78 INTRODUCTION. 



tiuuance of health. Is he in search of health? Health 

 flees from the man who sets out in the direct pursuit of it. 

 But let him have an interest in the wonders of nature — in 

 the works of God's handj — meditating on them, he forgets 

 his ailments, and health, which he ceases to pursue, by the 

 blessinor of God often comes as it were of his own accord. 

 His mind is soothed and refreshed, and the salutary in- 

 fluence is felt by the enfeebled body. 



" There is a pleasure in the pathless ^Yoods, 

 There is a rapture on the lonely shore, 

 Tlicre is society where none intrudes, 

 By the deep sea, and music in its roar." — Byron. 



The greatest advantage, however, of this study is, that 

 if rightly prosecuted, it keeps us continually mindfid of 

 the presence of God. " These are thy glorious works. 

 Parent of good, — Almighty ! " AYere we to regard the 

 phenomena of nature with a constant reference to the great 

 Creator, the world, says Paley, ^vould become a temple, and 

 life itself one continued act of adoration. 



But let us beware of expecting too much from the study 

 of Natural Science. The book of nature is one of God's 

 books, and it is worthy of Ilim, — very precious, and fitted 

 to teach us much. But there is another and a better, — the 



