"Sod looked down from heaven upon the children of meii, to see n' mere 

 were any that did understand that did see God." PSALM mi. 



THE REASON WHY. 



CHAPTER L 



1. Wjby should we seek knowledge ? 



Because it assists us to comprehend the goodness and power of 

 God. 



And it gives us power over the circumstances and associations 

 by which we are surrounded : the proper exercise of this power 

 will greatly promote our happiness. 



2. Why does the possession of knowledge enable us to 

 exercise power over* surrounding circumstances? 



Knowledge enables us to understand that, in order to live healthily, 

 we require to breathe fresh and pure air. It also tells us that animal 

 and vegetable substances, undergoing decay, poison the air, though 

 we may not be able to see, or to smell, or otherwise discover the 

 existence of such poison. Knowing this, we become careful to 

 remove from our presence all such matters as would tend to corrupt 

 the atmosphere. This is only one of the countless instances in 

 wliich knowledge gives us power over surrounding circumstances. 



3. Name some other instances in which knowledge gives us 

 power. 



Knowledge of Geography and of Navigation enables the mariner 

 to guide his ship across the trackless deep, and to reach the sought- 

 fot port, though he had never before been on its shores. 



KaDwledge of Chemistry enables us to separate or to combine the 

 various substances found in nature. Thus we obtain useful and 



