266 THE GOODNESS OF THE DEITY. 



half Starved, helpless and unhelped animals, that you would 

 alter the present system of pursuit and prey ? 



2. Which system is also to them the spring of motion 

 and activity on both sides. The pursuit of its prey, forms 

 the employment, and appears to constitute the pleasure, of 

 a considerable part of the animal creation. The using of 

 the means of defence, or flight, or precaution, forms also the 

 business of another part And even of this latter tribe, we 

 have no reason to suppose, that their happiness is much 

 molested by their fears. Their danger exists continually ; 

 and in some cases they seem to be so far sensible of it, as 

 to provide, in the best manner they can, against it ; but it 

 is only when the attack is actually made upon them, that 

 they appear to suffer from it. To contemplate the insecu- 

 rity of their condition with anxiety and dread, requires a 

 degree of reflection, which (happily for themselves) they do 

 not possess A hare notwithstanding the number of its 

 dangers and its enemies, is as playful an animal as any 

 other 



3. But to do justice to the question, the system of animal 

 destruction ought always to be considered in strict connex- 

 ion with another property of animal nature, viz. supe)'fecun- 

 dity. They are countervailing qualities One subsists by 

 the correction of the other. In treating, therefore, of the 

 subject under this view, (which is, I believe, the true one,) 

 our business will be, first to point out the advantages which 

 are gained by the powers in nature of a superabundant mul- 

 tiplication ; and then, to show, that these advantages are 

 so many reasons for appointing that system of animal hos- 

 tilities, which we are endeavouring to account for. 



In almost all cases nature produces her supplies with 

 profusion. A single cod fish spawns, in one season, a 

 greater number of eggs than all the inhabitants of England 

 ;imount to. A thousand other instances of prolific genera- 

 tion might be stated, v^hich, though not equal to this, would 

 carry on the increase of the species with a rapidity which 

 outruns calculation, and to an immeasurable extent. The 

 advantages of such a constitution are two : first, that it tends 

 to keep the world always full ; whilst, secondly, it allows 

 the proportion between the several species of animals to be 

 differently modified, as different purposes require, or as dif- 

 ferent situations may afford for them room and food. 

 Where this vast fecundity meets with a vacancy fitted to 

 receive the species, there it operates with its whole effect ; 

 there it pours in its numbers, and replenishes the waste. 



