1. Why should we seek knowledge?
Because it assists us to comprehend the goodness and power of God.
And it gives us power over the circumstances and associations by which we are surrounded: the proper exercise of this power will greatly promote our happiness.
2. Why does the possession of knowledge enable us to exercise power over surrounding circumstances?
Knowledge enables us to understand that, in order to live healthily, we require to breathe fresh and pure air. It also tells us that animal and vegetable substances, undergoing decay, poison the air, though we may not be able to see, or to smell, or otherwise discover the existence of such poison. Knowing this, we become careful to remove from our presence all such matters as would tend to corrupt the atmosphere. This is only one of the countless instances in which knowledge gives us power over surrounding circumstances.
3. Name some other instances in which knowledge gives us power.
Knowledge of Geography and of Navigation enables the mariner to guide his ship across the trackless deep, and to reach the sought-for port, though he had never before been on its shores.
Knowledge of Chemistry enables us to separate or to combine the various substances found in nature. Thus we obtain useful and precious metals from what at first appeared to be useless stones; transparent glass from pebbles, through which no light could pass; soap from oily substances; and gas from solid bodies.
"Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning."—Proverbs ix.