PREFACE. XI 



their oTand aim, that of makini^ converts amongst 

 their countrymen to a stiidj equally calculated for 

 promoting- the glory of God and the delight and 

 profit of man, they will not deem the labour of 

 the leisure hours of six years ill bestowed. 



And here it may be proper to observe;, that one 

 of their first and favourite objects has been to di- 

 rect the attention of their readers " from nature 

 up to nature's God." For, when they reflected 

 upon the fatal use which has too often been made 

 of Natural History, and that from the very works 

 and wonders of God, some philosophists, by an 

 unaccountable perversion of intellect, have at- 

 tempted to derive arguments cither against his 

 being and providence, or against the Religion 

 revealed in the Holy Scriptures, thej' conceived 

 the}' miglit render some service to the most im- 

 portant interests of mankind, by shov/ing Iiow 

 every department of the science they recommend 

 illustrates the great truths of Religion, and proves 

 that the doctrines of the Word of God, instead of 

 being contradicted, are triumphantly confirmed 

 by his Works. 



" To see all things in God" has been accounted 

 coe of the peculiar privileges of a future state; 

 and in this present life^ " to see God in all things," 

 in the mirror of the creation to behold and adore 

 the reflected glory of Xht CieatoFj is no mean at- 



