XXX INTRODUCTION. 



of it may be both promoted and facilitated ; and 

 this kind of service towards the progress of science 

 is not to be altogether contemned. They who 

 are incapable themselves of advancing it by the 

 discovery of new truths, may usefully employ 

 themselves in helping others to a knowledge of 

 what the great masters have done ; and they may 

 best do this if they shall not disdain the office 

 of elementary explanation and discussion. The 

 wisest of the ancients was said to have brought 

 Philosophy down from heaven to earth ; he cer 

 tainly valued himself chiefly on his unceasing ef 

 forts to stir up in men s minds the desire of 

 knowledge. What he found necessary with regard 

 to the nature of the subject, we in our day may 

 perceive to be equally necessary because of the 

 clouds in which writers of vast and original ge 

 nius almost unavoidably involve the records of 

 their inquiries after unknown truths. 



But whatever brings men acquainted with those 

 profound researches, raises their minds to con 

 templations far more sublime than any which are 

 connected merely with worldly science. To survey 

 the most wonderful works of creation, to compre 

 hend the laws by which the system of the universe 

 is governed, the principles which everywhere per 

 vade it, and bear irrefragable testimony to the unity 

 as well as the power of the divine Author and Dis- 



