Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-02-05

peculiar orbit of the earth we are secured |
and guaranteed in uniform supply of
these essentials to life and its enjoyment.
1t may be said that the earth could not
have done otherwise than revolve in its
present orbit. 1t is not so. 1t might have
been launched forth into space, from the
hand of its Creator, in an orbit, or a thou
sand other orbits utterly destructive of or
ganilzed matter; but such is not the case
and if not directed by the divine will, it
has wonderfully indeed selected the only
path consistent with its preservation. But
we cannot doubt, tina: the design so bene~
ficent, was from the hand infinitely good.
The lecturer here adverted to the peculiar
capacities of the inhabitants of the earth,
and lis revolution on its axis to the capa-
cities of every living thing, and even We
getation, to the smallest flower upon it,
He illustrated these capacities by the al
iteration of day and night, and their suita-
bility to man for labor and repose. We
have our periodical functions, and vegeta-
ton have the same, and any other altera-
ton that we en- Joy, would have been in
compatible with the beneicence we expe-
AlOhIO' HCSC lIlGuS are ICSu
lated by intervals of II hours, or about
the same as those which regulate the divi-
sion of day and night. And what is day
and night. 1t is the expedient by which
he who created, ''divided the light from
the darkness and saw that it was good -
And how was 1t good? Not in the mere
division Of the light from the darkness
Suppose we had an alteration of one
hour of light and one hour Of darkness
would that have been good2 Or year
of light and year of darkness, would thai
| have been good? 1t was not the mere
: separation then that was good, but the time
in which the earth revolves on its axis a;
, suited to its purpose. We thus discover
} that it was good in multfarious ways
: which will suggest themselves to every re
4 f1ecting mind. The earth might have re
r volved on its axis in any time whatever
r and that without violating any known laif
: of matter. 1t might not have turned a
: all, or might have revolved in one hour
: or 100 hours, or it might have occupied ;
b year. But had it been in any other time
e than "a hours or about that period, not ont
}. of the species which beaulify and animat
d it now, could inhabit it at all. Thus W,
ID find between the time which the eartl
e tskes TO revolve on its axis, and the pecu
e liar functions and capacities Of the crea
n lures upon ii, there is most intimate con
n nection. Again it might have turned up
Is on pole at the line of the equator; or o
l. the plane Of the eclptic, the obvious re
g. suit of which would have been that on
ST hemisphere would be continually ligt
" and the other continually dark.
D; The position of the earth relativel
ct with the sun, is also of vast importance
IS. upright, or we should have equal day an
n, night; but being slightly STOPPING from i
We axis, by this expedient, we have the grat
IN full succession of the seasons, Sprin,
D. Summer, Autumn and Winter, and III
De pleasing diversity of climates. And tn
es stoop from the axis is 238 deg, ju
We enough to make the seasons of abol
IT. equal duration, and without iniuriousne
ok of extremes, and exactly compatible wi
at our well-being. There is one other ia
K to be considered in connection. TT
re earth is surrounded with thin flu
re which we call the atmosphere, and is Il
IN means whereby all respiratory creatur
nj have their existence. tits also the pee
ity liar agency of the winds, and is thus sc
is viceable for the purpose of navigation,
lie ventilation and irrigation, bearing Il
ees