xlvi INTRODUCTION. 



seek for religious truth principally in the 

 Bible, that we can derive none from the study 

 of natural objects ; nor, on the contrary, 

 because we are not to go to the Bible for 

 a system of philosophy, that no philosophical 

 truths are contained in it. The Scripture 

 expressly declares that the invisible things 

 of God may be understood by the things 

 that are made and if we may have recourse 

 to the works of creation as well as to reve- 

 lation to lead us to the knowledge of the 

 Creator, we may, on the other hand, by 

 parity of reason, without meriting any repre- 

 hension, inquire into what God has revealed 

 in Scripture concerning the physical world 

 and its phenomena. Lord Bacon himself 

 observes, that Philosophy is given to Religion 

 as a most faithful handmaid ; since Religion 

 declares the will of God, and Philosophy 

 manifests his power, and he applies to this 

 our Saviour's reproof of the Jews. Ye do 

 err not knowing the Scriptures nor the 

 power of God. That is, ye have not endea- 

 voured to know him by a right mode of 

 studying either his word or his works. The 

 study of both is necessary to the right under- 

 standing of either we cannot rightly under- 



