322 On Planetary Influences 



If we resolve to reject everv doctrine which has at any tlrae 

 been niisapprelieiuled, or whose truths have by the multitude 

 been confomided with error, tlie subjects for our behef will be 

 very limited. 



The opinion adopted by the Perses, the Chinese, and the 

 ancient Greeks, appears to have been, that a supreme ruling- iu- 

 vi:>ible Power exists, with whom the j)lanets and stars are so 

 connected as to be the creative and productive powers, the im- 

 mediate agents of the Deity. Thence the Chinese of the an- 

 cient school, at this day worship Tien or Theavcn, by which 

 they understand the supreme power presiding in that vast ex- 

 panse where the planets and stars have their respective motions. 

 From tlie positions of the planets, from the risiiit;; and setting of 

 the constellations, they have time immemorial attempted to pre- 

 dict the vicissitudes of the seasons; and since every change in the 

 atmosphere must be the effect of some secondary operating cau^c, 

 it is at least decorous to investigate before we condemn a practice 

 which has received the te.'-timony of ages in its defence. 



TheSabiansvstcmof worship, which enrols the planets and stars 

 in its ritual as oltjects of adoration, is to be considered one of the 

 many instances in which error has tarnished the lustre of truth. 



If we refer to the history of the patriarchal families, we find 

 the primitive religion hi its purity ; — in the records of the Old 

 Testament we perceive that tiie patriarchs retained those cor- 

 rect principles of true religion, which acknowledged the unity 

 and supremacy of the Deity, and limited religious homage to 

 that one God, whilst the, planetary bodies and all secondary 

 causes were regarded merely as the ministers of the will of God. 

 — An extract from Josephus may serve to testify that the idea 

 is correct with regard to Abraham: 



" Abraham was the first* that adventured to preach up the 

 doctrine of one God, the Almighty Maker and Creator of all 

 things in heaven and earth : and that for all the comforts we 

 enjoy in this world, it is to his infinite goodness, not to any 

 power in ourselves, that we stand indebted for them. This he 

 argued from the orderlv course of things, both at sea and land, 

 in their times and seasons, and from his observations upon the 

 violinns and influences of the sun, moon, and stars; insomuch 

 that, without an over-ruhng and an administering providence to 

 keep the whole a-going, the whole frame of the universe must 

 drop into confusion ; and consequently that all we have to trust 



host. In the sacreH volume the sun, moon, nnd stars are called the saha, 

 tli.it is, the host, of heaven (Peut. iv. 19); and the Israelites were expressly 

 coainiandcd not to worship the suhii, hut him \>'ho made them, and who is 

 tlierct'ore called Jehuv.\u m«iV nubanth — the Lord c-f ilosts. — £diT. 

 * t. e. amongst the Chaldeans of that period. 



to, 



