INTRODUCTION. 



152 



time and attention in investigating its admirable 

 economy and arrangement : and there can be no 

 question, that a portion of our thoughts devoted 

 to the study of the wondrous works of the Most 

 High, must ultimately be conducive to the im 

 provement of our intelleclual powers, to our 

 advancement in the Christian life, and to our 

 preparation for the exalted employments of the 

 eternal world. 



In fine, since the researches of modern times 

 have greatly enlarged our views of the System 

 of Universal Nature, and of the vast extent to 

 which the operations of the Creator are carried 

 on in the distant regions of space, since the 

 late discoveries of Naturalists and Experimental 

 Philosophers, with respect to the constitution of 

 the atmosphere, water, light, heat, the gases, 

 the electric, galvanic and magnetic fluids, and 

 the economy and instincts of animated beings, 

 have opened to our view a bright display of 

 Divine Wisdom, in the contrivance and ar 

 rangement of the different parts of our terrestrial 

 habitation, since improvements in the useful 

 arts have kept pace with the progress of science, 

 and have been applied to many beneficial pur 

 poses, which have ultimately a bearing on the 



interests and the progress of religion since a 

 general desire to propagate the truths of Chris 

 tianity in Heathen lands now animates the 

 mass of the religious world since the nations 

 of both Continents are now aroused to burst 

 asunder the shackles of despotism, and to inquire 

 after rational liberty and mental improvement, 

 and since all these discoveries, inventions, and 

 movements, and the energies of the human mind, 

 from which they spring, are under the direction 

 and control of that Omnipotent Being who made 

 and who governs the world they ought to be 

 considered as parts of those Providential arrange 

 ments, in the progress of which He will ultimately 

 accomplish the illumination of our benighted 

 race, and make the cause of righteousness and 

 truth to triumph among all nations. And, there 

 fore, the enlightened Christian ought thankfully 

 to appreciate every exhibition, and every dis 

 covery, by which his conceptions of the attributes 

 of God, and of the grandeur of his works, may 

 be directed and enlarged, in order that he may 

 be qualified to &quot; speak of the honour of his ma 

 jesty, and talk of his power ; to make known tr 

 the sons of men his mighty acts, and the gJoriour 

 majesty of his kingdom.&quot; 



