STUDY IX. ^ 215 



It is thus that our general maxims become the 

 Sources of error ; for we never fail to charge with 

 diforder whatever feems to recede from our pre- 

 tended order. That which I formerly quoted, 

 namely, that Nature, in her operations, takes al- 

 ways the fhorteft road, has filled our Fhyfics with 

 falfe views innumerable. There is nothing, how- 

 ever, more flatly contradifted by experience. Na- 

 ture makes the waters of the rivers to meander 

 through the Land, in their progrefs to the Sea, in- 

 flead of tranfmitting them in a ftraight line. She 

 caufes the veins to perform a winding courfe 

 through the human body ; nay, fhe has perforated 

 certain bones exprefsly, in order to afford a pafTage 

 to fome of the principal veins into the interior of 

 the ftronger limbs, to prevent their being expofed 

 to injury by external concuflions. In a word, fhe 

 expands a mufliroom in one night, but takes a 

 century to bring an oak to perfeâiion. Nature 

 very feldom takes the neareft road, but fhe al- 

 ways takes that which is bed adapted to the pur- 

 pofe. 



This rage for generalizing has di<ftated to us, 

 in every branch of Science, an infinite number of 



pole." I here repeat what I have ah-eady obferved, that the 

 Book of Job is repleniflied with moll profound knowledge of 

 Nature. ; 



p 4 maxims. 



