OF THE OX. 19 



the past which contain useful instruction 

 may be examined and searched into that the 

 physiological and pathological laws which 

 rule and determine the phenomena of organic 

 matter, whether in health or sickness, were, 

 like the laws of chemistry, electricity, and 

 astronomy, originally established at the time 

 of creation, and that matter submits with 

 passive obedience to the laws of transformation 

 and transubstantiation, which are the abso- 

 lute condition of life. These are the eternal 

 laws of which a synthesis so admirable is 

 furnished by the Gospel, in this short injunc- 

 tion, " Take, eat, this is my body drink, this is 

 my blood!' 



Now, if man, who is the sovereign master 

 of this matter, did not take care to regulate 

 and modify it for his own benefit and the 

 benefit of all living creatures on whom his own 

 life depends, as well as his wealth and hap- 

 piness ; if he did not seek thereby continually 

 to diminish the sum of evil, and to extend the 

 sum of good which it is his mission to in- 

 crease, he would violate these laws, which are 

 inherent in matter, and which have existed for 

 his use since the creation of the world. 

 c2 



