PREFACE. 



tnat man is benefited by a knowledge 

 of natural philosophy ; it teaches him 

 to employ the powers of nature to the 

 greatest advantage for the embellish- 

 ment and comfort of life, and extends 

 his empire over the material universe. 



Knowledge of this kind, therefore, 

 is the most valuable that man can ac- 

 quire: it enriches his life with conve- 

 niences, enlarges his views, and lays' 

 a foundation for the most rational 

 and exalted piety. * ( The universe 

 (says Boyle) is the magnificent tem- 

 ple of its great Author ; and man is 

 ordained, by his powers and qualifi- 

 cations, the high-priest of nature, to 

 celebrate divine service in this temple 

 of the universe." 



Let him then, aspiring to the dig- 

 nity of his station, assisted by the 

 writings of modern authors, devote 

 his noblest powers to the investigation 

 of the laws of nature ; and evince that 

 he is not in vain given ability to be 



