OF NATURE. 19 



The Earth is a planetary fphere, which turns round its axis once every twenty four 

 hours, and which revolves in an yearly orbit round the Sun ; it is furrounded by an 

 elementary atmofphere, and covered by a ftupendous cruft of natural bodies, the mere 

 furface of which forms the whole object of our fcience. This globe is terraqueous, or 

 compofed of land and water ; its more depreffed pans are overflowed with water, and 

 gently preffed together by the fea ; the more elevated parts are deferted by the water, 

 and gradually enlarge into dry and habitable continents. This dry land isfprinkled 

 by vapours, which, rifing from the water, are gathered into clouds by the action of the 

 air ; by this means the higheft Alpine mountains, covered with eternal mows, furnifh 

 rivulets which unite to form perpetually flowing rivers : Thefe, pervading the thirfty 

 earth, afford moifture to the productions of the ground, which ferve as food for the 

 living inhabitants : At the fame time the motion of the winds excites a genial fire, 

 which fupplies vivifying heat to natural bodies. " The revolutions of the elements are 

 " alternate, and the changes among all things are reciprocal ; fo that whatever is loft 

 " by one is received by ibmething elfe *." 



" Nature is the immutable law of God, by which alone every thing is, and acts, 

 " and is appointed to aft f." This artificer of all things, taught by its own laws, by 

 none inflructed, never acts by ftarts ; it works filently, following what is moft proper 

 in all its operations ; nothing is performed in vain, and nothing done fuperfluoufly ; 

 each obje£t receives what is necefiary to its well being, and all are uniformly provided, 

 while Nature unremittingly purfues an undeviating tract. " All things aflift Nature, 

 " that all her works may be perfectly accomplifhed J." 



Natural bodies confift of every thing that fprings from the hand of the Creator, and 

 which enters into the conftitution of this world : Thefe are divided into the three 

 kingdoms of Nature, the boundaries of which meet together in the order of Zoo- 

 phites jj. 



Minerals, are concrete bodies, neither living, nor fentient. 

 Vegetables, are organized, living, and fentient bodies. 



Animals, are organized, living, and fentient bodies, poflefling the power of fpon- 

 taneous loco-motion. 



C 2 Nature 



* Seneca, iii. to. f Helmontius, % Seneca, iii. 29. I! Or (lone-plants, fuch as 



coralj coralines, &c. 



