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