Indian, or Egyptian, or Roman; who, while he thus had nothing in common with any known standard of character, any established law of perfection, should seem to every one the type of his peculiarly beloved excellence.* And truly, when we see how he can have been followed by the Greek, though a founder of none among his sects, -revered by the Brahman, though preached unto him by men of the fisherman's caste,-worshipped by the red man of Canada, though belonging to the hated pale race, we cannot but consider him as destined to break down all distinction of colour, and shape, and countenance, and habits; to form in himself the type of unity, to which are referable all the sons of Adam, and give us, in the possibility of this moral convergence, the strongest proof that the human species, however varied, is essentially one. * Διάφοροι δὲ φύσεις βροτῶν Διάφοροι δὲ τρόποις· ὁ δ ̓ ὀρθὸς 'Eolλòv σapès aiɛí.-Euripid. Iphigen. 559. LECTURE THE FIFTH; ON THE NATURAL SCIENCES. PART I. CONNEXION of the Natural Sciences with the preceding topics. MEDICINE.-Applied in Germany to the denial of our Saviour's resurrection.-General remarks upon the utility of discussing such objections.-The reality of our Redeemer's death, and consequently the truth of his resurrection, vindicated by physicians, upon medical grounds: Richter, Eschenbach, the Gruners.-Translation of an Arabic narrative of a crucifixion. GEOLOGY.-Classification of systems. First, Systems professedly framed to defend Scripture.-Older theories of the earth: Penn, Fairholme, Croly.-Defects of such systems. Secondly, Systems opposed to Scripture: Buffon, and other French writers. Thirdly, Purely scientific researches.—Example of objection from a particular case; Brydone on the lavas of Jaci Reale confuted by the observations of Smyth, Dolomieu, and Hamilton.-Points of contact between Geology and the Sacred Narrative. The Creation.-Pre-existence of a chaotic state; doctrine of successive revolutions: found in all ancient cosmogonies, and in the Fathers of the Church.-Fossils; early speculations regarding their origin: Cuvier's discoveries. -Constancy and regularity of the cause employed in such revolutions.-Elie de Beaumont's theory of the elevation of mountains its accordance with Scripture.-Theory of the days of creation being periods.-Opinions of modern foreign geologists on the harmony between the Mosaic creation and geological observations. "In all pursuits," says the amiable philosopher Fronto, "I think it better to be wholly ignorant and unskilled, than half-learned and half-expert. Philosophy, too, they say, it is better never to have touched, than to have but partially tasted; inasmuch as those become most malicious, who, pausing in the porch of science, turn away without proceeding farther."* Nothing has proved the accuracy of these observations so well as the connexion between the natural sciences and revealed religion. It has been the malice of superficial men, who had not patience or courage to penetrate into the sanctuary of nature, that has suggested objections, from her laws, against truths revealed. Had they boldly advanced, they would have discovered, as in the cavern-temples of India and Idumea, that the depths which serve to conceal her darkest mysteries, may the soonest be changed into fittest places for profound adoration. The natural sciences, of which we have now to treat, are usually connected with religion, by forming the basis of what is called "natural theology," that is, by giving strong demonstration of the goodness and wisdom of God, in the works of creation, and thus showing the exist * "Omnium artium, ut ego arbitror, imperitum et indoctum esse præstat quam semiperitum et semidoctum. Philosophiæ quoque disciplinas aiunt satius esse nunquam attigisse quam leviter et primoribus ut dicitur labiis delibasse; eosque provenire malitiosissimos, qui in vestibulo artis obversati, prius inde averterint quam intraverint."-Ad M. Caes. lib. iv. ep. 3. Romæ, 1823, p. 94. ence of a regulating providence in the construction and direction of the universe. The very character of the course of lectures which I have undertaken to deliver, forbids me to enter upon the consideration of this connexion: and, even if want of abundant materials for my definite undertaking, had inclined me to wander into this ground, I should have felt myself deterred by the detailed and interesting, as well as learned and able, manner, in which that branch of religious science has of late been treated in the Bridgewater publications. If, therefore, we confine ourselves, according to our engagement, to the connexion between science and revealed religion, we shall find that the study of which I last discoursed, may appear very naturally to lead us into the consideration of the alliance, if any exists, between philosophical pursuits and the facts communicated in the inspired pages. For we may truly say, that in attempting to establish the unity of the human race, we found ourselves involved in a variety of physiological speculations, and had to unravel the action of natural causes upon the physical organization of man. This would seem to conduct us into the department of medicine; and however strange it may appear to you, it is through this study that I mean to lead you into the natural sciences. You will probably ask, what light the progress of medicine can throw upon the truths of religion. Not much, perhaps, if we consider it as an aggre |