worlds. Diversity of color-argument for a plurality of worlds- VARIETY OF NATURE, Vegetables-their number and variety. Animals-variety in their organization. Eyes of insects-their exquisite mechanism. Subterraneous Regions. Atmosphere. The Variety of Nature affords a faint idea of the infinity of the Creator. Illustrated in the number of animal parts and functions. Reflection. Variety the foundation of our judgments. Beauty and sublimity of Nature. Primeval state of our globe--other worlds. Mechanism of Animated Beings, 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. MANNER IN WHICH VISION IS PERFORMED--explained 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 retina, illustrated by calculation-what proportion of the solar light falls on our globe--Reflections. Mechanism for viewing near and distant objects--contraction and dilatation 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 inferior animals. Mechanism of the Bones illustrated-exemplified in the joints of the fingers, the wrist, and the movements of which the head is susceptible. Moral Reflections on the impropriety of overlooking the Divine Wisdom in the system of nature. SECT. 4. On the GOODNESS or BENEVOLENCE of the DEITY, Benevolence of God in relation to Man-considered as a depraved intelligence. Mercy displayed in the system of nature. Benevolence as displayed towards the lower animals. Extract from Dr. Paley. General Reflections. CHAP. II. 78 88 111 A CURSORY VIEW OF SOME OF THE SCIENCES WHICH ARE RELATED TO RELIGION AND CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY. Introduction. Extensive range of Theology. Bad effects of setting Religion in opposition to Science. Harmony of the operations of God in Nature and Revelation, NATURAL HISTORY, In Its extensive range. Outline of its principal objects on the surface, and in the interior recesses of the earth-in the atmospherethe 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. visible 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. 117 120 3 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 ocean. 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 Creaticn-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 Societiesto Private Christians. Grandeur of its physical objects-utility of its moral facts. GEOLOGY, Its object and connection 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 Sunhis size and probable destination illustrated-his 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 Moon-description of her majestic mountain scenery, luminous spots, celestial appearances, illuminating power, superficial contents, &c. Mars-his distance, atmosphere, luminous zone, &c. New Planets-Ceres, Pallas, Juno, and Vesta―their anomalies, singularities, and probable origin. Meteoric Stones. Jupiter-his bulk, rotation, belts, and the appearances of his moons. Saturn-his figure, belts, moons, and quantity of light. His Rings, their dimensions, motion, and phenomena-illustrated by a figure. Splendor of the firmament, as viewed from this planet (see the engraving.) Herschel--his distance, size, and quantity of light. Comets-their tails, velocity, orbits, size, and number. New Comet. Motion of the solar system in absolute space-its destination-plurality of worlds íntimated in Scripture. The Fixed Stars--their distance illustrated their arrangement, changes-moral reflections. Relation of Astronomy to Religion--moral effects which its objects have a tendency to produce-criminality of overlooking the works of God, &c. 157 168 NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, Its objects and different departments. Mechanics-subjects it embraces, and its importance to the improvement of mankind. Hy drostatics-its leading principles and uses, illustrated by figures. Pneumatics-its principles, and the experiments by which they are illustrated. Acoustics. Optics-leading facts and principles of this science. Burning glasses, &c. Electricity-its nature, phenomena, effects, and agency in the system of nature. Galvanism-its singular effects on metals, &c. and on the animal system-various facts which it explains. Magnetism-its various phenomena and effects. Relation of Natural Philosophy to Religion-its inventions meliorate the condition of mankindillustrated in the case of the electric fluid-it undermines the influence of superstition-unfolds the incessant agency of God— indifference to this subject unreasonable. CHEMISTRY, Its objects, and present dignified station. General forms of matter-simple and compound substances. Caloric-its sources and properties. Oxygen, its properties and combinations--nitrous oxide, its singular effects. Nitrogen, its effects on flame and animal life. Hydrogen, its properties and uses. Carbon, its nature, combinations, and antiseptic properties. Sulphur, its origin, combinations, and properties. Phosphorus, history of its discovery-how prepared-curious experiments with this substance-Phosphoric phenomena in the system of nature. Connection of this science with Religion-it displays the wisdom and benevolence of God, and the mode of his present and future operations-improves the condition of man-and carries forward our views to a more glorious and auspicious era. ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Their general object-human body, its different parts and divisions. Bones, their number, form, and positions. Muscles, their nature, use, and extraordinary strength. Heart and blood vessels, and the circulation of the blood. Respiration-curious structure of the lungs. Digestion. Perspiration. Sensation, and the system of nerves. Summary. Moral reflections-this branch of study teaches us our dependence on a Superior Power—and excites to gratitude. HISTORY, Its objects, advantages, and connection with Religion. Connection of the sciences and of the Divine dispensations with each other. Concluding remarks. CHAP. III. 201 211 231 241 THE RELATION WHICH THE INVENTIONS OF ART BEAR TO THE OBJECTS OF RELIGION. Art of Printing, its origin, and beneficial effects-Dr. Church's Improvements in, Art of Navigation Mariner's Compass, its discovery and use, 246 249 252 The Microscope, and the views it exhibits of the wisdom of God, 254 Steam Navigation, its utility in promoting the intercourse of mankind, and its relation to the objects of religion, 256 15 Air Balloons, utility of, when arrived at perfection-proposed im Practical remarks—utility of the arts in relation to the Millennial era, 258 262 265 CHAP. IV. SCRIPTURAL FACTS ILLUSTRATED FROM THE SYSTEM OF NATURE. I. Science may frequently serve as a guide to the true interpreta- III. The Resurrection illustrated. Transformations of Insects. CHAP. V. BENEFICIAL EFFECTS WHICH WOULD RESULT FROM CONNECTING SCIENCE WITH RELIGION. I. The variety of topics would allure the attention of intelligent minds to religious subjects. Principle of novelty intended by the Creator to be gratified-illustrated in the variety which appears in the earth, the heavens, and the Volume of Revelation, II. Science enables us to take an extensive survey of the empire of God-illustrates many sublime passages of the Bible-qualifies us for complying with several Divine Injunctions-danger of selfishness and indifference in this respect. Our conceptions of God depend on our views of the extent of his dominions, III. Science enlarges our views of the operations of Providence, in IV. Science, blended with Religion, would produce a general ex- 271 274 282 285 289 293 3C3 ways of 310 V. It would induce a spirit of piety, and profound humility. Sources of piety-illustrated by an example. Humility-illustrated by the examples of Mr. Boyle, of Sir Isaac Newton, and of superior intelligences. General conclusions, 317 APPENDIX. No. I. Illustration of the rate of motion in the heavenly bodies, No. III. On the means by which it may probably be ascertained whether the Moon be a habitable world, No. IV. Remarks on the late pretended discovery of a Lunar fortification, 321 323 324 326 No. V. On the ideas of Magnitude, Motion, and Duration, as expressed by numbers, 327 No. VI. On a Plurality of Worlds, 329 No. VII. On the first Inventor of Printing, 330 No. VIII. On Telescopes; with a brief notice of a New Reflecting 331 No. IX. On Steam Navigation, 334 No. X. Strictures on a certain sentiment respecting human redemption, 338 No. XI. Extract from Dr. Dwight, 343 No. XII. List of Popular Works on the different Sciences treated of in this Volume, with Occasional Remarks, 343 |