THE GOODNESS OP THE DEITY. 273 



ably themselves far from being the only vehicles of enjoy- 

 ment, or the whole of our constitution,, which is calculated 

 for tne same purpose. We have many internal sensations 

 of the most agreeable kind, hardly referrible to any of the 

 five senses. Some physiologists have holden, that all secre- 

 tion is pleasurable : and that the complacency, which in 

 health, without any external, assignable object to excite it, 

 we derive from life itself, is the effect of our secretions go- 

 ing on weil within us. All this may be true : but, if true, 

 what reason can be assigned for it, except the will of the 

 Creator ? It may reasonably be asked, why is any thing a 

 pleasure ? and I know of no answer which can be returned 

 to the question, but that which refers it to appointment. 

 We can give no account whatever of our pleasures in the 

 simple and original perception ; and even, when physical 

 sensations are assumed, we can seldom account for them in 

 the secondary and complicated shapes, in which they take 

 the name of diversions. I never yet met with a sportsman 

 who could tell me in what the sport consisted ; who could 

 resolve it into its principle, and state that principle. I have 

 been a great follower of fishing myself, and in its cheerful 

 solitude have passed some of the happiest hours of a suffi- 

 ciently happy life ; but to this moment, I could never trace 

 out the source of the pleasure which it afL.)rded me. 



The " quantum in rebus inane !" whetiier applied to our 

 amusements, or to our graver pursuits, (to which, in truth, 

 it sometimes equally belongs,) is always an unjust com- 

 plaint. If trifles engage, and if trifles make us happy, the 

 true reflection suggested by the experiment, is upon the 

 tendency of nature to gratification and enjoyment ; which 

 is, in other words, the goodness of its Author towards his 

 sensitive creation. 



Rational natures also, as such, exhibit qualities which 

 help to confirm the truth of our position. The degree of 

 understanding found in mankind, is usually much greater 

 than what is necessary for mere preservation. The pleasure 

 of choosing for themselves, and of prosecuting the object of 

 their choice, should seem to be an original source of enjoy- 

 ment. The pleasures received from things, great, beauti- 

 ful, or new, from imitation or from the liberal arts, are, in 

 ^ome measure, not only superadded, but unmixed gratifi- 

 cations, having no pains to balance them.* 



" Balguy on the Divine Benevolence. 

 Z2 



