ASTRONOMY

It now remains only to ascribe certain influences to h of the planets, and to suppose all animals, plants, ntrics, . subject to their control, in order to oban idea of the nature of the astrological art. The injces ascribed to the planets were of course as arbiy as those ascribed to the aspects. Saturn being at the greatest distance from the sun was supposed to be of a cold nature; Jupiter, Venus, and the Moon, temperate and benignant. Saturn and Mars were the most dangerous. The Sun and Mercury participated in the properties of the one and the other, according to circumstances. But these influences were exerted in an infinite number of ways, according to the houses which, the planets happened for the time to occupy. It would be superfluous at the present day to adduce any serious argument against a system of imaginary influences and arbitrary rules, having no other foundation than the ignorance and superstition of mankind, and contradicted by every result of true science, and every dictate of common sense. The celestial bodies pursue their courses in obedience to unalterable laws; and the legitimate busine of the philosopher is to discover those laws, to trace Out their consequences, and to apply the results of his discoveries to alleviate the wants or multiply the comforts of humanity. [s. 112]