381- On Natural and Moral Philosophi/, 



of means adapted to the end, no superfluity or 

 deficienc)^f means ; that the mean^ arp in each 

 species as simple as the dignity of the species 

 in the scale of creation admits of; tliat the 

 means, though simple, are extensive in their 

 operation, and, which deserves particular 

 attention, that the end is attained in all 

 the mhnite orders of being, in a manner 

 conformed to one general rule, viz. by 

 furnishing the individuals of each species ab 

 initio with a constitution, which produces 

 either a perfect sameness, or such a conformity, 

 as discriminates the species. . Whether this 

 conformity be denominated a law of nature or 

 a law of God, is of no moment to my presen-t 

 aro-ument. It is sufficient to my purpose that 

 this law, as the proximate cause, is acknow- 

 ledged by every philosopher, ot whatever com- 

 plexion his religious creed may be, as tlie only 

 obvious account of that uniformity which cha- 

 racterises the individuals of qvcry separate 

 species. 



In aid of the conclusion which I have in 

 view, I might adduce the uniformity of the 

 law, which regulates the motions of the bodies 

 in our solar system, and by a well-founded ana- 

 logical presumption, of the infinite systems 

 which through the immeasurable extent of space 

 claim each a star as their sun. The law is 



