But let me ask you further--do you think that our Lord in that
instance, and in those many instances in which He drew his parables
and lessons from natural objects, was leading men's minds on to
dangerous ground, and pointing out to them a subject of contemplation
in the laws and processes of the natural world, and their analogy
with those of the spiritual world, the kingdom of God--a subject of
contemplation, I say, which it was not safe to contemplate too much?

I appeal to your common sense. If He who spoke these words were (as
I believe) none other than the Creator of the universe, by whom all
things were made, and without whom nothing was made that is made, do
you suppose that He would have bid you to consider His universe, had
it been dangerous for you to do so?

Do you suppose, moreover, that the universe, which He, the Truth, the
Light, the Love, has made, can be otherwise then infinitely worthy to
be considered? or that the careful, accurate, and patient
consideration of it, even to its minutest details, can be otherwise
than useful to man, and can bear witness of aught, save the mind and
character of Him who made it? And if so, can it be a work unfit for,
unworthy of, a clergyman--whose duty is to preach Him to all, and in
all ways,--to call on men to consider that physical world which, like
the spiritual world, consists, holds together, by Him, and lives and
moves and has its being in Him?

And here I must pause to answer an objection which I have heard in my
youth from many pious and virtuous people--better people in God's
sight, than I, I fear, can pretend to be.

They used to say, "This would be all very true if there were not a