12 LINN^AN INTRODUCTION. 



How defpicable a being were man, did he not raife his thoughts above thofe 

 things which are merely human ! Wherefore fhould he rejoice at being made 

 one among living creatures ? Not, furely, that he mould gorge himfelf with 

 food, on purpofe to cram this body which is about to perifh. Affuredly man 

 was not placed in this lower world that he fhould forget the end of his crea- 

 tion, and be unmindful of his nobler expectations. This is true Wifdom, that 

 a man fhould confider the ends and pupofes of all things; and I am convinced 

 that many might have poffeffed this wifdom, had they not, by being puffed up 

 with the pride of their poor attainments, vainly confidered themfelves as wife 

 already. 



" The end of creation is t that God may be glorified in his works by Man 

 " alone r 



Hence it becomes of the greateft importance that we fhould be acquainted 

 with the works cf Nature, than which no ftudy can poffibly be more noble, 

 neither can any thing exift. more interefUng to the human mind ; for, while 

 many things remain concealed for future inveftigation, that which at prefent, 

 by its grandure, occupies our attention is more to be efteemed for its intrinfic 

 worth, than on account of any recompenfe, however large, which may accrue 

 to us from the ftudy. Though a very large and magnificent portion of the 

 wonderful works of Nature is laid open to our views, a much greater (till lies 

 hid from our eyes ; for God hath not permitted all things to be within the 

 reach of human capacity. There are many things of which we have learned 

 the exiflence ; but of thofe which may exift without our knowledge we can 

 have no conception. How many things are there of which we have acquired 

 our firll knowledge in this age, and even within a few years ? and a ftill lar- 

 ger portion of fcience, of which we are now entirely ignorant, will belong 

 to our fucceffors. A vaft field of inquiry is referved for future ages, when 

 even the remembrance of this paffing generation fhall be entirely obliterated ; 

 and the time will come when the induftry and experience of thofe who are to 

 follow us fhall have made many difcoveries which now lie concealed ; for 

 Nature does not communicate all her feciets at once. We vainly believe our- 

 fclves among the favoured number of the initiated, while we ftill remain only 



in 



