THE GOODNESS OF THE DEITX", 265 



entirely covered with them." These are the natures appro- 

 priated to the situation. Let them enjoy their existence ; 

 let them have their country. Surface enough will be left 

 to man, though his numbers were increased an hundred 

 fold, and left to him, where he might live exempt from these 

 annoyances. 



The second case, viz. that of animals devouring one an- 

 other, furnishes a consideration of much larger extent. 

 To judge, whether, as a general provision, this can be deem- 

 ed an tvil, even so far as we understand its consequences, 

 which, probaoly, is a partial understanding, the follovving 

 reflections are fit to be attended to. 



1, Immortality upon this earth is out of the question. 

 Without death there could be no generation, no sexes, no 

 parental relation, i. e. as things are constituted, no animal 

 happiness. The particular duration of life, assigned to dif- 

 ferent animals, can form no part of the objection ; because, 

 whatever that duration is, whilst it remains finite and 

 limited, it may always be asked, why it is no longer. 

 The natural age of different animals varies from a single 

 day to a century of years. No account can be given of 

 this ; nor could any be given, whatever other proportion of 

 life had obtained amongst them. 



The term then of life in different animals being the same 

 as it is, the question is, what mode of taking it away is best 

 even for the animal itself. 



Now, according to the established order of nature, (which 

 we must suppose to prevail, or we cannot reason at all upon 

 the subject,) the three methods by which life is usually put 

 an end to, are acute diseases, decay, and violence. The 

 simple and natural life of brutes, is not often visited by acute 

 distempers ; nor could it be deemed an improvement of 

 their lot, if they were. Let it be considered, therefore, in 

 w^hat a condition of suffering and misery a brute animal is 

 placed, which is left to perish by decay. In human sick- 

 ness or mfirmity, there is the assistance of man's rational 

 fellow creatures, if not to alleviate his pains, at least to min- 

 ister to his necessities, and to supply the place of his own 

 activity. A brute, in his wild and natural state, does eve- 

 ry thing for himself. When his strength therefore, or his 

 speed, or his limbs, or his senses fail him, he is delivered 

 over, either to absolute famine, or to the protracted wretch- 

 edness of a life slowly wasted by scarcity of food. Is it 

 then to see the world filled with droopingj superannuated, 



