17 



soul of the modern Astronomer, " Lord, what is 

 man that thou art so mindful of him, or the son 

 of man that thou visitest him 1" 



For another example, take the discoveries of 

 the microscope. In the objects presented to our 

 unaided sight, it was always easy to observe as- 

 tonishing displays of a minute and most benefi- 

 cent attention to the preservation and happiness 

 of living creatures ; but it was not until the in- 

 vention of the microscope that the extent of that 

 providential care was known or even suspected. 



The savage may be able to trace a regular 

 succession of living beings, from the mite, whose 

 voluntary motions are just discernible by the 

 naked eye, up to man, whose more perfect bodily 

 frame, and nobler mental powers point him out, 

 as beyond all question the lord of the earth ; 

 and he may even discover some portion of the 

 curious analogy, which the philosopher has found 

 grounds for believing to exist, among all tribes of 

 animated nature, within the compass of his vision. 

 But, in the microscope, science has presented us 

 with an instrument which has opened to our 

 view a new series of living creatures, to which 

 the mite is as an elephant ; and in whose organ- 

 ization arid instincts, new, and not less admirable 

 indications of creative wisdom are afforded. 



The discoveries which have been thus unfold- 

 ed, are indeed scarcely less calculated to stimu- 

 late our curiosity, and excite our admiration than 

 those of the telescope. With the assistance of 

 these instruments we find the sphere of our 



D 



