294: STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
conveying light into subjects in general, it is pecu- 
liarly so when employed in elucidating the truths of — 
religion. Here the force of contrast with which it 
acts is at the maximum. We bring together the 
things of heaven and the things of earth; and be- 
stow on the most remote and inaccessible objects, 
some portion of that circumstantial particularity 
which belongs to those present and visible. To 
behold truths, in themselves so high above our 
comprehension, in connection with those which are 
familiarly inculeated on us by experience, must 
call forth our strongest admiration, and powerfully 
interests us on both sides, but particularly on that of 
our religion. Divine Wisdom then descends from 
its etherial seat, as the accessor of the throne of the 
Eternal, and communes with us face to face, and 
hand to hand. We find that the subjects of which 
Scripture treats are not chimeras, not creations of 
the fancy, which have no substantial existence ; but 
things which are: things in which we live, and 
move, and have our being. It no longer appears to 
us in the light of a scheme, contrived in the bowers 
of philosophic seclusion, and addressing itself only to 
the contemplative and impassioned devotee, like the 
day dreams of the Koran, emerging from the gloom 
and solitude of the cave of Hara; but it shines 
forth conspicuously, as an energising principle, as a 
knowledge which is power, as a work of the Lord, 
carried on in the passing scene, with which we 
cannot help sympathising without doing violence to 
all the principles of our nature.” * 

* Hampden. 
