28 NATURAL HISTORY OF CREATION. 



operate, so that only the proper conditions are presented, 

 afford matter for the gravest consideration. Nor should 

 it escape careful notice that the regulations on which all 

 the laws of matter proceed, are established on a rigidly 

 accurate mathematic;d basis. Proportions of numbers 

 and geometrical figures rest at the bottom of the whole. 

 All these considerations, when the mind is thoroughly 

 prepared for them, tend to raise our ideas with respect 

 to the character of physical la^^'s, even though we do not 

 go a single step further in the investigation. But it is 

 impossible for an intelligent mind to stop there. Wo 

 advance from law to tlie cause of law, and ask, What is 

 that? Whence have come all these beautiful regula- 

 tions? Here science leaves us, but only to conclude, 

 from other grounds, that there is a First Cause to which 

 all others are secondary and ministrative, a primitive 

 almighty will, of which these laws are merely the man- 

 dates. That great Being, who shall say where is his 

 dwelling-place, or what his history ! Man pauses breath- 

 less at the contemplation of a subject so much above his 

 finite faculties, and only can wonder and adore ! 



