

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS, 



BY THE AMERICAN EDITOR. 



THERE is no subject, that can be named, in so few words, 

 that embraces such an extent and variety of interesting and 

 useful information as the Natural History of the Bible. It- 

 includes within the range of its various objects, everything 

 that can invite the attention, or reward the inquiries of the 

 Natural Philosopher. It furnishes subjects for investigation, 

 which have engaged the interest of the most gifted minds > 

 and those too, under the guidance of inspiration, during a 

 period of more than Four Thousand Years. It leads the mind 

 back to the hour, when the world was in its infancy, and when, 

 at its birth, the ' morning stars sang together, and all the 

 sons of God shouted for joy.' And it extends down beyond 

 the time when the Saviour of the world ascended, in the 

 clouds of heaven, to his Father's throne. 



The whole kingdom of nature, in all the multiplicity and 

 variety of its objects, is brought to view in the ' Perfect 

 Book,' with a clearness of light, which is not elsewhere to be 

 found. 



The simple yet truly philosophical arrangement, presented 

 in the * sublimely beautiful narrative of the Creation,' clear- 

 ly shows that the pen of the sacred historian was guided by 

 the hand of a master. 



But there are various other considerations which render 

 this a subject of the deepest interest. In the early ages of the 

 world, so far as we know, Literature, Science, and Poetry, 

 were cultivated solely by the prophets, or servants of the Most 

 High. We have no evidence that other minds were devoted 

 to such pursuits. And the writers of the Bible had no oppor- 

 tunity to resort to the writings of idolatrous heathen around 

 them, to illustrate or enforce their own eloquence and song. 

 There was no Classical Literature then, to furnish learned 

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