INTRODUCTION. Xlll 



insignificant in themselves but inconceivably important 

 in their consequences ! — a consideration which is not less 

 applicable to moral than to physical nature. Paley in 

 his ' Natural Theology ' quaintly remarks, with regard 

 to the proportion of space occupied by the sea and land, 

 " I know not why the sea may not have as good a right 

 to its place as the land." No more do I. Each un- 

 consciously fulfils the peculiar function assigned to it 

 from the commencement by an allwise Providence. No 

 one can reflect on the innumerable and various trans- 

 formations which both have since undergone, without 

 being convinced that their creation and inherent forces 

 must be due to an extraneous cause. Paley's watch 

 is out of fashion ; but those of my readers who admire 

 — and who does not? — the still more antiquated but 

 equally devout writings of the "Father of English 

 Poets " will, I feel sure, not object to be reminded of 

 his sentiments on the same topic. They are in the Pro- 

 logue to his l Testament of Love/ and as follows : — 



"Nowe principally the mene to brynge in know- 

 leging and lovynge his creatour, is the consideracyon of 

 thynges made by the creatour, wher through by thylke 

 thinges that ben made, understandynge here to our 

 wyttes, arne the unsene pryvities of God made to us 

 syghtfull and knowinge, in our contemplacion and 

 understondinge. These thinges than forsoth moche 

 bringen us to the ful knowleginge sothe, and to the 



parfyte love of the maker of hevenly thynges 



it is a grete likynge in love of knowinge ther cretoure : 

 and also in knowinge of causes in kindelye thynges, 

 considrid forsothe the formes of kindelye thinges and 

 the shap, a gret kyndely love we shulde have to the 

 werkman that 'hem made. The crafte of a werkman is 

 shewed in the werk." 



b 



