A WORD IN FAVOUR OF NATURAL HISTORY. 387 



Such an habitual disposition of thought consecrates 

 every field and wood, turns an ordinary walk into a 

 morning or evening sacrifice, and will improve those 

 transient gleams of joy which naturally brighten and 

 refresh the soul on such occasions into an inviolable 

 and permanent state of happiness. When we find 

 ourselves inspired by this pleasing instinct, this satis- 

 faction and complacency arising from the beauties of 

 Creation, let us consider to whom we stand indebted 

 for all these entertainments of sense, and who it is 

 that thus opens his hand and fills the world with 

 good." 



We are therefore by no means disposed to permit 

 the shafts of raillery and ridicule to insult our 

 favourite science without remonstrance ; or to allow 

 that there is anything frivolous in a close and earnest 

 investigation of the works of the Almighty; we 

 rather exclaim with Cicero, 



" Cultus autem est optimus idemque castissimus atque sanc- 

 tissimus plenissimiisque pietatis." 



Natural History is the appointed handmaiden of 

 Religion, enabling us, instead of merely assenting to 

 the existence of a Divine Providence, and recog- 

 nizing in vague terms the fact of his beneficence, to 

 feel, and in some humble proportion to appreciate, 

 how closely and how carefully the well-being and 

 happiness of all creatures has been provided for how 

 admirably they are severally adapted to their re- 

 spective stations and employments, and how wonder- 

 fully every part of their oeconomy is made subser- 

 vient to the general good. This is the true spirit in 



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