BOTANO-THEOLOGY, S. $1826 AN ARRANGED COMPENDIUM, CHIEFLY FROM SMITH, KEITH, AND THOMSON. by John Shute Duncan Ma. Fellow of New College. There is neither speech nor language: but their voices are heard among Their sound is gone out into all lands: and their words into the ends of Ὁ μεν δη Θεός, ώσπερ ὁ παλαιος λογος αρχην τε και τελευτην και μεσα των οντων Herbarum ... potentia approbat nihil a rerum natura sine aliqua occul- Of these matters no satisfactory account can be given by any mechanical By investigation the following points are always gained, in favour of doc- OXFORD: SOLD BY J. PARKER, OXFORD: J. MURRAY; AND C. AND J. RIVINGTON, LONDON. MDCCCXXV. DR. PALEY'S Dedication of his Natural Theology pro claims that he was induced to compose that piece of admirably arranged argument at the suggestion of the good and truly amiable Bishop of Durham, whose days seem to have been, by Divine grace, lengthened in the land beyond the ordinary term of mortal life, and blessed with health and intellectual vigour for the continual benefit of others, and especial encouragement of useful science. ΤΟ * A PUBLISHED book appears to bear on its very front a dedication to the public; so does a church to God, and to the uses of his worshippers. But some remains of affectionate feeling towards holy individuals, partial veneration for particular divine attributes or human virtues, which in early days gave origin to many superstitious practices, preserves the titles of Antonine and Faustina, Peace and Concord, &c. over the porches of Pagan temples, and of Apostles and legendary saints over those in which Christians meet to pray. The same feeling of partial association has led to the dedication of writings to patrons whose kindness has sustained the Author during his labours, and to friends who have suggested the train of thought, have aided its developement, and cheered the effort of the writer by kind encouragements; and if dedication were ever due, it is from the nameless writer of these pages to the unnamed suggester of the undertaking. It is to one, from whose soul, richly stored with native and cultivated sanctity, and every other grace of nature and refinement, the Author has sought to imbibe adequate energy, but whose humility would shrink from public praise, that these pages present a nameless Dedication. BOTANO THEOLOGY. DR. PALEY has with obviously correct judgment selected human anatomy as the most convincing manifestation of the agency of the divine Author of Nature in the adaptation of intelligible means to unquestionable ends. He has indeed given a concise survey of other parts of creation, and has not failed to notice, with his peculiar felicity of argument, thé vegetable kingdom. He observes, however, that it is not worth the while to dwell on a weaker argument, when a stronger is at hand. In considering the parts which collectively constitute the organized individual, man, and the relation of those parts to the ends for which they are manifestly adapted-to volition, to intellectual exertion and enjoyment, to locomotion, nutrition, sensation, and reproduction—our consciousness gives powerful aid to the observations of our senses, in confirmation of analogies. The superior character therefore of the evidence, which displays the adaptation of means to ends in the developement of human and comparative anatomy, must be readily acknowledged. But different objects stimulate different minds to inquiry. Perhaps the contemplation of the vegetable kingdom may be suited to the varied condition of more persons than the investigation of the animal structure: for plants, abundantly bordering our paths, are more readily procured for the purposes of analytical examination, attract more continual attention in our moments B |