and I have made it for myself.” (Ezek. xxix. 3.) For the more eagerly he seeks thus to adorn himself in the trappings of his own fancied talents, the more certainly he will divest himself of all its real use, benefit, and excellence, until there be left none remaining. But blessed be the man, whosoever he be, who regards all his science as the property of God and of the public, and applies it, accordingly, in promoting the glory of God, the good of society, and the general interest of his fellow-creatures! For, whilst the sordid and the selfish, in seeking the life of science, lose it, he, on the contrary, in losing, gains it; because, sacrificing it on the altar of the divine mercy of that adorable Being who gave it, and consecrating it thus to the sublime ends of public benefit for which it was given, he never fails to receive it back again, fructified and multiplied by its connection with the fountain of life, of wisdom, and of blessing.
Section 12.—The Order of Science, and its Disorder.
Every created subject stands and operates according to order, when it respects and promotes the end of its creation; and it falls into disorder, in proportion as it departs from that end. This is the case with man himself, the end of whose creation is that he should respect his Great Creator, His Word, His kingdom, His providence and divine operation, and should form his life accordingly. Man, therefore, stands and operates according to order, when he has respect unto God, His Word,
