The Study of Nature. 307 



allude to a fact, that now seems to be admitted by 

 every intelligent mind. The supply of all the 

 temporal wants of man, his food, his dress, the con- 

 veniences he enjoys, remind him of a number of 

 animals and plants, on which he is dependent for 

 his comforts. There are others that are injurious 

 to his welfare, and he is compelled to exercise his 

 mind in warding off the danger which is to be ap- 

 prehended from their pernicious influences. But, 

 apart from the almost necessity thus imposed on 

 him in studying the objects of nature, he finds in 

 this employment the means of enlarging his mind, 

 of disciplining his memory, and of exalting his con- 

 ceptions of creative power. The study of nature is 

 the study of truth, and he who reads these truths 

 aright is rendered wiser, better and happier. He 

 deems no object unworthy of his attention that is 

 calculated to enlarge the field of knowledge, or that 

 enables him to penetrate into the mighty plans of 

 the Creator. 



There is another important subject connected with 

 these investigations. The most enlightened, the 

 purest and the best of mankind, regard the Scrip- 

 tures as the revelation of God's will to mankind. 

 The book of Nature has been given by the same 

 Omniscient Power. His word and works cannot 

 contradict each other. The former, it is true, was 

 principally intended to convey religious truth, and 

 impress on the human heart the doctrines of salva- 

 tion, but it should be recollected that although the 

 Bible was not given for the purpose of teaching 

 the sciences, it cannot, consistently with inspiration, 

 stand in opposition to that other record of the 

 wisdom of the Deity that is given in His works. 

 Hence the necessity of availing ourselves of all those 

 facilities which will enable us to interpret the laws 

 of nature aright. It is the boast of infidelity that, 



