Practical remarks-utility of the arts in relation to the Millenial era, CHAP. IV. 303 Scriptural facts illustrated from the System of Nature. I. Science may frequently serve as a guide to the true interpretation of Scripture. Canon or rule for Scripture interpretation-illustrated, II. The Depravity of Man illustrated, from a consideration of the state of the interior strata of the earth. Volcanoes, and the terrible ravages they produce. Earthquakes, and their dreadful effects. Thunder-storms, tempests, and hurricanes. General Reflections on this subject, III. The Resurrection illustrated. Transformations of Insects. Indestructibility of matter-conclusions from this fact, IV. General Conflagration. Concluding reflections. Topics omitted in this volume, 309 312 322 325 CHAP. V. Beneficial Effects which would result from connecting Science with Religion. 1. 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 em- V. It would induce a spirit of piety, and profound humility. Sources of piety-illustrated by an example. Humilityillustrated by the examples of Mr. Boyle, of Sir Isaac Newton, and of superior intelligences. General conclusions, 329 334 344 353 361 APPENDIX. No. I. Illustration of the rate of motion in the heavenly bodies, on the supposition that the earth is at rest, 367 No. II. Experimental illustrations of the pressure of the Atmosphere, 369 No. III. On the means by which it may probably be ascertained whether the Moon be a habitable world, 370 No. IV. Remarks on the late pretended discovery of a Lunar fortification, 372 No. V. On the ideas of Magnitude, Motion, and Duration, as expressed by numbers, 374 No. VI. On a Plurality of Worlds, 375 No. VII. On the first Inventor of Printing, 378 No. VIII. On Telescopes; with a brief notice of a New Re- 378 No. IX. On Steam Navigation, 382 No. X. Strictures on a certain sentiment respecting human redemption, 387 No. XI. Extract from Dr. Dwight, 390 No. XII. List of Popular Works on the different Sciences treated of in this Volume, with Occasional Remarks, 391 EXPLANATION OF THE ENGRAVING. (Fronting the Title.) THE five figures on the upper part of the plate, marked 1, 2, 3, 4, &c. represent the planets, Herschel, Saturn, Jupiter, the Earth, and Moon, in their relative sizes and proportions; together with telescopic views of the belts and rings of Saturn, and the belts of Jupiter. The two figures immediately below, marked 5 and 6, are intended to illustrate the description given of the eye, pp. 98-116. Fig. 5. represents a front view of the human eye. Fig. 6. represents a section of it, exhibiting the three coats and the three humours of which it is composed. Fig. 7. represents a rude view of the appearance which the rings and moons of Saturn will exhibit, in certain cases, as beheld from a point 20 or 30 degrees north from his equator, see pp. 212, 213. The shade on the upper part of the rings represents the shadow of the body of Saturn, as it appears upon the rings about midnight. THE CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHER. INTRODUCTION. On the subject of RELIGION, mankind have in all ages been prone to run into extremes. While some have been dispo. sed to attach too much importance to the mere exertions of the human intellect, and to imagine that man, by the light of unassisted reason, is able to explore the path to true wisdom and happiness,-the greater part of religionists, on the other hand, have been disposed to treat scientific knowledge, in its relation to religion, with a degree of indifference, bordering upon contempt. Both these dispositions are equally foolish and preposterous. For he who exalts human reason as the only sure guide to wisdom and felicity, forgets that man, in his present state, is a depraved intelligence, and consequently liable to err; and that all those who have been left solely to its dictates, have uniformly failed in attaining these desirable objects. During a period of more than 5,800 years, the greater part of the human race have been left solely to the guidance of their rational powers, in order to grope their way to the Temple of Knowledge, and the Portals of Immortality; but what has been the result of all their anxious researches? stead of acquiring correct notions of the Great Author of their existence, and of the nature of that homage which is due to his perfections, "they have become vain in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts have been darkened. In Professing themselves to be wise, they have become fools; and have changed the glory of the Incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to four-footed beasts, and creeping things." Instead of acquiring correct views of the principles of moral action, and conducting themselves according to the eternal rules of rectitude, they have displayed the operation of the most diabolical passions, indulged in continual warfare, and desolated the earth with rapine and horrid carnage; so that the history of the world presents to our view little more than a series of revolting details of the depravity of our species, and of the wrongs which one tribe of human beings has wilfully inflicted upon another. This has been the case, not only among a few uncultivated hordes on the coasts of Africa, in the plains of Tartary, and the wilds of America, but even among those nations which stood highest in the ranks of civilization and of science.-The ancient Greeks and Romans, who boasted of their attainments in philosophy, and their progress in the arts, entertained the most foolish, contradic. tory, and unworthy notions of the Object of Divine worship, of the requirements of religion, and of the eternal destiny of man. They adored a host of divinities characterized by impiety, fraud, injustice, falsehood, lewdness, treachery, revenge, murder, and every other vice which can debase the human mind, instead of offering a tribute of rational homage to that Supreme Intelligence who made, and who governs the universe. Even their priests and philosophers indulged in the most degrading and abominable practices, and entertained the most irrational notions in regard to the origin of the universe and the moral government of the world. Most of them denied a future state of retribution, and all of them had their doubts respecting the reality of an immortal existence : and as to the doctrine of a resurrection from the dead, |