DIFFERENT ANALOGIES IN CREATION. 1]5 



prominent features of some part of the plan of cre- 

 ation; as the strong indications of something beyond 

 the surface of things, and as forming a portion of some 

 great system of harmonious relationship ? Upon this 

 point, again, the scientific world has been set at rest. 

 The theoretical inference which would favour the last 

 of these suppositions, has been demonstrated to be 

 correct both by reason and experience ; and we now 

 know that all these resemblances are to be traced to 

 one universal and consistent plan, as similar in its 

 laws, as it is harmonious in its results. Here, then, is 

 opened an exalted and a boundless field of design ; 

 wherein the Christian philosopher is not only enabled 

 to draw proofs of the Divinity from the individual 

 objects, but from the system by which this endless 

 diversity of forms is regulated. 



(62.) The results attending the investigation of this 

 system of representation, having been uniform in 

 every department of nature yet investigated, we 

 are led to enquire, what further can be learned? — 

 whether there be still any ulterior design, for the 

 instruction of man, beyond those which we have 

 discovered ? and whether the knowledge thus gained 

 by analysis, can be applied to the illustration of 

 higher truths connected with our spiritual welfare ? 

 On this point, again, the Christian philosopher will 

 have no doubts. He is told in that inspired volume 

 in which he at least believes, that " we see now, as 

 it were in a mirror, the glory of God reflected 

 enigmatically by the things that he has made."* 

 He is thus assured that the book of nature 



* 1 Cor. xiii. 12. See also North. Zool. Introd. ii. p. lvi. 



I 2 



