CONTENTS.

[Within the last year or two, several works have been published in this country on subjects more or less closely approaching to that here treated. It may, therefore, be not superfluous to say that the author of the following pages believes that he has not borrowed any of his views or illustrations from recent English writers on Natural Theology.]

Page.

INTRODUCTION.

Chapter I. Object of the Present Treatise 13

II. On Laws of Nature 17

III. Mutual Adaptation of Laws of Nature 20

IV. Division of the Subject 23

BOOK I. Terrestrial Adaptations 25

Chapter I. The Length of the Year 28

II. The Length of the Day 37

III. The Mass of the Earth 43

IV. The Magnitude of the Ocean 50

V. The Magnitude of the Atmosphere 51

VI. The Constancy and Variety of Climates 52

VII. The Variety of Organization corresponding to the Variety of Climate 57

VIII. The Constituents of Climate 66

The Laws of Heat with respect to the Earth 67

IX. The Laws of Heat with respect to Water 70

X. The Laws of Heat with respect to Air 81

XI. The Laws of Electricity 91

XII. The Laws of Magnetism 93

XIII. The Properties of Light with regard to Vegetation 94

XIV. Sound 96

XV. The Atmosphere 102

XVI. Light 104

XVII. The Ether 111

XVIII. Recapitulation 113

BOOK II. Cosmical Arrangements 119

Chapter I. The Structure of the Solar System 121

II. The Circular Orbits of the Planets round the Sun 123

III. The Stability of the Solar System 127

IV. The Sun in the Centre 134

V. The Satellites 137

VI. The Stability of the Ocean 140

VII. The Nebular Hypothesis 143

VIII. The Existence of a Resisting Medium in the Solar System 150

IX. Mechanical Laws 163

X. The Law of Gravitation 166

XI. The Laws of Motion 178

XII. Friction 183

BOOK III. Religious Views 193

Chapter I. The Creator of the Physical World is the Governor of the Moral World 195

II. On the Vastness of the Universe 205

III. On Man’s Place in the Universe 212

IV. On the Impression produced by the Contemplation of Laws of Nature; or, on the Conviction that Law implies Mind 223

V. On Inductive Habits; or, on the impression produced on Men’s Minds by discovering Laws of Nature 230

VI. On Deductive Habits; or, on the Impression produced on Men’s Minds by tracing the Consequences of ascertained Laws 243

VII. On Final Causes 257

VIII. On the Physical Agency of the Deity 267

IX. On the Impression produced by considering the Nature and Prospects of Science; or, on the Impossibility of the Progress of our Knowledge ever enabling us to comprehend the Nature of the Deity 273

ON

ASTRONOMY

AND

GENERAL PHYSICS.