THE GREAT WATER-BEETLE. 



in them, and every advancing step must elevate 

 the mind, as it affords us additional knowledge of 

 the solicitude and provision of the great Architect 

 of creation in the appointment and endowment of 

 his creatures ; since, though we are very rarely 

 able to comprehend even the object of existence, 

 we see sufficient to convince us, that such care and 

 such powers were not bestowed except for some 

 wise and good purpose. It seems hardly possible 

 that mankind can ever obtain anything approach- 

 ing to the comprehension of the motives of Provi- 

 dence, because they have not, as far as is apparent 

 to us, individual and separate bearings, but are 

 connecting and in concordance with a series of in- 

 fluences, and consequently the whole should be 

 seen, fitly to understand a part ; and this mighty 

 mechanism what human mind can embrace ? 

 Heaven metes out to man by degrees something 

 of its laws and ordinances ; but no life, no period, 

 can exhaust that store of hidden wisdom, by which 

 these mandates have been decreed ; every little 

 transitory view that we obtain should be received 

 with gratitude as an advance in knowledge, a pro- 

 gress in the wisdom of Him who hath ordained all 

 things in truth. 



The eye of the naturalist, prying about in places 

 where those of indifferent persons are rarely fixed^ 

 sees many things, that others do not notice, or 

 observe without interest, from forming no con- 



