ii'ri THE GOODNESS OF THE DEITY. 



ment demanded, with respect to the qualities which wein 

 conferred upon the objects that surround us, not only choice 

 and selection, out ot a boundless variety of possible qualities 

 Avith which these x)bjects might have been endued, but apro- 

 [wrtioning also of degree, because an excess or defect of in- 

 tensity spoils the perception, as much almost as an error 

 in the kind and nature of the quality. Likewise the de- 

 gree of dulness or acuteness in t le sense itself, is no arbi- 

 trary thing ; but in order to preserve the congruity here 

 spoken of, requires to be in an exact or near corresponden- 

 cy with the strength of the impression. The dulness of 

 the senses forms the complaint of old age. Persons in fe- 

 vers, and, I believe, in most maniacal cases, experience 

 great torment from their pretcrndtural acutefiess. An in- 

 creased, no less than an impaired sensibility, induces a state 

 of disease and suiTering. 



The doctrine of a specific congruity between animal 

 senses and their objects, is strongly favoured, by what is ob- 

 served of insects in the election of their food. Some of these 

 will feed upon one kind of plant or animal, and upon no 

 other : some caterpillars upon the cabbage alone ; some up- 

 on the black currant alone. The species of caterpillar 

 which eats the vine, will starve upon the elder ; nor will 

 that which we find upon fennel, touch the rosebush. Some 

 insects confine themselves to two or three kinds of plants 

 or animals. Some again show so strong a preference, as to 

 afford reason to believe that, though they may be driven by 

 hunger to others, they are led by the pleasure of taste, to a 

 few particular plants alone ; and all this as it should seem, 

 independently of habit or imitation. 



But should we accept the third hypothesis, and even car- 

 ry it so far as to ascribe every thing, which concerns the 

 question, to habit, (as in certain species, the human species 

 most particularly, there is reason to aitribute something,) 

 we have then before us an animal capacity not less perhaps 

 to be admired, than the native congruities which the other 

 scheme adopts. It cannot be shown to result from any fix- 

 ed nec';issity in nature, that what is frequently applied to the 

 senses cshould of course become agreeable to them. It is, so 

 far as ic subsists, a power of accommodation, provided in 

 these senses by the Author of their structure, and forms a 

 part of their perfection. 



In whichever way we consider the senses, they appear t© 

 be specific gifts, ministering, not only to preservation, but 

 10 pleasure. Bat what we nsaally call the senses ^re prob- 



