cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord;" and David (Ps. xxxii. 10), "Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about." The first chapter of Proverbs ends with a passage close to the point: "But whoso hearkeneth to me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil." God has promised to keep those in perfect peace whose minds are stayed on him; and that a good man "shall not be afraid of evil tidings, his heart being fixed, trusting in the Lord" (Psalm cxii.) And though the astrologer may attempt to "devise his way" (Prov. xvi. 9) through this dangerous wilderness, I desire with the psalmist ever to say, "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe." (Psalm cxix. 117.) In my next, I purpose making some remarks upon the planets, the aspects, and the twelve houses of heaven. I am, Sir, &c.

November 30th, 1835.

T. H. MOODY.

LETTER III.

SIR,

BEFORE I proceed to consider the astrological principles connected with the planets and aspects, some remarks may be expected on the letter of Lieutenant Morrison, which appeared in your last paper. He observes that I seem to "fear if astrology be proved to be true, it will overthrow the Bible"-I have no such fear, being satisfied that this art is from beneath -that it proceeds from the father of lies, and will overthrow nothing but a weak, daring, superstitious mind, and

He

says

"Make the man the most despised

Where most he wishes to be prized."

that I have "burst upon your readers with a NAUSEOUS string of daring assertions" which he has proved to be false. I am not at all disturbed by this invective, having good evidence, that what the Lieutenant nauseates, has been very well received by the public. I have no doubt that he consulted the stars as to the precise time of writing his own

own letter, yet, on this occasion, they have evidently deserted him; and I have reason to believe, that this composition has procured him no rapt admirers— no increase of astrological reputation. He has not disproved any thing advanced by me; and the letter before me contains not one word of argument;* but its peevish fretful scurrility proves that the feelings of the writer have not been quite calm since the discussion. The insinuation thrown out, that I am, "the cat's paw of an individual whose vanity he happened to wound," is wholly without foundation: I am the tool of no man, but am the free, unfettered advocate of truth.-Let the Lieut. himself examine whether he be not the agent of the enemy of God, in thus endeavouring to disseminate astrological principles. He charges me with having run from the combat, but the public is a witness of the contrary. I have only drawn up my forces upon more open ground, and chosen a more extensive field of operation; for the columns of the Cheltenham Chronicle are as open to him as to me, if he has courage to come forth in defence of his darling superstition. The chairman of the committee at the Athenæum is a witness, that Lieut. Morrison refused to comply with the arrangements there made-that we should speak half-hour by half-hour at the next

* Appendix, No. 6.

meeting-and I therefore refused to continue the discussion there. And, as to the Lieutenant's “ 'questions," I reply, that I am not an intellectual gladiator, for "Charity vaunteth not itself:” I am not anxious to make a vain display of my attainments, to shew how much I know, but to defend the cause of truth; not to bandy questions about astronomy, but to expose the abominations connected with astrology; not to exhibit my knowledge in the way prescribed by him, but in a manner more consistent, I trust, with the Christian character. My name is down for a course of lectures, to be delivered at the Philosophical Society, on trigonometry, and its application to astronomical calculations; and I hope, if spared, to fulfil the engagement in a manner which shall not disgrace myself, and which may be interesting to the members of that respectable institution;-and I apprehend, that even the Lieutenant, if he will "condescend" to attend, and the puffing and blowing shall have then subsided, may receive some instruction. It requires but a very superficial knowledge of astronomy to make an astrologer; and I gathered from the Lieutenant's observations respecting Cardan, that he was unacquainted with algebra, and therefore at once perceived that he was ignorant of the common analytical modes of astronomical investigation. He has also applied to me the following passage: "He that

answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him." Now the truth is, that he was determined to be heard; for he not only occupied the first evening, but the greater part of the second. However, I heartily close, with his concluding sentence, that "Whatever is true and exists in nature, emanates from God, and can never be opposed to his WORD"-if, by the word nature, he means the material universe-but it is a remark destructive of the principles of astrology.

Every Christian learns from the Bible, that his inheritance is not here; that it is the wicked who are said to have their portion in this life (Psalm xvii. 25); and that the church of Christ, for the most part, are a poor afflicted people (Zeph. iii. 12); it is therefore recorded of Moses, that he chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season (Heb. xi. 25). But, while we are enjoined to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Matt. vi. 33), to rise above the things of time and sense, and to set our affections on things above and not on things of the earth (Col. iii. 2); yet, according to the principles of astrology, when we look upward, all the arrangements there have only a VOICE FOR THIS WORLD. This remark alone is sufficient to prove, that astrology * Appendix, No. 7.

*