256 RELIGIOUS VIEWS. 



floating on the surface of the ball of the earth ; 

 it is one of the inert and inorganic portions of 

 the universe, and must be conceived to have been 

 formed by the same Power which formed the solid 

 mass of the earth and all other parts of the solar 

 system. But how far is the atmosphere from 

 being inert in its effects on organic beings, and 

 unconnected with the world of life ! By what 

 wonderful adaptations of its mechanical and 

 chemical properties, and of the vital powers of 

 plants, to each other, are the developement and 

 well-being of plants and animals secured ! The 

 creator of the atmosphere must have been also the 

 creator of plants and animals : we cannot for an 

 instant believe the contrary. But the atmosphere 

 is not only subservient to the life of animals, and 

 of man among the rest ; it is also the vehicle of 

 voice ; it answers the purpose of intercourse ; 

 and, in the case of man, of rational intercourse. 

 We have seen how remarkably the air is fitted 

 for this office ; the construction of the organs of 

 articulation, by which they are enabled to per- 

 form their part of the work, is, as is well known, 

 a most exquisite system of contrivances. But 

 though living in an atmosphere capable of trans- 

 mitting articulate sound, and though provided 

 with organs fitted to articulate, man would never 

 attain to the use of language, if he were not 

 also endowed with another set of faculties. The 

 powers of abstraction and generalization, memory 



