

The A U T H O R's PREFACE. vii 



and the negligent to the bird which knoweth its feafon. Thus 

 the works of God ferve for a bafis and confirmation oi natural 

 theology, even as revealed truths are grounded in his word; and 

 this hath induced fome able men of our times to follow Derham's 

 excellent plan, whofe phyfics, and aftro-theology were no fooner 

 publifhed, than others adopted the fyftem; every one was ftirred 

 up to apply his particular knowlege to the difcuilion of fome 

 point of natural hiftary, and exhibit fuch an account of it, as 

 mould tend moft to fpread the knowlege and glory of the Crea- 

 tor. Thefe endeavours by no means deferve to be confidered as 

 unnecerTary or fuperfluous, for all who are defirous of a more 

 intimate acquaintance with the works of God, as arguments of 

 his exigence and attribues, have no time, or opportunity for that 

 circumftantial examination of every part, which hath been under- 

 taken and executed by Fabricius, in his pyro- and hydro-theo- 

 logy; Alvard, in his bronto-theology ; Zornius, in his pitano- theo- 

 logy; RathlefT, in his acrido-theology ; LefTer, in his litho- and 

 teftaceo- theology, &c. 



I heartily join with the celebrated Linnaeus * in wifhing, that 

 even thofe gentlemen in the universities, who are not peculiarly 

 deftined to phyfic, or the like, but to the ftudy and promulgation 

 of the word of God, in fome minifterial office, were directed to 

 apply fuch a part of their academic years to phyfics, as may equal, 

 if not exceed the time fpent in metaphyfics, and logic, thefe lafl 

 not being fo indifpenfably necefTary and ufeful as the former, 

 efpecially to thofe who are called to attend a country parifh. 

 Here their natural knowlege will not only furnifh them with many 

 clear arguments, and edifying reflexions to themfelves and their 



* Monfieur Linnseus commence par une harangue, que lui dicle la vivacite de fon 

 inclination, pour 1' hiftoire naturelle. II s'attache a la felicite des peuples, des qu'elle 

 a ete portee a un certain degre de perfection. II s'addrefTe aux puifTances, et les fup- 

 plie d'introduire une fcience aufti utile dans les univerfites. On y enfeigne la logi- 

 que, la metaphyfique et d'autres fciences de theorie, dont l'utilite eft extremement 

 eloignee du bien public, pendant qu'on ne devroit pas negliger 1' hiftoire naturelie,qui 

 enrichit une nation, parce qu'elle lui fait connoitre fes richeffes. II fouhaiteroit fur- 

 tout que les jeunes gens, qui fe deftinent a la vie ecclefiaftique, puflent fe procurer 

 une teinture de cette aimable fcience. Elle leur adouciroit la folitude de la campao-ne, 

 et elle leur feroit faire des decouvertes, que les favans des villes ne font pas a meme 

 de faire, Biblioth. Raifonnee, Tom. xxxvin, p. 15, 



hearers. 



