Page:The aquarium - an unveiling of the wonders of the deep sea.djvu/260

Rh ; almost all those which I have already adduced, have this bearing; but in addition to them there are the teachings of the Lord Jesus, which on several occasions pointed in the same direction. Would He inculcate a confident trust in our Heavenly Father for the supply of needed food? He enforces it by these words:—"Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them" (Matthew vi. 26) Are we tempted to be anxious for raiment? The beauteous array of the lilies of the field reads us a homily of the Divine care over them, and therefore a fortiori over us. (verse 30.) Would our gracious Master guard us against "the fear of man which bringeth a snare?" He sends us to the sparrows, and tells us that "not one of them shall fall to the ground without our Father" (Matt. x. 29)

This then is one important use to be made of the study of natural science; it brings us, in some sense, into the presence of God; or rather it gives us cognizance of Him, and reveals to us some of his essential attributes. But here natural theology stops. Beyond this point it cannot go a single step as a guide; though, as a companion, it may still accompany us under the tutelage of another directory. This might have sufficed us if we had stood in Adam's position of unsinning innocence; we might have come to God with our offering of praise gathered from our consideration of his works, and have been accepted. But to come to Him now, with such a tribute and nothing else, is to offer Cain's offering; to plead not guilty to the charge brought against us in the court