THE STUDY OI- NATURAL HISTORY. 
703 
these astonishing combinations of divine power. There are many 
who would, no doubt, most willingly devote a portion of their time to 
mental improvement, and to the study of nature, but their business 
leaves them so few opportunities, and so many obstacles present them¬ 
selves, that they are compelled to relinquish the task as hopeless. 
With others it is not so much a want of time as a want of inclination 
that prevents them from attending to the improvement of their minds. 
There are few, I presume, who cannot spare one hour each evening, 
which might be applied to the pursuance of some branch of useful 
learning. And many, it is to be feared, who might spare more than 
a hour, squander their time away in carelessness and indolence, if not 
in a more culpable manner. Such persons pass through the world in 
a state of voluntary ignorance, without scarcely a single recurrence 
to the admirable works of their Creator ; and, in too many instances, 
even without ever having considered the end for which they them¬ 
selves were brought into existence. It is one material use of the 
study of nature to lead the mind to a contemplation of its great au¬ 
thor. In his works we observe a greatness far beyond our capacities 
to understand. Every step we take in our observations on nature 
affords us indubitable proofs of his superintendence. Every object 
in the creation is stamped with the characters of the infinite perfec¬ 
tion, and overflowing benevolence of its universal parent. If we ex¬ 
amine with the most accurate discrimination the construction of 
bodies, and remark even their most minute parts, we see clearly a 
necessary dependence that each has upon the other; and if we at¬ 
tend to the vast concurrence of causes that join in producing the 
several operations of nature, we shall be induced to believe further, 
that the whole world is one connected train of causes and effects, in 
which all the parts, either nearly or remotely, have a necessary de¬ 
pendence on each other. Each part lends a certain support to the 
other, and takes in return its share of aid from them. But all the 
common operations of nature, surprising as they may appear, 
have become so familiar to us, that in a great measure, they cease to 
attract our attention. We all know, for example, that whenever in¬ 
clination prompts to it, we can by a very slight exertion of our vital 
faculties, raise our hand to our head. Nothing seems more simple, 
or more easy than this action; yet when we attempt to form an 
idea of the way in which that incorporeal existence, which we call 
mind can operate upon matter and thus put it in motion, we are 
indeed perfectly lost in the incomprehensible immensity that 
surrounds us. When we try to investigate the properties of 
matter, we perceive, that by patience and attention we may make a 
