PREFACE. 



<^ of the Deity, and a fleady and hearty obc- 

 *' dience to all his laws." * 



Much might be added to this fubjcQ, if 

 confidered in a theological light -, but fince 

 the writings of Boyle, Ray, 2Lnd Der/jam, fully 

 prove that the ftudy of natural hiflory en- 

 forces the theory of religion and pra(3:ice of 

 morality, we had better refer to their works 

 in general, than mangle them by imperfedl 

 quotations. 



To exalt our veneration towards the Al- 

 mighty, is the principal end of this fublime 

 fcience ; and next to that, the various bene- 

 fits refulting from it to human fociety de^ 

 ferve our ferious confideration. 



To give an obvious inftance : what won- 

 derful changes have been made in human af- 

 fairs by the difcovery of an obfcure mineral. 

 The antients, ignorant of the application of 

 the magnet, timidly attempted a mere coaft- 

 ing navigation ; while we, better informed 

 of the ufes of it, traverfe the wideft oceans, 

 and by the difcovery of the new world, have* 

 layed open to fcience, an inexhauftible fund of 

 matter. 



The rife and progrefs of medicine, kept 



* Derham's Phyf. Thcol. Book XL c. 24. 



pace 



