THE PRESIDENT' S ADDRESS. xlix 



mology, because of the minuteness of most insects. It may^ 

 however, be answered with Boyle, that "nothing can be un- 

 worthy of being investigated by man, which was thought 

 worthy of being created by God/^ Size is always a relative 

 quantity. A very large diamond would make a very small 

 corner stone. To value things according to their size alone is 

 natural enough to the uneducated savage. Philosophy teaches 

 us to adopt another standard ; yet, even that very minuteness 

 should, and with a well trained mind, really does add to the 

 educational value of such objects of study. History has re- 

 corded the laboiirs of one who made a four-wheeled coach and 

 a set of harness for fleas. Such a work no doubt required 

 delicate manipulation. But after all, what was his work com- 

 pared with the delicacy of workmanship, the consummate skill, 

 and wonderful power of the Creator — of which the flea itself 

 is an evidence. The harness aforesaid would hardly have borne 

 much critical inspection ; while the animal harnessed — which 

 no man could have made — might have been examined in every 

 joint with the highest power of the microscope, and nothing 

 but wisdom and goodness and perfection would have appeared. 



While therefore. Entomology teaches us to value objects 

 by another standard than size, it also points out the perfections 

 of Him whose works are these. That which Ray called " the 

 wisdom of God in Creation '' everywhere manifest, is nowhere 

 more plainly seen than here. I would take a single insect, and 

 ask where is the power which could ensure so much perfection 

 within so small a compass, and provide sufficiently, and even 

 abundantly for its wants and conveniences, its health and 

 comfort, its happiness and beauty ? I find in it a perfect 

 adaptation of the difierent parts to the whole, and of itself as a 

 whole to the sphere which it is intended to occupy. I find a 

 wonderful connection existing between the difierent members of 

 its body, so that no one can be dispensed with, or materially 

 altered without injury to the rest. The fluids which permeate 

 the body, must be adapted to the size and habits of the creature. 

 The whole apparatus for procui'ing food, for eating and digesting. 



