ITS CONNECTION WITH RELIGION. 107 



CHAP. II. 



NATURAL HISTORY VIEWED IN ITS CONNECTION WITH 



RELIGION. — AS A RECREATION. AS AFFECTING COM 



MERCE AND THE ECONOMIC PURPOSES OF LIFE. AS 



IMPORTANT TO TRAVELLERS. 



(55.) I. The nature and objects of the science having 

 now been sufficiently explained, we may consider the 

 advantages which more peculiarly attend its prose- 

 cution, independent of those which have already 

 been noticed, in a general way, as belonging to all 

 intellectual pursuits. We shall enumerate these 

 advantages under distinct heads, because some are 

 applicable only to particular persons, objects, or cir- 

 cumstances ; and because, by so doing, we may 

 excite an interest and a love for these enquiries in 

 the minds of many persons, who imagine they have 

 neither the abilities to study, nor the means of adopt- 

 ing such pursuits, and of others who think they are 

 in no way interested in them. We shall therefore 

 look to natural history — 1. as connected with reli- 

 gion ; 2. as a recreation ; 3. as affecting the arts and 

 common purposes of life ; and, 4. as an essential 

 accomplishment to the traveller. 



(56.) All the advantages that result from science, 

 are comprehended under two distinct classes : — 

 1. Either they relate to our worldly prosperity, by 

 opening new sources of wealth, of convenience, 



