OF THE PEBSONALl'fiT ©F TUB DEITY. 2'31> 



\elligence in the highest degree. For example, suppose 

 animal secretions to be elective attractions, and that such 

 and such attractions universally belong to such and such 

 substances; in all which there is no intellect concerned; 

 still the choice and collocation of these substances, the fix- 

 ing upon right substances and disposing them in right places, 

 must be an act of intelligence. What mischief would fol- 

 low, were there a single transposition of the secretory or- 

 gans ; a single mistake in arranging the glands which com- 

 pose them ? 



There 'may be many second causes, and many courses 

 of second causes, one behind another, between what we 

 observe of nature, and the Deity; but there must be in- 

 telliffence somewhere; there must be more in nature than 

 what we see ; and, amongst the things unseen, there must 

 be an intelligent, designing, author. The philosopher be- 

 holds with astonishment tlie production of things around 

 him. Unconscious particles of matter take their stations, 

 and severally range themselves in an order., so as to become 

 collectively plants or animals, i. e. organized bodies *vith 

 parts bearing strict and evident rehition to one another 

 and to the utility of the whole , and it should seem that 

 these particles could not move in any other way than as 

 they do, for they testify not the smallest sign of choice, or 

 liberty, or discretion. There may be particular intelli- 

 gent beings, guiding these molions in each case; or thev 

 jnay be the result of trains of mechanical dispositions, fix- 

 ed before hand by an intelligent appointment, and kept in- 

 action by a power at the centre. But in either case, there 

 must be intelii<^:^ence. 



The minds of most men arc fond of uhat they call a 

 lirinciijlc^ and of the appearance of simplicity, in account- 

 ing for phenomena. Yet this principle, this simpiicity_, 

 resides meiely in the name; which name after all, 

 comprises, perhaps, under it a diversified, multifarious, or 

 progressive operation, distinguisiiable into parts. The 

 power, in organized bodies, of producing bodies like tbem- 

 ielves, is one of these principles. Give a philosopher this, 

 and he can get on. But he does not reflect, u'hat this 

 mode of production, this principle (if such he choose to 

 call it,) requires ; how much it presupposes ; what an ap- 

 paratus of instruments, some of which are strictly mechan- 

 ical, is necessary to its success ; what a train it includes 

 of operations and changes, one succeeding another, one 

 related to another, one ministering to another ; all advanc,- 



