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The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation
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This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
428 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1691
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About the author
John Ray
274 books3 followersLibrarian Note: There are more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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September 29, 2024
A CLASSIC OF "NATURAL THEOLOGY," WHICH INFLUENCED PALEY
John Ray (1627-1705) was an English naturalist, sometimes referred to as the father of English natural history. (This book greatly influenced William Paley's famous 'Natural Theology.')
Here are some representative quotations:
"the Almighty discovers more of his Wisdom in forming such a vast multitude of different sorts of creatures, and all with admirable and irreprovable art, than if he had created but a few; for this declares the greatness and unbounded capacity of his understanding."
"If the works of Nature are better, more exact and perfect than the works of Art, and Art effects nothing without reason, neither can the works of Nature be thought to be effected without Reason; for, is it not absurd and incongruous, than when thou beholdt a Statue or curious picture, thou should acknowledge that Art was used to the making of it..."
"I persuade myself, that the bountiful and gracious Author of man's being and faculties, and all things else, delights in the Beauty of his Creation, and is well pleased with the industry of Man, in adorning the Earth with beautiful cities and castles, with pleasant villages and country houses, with regular gardens and orchards..."
"the Eye is already so perfect, that I believe the reason of Man would easily have rested here, and admired at his own contrivance."
It should be noted that Ray is no fundamentalist, as he states, "As to the Scripture, when speaking of these things, it accommodates itself to the common and received opinions, and employs the usual phrases and forms of speech ... without intention of delivering any thing doctrinally concerning these points, or confuting the contrary."
John Ray (1627-1705) was an English naturalist, sometimes referred to as the father of English natural history. (This book greatly influenced William Paley's famous 'Natural Theology.')
Here are some representative quotations:
"the Almighty discovers more of his Wisdom in forming such a vast multitude of different sorts of creatures, and all with admirable and irreprovable art, than if he had created but a few; for this declares the greatness and unbounded capacity of his understanding."
"If the works of Nature are better, more exact and perfect than the works of Art, and Art effects nothing without reason, neither can the works of Nature be thought to be effected without Reason; for, is it not absurd and incongruous, than when thou beholdt a Statue or curious picture, thou should acknowledge that Art was used to the making of it..."
"I persuade myself, that the bountiful and gracious Author of man's being and faculties, and all things else, delights in the Beauty of his Creation, and is well pleased with the industry of Man, in adorning the Earth with beautiful cities and castles, with pleasant villages and country houses, with regular gardens and orchards..."
"the Eye is already so perfect, that I believe the reason of Man would easily have rested here, and admired at his own contrivance."
It should be noted that Ray is no fundamentalist, as he states, "As to the Scripture, when speaking of these things, it accommodates itself to the common and received opinions, and employs the usual phrases and forms of speech ... without intention of delivering any thing doctrinally concerning these points, or confuting the contrary."
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