General moral results of scientific knowledge. 153 



laws of nature whether we are willing or not, no man 

 can improperly manipulate dangerous substances or 

 forces with impunity ; it moderates our bigotry by 

 exhibiting to us the great uncertainty of unproved 

 opinions. ; it restrains undue credulity in men's asser- 

 tions, by shewing us their frequent fallacy ; it gives 

 us confidence in the laws of nature, by proving to us 

 their uniformity ; it withdraws us from self-deception 

 by compelling us to accept the truths of nature as 

 they exist ready made for us, whether they harmonise 

 with our preconceived ideas or not ; men cannot 

 argue with nature, as they can with their fellow-men, 

 but must submit to the influence of verified truth. 

 It supplies us with principles instead of empirical 

 " rule of thumb " methods as guides of morality. 

 Whilst it liberates us from the terror of irrational fears, 

 it cautions us against entertaining unreasonable hopes. 

 It substitutes for ignorant wonder and awe, an intel- 

 ligent appreciation of created things ; and when 

 fully developed it will probably satisfy all the reason- 

 able instincts and desires of men. 



Whilst law, medicine and divinity, direct man's 

 attention almost exclusively to matters concerning 

 himself, and thus tend to limit his sphere of percep- 

 tion and knowledge, and unconsciously impress him 

 with the idea that all other existences are less im- 

 portant than himself, science not only enlightens him 

 respecting all the departments of his own nature, but 

 extends his mental vision in all directions by exciting 

 his mind to observe and reflect upon all other bodies 



