224 Natural Theology. 



They were but lines in the translation of that Divine 

 language, which needed for its completion the power 

 of the whole human intellect. But the fact that this 

 translation could be made into mathematical for- 

 mulas at all, shows the accuracy and universality of 

 this language written in the mineral kingdom. We 

 are filled with wonder and admiration at the fact 

 that amid the varied forms into which nature moulds 

 the outer surface, as if to hide and protect from 

 mortal eye as a secret charm the primitive form, 

 the mind of man has been able to look beneath the 

 cunning disguise. And when he has accomplished 

 this, she rewards his labor by showing him that 

 there are among crystals but thirteen fundamental 

 forms from which all others can be derived, and of 

 which they are modifications. Such a generaliza- 

 tion is indeed evidence of the godlike nature of the 

 human mind, and the existence of such materials 

 for thought, such means of bringing the rocks of 

 the earth by one grand discovery within the intel- 

 lectual dominion of man, shows what provision was 

 made even in binding the elements together, for 

 man in his highest nature. 



We might enlarge upon the evidence of design in 

 the action of the crystalline force which separates 

 the mingled materials, bringing particles of the 

 same kind together, so that the metals and ores have 

 been gathered in veins for the use of man, and the 

 granite and marble fitted not only as the pillars of 

 the earth, but for his service. We could hardly over- 

 look the utility of this force in the hands of the che- 



