VI CONTENTS. 



VARIETY OF NATURE ----- ..... 7? 



Vegetables their number and variety. Animals variety in their organization. Eyes 

 of insects their exquisite mechanism. Subterraneous Regions. Atmosphere. The 

 Variety of Nature affords a faint idea of the infinity of the Creator. Illustrated 

 in the number of animal parts and functions. Reflection. Variety the foundation of 

 our judgments. Beauty and sublimity of Nature. Primeval state of our globe 

 other worlds. 



Mechanism of Animated Beings ._._---_. -88 



STRUCTURE OF THE HUMAN EYE its coats, humours, muscles, orbit, and motions. 

 Wisdom displayed in its construction. Light its velocity, minuteness, colours, .ind 

 adaptation to the eye. MANNER IN WHICH VISION is PERFORMED explained 

 by a figure, and an experiment illustrated by the view from Salisbury Craigs. Mul 

 titude of rays which flow from every object smallness of the image on the retina, 

 illustrated by calculation what proportion of the solar light falls on our globe Re 

 flections. Mechanism for viewing near and distant objects contraction and dilata 

 tion of the pupil distance at which we see distinctly. Summary view of adaptations 

 in the structure of the eye. Eyes of superior intelligences. Visual organs of the 

 inferior animals. Mechanism of the Bones illustrated exemplified in the joints of the 

 fingers, the wrist, and the movements of which the head is susceptible. Moral Reflec 

 tions on the impropriety of overlooking the Divine Wisdom in the system of nature. 



SECTION IV. 

 Of* THE GOODNESS OR BENEVOLENCE OF THE DEITY - - - - - 111 



Benevolence of God in relation to Man considered as a depraved intelligence. Mercy 

 displayed in the system of nature. Benevolence as displayed towards the lower 

 animals. Extract from Dr. Paley. General Reflections. 



CHAPTER II. 



A CURSORY VIEW OF SOME OF THE SCIENCES WHICH ARE RELATED 

 TO RELIGION AND CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY. 



INTRODUCTION. Extensive range of Theology. Bad effects of setting Religion in oppo 

 sition to Science. Harmony of the operations of God in Nature and Revelation 117 



NITURAL HISTORY - - - - - - - - - - -110 



Its extensive range. Outline of its principal objects on the surface, and in the interior 

 recesses of the earth in the atmosphere the vegetable, mineral, and animal king 

 doms and in the region cf the heavens. Description of the Banian Tree. Reflec 

 tions. Monkey Bread Tree. Splendour and felicity of insect life. Invisible worlds 

 infinity of the universe. Religious tendency of this Science. It affords a manifest 

 ation of the Deity, and expands our conceptions of his operations ennobles the human 

 mind. Recommended by the Sacred writers. 



GEOGRAPHY - -.-- _-. 134 



Its object Figure of the Earth Proofs of its spherical form. Relation which the dis 

 covery of the figure of the earth bears to the plan of Providence. Magnitude and 

 natural divisions of the earth. General features of its surface. Mountains their 

 general ranges, and the sublime scenes they exhibit The Ocean its extent, depth, 

 bottom, and motions. Rivers their number, size, and the quantity of water they 

 pour into the ocean. How they are supplied their use in the system of nature. 

 Artificial division of the earth. Number and variety of its inhabitants. Number 

 which have existed since the Creation number at the resurrection, and the space they 

 would occupy. Number which the earth would contain strictures on Malthus. 

 Utility of the study of Geography to Religion to Directors of Missionary Societies 

 to Private Christians. Grandeur of its physical objects utility of its moral facts. 



jrEOLOGY - - &quot;.&quot;.&quot; &quot; &quot; &quot; &quot; &quot; &quot; -157 



Its object and connexion with religion an interesting subject of inquiry. Materials which 



compose the crust of our globe. Various geological phenomena. Organic remains 



Mammoth, Tapir, Elk, Megatherium, &c. Geological deductions not inconsistent 



with the Mosaic History Genesis i. 1, 2. exolained. Short duration of the earth 



