b OBJECTS OF INQUIRY. 



Archdeacon Paley : — " In a moral view I shall not, I 

 believe, be contradicted when I say, that if one train 

 of thinking be more desirable than another, it is that 

 which regards the phenomena of nature with a constant 

 reference to a supreme, intelligent author." Nor can 

 the study be considered as unworthy of our notice, 

 when we are told of Solomon, that he " spake of 

 trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon, even 

 unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall ; he 

 spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping 

 things, and of fishes." 



Prior, however, to the study of these details, our 

 attention must be directed, and to a certain extent 

 it is irresistibly impelled, to the contemplation of the 

 periodical changes which the aspect of the external 

 world is ever undergoing. 



" the seasons come, 



And pass like shadows to their viewless home. 

 And come again, and vanish." 



Each of them exhibits distinct and characteristic 

 features, and brings attractions and motives for exer- 

 tion peculiarly its own. And these changes are not 

 confined to inanimate nature ; for to a reflective mind, 

 which scans with attention these evanescent trains of 

 thought and feeling, it is interesting to remark how 

 very different the same man is at different seasons. 

 For instance, your ideas of pleasure in December and 



