LETTER I.

INTRODUCTION-The Lord Jesus, the Almighty Agent in Creation-The Heavens and the Earth first

called into being--The creation of Light-Its blessing to Man-The grateful Change of Day and Night

-Light capable of existing without the Sun-The comparative Velocity of Light and Sound-The

Thunder Storm-Appeal to the Conscience......................

Pages 1-10

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LETTER III.

Page ix

LETTER II.

The Lord Jesus the Light of the World-The Disciples of the Lord called to be like their Master-The

countenance of Moses bright in the brightness of God-The Christian like Stephen called to the same-

Passages of Illustration-Light is sown for the Righteous-The Light of the Just brighter and brighter

unto the perfect Day-The Light of the Righteous-Everlasting Light-The Light of the Body, the

Eye-The single-eyed, upright Christian, walks in the Light of Life

Pp. 11-17

The Creation of the Firmament, or Atmosphere-Its Proportions-Its adaptation to sustain Life-The

Balloon explained-The Clouds the Storehouse of Waters, which return to water the Earth-The

principle of Evaporation explained-All Nature under the continual control and direction of the Lord-

The Refraction and Reflection of Light explained-The agitated Atmosphere, or WIND, the great con-

servator of Health and means of all Commercial Intercourse-Voyage of the Ship Duff, the First

Missionary Ship to the Pacific-Sound and Scent both alike conveyed by the medium of the Atmosphere

-Recapitulation of the Mercies of the second day's Creation-Conclusion ........................... Pp. 18-34

LETTER IV.

The Atmosphere pervading all Things, illustrative of the Omnipresence of God-The French Revolution,

an awful Example of the Anarchy that inevitably ensues on a denial of God-The Omnipresence of

God, an Attribute full of blessing to the Believer-Dan. xii. 3, explained: The Righteous shall shine

as the brightness of the Firmament-The Song of Moses: Gentle as the Dew; refreshing as the Showers

on the new-mown Grass, Deut. xxxii. 2-Those born of the incorruptible Seed innumerable as the Dew,

Psalm cx. 3-The Children of God, living together in unity and love, like the Dew of Hermon, Psalm

cxxxiii. 3-The Manna lighting on the Dew in the Wilderness, Numb. xi. 9-The Clouds the Symbol of

the Lord's Presence, Exodus xiii. 21-Awful illustration of Clouds without Water, Jude 12-Though a

Man be washed in Snow Water, he cannot STAND before God, Job ix.-One thing alone cleanses from

Sin, the Blood of Jesus-Conclusion

Pp. 35-45

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LETTER V.

At the call of the Lord the dry Land rises up from the Waters, and, at his word, is covered with verdure and

beauty-Psalm civ. descriptive of Creation-The Productions of the Earth above and beneath its

Surface, Job xxviii. 5—The value of the Metals, especially Iron-The Great Britain Iron Steamer

considered, her dimensions, &c.-THE UNIVERSAL KINGDOм proposed to be explored, and then the

Vegetable-The Precious Gems detailed as to their names, country, properties, and relative value;

those in the Breast-plate of Aaron and the Foundations of the Holy City especially marked-The Metals

treated of in the same manner-So also Rocks, Stones, Slates, Clays, and Chalks; likewise Coal and Salt-

THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM arranged under four Principal Divisions; 1. The Trees, Herbs, or Grass,

that are good for Food, such as Wheat, &c.; 2. Those that are spun for Clothing, as Flax, Cotton,

&c.; 3. Such as are compounded in Medicine, as Opium, &c.; and 4. The Trees that are worked in

Art, as the Oak, &c.-All these blessings, and the fruitful season, come from the Lord, who presides

over his own creation, Psalm lxv. 9-12.................

Pp. 46-92

LETTER VI.

The joy of the Brazilian Slave on finding a Diamond of sufficient weight to ensure his freedom, illustrative
of the state of soul of the Man who finds the Pearl of great price-The Breast-plate of Aaron, glittering
with twelve precious stones, considered in its typical character, Exod. xxviii. 29; Heb. x. 21-
The Lord, as a Refiner, purifies his children, Mal. iii. 3-Job xxiii. 10, opens out the same truth
-The Word of God more precious than Gold, Psalm cxix. 72, 127-Proverbs iii. 14; and viii. 19, on
the same subject-The glory of Jerusalem in the last days set forth under a variety of the Emblems
of this day, Isaiah 1x.-Threatened Judgments on Israel, if disobedient; the Heavens Iron, the
Earth Brass, Lev. xxvi. 19-Israel, cast off from God, compared to reprobate Silver, Jer. vi. 30
-The Lord the Rock of Strength to his People, Deut. xxxii. 4.-The Rock that followed Israel declared
to be Christ, 1 Cor. x. 4-The Lord Jesus also the Chief Corner Stone, 1 Pet. ii. 6; and the Shadow
of a Great Rock in a weary land, Isaiah xxxii. 2-The Wicked call on the Rocks to cover them, Rev.

vi. 16 The Lord Jesus the Corn of Wheat that died, and the Sheaf of First-fruits, 1 Cor. xv. 23; John

xii. 24-The Trees clap their hands, and all Creation rejoices in the return of the Lord's anointed

King, Psalm xcvi. to c.-The Believer compared to the fruitful Evergreen, Psalm i. 3; so also, Psalm

xcii. 15-Parable of the Vine and Branches, John xv.-Parable of the two Eagles cropping the loftiest

Cedar of Lebanon, Ezekiel xvii.-Conclusion........

Pp. 93-107

LETTER VII.

Creation of the Sun, Moon, and Stars-their value to Man, not only in ruling the Seasons, but for

calculation of Time and Distance-Brief History of the two Schools of Pythagoras and Ptolemy-THE

SOLAR SYSTEM-The Sun, its magnitude, properties, distance from the Earth-The Planets separately

considered, especially the Earth and its attendant Moon-The Tides-The value of the Chronometer-

Eclipses-Comets-The Heaven of the Fixed Stars-Signs of the Zodiac-Constellations of the Northern

Hemisphere-Constellations of the Southern Hemisphere-Conclusion..............

Pp. 108-134

LETTER VIII.

The Heavens to be folded together by His hands who spread them out, Psalm cii. 26; Heb. i. 10-12-The

Heavenly Bodies in their circuit, descriptive of the universal character of the Gospel Ministry, Psalm xix.

1-6, compared with Rom. x. 18-The Lord God, the Sun and Shield of his People, Psalm lxxxiv. 11-The

Dream of Joseph concerning the Sun, Moon, and Stars making obeisance to him, Gen. xxxvii. 9-In the

Vision of the Transfiguration the Lord's countenance as the Sun, Matt. xvii. 2—And at the call of Paul,

there was a glory above the brightness of the Sun, Acts xxvi. 13—An Angel is seen with his countenance

as the Sun, Rev. x. 1-A Woman beheld clothed with the Sun, Rev. xii. 1-An Angel appears standing in

the Sun, Rev. xix. 17-Jesus the Morning Star, Rev. xxii. 16-The Vision of Abraham, his Seed promised

to be as the Stars for multitude, Gen. xv.-The Stars in their courses fought against Sisera, Judges v. 20-

The Miracles of Joshua and Hezekiah, Joshua x. 13; Isaiah xxxviii. 8-The Church's glory and Israel's

blessedness both set forth under the sublime Emblems of this day, Isaiah xxx. 26; lx. 20; Rev. xxi. 23—

Conclusion....................

Pp. 135-148

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LETTER IX.

Creation of the Fish of the Deep, and Fowl of the Air-The value of both to Man-The Linnean Arrangement

adopted-The order Cete considered-The method of taking Whales-Their properties, value, &c.—The

Grampus, Porpoise, Narwhal, and Dolphin described-The Six Orders of Fishes-The principal of their

respective genera and species considered:-1. Apodal; 2. Jugular; 3. Thoracic; 4. Abdominal; 5. Branch-

iostegious; 6. Chondropterygious-Phoca, the Seal; Trichechus, the Sea-horse; and Hippopotamus, the

River-horse, described also the Crustaceous Order of Fish, such as the Lobster, Crab, &c. and the lesser

Inhabitants of the Deep-Mollusca-Testacea-Zoophyta-and Infusoria-The Birds of the Air treated of—

Their beauty, swiftness, &c. considered in Eight Orders:-1. Accipitres; 2. Picæ; 3. Anseres; 4. Grallæ;

5. Gallina; 6. Struthiones; 7. Passeres; 8. Columbæ....

Pp. 149-236

LETTER X.

The Lord in his teaching continually alluded to passing events, several examples-The passage considered,

"I will make you Fishers of Men;" also Ezekiel xlvii. 10, and the Parable of the Net cast into the Sea,

Matt. xiii. 47-Deut. xxxii. 11, alluded to, the Lord bore his People through the Wilderness as on Eagles'

wings-The beautiful promise in Isaiah considered, They shall mount up with wings as Eagles, Isaiah xl.

31; also the Lord's allusion in Luke xvii. 37, Wheresoever the Body is, thither will the Eagles be gathered

together-The Lord's care and protection of his People set forth in the passage, As birds flying, so will the

Lord defend Jerusalem-Matt. xxiii. 37, considered; also Jeremiah viii. 7, the allusion to the Birds of

Passage "watchful of the times"-The 84th Psalm meditated on, and the Sparrow on the House-top-

Various Passages referred to where the Dove is used in illustration.-The Birds of Heaven sometimes as

emblems of judgment-EXAMPLES, The punishment on Children despising their Parents, Prov. xx. 20—

Edom's judgment set forth by all the birds of prey and carnage building their nests amid its desolations,

and Israel's joy by all nature rejoicing with them-Conclusion....

Pp. 237-254

LETTER XI.

Creation of the Cattle, Creeping Things, and Beasts of the Earth, and when all was completed-Man created

-The benefits of Animals to Man-Remarks on the cruel, custom of Vivisection creeping into England

-The Linnean Arrangement followed, and the Quadruped Family considered under Six Orders, ranged un-

der the general head Mammalia, or Animals that suckle their young, with a description of some of the prin-

cipal genera and species:-1st order, Primates; 2. Brutæ; 3. Feræ; 4. Glires; 5. Pecora; 6. Belluæ-

The Amphibia considered, under Two Orders:-1. Reptilia; 2. Serpentia-The Insect tribes-Insecta de-

scribed in Seven Varieties-Vermes, Or the Worms, in Five Orders; Four, as Inhabitants of the Waters,

were considered on the fifth day; the other (Intestina) here--MAN described in his innocence, his fall—

the promise and coming of Messiah-The Anointed Saviour-the promise of his return-The rightful

King over his own Creatures..............

Pp. 255-355

LETTER XII.

Introduction-Anecdote of the little Boy at D. relative to Noah's Ark-The blessing of Judah considered-
Genesis xlix. 9, 10 compared with Rev. v. 1-6-The Righteous bold as the Lion, Prov. xxviii. 1—
Striking passage of illustration in Hosea v. 14-The figure of the Lion sometimes used to denote the
Enemy's power, 1 Pet. v. 8; 2 Tim. iv. 17, 18; Isaiah xxxv. 9, 10-The Lion in the last days shall be
trodden under foot, Psalm xci. 13, and Israel in the last days shall rise into power, and be as the Lion-
The Wolf fearfully descriptive of the power of the Enemy-Jer. v. 6 considered; also Hab. i. 8; Zeph. iii.
3; Acts xx.-But in the reign of peace the Wolf shall feed with the Lamb, Isaiah xi.-The Bear the
emblem of fury, Prov. xvii. 12 considered-The For the emblem of cunning, Cant. ii. 15 examined;
also Luke xiii. 32-The Ox the example of patience and faithful labour, Psalm exliv.-The Lamb-
no emblem in the Scripture of such frequent use-various passages examined into, 1 Pet. i. 19, 20;
Rev. xiii. 8; John i. 29; and many others-The Sheep, the Lord as a Sheep before its Shearers,

Isaiah liii.-The Goat-the Parable of the Sheep and Goats considered-The Camel-Isaiah lx. 6, 7,
quoted and examined, also other passages-The Horse-Prov. xxi. 31, compared with Job xxxix. 19-24—
The Ass knows its master's crib, strong reproof to Israel, Isaiah i. 3—The Lord's riding into Jerusalem
considered-The Swine and Dog awfully alluded to in 2 Pet. ii. 22-The Serpent the emblem of cruelty,
cunning, and deceit, set forth in some striking passages-The Ant, Coney, Locust, and Spider considered
in that most forcible word, Prov xxx. 24-28-The Bees but once alluded to, but with great force-The
Fly, Eccles. x. 1-The Leech, Prov. xxx. 15-The Grasshopper, Numb. xiii. 33; Eccles. xii. 5-The Worm,
Job xix. 26, 27-Conclusion, from Cowper :-