290 THE GOODNESS OF THE DEITY. 



the laws themselves, or rather to the effects, which these 

 laws, under their various and incalculable combinations, 

 would of their own accord produce. And if it be said, that 

 the doctrine of divine Providence, by reason of the ambigu- 

 ity under which its exertions present themselves, can be 

 attended with no practical influence upon our conduct ; 

 that, although we believe ever so firmly that there is a Prov- 

 idence, we must prepare, and provide, and act, as if there 

 were none ; I answer, that this is adinixted : and that we 

 further allege, that so to prepare, and sa to provide, is con- 

 sistent with tlie most perfect assurance of the reality of a 

 Providence : and not only so, but that it is, prohably, one ad- 

 vantage of the present state of our information, that our 

 provisions and preparations are not disturbed by it. Or if 

 it be still asked, of what use at all then is the doctrine, if it 

 neither alter our measures nor regulate our conduct ? I an- 

 swer again, that it is of the greatest use, but tliat, it is a 

 doctrine of sentiment and piety, not (immediately at least) 

 of action or conduct; that it applies to the consolation of 

 men's minds, to their devotions, to the excitement of grat- 

 itude, the support of patience, the keeping alive and the 

 strengthening of every motive for endeavouring to please 

 our Maker ; and that these are great uses. 



Of all views under which human life has ever been con- 

 sidered, the most reasonable, in my judgment, is that which 

 regards it as a state of probation. If the course of the 

 world were separated from the contrivances of nature, I do 

 not know that it would be necessary to look for any other 

 account of it, than what, if it may be called an account, is 

 contained in the answer, that events rise up by chance. 

 But since the contrivances of nature decidedly evince inten- 

 tion ; and since the course of the world and the contrivan- 

 ces of nature have the same author ; we are, by the force 

 of this connexion, led to believe, that the appearance, un^ 

 der which events take place, is reconcilable with the sup- 

 position of design on the part of the Deity. It is enough 

 that they be reconcilable with this supposition (and it is un- 

 doubtedly true, that they be reconcilable, though we cannot 

 reconcile them :) the mind, however, which contemplates 

 the works of nature, and, in those works, sees so much of 

 means directed to ends, of beneficial effects brought about 

 by wise expedients, of concerted trains of causes terminat- 

 ing in the happiest results ; so much, in a word, of counsel, 

 intention, and benev<j|ence : a mind, I say, drawn into the 

 habit of thought which these observations excite, can hardly 



