IHE ELEMENTS. 241 



CHAPTER XXL 



THE ELEMENTS. 



When we come to the elements we take leave of our 

 mechanics, because w^e come to those things, of the organi- 

 tation of which, if they be organized, we are confessedly 

 ignorant. This ignorance is implied by their name. To 

 say the truth, our investigations are stopped long before wc 

 arrive at this point. But then it is for our comfort to find 

 that a knowledge of the constitution of the elements is not 

 necessary for us. For instance, as Addison has well observ- 

 ed, " We know water sufficiently, when we know how to 

 boil, how to freeze, how to evaporate, how to make it fresh 

 how to make it run or spout out in what quantity and 

 direction we please, without knowing what water is." The 

 observation of this excellent waiter has more propriety in it 

 now, than it had at the time it was made ; for the consti- 

 tution and the constituent parts of water appear in some 

 measure to have been lately discovered ; yet it does not, I 

 think, appear that we can make any better or greater use 

 of water since the discovery, than w^e did before it. 



We can never think of the elements without reflecting 

 upon the number of distinct uses which are consolidated in 

 the same substance. The air supplies the lungs, supports 

 fire, conveys sound, reflects light, difluses smells, gives rain, 

 wafts ships, bears up birds. 'E^ vftaroq ra navra : ivater, be- 

 sides maintaining its own inhabitants, is the universal nour- 

 isher of plants, and through them of terrestrial animals ; is 

 the basis of their juices and fluids ; dilutes their food ; quench- 

 Ds their thirst ; floats their burdens. Fire warms, dissolves, 

 enlightens ; is the great promoter of vegetation and life, il 

 not necessary to the support of both, 



We might enlarge, to almost any length v/e please, upon 

 each of these uses ; but it appears to me sufficient to state 

 t hem. The few remarks which I judge it necessary to add, are, 



Xnt. Theol. 1 1 



