CONCLUSIONAUY REFLECTIONS. 293 



growth of animals and plants, the faculties of the human 

 mind, and even the ability of moving 1 our hands in any one 

 direction, by a simple volition, afford, when deliberately 

 reflected on, to constitute more convincing 1 arguments 

 against Atheism than all the recondite lucubrations of the 

 most profound philosophers ; and in this opinion do I most 

 cordially coincide. For I may remark, in a word, the argu- 

 ment for the existence of a God, which is drawn from a 

 contemplation of nature, is so clear and so strong that the 

 most ignorant can comprehend it, and the most learned 

 cannot invent a better. 



" To study God, God's student man, was made 

 To read him as in nature's text convey'd, 

 Not as in heav'n ; but as be did descend 

 To earth, his easier book : Where to suspend 

 And save his miracles, each little flower, 

 And lesser fly, shows his familiar power." 



The cultivation of the science of Natural History not only 

 refines the man, but dignifies and exalts the affections. It 

 elevates them to the admiration and love of that Being who 

 is the author of every thing that is fair, sublime, and good in 

 the universe. Scepticism and irreligion are rarely com- 

 patible with the sensibility of heart which arises from a just 

 and lively relish of the wisdom, harmony, and order sub- 

 sisting in the world around us ; and emotions of piety must 

 spontaneously arise in every bosom that is in unison with all 

 animated nature. Actuated by this divine inspiration, man 

 finds a fane in every grove ; and, glowing with devout fer- 

 vour, he joins his song to the universal chorus, or muses the 

 praise of the Almighty in more expressive silence. Thus 

 they 



" Whom nature's works can charm, with God himself 



Hold converse ; grow familiar day by day, 



With his conceptions ; act upon his plan, 



And form to his the relish of their souls." 



And on reviewing: the works of the creation which are more 

 or less daily presented to our view, we can come to this 



