11 PREFACE. 



The Vizir, observing the King's humour, failed 

 not to turn it to account, by hazarding several 

 sage remarks on the wisdom and economy of 

 Providence, which remarks, according to the fable, 

 produced so lively an effect on the rnind of the 

 monarch, that he was reclaimed from a life of 

 levity and pleasure, and henceforward became a 

 happy and prosperous prince. 



Like the Vizir, it has been my object, in the 

 present work, to endeavour to draw some bene- 

 ficial lessons from the stores of nature. As old 

 age creeps on, and the scene of this life is closing 

 upon me, I feel an ardent and, I trust, a laudable 

 desire to prove of some slight service to my 

 fellow creatures. I find no way in my power of 

 doing this, except by endeavouring to make my 

 favourite study the means of drawing the attention 

 of others to the goodness of the Creator, as 

 shewn in His works, considering the most pleasing 

 employment of the mind to be in the study of 

 those works ; as the noblest is, in the contempla- 

 tion of that greater work and higher mercy, which 

 blessed that portion of man's history, when the 



