38 Natural Theology. 



We are to tread ground that has been worn like the 

 great thoroughfares, where we have travelled so 

 often that not only the great monuments along the 

 wayside, but the humblest flowers even, have been 

 seen, and every spot of beauty has lost the charm 

 of novelty. If there is delight in store for us, it 

 must be from deepened convictions and clearer 

 views of truths already acknowledged, or perchance 

 from some new truth which we may gather as 

 gleaners find here and there a scattered ear after 

 the harvest has been carefully garnered. 



Still another difficulty which must always be taken 

 into consideration is the impossibility of presenting 

 the proof in its fulness. To do this, a naturalist must 

 present the studies and observations of a lifetime. 

 All he can do is to present the great outcrops of 

 proof, while with the mental eye he can himself 

 follow the strata deep beyond the reach of mere 

 sight as surely as though they were open to every 

 observer One viewing the outcropping rocks upon 

 a mountain-top for the first time, wonders that the 

 geologist can tell what will be found by those who 

 tunnel through its base ; so there may reasonably 

 be expected to be doubt when disconnected proof is 

 presented for the first time, while that proof, if pon- 

 dered on and seen in all its relations, would seem as 

 firm as the hills upon their rocky thrones. When 

 we have accepted the great truths of astronomy and 

 other physical sciences because they have been 

 proved to us, we are seldom aware how much our 

 ready acceptance was due to the common belief of 



