PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. THE following pages were written under the impression, that the visible manifestations of the attributes of the Deity are too frequently overlooked by Christians in their views of the great objects of Religion, and in the worship they offer to the Father of their spirits; and are intended to show, that the Teachers of Religion, in imparting instruction either to the old or to the young, ought to embrace a wider range of illustration, in reference to Divine subjects, than that to which they are usually confined. Throughout the whole of the discussions contained in this work, the Author has pursued his own train of thought; and, in so doing, he trusts that he has been enabled to render some of his illustrations more interesting to the young and untutored mind, than if he had adhered rigidly to the sentiments of others, and to the technical language of science. The sketches of the different sciences are not mere extracts or compilations, but are, for the most part, original composition-in which it has been his main object to embody as many facts as his limits would permit-in order to excite the inquiring mind to further investigations into the different departments of physical science. It is presumed, that no Christian reader will for once imagine, that the views illustrated in this work are intended to be substituted in place of the peculiar revelations of the Bible. The object of the volume is to illustrate the harmony which subsists between the system of Nature and the system of Revelation; and to show, that the manifestations of God in the material universe ought to be blended with our views of the facts and doctrines recorded in the volume of Inspiration. It is taken for granted, throughout the whole range of the following illustrations, that the Scriptures contain a Revelation from Heaven; and, under a firm belief of this important truth, the Author has embellished his work with frequent quotations from the energetic and sublime language of this Sacred Book. It would, therefore, be unfair in any critic, who entertains doubts on this point, to find fault with such quotations, or with the allusions to Bible-phraseology which occur, unless they can be shown to be introduced without judgment or discrimination, The Author has carefully revised every portion of the present Edition, and introduced a variety of corrections and modifications. He has likewise introduced additional matter, to the extent of between 40 and 50 pages, and also several illustrative engravings. In its present form, the Author trusts, that, independently of the moral reflections it contains, it will be found to comprise popular descriptions of a greater number of scientific facts, than is to be found in any other volume of the same size. Various topics, originally intended to be illustrated, have been unavoidably omitted. Some of these are stated in the last paragraph of Chapter IV. the illustration of which, in combination with other kindred topics, would fill a volume of nearly the same size as the present. This subject (for which the author has abundance of materials) will be prosecuted in another Volume, under the title of THE PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION; and will comprise, among many other subjects of discussion, illustrations of the moral relation of intelligent beings to their Creator, and to one another-the physical and rational grounds of those moral laws which the Deity has promulgated-the views which science affords of the incessant energies of Creating Power, and of the grand and multifarious objects over which Divine Providence presides-the relation of science to a future state, and of the aids which the discoveries of science afford, for enabling us to form a conception of the perpetual improvement of the celestial inhabitants in knowledge and felicity. These subjects will be illustrated by a variety of interesting details of facts, in relation to the system of nature, the history of nations, and the moral state of Christian and general society. Perth, December, 1824. CONTENTS. Page CHAP. I. OF THE NATURAL ATTRIBUTES OF THE DEITY. SECT. 1. On the RELATION of the NATURAL ATTRIBUTES of The Christian Religion founded on the Natural Attributes of SECT. 2. Illustrations of the OMNIPOTENCE of the DEITY, The material world exhibits a more striking display of this Perfection than the supernatural facts recorded in Scrip- ture. Immense quantity of Matter in the universe. Mode of acquiring the most comprehensive conception of the bulk of the Earth-its variety of scenery-its mass of so- lid matter. Magnitude of the bodies which compose the Solar System. Magnitude and number of the Stars. Pro- cedure of the mind in acquiring the most impressive con- ceptions of such august objects-Reflections. Rapid Mo- tions of the Celestial Bodies. How we acquire the ideas of relative velocities-weight of the Earth-immense phy- sical forces-Grandeur of the motion of Saturn-immense number of bodies impelled through the heavens-Reflec- tions. Immense Spaces which surround the Heavenly Bodies -Reflections. Popular illustration of the Motions of the SECT. 3. On the WISDOM and INTELLIGENCE of the DEITY, -Principal reason why such a motion exists. Wis- dom displayed in other Systems. Minute displays of this attribute cannot be traced in the heavens. Wis- dom, as displayed in the constitution of our globe-ad- justment of its solid parts to the necessities of the beings which inhabit it. Mountains, their uses-exist in other worlds. Diversity of color-argument for a plurality of worlds-general color which prevails in the scene of na- ture, Water, its use in the system of nature--its composi- tion, evaporation-motion of the liquid element-its bene- ficial effects. The Atmosphere-its weight and pressure- its component parts-its various properties-necessary to animal life, flame, sound, twilight-wisdom displayed in its Vegetables-their number and variety. Animals-variety in their organization. Eyes of insects-their exquisite me- chanism. Subterraneous Regions. Atmosphere. The Variety of Nature affords a faint idea of the infinity of the Creator. Il- lustrated in the number of animal parts and functions. Reflec- and sublimity of Nature. Primeval state of our globe-other STRUCTURE OF THE HUMAN EYE-its coats, humors, muscles, orbit, and motions. Wisdom displayed in its construction. Light-its velocity, minuteness, colors, and adaptation to the eye. plained by a figure, and an experiment-illustrated by the view from Salisbury Crags. Multitude of rays which flow from every object-smallness of the image on the re- tina, illustrated by calculation-what proportion of the solar light falls on our globe-Reflections. Mechanism for viewing near and distant objects-contraction and dilata- tion of the pupil-distance at which we see distinctly. Summary view of adaptations in the structure of the eye. Eyes of superior intelligences. Visual organs of the infe- rior animals. Mechanism of the Bones illustrated-exem- plified in the joints of the fingers, the wrist, and the move- ments of which the head is susceptible. Moral Reflections on the impropriety of overlooking the Divine Wisdom in SECT. 4. On the GOODNESS or BENEVOLENCE of the DEITY, Benevolence of God in relation to Man-considered as a de- praved intelligence. Mercy displayed in the system of na- 9 Its extensive range. Outline of its principal objects-on the surface, and in the interior recesses of the earth-in the atmosphere-the vegetable, mineral, and animal kingdoms-and in the region of the heavens. Description of the Banian Tree. Reflections. Monkey Bread Tree. Splendor and felicity of insect life. Invisible worlds-infinity of the universe. Religious tendency of this Science. It affords a manifestation of the Deity, and expands our conceptions of his operations-ennobles the human mind. Recommended by the Sacred writers. GEOGRAPHY, ocean. Its object-Figure of the Earth-Proofs of its spherical form. Relation which the discovery of the figure of the earth bears to the plan of Providence. Magnitude and natural divisions of the earth. General features of its surface. Mountains-their general ranges, and the sublime scenes they exhibit. The Ocean-its extent, depth, bottom, and motions. Rivers-their number, size, and the quantity of water they pour into the How they are supplied-their use in the system of nature. Artificial division of the earth. Number and variety of its inhabitants. Number which has existed since the Creation-number at the resurrection, and the space they would occupy. Number which the earth would contain-strictures on Malthus. Utility of the study of Geography to Religion-to Directors of Missionary Societies-to Private Christians Grandeur of its physical objects-utility of its moral facts. GEOLOGY, Its object and connexion with religion-an interesting subject of inquiry. Materials which compose the crust of our globe. Various geological phenomena. Organic remains-Mammoth, Tapir, Elk, Megatherium, &c. Geological deductions not inconsistent with the Mosaic History-Genesis i. 1, 2. explained. Short duration of the earth in its present form. The Deluge, and its effects on the earth's strata Marine shells, &c. Grand and terrific objects which this science exhibits-illustrate the sublime descriptions of the Deity recorded in the Scriptures. ASTRONOMY, Its sublime objects. Apparent motions of the Sun-of the Moon. Eclipses of the Sun and Moon. Apparent motion of the starry heavens. Stars and planets seen in the day-time, and with what powers of the telescope they may be distinguished. Apparent revolution of the celestial vault indicates Almighty power. Stars never shift their relative positions. Solar System. The Sun-his size and probable destination illustratedhis spots and atmosphere-different kind of rays emitted from his body-his distance illustrated. Mercury-his size, rotation, quantity of light and heat, &c. Proportions of caloric on the different planets. Venus-her size, phases, mountains, transits, and general phenomena. Original observations on, and mode by which her diurnal rotation may be determined. Earth-proofs of its annual and diurnal motions. The Moondescription of her majestic mountain scenery, luminous spots, 151 177 190 |