144 Scientific knowledge makes us Jmmblc. 



safely predict that science will in the future exercise 

 so great a moral influence over mankind, is the fact 

 that its chief principles are fundamental guides and 

 regulators of human action. 



Probably nothing has a greater effect in making a 

 man humble and reverent than a thorough knowledge 

 of science. By the inventions of the telescope, micro- 

 scope, spectroscope, telegraph, microphone, telephone, 

 &c., the extremely finite extent of all our faculties has 

 been abundantly demonstrated. Whilst the wonders 

 of the telescope have developed an intelligent sentiment 

 of reverence, by revealing to us a portion of the vast 

 amount of the Universe of matter and energy, those 

 of the microscope have strengthened that sentiment by 

 affording us an insight into the almost endless com- 

 plexity of minute creatures, substances and actions. 

 Whilst also these and other scientific instruments and 

 appliances have proved the excessively limited ex- 

 tent of our senses ; the inscrutable character and 

 immense number and variety of problems of nature 

 yet unsolved, equally demonstrate the extreme 

 feebleness of our mental powers. To obtain an ac- 

 curate acquaintance with science also, and especially 

 to discover new scientific truths, it is absolutely 

 necessary to set aside human pride, and approach the 

 subject like a little child ; no other course is possible. 



A knowledge of geology and astronomy also makes 

 a man humble and reverent. The fact that this globe 

 must have existed myriads of years ; and is always 

 moving at the immense velocity of more than 62,000 



