4 ON THE STUDY OF NATURE. 



the fields and woods ; the elegance of the flowers J 

 the melodious and delightful singing of the birds : 

 vet few indeed ever give themselves the trouble of 

 enquiring one step further, or exhibit any desires of 

 examining into the nature of these wonderful combi- 

 nations of Divine Power. 



It is one material use of the study of Nature, to 

 illustrate this grcvitest of all truths : — ^' That there 

 must be a God : that he must be almighty, omnisci- 

 ent, and infinite in goodness ; and that, although he 

 dwells in a light, inaccessible to any mortal eye, yet 

 our faculties see and distinguish him clearly in his 

 works *." 



In these we are compelled to observe a degree of 

 greatness far beyond our capacities to understand : 

 — we see an exact adaption of parts composing one 

 stupendous whole ; an uniform perfecSlion and good- 

 ness that are not only entitled to our admiration, but 

 that_ command from us the tribute of reverence, gra- 

 titude, and love, to the Parent of the Universe* 

 Every step we tread in our observations on Nature, 

 affords us indubitable proofs of his superintendance. 

 From these we learn the vanity of all our boasted 

 wisdom, and are taught that useful lesson, humility. 

 We are compelled lo acknowledge our dependance 

 on the protecting arm of God, and that, deprived 

 of this support, we must, that moment, dissolve into 

 nothing. 



Every object in the Creation is stamped with the 

 characters of the infinite perfection and overflowing 



* Pontoppidau, Pref. p. 1. 



