186 THE GEOGRAPHY OF PLANTS. 



functions of each essential importance in the 

 economy of the globe, and ministering so ex- 

 tensively to the necessities, comforts, and plea- 

 sures of the creatures that inhabit it ! How 

 amazing is the law by which the whole vege- 

 table kingdom becomes, by the functions of 

 respiration and assimilation, the purifier arid 

 preserver of the atmosphere ! Infinite wisdom 

 is apparent everywhere ; and how lamentable 

 is it, that so many scientific men should en- 

 deavour, by a philosophy " falsely so called," 

 to account for the wonders of our world with- 

 out reference to a Creator : so true is the 

 Scripture, " They did not like to retain God in 

 their thoughts." These insidious arguments 

 are continually being advanced, both in Ger- 

 many and our own country, by men of high 

 scientific reputation ; but it becomes us to 

 receive their statements with caution, remem- 

 bering that the works of God can never con- 

 tradict his word. Infinite benevolence, too, 

 is as apparent as perfect wisdom. The distri- 

 bution of the plants most useful to man over 

 our globe, is such as is calculated, in the best 

 possible manner, to develop commercial rela- 

 tions. Thus, while nations are rendered de- 

 pendent on one another for many necessaries, 

 a means is afforded, by the constant communi- 

 cations thus required, for the rapid extension 

 of religion and civilization to distant countries, 

 while this mutual dependence makes the pre- 

 servation of peace their interest. The distri- 

 bution of the food plants of our globe, and the 



