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Article THE HIDDEN MYSTERIES OF NATURE AND SCIENCE.—PART IV. ← Page 2 of 2 Article THE HIDDEN MYSTERIES OF NATURE AND SCIENCE.—PART IV. Page 2 of 2 Article Untitled Page 1 of 1
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The Hidden Mysteries Of Nature And Science.—Part Iv.
game , the chase is certainly of service . Cicero , true as he was to the academic philosophy , and consequently led to reject the certainty of physical as of every other knowledge , yet freely confesses its great importance to the human understanding .
"Est animorum ingeniorumque nostrornm naturale quoddam quasi pabulum consideratio conternplatioque naturas . " If we can direct the lights we derive from such exalted speculations upon the humbler field of the imagination , whilst we
investigate the springs and trace the courses of our passions , we may not only communicate to the taste a sort of philosophical solidity , but we may reflect back on the severer sciences some of the graces and elegances of taste
without which the greatest proficiency in those sciences will always have the appearance of something illiberal . To those who have pursued philosophic studies to some extent , it is pretty clear that morality exists independent of religions ideas ;
that the distinction between good and evil in morals , and the obligation to shun evil and to do good , are laws that man recognises in his own
nature ; but morality being invested with independence , the question arises in the human understanding , Whence comes morality ? Whither does it lead ? Is this obligation to do good , which subsists by itself , an isolated fact without an author
or an end ? Does it veil from , or rather does it not reveal to , man an origin and a destiny which is not of this world ? This is a spontaneous , inevitable question ( says Guizot)—it is one by which morality in its turn leads man to the threshold of
religion , and opens to him a sphere from which he has not originally received it . I had rather ( says Lord Bacon ) believe all the fables in the legend , and the Talmud , and the Alcoran , than that this
universal frame is without a mind and , therefore , God never wrought miracles to convince atheism , because his ordinary works convince it . They that deny a God destroy a man's nobility ; for certainly man is of kin to the beasts by his body , and
if he be not of kin to God by his spirit , he is a base and ignoble creature . Itdestroyslikewise magnanimity , and the raising human nature ; for take an example of a dog , and mark what a generosity ancl courage he will put on when he finds himself
maintained by a man , who to him is instead of a God , or melior nat-ura , whose courage is manifested such as that creature , without that confidence of a better nature than his own could never attain . So man when he rests and assures himself ujoon
The Hidden Mysteries Of Nature And Science.—Part Iv.
Divine favour and protection , gothers a force and faith , which human nature in itself could not obtain . The more diligently we search the Book of Nature and scan the human mind , the stronger traces we shall everywhere find of him who made it .
If ( says Burke ) a discourse on the use of the parts of the body may be considered a hymn to the Creator , the use of the passions which are the organs of the mind cannot be barren of praise to him , nor unproductive to ourselves of that noble
and uncommon union of science and admiration , which a contemplation of the works of infinite wisdom alone can afford to a rational mind . Whilst referring to him whatever we find of right or good or fair in ourselves , discovering his strength and
wisdom even in our own weakness and imperfection , honouring them where we discover them clearly , and adoring their profundity where we are lost in our search we may be inquisitive without impertinence , and elevated without pride ; we may
be admitted , if I may dare to say so , into the counsels of the Almighty by a consideration of his works . The elevation of the mind ought to be the principle end of all our studies , which if they do not in some measure effect , they are of
very little service to us . To those who , contemplating this world of wonders , extend their researches beyond the common groupings of mankind , it will appear that nature , ever provident that no part of her empire should be unoccupied ,
has peo ] 3 led it with various forms and left no corner waste . To follow her through every turn would be a never-ending task , but as far as she has been traced every step is marked with pleasure and profit ; ancl while the reflecting mind , trained to
move in its proper course , breaks through the trammels of pride and ignorance , it rises with clearer views towards perfection , and adores that infinite wisdom which appointed and governs the unerring course of all things .
"Thus the men Whom Nature ' s works can charm , with God himself Hold converse ; grow familiar day by day With his conceptions ; act upon his plan , Aud form to his the relish , of their souls . " —AKEKSIDE , iii . 630 . R . B . W . ( To he continued . )
Ar00201
DBAINAGE OP FEEEUASOXS' HALE AITD NEKHiBOtritnooD . — The Metropolitan Board of AVorks , on the report of Mr . Bazalgefcfce , engineer , have authorized fche construction of a new sewer in Middle-yard and New-yard , in the rear of the new buildings of fche Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen-street , 135 ffc ., being 3 ffc . 6 in . by 2 ft . Gin . in diameter , one brick thick , and 186 ffc . 3 ft . by 2 ft ., half brick thick .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Hidden Mysteries Of Nature And Science.—Part Iv.
game , the chase is certainly of service . Cicero , true as he was to the academic philosophy , and consequently led to reject the certainty of physical as of every other knowledge , yet freely confesses its great importance to the human understanding .
"Est animorum ingeniorumque nostrornm naturale quoddam quasi pabulum consideratio conternplatioque naturas . " If we can direct the lights we derive from such exalted speculations upon the humbler field of the imagination , whilst we
investigate the springs and trace the courses of our passions , we may not only communicate to the taste a sort of philosophical solidity , but we may reflect back on the severer sciences some of the graces and elegances of taste
without which the greatest proficiency in those sciences will always have the appearance of something illiberal . To those who have pursued philosophic studies to some extent , it is pretty clear that morality exists independent of religions ideas ;
that the distinction between good and evil in morals , and the obligation to shun evil and to do good , are laws that man recognises in his own
nature ; but morality being invested with independence , the question arises in the human understanding , Whence comes morality ? Whither does it lead ? Is this obligation to do good , which subsists by itself , an isolated fact without an author
or an end ? Does it veil from , or rather does it not reveal to , man an origin and a destiny which is not of this world ? This is a spontaneous , inevitable question ( says Guizot)—it is one by which morality in its turn leads man to the threshold of
religion , and opens to him a sphere from which he has not originally received it . I had rather ( says Lord Bacon ) believe all the fables in the legend , and the Talmud , and the Alcoran , than that this
universal frame is without a mind and , therefore , God never wrought miracles to convince atheism , because his ordinary works convince it . They that deny a God destroy a man's nobility ; for certainly man is of kin to the beasts by his body , and
if he be not of kin to God by his spirit , he is a base and ignoble creature . Itdestroyslikewise magnanimity , and the raising human nature ; for take an example of a dog , and mark what a generosity ancl courage he will put on when he finds himself
maintained by a man , who to him is instead of a God , or melior nat-ura , whose courage is manifested such as that creature , without that confidence of a better nature than his own could never attain . So man when he rests and assures himself ujoon
The Hidden Mysteries Of Nature And Science.—Part Iv.
Divine favour and protection , gothers a force and faith , which human nature in itself could not obtain . The more diligently we search the Book of Nature and scan the human mind , the stronger traces we shall everywhere find of him who made it .
If ( says Burke ) a discourse on the use of the parts of the body may be considered a hymn to the Creator , the use of the passions which are the organs of the mind cannot be barren of praise to him , nor unproductive to ourselves of that noble
and uncommon union of science and admiration , which a contemplation of the works of infinite wisdom alone can afford to a rational mind . Whilst referring to him whatever we find of right or good or fair in ourselves , discovering his strength and
wisdom even in our own weakness and imperfection , honouring them where we discover them clearly , and adoring their profundity where we are lost in our search we may be inquisitive without impertinence , and elevated without pride ; we may
be admitted , if I may dare to say so , into the counsels of the Almighty by a consideration of his works . The elevation of the mind ought to be the principle end of all our studies , which if they do not in some measure effect , they are of
very little service to us . To those who , contemplating this world of wonders , extend their researches beyond the common groupings of mankind , it will appear that nature , ever provident that no part of her empire should be unoccupied ,
has peo ] 3 led it with various forms and left no corner waste . To follow her through every turn would be a never-ending task , but as far as she has been traced every step is marked with pleasure and profit ; ancl while the reflecting mind , trained to
move in its proper course , breaks through the trammels of pride and ignorance , it rises with clearer views towards perfection , and adores that infinite wisdom which appointed and governs the unerring course of all things .
"Thus the men Whom Nature ' s works can charm , with God himself Hold converse ; grow familiar day by day With his conceptions ; act upon his plan , Aud form to his the relish , of their souls . " —AKEKSIDE , iii . 630 . R . B . W . ( To he continued . )
Ar00201
DBAINAGE OP FEEEUASOXS' HALE AITD NEKHiBOtritnooD . — The Metropolitan Board of AVorks , on the report of Mr . Bazalgefcfce , engineer , have authorized fche construction of a new sewer in Middle-yard and New-yard , in the rear of the new buildings of fche Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen-street , 135 ffc ., being 3 ffc . 6 in . by 2 ft . Gin . in diameter , one brick thick , and 186 ffc . 3 ft . by 2 ft ., half brick thick .