OF THE UNITY OF THE DEITy* 255 



an interruption, but a continuauce, of the same exquisite 

 plan ; for it is the adaptation of the organ to the element, 

 viz. to the different refraction of light passing into the eye 

 out of a denser medium. The provinces, also, themselves, 

 of water and earth, are connected by a species of animals 

 which inhabit both ; and also by a large tribe of aquatic 

 animals, which closely resemble the terrestrial in their inter- 

 nal structure: I mean the cetaceous tribe, which have hot 

 blood, respiring lungs, bowels, and other essential parts, 

 like those of land animals. This similitude, surely bespeaks 

 the same creation and the same Creator. 



Insects and shell fsh appear to me to differ from other 

 classes of animals the most widely of any Yet even here, 

 beside many points of particular resemblance, there exists 

 a general relation of a peculiar kind. It is the relation of 

 inversion : the law of contrariety : namely, that, whereas, 

 in other animals, the bones, to which the muscles are attach- 

 ed, lie within the body, in insects and shell-fish they lie on 

 the outside of it. The shell of a lobster performs to the an- 

 imal the office of a hojie, by furnishing to the tendons that 

 fixed basis or immoveable fulcrum, without which mechan- 

 ically they could not act. The crust of an insect is its shell, 

 and answers the like purpose. The shell also of an oyster 

 stands in the place of a bone ; the bases of the muscles be- 

 ing fixed to it, in the same manner, as, in other animals, 

 they are fixed to the bones. All which (under wonderful 

 varieties, indeed, and adaptation of form) confesses an im- 

 itation, a remembrance, a carrying on of the same plan. 



The observations here made are equally applicable to 

 plants ; but I think unnecessary to be pursued. 



It is a very striking circumstance, and alone sufficient to 

 prove all which we contend for, that, in this part likewise 

 of organized nature, we perceive a continuation of the sex- 

 ual system. 



Certain, however it is, that the whole argument for the 

 divine unity, goes no farther than to an unity of counsel. 



It may likewise be acknowledged, that no arguments 

 which vv'e are in possession of, exclude the ministry of sub- 

 ordinate agents. If such there be, they act under a presid- 

 ing, a controlling will ; because they act according to cer- 

 tain general restrictions, by certain common rules, and, as 

 it should seem, upon a general plan : but still such agents, 

 and different ranks, and classes^ and degrees of them, may 

 be employed. 



