that which
has attended similar inquiries respecting any other
body in the Solar System, except the Sun and
Moon. Sir William Herschel, and after him, his
son, Sir John Herschel, ascertained the form and
position of variety Of the features Of light and
color the disk He stated that the outlines here
exhibited, were found TO be permanent and unya-
riable, and must, therefore. be regarded as geo.
graphical. and not atmospheric features. 1t 10
true. that they were not always visible being
times obscured, or varied, by what seems to be
clouds; but when visible, they were always the
same. Some portions appeared Of reddish color,
while Others had greenish tint. He supposes
the red portions to be land whose geological ch4
acter impart3 to them that peculiar color The
greenish portions he inferred to be seas. The
close analogy in which this planet stands to the
earth, will be apparent to those who have consid-
cred the facts and phenomena now described. IT
10 globe, whose diurnal motion is such as to give
1t days Of the same length; its seasons succeeding
each other IN the same manner, and are limited by
the same extremes Of temperature. It's latitudes
are diversified BY the same torrid, temperate and
frgid zones, and the same varietiesof climate Its
surface is characterized BY like distribution OF
land and water; and like the Earth, it has lite con-
tinents, islands and seas. II is invested with an
atmosphere, supplying doubtlessali the interesting
objects and advantages which result from our own.
So perfectly clear as the evidence derived from
the above beautiful extract, must be- in proof that
the planets are inhabited. think there is point
still stronger, which to my mind, furnishes the
most cnnYincnG nrnnf os the truth of this Won
deru doctrine. illustrative of the illiraitahlae~s
ness and benevolence Of the Almighty Father OF
the Universe. ft
q, have said, that the Apostles speak Of Worlds.
Now the Greek word Kosnsoi, rendered Worlds,
il synonymous with LaOi. (Peopie.) 1t has pc
culiarly strong meaning in the Original New Tes-
lament and the true and literal meaning of Kos.
ssOi, cannot be better expressed in the English,
than BY rendering it Peopled Worlds and it could
never have been used in the ancient Greek, unless
it conveyed the idea, not only of Worlds, but Of
Pecpled Spheres. St. John says, respecting
Christ, 8. He was in the World, and the World was
made by him, and the World knew him not."-
john I, 10 That is. the Inhabited World did not
know him. Again. For God so loved the World,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoev-
er believeth in him should not perish. but have
everlasting life For God sent not his Son into the
World TO condemn the World; but that the World
through him might be saved."-John III. l6. II.
That is, The Inhabitants of the World. 's
We have seen from DR.. Lardner's description Of
the planet Mars that it has all the constituent Ell.
ements requisite to sustain living and rational in
telligences. The same may be said with truth, of
all the planets that have hitherto been discovered
We have learned from the Word Of God, that
TALLY made BY jesus Christ, by God the Father,
and God the Holy Spirit. And reasoning from
analogy, we may infer almost to moral certainty,
that those worlds are inhabited. How uhsearch- |
able are the riches OF Christ ?" May God forgive
those who have vainly, though perhaps gnorantly,
sought to deprive the Holy Saviour Of his divine
attributes Of Omnipresence and Omnipotency = !
II we cease to adore him as God, we can never be |
saved. The cold and outward philosophy of De- |
ism, whatever form it may take, whether of Uni |
tarianism or Sociniansm, will prove but the hope
of the hypocrite. which is like mere +" spiders
web" For 50 There is no name given under hea-
ven among men, whereby they can be saved, but
the name Of Jesus Christi Who being in the
form Of God, thought it not robbery to be equal |