Page:The aquarium - an unveiling of the wonders of the deep sea.djvu/262

Rh is settled authoritatively by the Divine Oracles, the creatures may again come in, and teach us, subordinately, many useful lessons. We are thus brought to the second method of instruction.

Thus the wisest of men sends the sluggard to the ant, that his sloth may be reproved by the contemplation of her diligence (Prov. vi. 6—8). Thus Agur teaches foresight from the same insects, prudence from the conies, order and combination from the locust, assiduous persevering industry from the spider, and propriety and dignity from various other animals (Prov. xxx. 25—31). Thus too the Lord affectingly contrasts the brutish ingratitude of Israel to Himself with the affection of the ox and the ass to their master (Isa. i. 3.); and their stupid ignorance of his coming judgments with the instinctive foresight of the migratory birds (Jer. viii. 7). After the same manner the stubborn wilfulness of the unbroken horse or mule is held up as a character to be avoided by the people of God (Psalm xxxii. 9). By a process of thought somewhat similar, the inspired Preacher reads the stamp of vanity on earthly things, from the perpetual change and decadence of all creatures. (Ecel. i. 4—7)

This is a mode of treating natural objects very extensively adopted in the Sacred Word. Truths thus presented find acceptance, where they would have