Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-04-15
Criminal Artttles.
For the Yorkville Enquirer.
ASTRONOMY.

No part of the field Of science presents
more inviting aspect to the student, than
that of Astronomy. Of this sublime science,
filling the mind with wonder and delight,
any attentive reader and observer may know
much; but he or she who would acquire a
correct knowledge thereof, and be able fully
to appreciate its value, must previously un-
derstand we'll the kindred sciences of Geom-
etry and Trigonometry, and be familiar with
nautical phrases. With this brief prelimi-
nary, the writer intends giving concise ac-
count of the different systems that have OBJ
tanned relative to this science, wishing that
all might, and hoping that some will be
stimulated to aceuaint themselves with the
wonderful works of God herein displayed.
From the best information we are able to
obtain on the subject, the knowledge of the
ancients with regard to this science was very
limited; for in all the writings of antiquity
which have come down to us-previous to
certain date which We will mention in its
proper place-we seldom or never find any
illusions made to it. In the year l45l, B.
c., Joshua commanded the Sun and Moon
to stand still on certain places, a Scripture
command which prevents many, very many
good Christians from putting any faith in
our present solar system. Buff these good
people would consider carefully and atten-
lively the reasons assigned by astronomers for
the rotundity of the earth-its diurnal rota-
ton on its axis and its annual revolution a.
round the sun, in addition to what they all
doubtless admit-that Joshua on this occa-
sion, acted by an impulse from the spirit of
God-that the earth was then supposed to be
fiat like board and foated on the water,
and that consequently it would have been
improper for him to speak, or that the mira
Gle should have been recorded in language
according with the terms of modern astron-
omy--tbeir doubts with regard to our beauti-
full solar system would all be removed. But
as this standing still of the Sun on Gideon,
and of the Moon in the valley of Ajalon, is
the only stumbling block with Christians to
the adoption of the solar system, we will
dwell a little on it. From the expression, it
would appear the Sun was now about to set
behind the mountains of Gideon and the
Moon to rise over the valley of Ajalon-sup-
posed to have been situated in an opposite
direction-and as competent Hebrew schol-
ars and commentators tell us the terms here
translated Sun and Moon, regard not the
bodies of these ubs, but their light, it shoot
ing forth from the horizon, would prolong the
day and prevent the Intervention of night,
and thus that day might be Joined to the fol-
lowing But in addition to this, by the Sun
being Gin the midst of Heaven" nothing
else car be understood than the horizon, for
when the Sun is in the meridian, the Moon
does not appear, nor at noon would Joshua
have been alarmed about the going down of
the sun. And this is evidently correct, if
we compare it with Zachariah IA: 6-7,
where he speaks of the victories and glory of
Messiah in the latter days. Job moreover
informs us, "The Lord hung the earth upon
nothing" so that it must revolve in space on
its own axis and in its own orbit =; and thus
we see how beautifully and completely the
Scriptures and the solar system harmonize.
"The sweet singer of Israel" in his evening
meditations, viewed and admired the vault
of heaven bespanged with twinkling orna-
ments; and, from contemplating the sidereal