98 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



the Human Race, undoubtedly, as being the moft 

 wretched fpecies of all. 



We can know that only which Nature makes 

 tîs feel; and we can form no judgment of her 

 Works but in the place, and at the time, flie is 

 plcafed to difplay them. All that we imagine, be- 

 yond this, prefents only contradicflion, doubt, er- 

 ror, or abfurdity. I do not except, from this de- 

 fcription, even our imaginary plans of perfedion. 

 For example, it is a tradition common to all Na- 

 tions, fupported by the teftimony of the Holy 

 Scriptures, and founded on a natural feeUng, that 

 Man has lived in a better order of things, and that 

 we are deftined to another, which is ftill to fur- 

 pafs it. We are incapable, however, of faying any 

 thing of either the one or the other. It is impof- 

 fible for us to retrench any thing from that in 

 which we live, or to add any thing to it, v/ithout 

 rendering our condition worfe. Whatever Nature 

 has introduced into it, is neceffary. Pain and 

 death are among the proofs of her goodnefs. But 

 for pain, we fhould be bruifing ourfelves, every 

 fhep we took, without perceiving it. But for death, 

 new beings could not be raifed into exigence ; 

 and fuppofing thofe which already are in the world 

 could be rendered eternal, that eternity would in- 

 volve in it the ruin of generations, of the configu- 

 ration 



