INTRODUCTION. 11 



that might seem to us the feeblest, work out the most 

 astonishing results. Great advantage would redound to us 

 from this study of Natural History, were we more diligently 

 to cultivate the habit of seeing the goodness and wisdom 

 and power of God in the works of his hands. It is not 

 enough that we admire beauty and exquisite workmanship, 

 and astonishing results : we should seek habitually to behold 

 not only the wisdom and power of God in these beautiful 

 works, but the great kindness of our Heavenly Father in 

 evidently caring so much for the happiness of the various 

 creatures he has formed. 



Williams, in his ' Missionary Enterprises/ when about 

 to give an account of some of the coral reefs and islands of 

 the South Seas, says: "The great object for which all 

 knowledge should be sought, and for which it ought to be 

 employed, is to illustrate the wisdom or goodness of the 

 great and beneficent Creator. And if we come to the study 

 of natural phenomena with minds unchilled by scepticism 

 or infidelity, we shall be led to sublime religious contempla- 

 tions ; and whether we examine the little coral insect of the 

 ocean, or gaze upon the gigantic beast of the forest ; whether 

 we study the little glow-worm which twinkles upon the 

 bank, or the celestial luminaries performing their appointed 



