Microscopical Essays. 25 



underflanding from one degree of knowledge to another, till it 

 was able to difcover thefe affiftances for our fight. 



It is thus we fhoukl confider the difcoveries made by thofe in- 

 flruments, which have received their birth from an exertion of 

 our faculties. It is to the fame power, who created the objects of 

 our admiration, that we are ultimately to refer the means of dif- 

 covering them. Let no one, therefore, accufe us of prying 

 deeper into the -wonders of nature, than was intended for us. 

 There is nothing we difcover by their amftance, which is not a 

 frefli fource of praife ; and it does not appear, that our faculties 

 can be better employed, than in finding means to inveftigate the 

 works of God. 



From a partial confideration of thefe things, we are very apt 

 to criticife what we ought to admire ; to look upon as ufelefs 

 what perhaps we fhould own to be of infinite advantage to us, 

 did we fee a little farther ; to be peevifh where we ought to give 

 thanks ; and at the fame time, to ridicule thofe who employ their 

 time and thoughts in examining what we were, i. e. fome of us 

 nioft affuredly were, created and appointed to ftudy. In fhort, 

 we are too apt to treat the Almighty worfe than a rational man 

 would treat a good mechanic, whofe works he would either 

 thoroughly examine, or be alhamed to find any fault with them. 

 This is the effeft of a partial confideration of nature ; but he who 

 lias candor of mind, and leifure to look farther, will be inclined 

 to cry out : 



How wondrous is this fcene ! where all is form'd 

 With number, weight, and meafure ! all defign'd , 



D For 



