Page:The aquarium - an unveiling of the wonders of the deep sea.djvu/256

Rh which, and the motives with which it should be studied, with relation to Religion. Many persons of eminence seem to have considered it and kindred studies as the only occupations worthy of exalted minds; as if the acquisition of intellectual knowledge formed the chief end of existence both here and hereafter. While multitudes of humble believers are afraid of all natural science, and stand aloof from it, as if its influence were necessarily adverse to true piety. The truth, as usual, probably lies between the two extremes.

It seems a sufficient reply to the scruples of the pious, but perhaps ill-instructed, persons last-mentioned, to take the Holy Scriptures in our hands, and point out how large a place natural science occupies therein. The Holy Spirit has deigned to employ it in all ages as a vehicle of instruction to man; and there is scarcely a single book in the whole Bible, from which this proposition might not be proved. The most devotional parts of the Book of God, such as the Psalms, particularly those later ones in the collection, which are emphatically "Psalms of Praise;" and the Song of Songs; the direct appeals of Jehovah himself; and the words of Him who spake as never man spake,—would afford us the most abundant materials for the evidence.

On the other hand, he must grossly miss the intent of the Sacred Word, who supposes that even in such passages the communication of natural knowledge is the chief end proposed. Some of the attributes of the Creator, indeed, may be deduced from his works, and man is held responsible for the deduction. But