L I N N M A N 



INTRODUCTION. 



"AN, when he enters on the theatre of this world, naturally inquires, Who 

 he is ; whence he comes ; whether he is bound ; for what purpofe he 

 exifts; and, by what bounteous means he is preferved I He finds himfelf de- 

 fcended from the anceftry of creation; he looks towards the enjoyment of a 

 blefled immortality; he mould employ himfelf while here, in contemplating 

 the wonders of Nature, and oughr, in humble gratitude, to acknowledge the 

 continually fupporting arm of Providence. Curiofity is natural to man, in com- 

 mon with the reft of animals: Thefe feaft, and amufe themfelves; they en- 

 gender, take reft when weary, and provide convenient habitations according 

 to their kinds ; they ftudy the prefervation and fupport of their young, and 

 exert their talents in providing for their own fafety ; they enjoy the faculties 

 of the bodily fenfes, and are capable of feveral mental perceptions. But Man, 

 more noble in his nature, and far fuperior to all other animals in the faculties 

 of the mind, is polTefled of infinitely greater capacity for obferving and in- 

 quiring into thofe things which lie within the fphere of his intelligence; from 

 thefe he is enabled to draw much jufter inferences, through the powers of rea- 

 fon ; and his exclufive and ineftimable privilege is, that from all thefe he is 

 led humbly to admire the infinite perfection which is every where difcoverable 

 in the works of the allwife Creator. 



B 2 How 



