10 FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF ZOOLOGY. 



view should never be lost sight of, or disconnected, namely, 

 the animal in respect to its own organism, and the animal 

 in its relations to creation as a whole. By adopting too ex- 

 clusively either of these points of view, we are in danger of 

 falling either into gross materialism, or into vague and 

 profitless pantheism. He who beholds in Nature nothing 

 besides organs and their functions, may persuade himself 

 that the animal is merely a combination of chemical and 

 mechanical actions and reactions, and thus becomes a mate- 

 rialist. 



28. On the contrary, he who considers only the mani- 

 festations of intelligence and of creative will, without taking 

 into account the means by which they are executed, and 

 the physical laws by virtue of which all beings preserve 

 their characteristics, will be very likely to confound the 

 Creator with the creature. 



29. It is only as it contemplates, at the same time, matter 

 and mind, that Natural History arises to its true character 

 and dignity, and leads to its worthiest end, by indicating to 

 us, in Creation, the execution of a plan fully matured in the 

 beginning, and invariably pursued ; the work of a God infi- 

 nitely wise, regulating Nature according to immutable laws, 

 which He has himself imposed on her. 



