“When Jesus had fed the five thousand men upon the mountain side by the Sea of Galilee, he said to his disciples2, ‘Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.’ The Christ who spoke3 these words was the same Christ by whom ‘all things were created that are in heaven and that are in the earth, visible and invisible.’ These words inculcate the propriety4 of saving, the very opposite of extravagance and wastefulness5. The same prudent6 economy we find in all God’s works. Nothing is wasted. God provides bountifully; he is not stinted7 in his works; we find nothing narrow or mean; his resources are ample for all his undertakings8. Perhaps a[Pg 306] careless observer might charge him with prodigality9 and wastefulness. The wilderness10 rejoices in beauty and fertility upon which no human eye gazes, and which supplies no human want.
‘Full many a gem1 of purest ray serene11
The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear;
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.’
Rich fruit grows ruddy and golden in the autumnal sun only to fall and decay. How small a part of the seeds which might germinate12 and reproduce the parent plant ever fulfill13 this their legitimate14 object! But this is not waste. As for the beauty with which the unpeopled wastes are smiling, we know not what other beings besides man ‘grow glad at the sight.’ Fruits and grains and seeds were appointed as much to nourish the animal kingdom as to reproduce plants and trees. And that which decays is not wasted. The oak lifts high its leafy arms and does battle with the tempests for a century, and then having served its purpose in Nature, if man does not call it to the higher mission of serving his purposes, Nature begins to pull down the structure she has reared and[Pg 307] rebuild the elements in other forms—such forms as man perchance may need. The fruit that falls and decays is not wasted; it shall blush with golden tints15 in other forms and in other years. God pulls down the old that he may build the new. The same elements appear and reappear in a thousand shapes. There is endless change, but no waste. This sentiment, ‘Gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost,’ which is proclaimed throughout all Nature, is uttered most emphatically in the management of heat. God has provided most bountiful stores of heat, but has left no heat to go to waste. Will you, Mr. Hume, suggest one of the general arrangements for the economical use of heat?”
“I think that the arrangement for economizing16 heat which ought to be mentioned first is the confinement17 of heat to the locality where it is needed.”
“Will you explain that a little farther, Mr. Hume?”
“All living creatures are confined near the surface of the earth. They penetrate18 only a few feet into the earth and soar a few hundred feet above it. Heat is therefore confined to the[Pg 308] region of the earth’s surface. It penetrates19 but a little way below the surface, and when warm air rises into the higher regions, heat becomes latent. The higher parts of the atmosphere are cold, and in the empty spaces of the heavens the temperature is we know not how low. God has provided for heating only that part of the world which needs to be heated. I think you spoke of this in some one of the earlier lessons.”
“Perhaps I did. But I refer to it again to call especial attention to the idea of the economical use of heat. Who will mention another method by which heat is economized20?”
No one answered.
“I asked the question, but did not expect an answer. God shows economy in the use of heat by accomplishing many different results by its agency. I do not mean that the same identical heat accomplishes different results at the same time. The same force cannot accomplish two works. As man cannot spend his money and at the same time keep it, no more can heat be used and not used up in that form. The heat which raises the temperature can do nothing else at the same time, and when it is employed as[Pg 309] force it ceases to affect temperature. But by this one agency of heat the Creator brings very various works to pass. Heat expands bodies, relaxes cohesive22 attraction, and brings the chemical affinities23 into activity. By this means the elements of Nature are subdued24 to human uses, seeds germinate, all the processes of vegetable life go on, and digestion25 and nutrition are carried forward in the bodies of animals. By the agency of heat the winds blow, the deep waters of the ocean circulate, clouds are formed, dew and rain refresh the earth, rivers flow, and all the activities of life fill the world. The employment of one agency for the accomplishment26 of so many works indicates economy in the expenditure27 of force and means. Moreover, the same heat appears and reappears again and again, passing from the sensible to the latent form and back again, asserting itself alternately in raising the temperature and as active force. A beam of heat falls upon our world: it is partly absorbed by the earth, and warms it. A part of that warmth is used in setting the chemical affinities in action in the sprouting28 of seeds; a part warms the air by conduction; a part is radiated, and being stopped by the vapor29 in the[Pg 310] air, warms it; the heat of the air is partly used in the evaporation30 of water: the vapor formed is condensed and waters the earth, and gives out the heat by which it was formed; that raises the temperature of the air; a part of it is used in deoxidizing carbonic acid and building up the forests; the forest tree falls by the woodman’s axe21, is burned for fuel, and gives out its heat again, or if it falls and decays, the result is the same; the heat given out by combustion31 cooks the laborer’s dinner and warms his room, or it goes out again, and is used in preparing food for the growing wheat; that wheat is used for food, and by slow combustion in the blood the heat is again evolved, the body is warmed, and the chemical operations of digestion and nutrition are maintained; the heat is radiated or conducted from the body into the atmosphere, and again raises the temperature and goes to do other work. At last, so far as our earth is concerned, it escapes into the stellar spaces, and goes to bless other worlds. In all these operations no heat-force is frittered away and wasted and lost. This is one of the accepted doctrines32 of physical science. Heat is used bountifully, but economically and without waste.
[Pg 311]“Even the inequalities and variations of temperature must be counted economy in the use of heat. The heat of midday is not needed at all hours, and therefore it is not always provided; the heat of summer is not always useful, and is therefore not given; a higher temperature for a part of the year and a part of the day is necessary, and is bestowed33. The smallest amount of heat is so disposed as to accomplish the largest result. Keep in mind, then, the economical aspect of God’s management of heat.
“I would also have you remember how few are the principles involved in all the ways and means for transporting heat and equalizing temperature. All the various phenomena34 which we have examined can be brought under two general principles. The first principle or method is the heating and cooling of bodies. Bodies absorb heat; they part with their heat by conduction or radiation. If they are heated and cooled without change of place, heat is transported in time, but not in place. If the body be removed from one place to another between the heating and the cooling or between the cooling and the heating, heat is transported in both time and space. This applies alike to[Pg 312] solids, liquids, and gases; each one is a carrier of heat in proportion to its specific heat.
“The second principle or method is the transportation of heat by the change of sensible to latent heat and its restoration to a sensible state. Under this principle there are four cases:
“1. Heat is employed in the evaporation of liquids, and is restored again to use as affecting temperature by the condensation35 of the vapor.
“2. Heat is employed in liquifying solids, and becomes latent thereby36, and returns to the sensible state when the liquid solidifies37. These two principles find their grandest application in the changes of water: of this application I have chiefly spoken; but they apply also to other bodies—to metals as well as to liquids.
“3. Heat is rendered latent in the expansion of gases from removal of pressure, and latent heat becomes sensible by the compression of gases.
“4. Heat is employed in the deoxidation of carbonic acid or other combinations of oxygen, and is evolved in combustion. While in the latent condition, heat may be kept without loss for an unlimited38 period of time or transported from equator to pole. By the various applications[Pg 313] of these two general principles, all the different methods of equalizing temperature are determined39.
“I would have you remember also that these processes for transporting heat and modifying temperature are not confined to the regular changes of days and seasons and the permanent differences of zones, but apply to every possible difference of temperature. One minute the sun shines out in full splendor40; the next, a cloud hides his face and cuts off his fervent41 beams; the methods employed to soften42 the heat of the one minute and the chill of the next are the same which equalize the temperature of the seasons. Evaporation carries off the heat from the seething43 tropics, evaporation carries off the excess of heat from the bodies of animals and men. The same methods are equally efficient upon the grandest and upon the smallest scale.
“In this connection let me give one or two illustrations of the delicacy44 with which general principles adapt themselves to the minutest circumstances. When the earth is wet, it is fitting that evaporation should go on rapidly and remove the excess of water, but when the ground is drier, it is fitting that evaporation should be[Pg 314] checked and the remaining moisture spared. This result is secured not merely by the lack of moisture at the surface, but also by the decreased capacity of the earth for absorbing heat. A dark color absorbs heat more readily than a lighter45 color, and the earth becomes, as a general rule, darker when wet; and lighter when dry. Moist earth, therefore, receives heat more readily than dry earth, and the excessive moisture is the more rapidly carried off by evaporation.
“Another more interesting illustration is presented by the odor of flowers. In its place I told you that watery46 vapor hinders the radiation of heat from the earth. Dark heat is absorbed by it. The same is true of other gases, and also of the odors of fragrant47 substances. A bed of flowers fills the air around with odors. By these odors much of the heat radiated by the earth is stopped. By this means the air around the blooming flowers is warmed. The invisible fragrance48 raises the temperature and secures for the blooming plants a more genial49 atmosphere. The Lord provides for the flowers when most of all they need to be cherished by a congenial warmth.
[Pg 315]“This completes what I have to say to you upon the subject of heat. I might have gone far more into particulars, and extended these lessons over six months instead of three. We started with the design of finding out whether the works of Nature have anything to say about a wise and good Creator. We could not examine the whole circle of God’s works, and therefore chose a single department—that of heat. I will leave yourselves to decide whether we have found marks of divine wisdom and goodness, whether Nature has had anything to say to us about a Creator.”
“It seems to me,” said Samuel, “that if the works of Nature do not show God’s goodness and wisdom, it would be hard to tell what works would show them. I think I shall always, after this, look upon the earth and sky with more interest than I have ever felt in them before; I shall always look upon them as having something to do with God.”
“We certainly ought,” said Mr. Wilton, “to study Nature in such a manner and with such a spirit that we shall be led to reverence50 and worship the Creator. Some very good men are afraid of scientific study, as if there were [Pg 316]something in it to draw men from belief in the Scriptures51 and the Jehovah revealed in them; and it cannot be denied that not a few unbelievers have tried to find a foundation and a defence for their infidelity in scientific studies; but such men are not made skeptics by earnest and reverent53 study of God’s works: they were unbelievers before and aside from physical studies, and they only try to glorify54 their rejection55 of the Bible and Christ by deifying science and the creation and holding them up in opposition56 to inspired revelations. If ever you find the works of God separating you from God, you may know at once that you misunderstand those works or come to them with a wrong spirit. ‘The undevout astronomer,’ it has been said, ‘is mad,’ and the same might, with good reason, be said of every undevout student of physical science.
“In selecting heat for our examination, I did not take the only rich department of Nature’s works. The practical chemist would find a richer and broader field of research, and so would the anatomist and animal physiologist57, the geologist58, or the physical geographer59. I purposely chose a comparatively narrow field,[Pg 317] in order that our course of study might not become wearisome by its length. You will find ample scope in the fields of natural science for your largest powers, and enough to carry your thoughts reverently60 to the great Creator and Governor.
“In one respect the study of Nature resembles the study of the Sacred Scriptures. It is a revelation; it is an embodiment of God’s thoughts; in it God has expressed himself; and Nature, by most suggestive symbols and types, teaches much more moral truth and spiritual sentiment than some men think. In the brute61 creation it gives us, in pantomime, all the virtues62 and graces and all repulsive63 vices64 and cruel passions. To this book of Nature we ought to come without prejudice, reverently inquiring what is written therein. We must study it thoroughly65 and interpret it as we interpret the written word, comparing Scripture52 with Scripture. It is a great attainment66 to be able to read and understand the thoughts of God embodied67 in his works.
“In another respect, the book of Nature and the Sacred Scriptures have very little in common. The Bible is occupied pre-eminently with[Pg 318] moral duties and spiritual relationship. Its great themes are sin and salvation68. Christ is the great central truth. One might compare the Scriptures to a picture in which one central figure seizes every eye, and by whose radiance the whole picture is filled with light, and that central figure is Christ; or we might compare the Bible to a sublime69 oratorio70, the glorious symphony of the ages; through it all is heard one strain, sweetly exultant71 as angel voices, faintly heard at first amid the sadness of the fall, but rising still above the terrific bass72 of Sinai and its ever-repeating echoes, growing more clear and strong upon the harps73 of the prophets, till its rapturous beauty pours itself triumphant74 along the plains of Bethlehem. In this revelation of salvation from the guilt75 and ruin of sin the Bible stands alone. Upon this subject Nature is silent. Salvation by Christ is the gem enshrined in the Scriptures. But what is the setting for this gem? The works of God on the earth and in the heavens. The prophets were men in sympathy with Nature. How David sung the praises of the divine handiwork!—‘O Lord, how manifold are thy works; in wisdom hast thou made them all.’ ‘The heavens declare the glory of[Pg 319] God and the firmament76 showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.’ How Christ unfolded the deepest spiritual truths by the symbols of Nature! But if the casket be so worthy77, what shall be said of the gem which is enshrined within? That is the pearl of great price. To that book which speaks in no doubtful voice of deliverance from sin let us turn with increasing reverence; and above all, let us come to him who came to reveal our God, who came to be as well as to make a revelation of God, being himself ‘the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person.’ I am glad that you all now feel that you know him whom to know is everlasting78 life.”
From these words of Mr. Wilton you will conclude that Ansel has at length found rest in Christ. In another brief chapter I will tell you of his experience, and then bid you adieu.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
gem
|
|
| n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
disciples
|
|
| n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
propriety
|
|
| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
wastefulness
|
|
| 浪费，挥霍，耗费 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
prudent
|
|
| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
stinted
|
|
| v.限制，节省（stint的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
undertakings
|
|
| 企业( undertaking的名词复数 )； 保证； 殡仪业； 任务 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
prodigality
|
|
| n.浪费，挥霍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
wilderness
|
|
| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
serene
|
|
| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
germinate
|
|
| v.发芽；发生；发展 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
fulfill
|
|
| vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
legitimate
|
|
| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
tints
|
|
| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
economizing
|
|
| v.节省，减少开支( economize的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
confinement
|
|
| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
penetrate
|
|
| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
penetrates
|
|
| v.穿过( penetrate的第三人称单数 )；刺入；了解；渗透 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
economized
|
|
| v.节省，减少开支( economize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
axe
|
|
| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
cohesive
|
|
| adj.有粘着力的；有结合力的；凝聚性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
affinities
|
|
| n.密切关系( affinity的名词复数 )；亲近；（生性）喜爱；类同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
subdued
|
|
| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
digestion
|
|
| n.消化，吸收 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
accomplishment
|
|
| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
expenditure
|
|
| n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
sprouting
|
|
| v.发芽( sprout的现在分词 )；抽芽；出现；（使）涌现出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
vapor
|
|
| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
evaporation
|
|
| n.蒸发，消失 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
combustion
|
|
| n.燃烧；氧化；骚动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
doctrines
|
|
| n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
bestowed
|
|
| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
phenomena
|
|
| n.现象 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
condensation
|
|
| n.压缩，浓缩；凝结的水珠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
thereby
|
|
| adv.因此，从而 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
solidifies
|
|
| （使）成为固体，（使）变硬，（使）变得坚固( solidify的第三人称单数 )； 使团结一致； 充实，巩固； 具体化 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
unlimited
|
|
| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
splendor
|
|
| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
fervent
|
|
| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
soften
|
|
| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
seething
|
|
| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
delicacy
|
|
| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
lighter
|
|
| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
watery
|
|
| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
fragrant
|
|
| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
fragrance
|
|
| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
genial
|
|
| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
reverence
|
|
| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
scriptures
|
|
| 经文，圣典( scripture的名词复数 )； 经典 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
scripture
|
|
| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
reverent
|
|
| adj.恭敬的，虔诚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
glorify
|
|
| vt.颂扬，赞美，使增光，美化 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
rejection
|
|
| n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
opposition
|
|
| n.反对，敌对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
physiologist
|
|
| n.生理学家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
geologist
|
|
| n.地质学家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
geographer
|
|
| n.地理学者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
reverently
|
|
| adv.虔诚地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
brute
|
|
| n.野兽，兽性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
virtues
|
|
| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
repulsive
|
|
| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
vices
|
|
| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
attainment
|
|
| n.达到，到达；［常pl.］成就，造诣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
embodied
|
|
| v.表现( embody的过去式和过去分词 )；象征；包括；包含 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
salvation
|
|
| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
sublime
|
|
| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
oratorio
|
|
| n.神剧，宗教剧，清唱剧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
exultant
|
|
| adj.欢腾的，狂欢的，大喜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
bass
|
|
| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
harps
|
|
| abbr.harpsichord 拨弦古钢琴n.竖琴( harp的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
triumphant
|
|
| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
guilt
|
|
| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
firmament
|
|
| n.苍穹；最高层 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
everlasting
|
|
| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |