34 FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF ZOOLOGY. 



view should never be lost sight of, nor disconnected, nan. ely, 

 the animal in respect to its ovv^n organism, and the animal 

 in its relations to creation as a whole. By adopting too 

 exclusively either of these points of view, we are in danger 

 of falling either into gross materialism, or into vague and 

 profitless pantheism. He who beholds in Nature nothing 

 besides organs and their functions, may persuade himself 

 that the animal is merely a combination of chemical and 

 mechanical actions and reactions, and thus becomes a mate- 

 rialist. 



28. On the contrary, he who considers only the manifes- 

 tations of intelligence and of creative will, without taking 

 into account the means by which they are executed, and the 

 physical laws by virtue of which all beings preserve their 

 characteristics, will be very likely to confound the Creator 

 with the creature. 



29. It is only as it contemplates, at the same time, matter 

 and mind, tliat Natural History rises to its true character 

 and dignity, and leads to its worthiest end, by indicating to 

 us, in Creation, the execution of a plan fully matured in the 

 beginning, and undeviatingly pursued ; the work of a God 

 infinitely wise, reg. dating Nature according to imm. table 

 laws, which He ha} himself imposed on her. 



