ao THE EMPIRE 



" Nature does not confine her operations to one form, but delights in variety ; me 

 " renews one figure out of another, not contented with uniformity in procedure, and 

 " rejoices in undiminifhed power *." 



The earth, as has been already obferved, is compofed of the three kingdoms of Na- 

 ture, which conftitute what may be called her Empire ; thefe are, 



The Mineral Kingdom, which in rude manes occupies the interior parts; being 

 generated from falts, it is accidentally mixed together, and fafhioned by chance in 

 the ground. 



The Vegetable Kingdom, clothes the furface of the earth with verdure, imbibes 

 moiflure through bibulous roots, breathes the air by its quivering leaves, celebrates 

 nuptial feftivities in a genial metamorphofis, and continues its various kinds by the 

 difperfion of feeds within proper limits. 



The Animal Kingdom, adorns the external parts of the earth with fentient beings; 

 thefe have voluntary motion, they refpire, produce eggs by means of generation, 

 are impelled to action by, the cravings of want, by the delights of love, and by for- 

 rowful pain. They likewife reftrain, within proper bounds, the numbers of animals 

 and of vegetables by preying on both. 



Man, endowed with wifdom, was formed by his Creator the mofr. perfect, laft, and 

 nobleft of all his works on this earth ; clothed with wonderful marks of the Divine 

 Majefty, he judges, according to the limits of his fenfes and capacity, of the amazing 

 contrivance evident in creation ; he admires its aftoniming beauties and confummate 

 perfe&ions, and, from thefe, is led humbly to adore the glorious author of all. Car- 

 rying his views through the multiplied generations which have pafled away, he afcendj 

 to the knowledge of the Creator ; and, looking forward to the conftant perfervation 

 of all things, he difcovers the never failing watchfulnefs of Nature over all her works. 

 On one hand, the Divine power is feen to enoble the earth by the production of vege- 

 tables, and to. give honour to the vegetable kingdom in its ufefulnefs to animals ; on 

 the other hand, man evidently reflects back the radiant beams of reafon towards the 

 glorious and majeftic fountain of all perfect wifdom. " Thus the whole world is full 

 " of the divine glory, while in man all his works praife God f." Man, formed by 

 the quickening hand of God out of the fluggifh ground, contemplates the majefly of 



his 



• Ssneca, vii. 27. f Pfalms.. 



