its facts, phenomena and laws—can be of no value? That this is knowledge not worth revealing, or not worth examining when revealed? Shall knowledge of the material universe be considered wholesome and useful—enlarging, enriching and exalting the human soul—and knowledge of the spiritual universe, so much higher and nobler, be pronounced worthless? Is it probable that the former of these knowledges can reveal to us more of God, can more exalt our conceptions of his wisdom and love, or tend to bring us nearer to his moral likeness, than the latter? Can the study of natural astronomy enlarge and ennoble the pursuer, and the learning of that higher kind of astronomy which embraces the relations, laws and phenomena of the spiritual spheres, be useless? Is this reasonable, or even probable?
Again: Let the reader imagine himself a young man, intending to emigrate to some foreign country in the course of a few years, and to reside there during the remainder of his life. Would he not naturally desire some information about that country, and about the character, conduct and condition of its people? Would he not wish to know something of their manners and customs, their language and laws, their dispositions and habits, their occupations and modes of life? And might not such knowledge be very useful by enabling him the better to prepare himself for the honorable discharge of his duties as a citizen of that country? And suppose the country to have been previously visited by some distinguished traveler who had published a full account of his travels, of the country itself and the people living there;
