THE €K)ODNESS OP THE DElTy. 289 



ing consistent with it. Now of constancy, or of fixed and 

 known rules, we have seen in some cases the inapplicabili- 

 ty : and inconveniences, which we do not see, might attend 

 their application in other cases. 



Oi seiibible mtorposition, we may be permitted to remark, 

 that a Providence, always and certainly distinguisliable, 

 would be neither more nor less than miracles rendered fre- 

 quent and common. It is ditficult to jutli^e of the state 

 into which this would throw us It is en )u^h to say, that 

 it would cast us upon a quite different dispensation from 

 that under which we live. It would be a total and rad- 

 ical change. And the chan^je would deeply affect, or per- 

 haps subvert, the whole conduct of human affiiirs. I can 

 readily believe, that, other circumstances beiiig adapted to 

 it, such a state mi^fht be better than our present state. 

 It may be the state of other beings : it may be ours hereafter. 

 But the question with which we are now concerned is, how 

 far it would be consistent with our condition, supposing it 

 in other respects to remain as it is? And in this question 

 there seems to be reasons of great moment on the negative 

 side. For instance, so long as bodily hi hour continues, on 

 so many accounts, to be necessary for tlie bulk of mankind, 

 any dependency upon supernatural aid, by unfixing those 

 motives which piomote exertion, or by relaxing those hab- 

 its which eriixender p-atient industry, misiht introduce negli- 

 gence, inactivity and disorder, into the most useful occupa- 

 tions of human life ; and thereby deteriorate the condition 

 of human life itself. 



As moral agents we should experience a still groater al- 

 teration, of which more will be said under the next article. 



Although, tiierefore, the Deity, who possesses tlie power 

 of winding and turning, as he pleases, the course of causes 

 which issue from himself, do, in fact, interpose to alter or 

 intercept effects, which without such interposition, would 

 have taken place, yet it is by no means incredible, that his 

 Providence, which always rests upon final good, may have 

 made a reserve with respect to the manifestation of his in-^ 

 terference, a part of the very plan which he has appointed 

 for our terrestrial existence, and a part conformable with, 

 or, in some sort, required by, other parts of the same plan. 

 It is at any rate evident, that a large and ample province 

 remains for the exercise of Providence, without its being 

 naturally perceptible by us ; because obscurity, when appli- 

 ed to the interruption of laws, bears a necessary proportion 

 fo the jraperfectioQ ©f our knowledge when applied to 



