10 PREFACE. 



tion of certain natural agencies first on unorganized, 

 and then on organized bodies. 



Another word, of which I consider an improper use 

 to be made in this Essay, is " Nature/' I find this 

 imaginary being introduced on all occasions, and in- 

 vested with attributes of personality, which may be 

 extremely apt to make a false impression on young or 

 thoughtless minds. At one time, "the life of Nature" 

 is spoken of; then we are informed that "Nature has 

 succeeded. She has created the intermediate link be- 

 tween the vegetable world and the animal." Again, 

 it is said that " Nature seems to fall back, and to re- 

 exert herself on the lower ground, which she had before 

 occupied ;" and elsewhere we are told that " Nature 

 never loses what she has once learnt ; though in the 

 acquirement of each new power she intermits or per- 

 forms less energetically the act immediately preceding. 

 She often drops a faculty^ but never fails to pick it up 

 again. She may seem forgetful and absent ; but it is 

 only to recollect herself with additional as well as re- 

 cruited vigour in some after and higher state." Now 

 the word " Nature," in any intelligible sense, means 

 nothing but that method and order by which the 

 Almighty regulates the common course of things. 

 Nature is not a person ; it is not active ; it neither 

 creates nor performs actions more or less energetically, 

 nor learns, nor forgets, nor reexerts itself, nor recruits 

 its vigour. Perhaps it will be said that all this is 

 merely figurative language. Figurative language is 



