PREFACE TO THIRD EDITION. 



THE extent to which the Lectures have been 

 used in the study of Natural Theology has sug- 

 gested the propriety of recasting them in a form 

 more like ordinary text-books. That something 

 would be gained in brevity and simplicity of state- 

 nu-nt by doing this is evident. But there are 

 reasons connected with the delivery of the Lectures 

 why it is best that they should remain essentially as 

 they first appeared. And to make a new book on 

 this subject the author has, at present, no time. 



It may well be doubted, however, if it is best for 

 students always to use text-books in structure so 

 unlike ordinary books, as most of them are. The 

 time comes when all the student needs in a study 

 like Natural Theology is to have the subject for 

 investigation fairly presented to him, and be shown 

 the relation of his previously acquired knowledge 

 to it. 



These Lectures attempt to show that we find in 

 nature not only evidence of design, but of such de- 

 sign as could originate from no being but a personal 



