PREFACE. 11 



knowledge, of all the wide kingdom of nature and 

 of nature's Divine Author. 



Happy the young naturalist who early takes 

 delight in studying that fair book which, on every 

 side, sweetly invites him to learn by its instruc- 

 tions to look upward to the great God and Father 

 of all. Then only will he know the true uses, and 

 enjoy the highest delights, of these wondrous and 

 beautiful works when he " searches them out," 

 and " takes pleasure therein," as the handiworks 

 of his God and Saviour, while with a humble and 

 loving spirit he offers praise to him from a heart 

 renewed by God's grace, and consecrated to his 

 service. To such a one 



" Nature with open volume stands 



To spread her Maker's praise abroad ; 

 And every labour of his hands 



Shows something worthy of a God." 



And nature leads us, when we have deeply read 

 its lessons, and prayerfully studied its mysteries, 

 to feel that " the whole creation " stands in need of 

 a Kedeemer who shall rescue both man and beast 

 from those dire results of sin, beneath which they 

 groan and travail in pain together until now.* 

 * Horn. viii. 22. 



