Year: 1869

I entertain an abiding conviction that
it was the design of the Good Being
that man should employ the faculties
with which he is endowed in examining,
carefully and reverently. into the works
of his Maker; explore the secret recess
es and mysteries of Nature, and become
an enlightened witness of the beauty,
order, harmony, wisdom, love, kindness,
goodness, and truth which everywhere
abound in Gods works. This convic>
ton rests upon several facts and con-
siderations:


l. The positive enjoyment which at
tends any well balanced mind upon the
discovery of new truth, and the slim
ulus it imparts to healthy industry, in
an effort to discover others.


e. The first appearance Of things. be-
ing invariably false. The earth appears
to be still, and the sun and stars all in
motion. Observation and experience
prove that the opposite of this is the
truth the earth is in motion and the
sun and stars relatively still.


The earth appears to be the largest of
all bodies that we can see. Observation
and experience prove that it is compara-
lively speck-that the planet Jupiter
in our own solar system is l 800 times
as large as the earth, and the sun moro
than million times as large!


The upper portion of the earth ap-
pears to be composed Of loose materials,
with rocks accidentally occurring. OBJ
servation and experience prove that the
whole surface Of the earth has at one
time been all solid rock; that the loose
materials now upon its surface have re-
suited from tho gradual disint ntegration
of this rock and that by going dis
always arrived at, sometimes sooner,
sometimes later, but always eventually:
and this rock never can be fathomed or
passed through.


Storms, volcanoes, and other natural
convulsions, appear to be only destruct-
i've. Observation and experience prove
them to possess great counterbalancing
compensations, and to be instruments
of wise and kind benevolence


The world appears to be great
ghter-house, all at strife, animals
feeding on animals, all in confusion and
horror. Observation and experience
prove that all this is undcrwise design,
| regulation and harmony, preserving ev-
cry thing in the requisite equili brium
| for the preservation Of the different
tribes of animals, and the increase Of
life and enjoyment.


Eclipses of the sun and moon were
formerly regarded with terror, as indi>
eating the displeasure of Heaven now,
since their cause is known, they are
viewed with delight, evidencing tue sta
bility of the universe.


Now, it cannot be supposed that the
Good Being would thus present to his
children false appearance first, with
out kind and benevolent design there
in to invite investigation, and the exer-
else Of those faculties, the legitimate
use Of which renders him wiser, a bet
ter, and happier being.


Many as are the evidences of wisdom
and benevolent design in the world Of
dead matter as it is called, they are
much the most numerous and striking
in the organic world of both the vegeta.
BILE and animal kingdoms. The structu :
raj arrangement and functions of the
different parts all excite wonder and
reverence in healthy and intelligent
mind, and these intensity with every
advancement in the knowledge of them
leave out the marvel of growth and
development themselves, and shall only