CHAP. XIL] CAUSES. 375 



observation &quot; that variety must be admitted to be an aim in 

 nature &quot;) the following remarkable question : &quot; I wish the 

 Duke had explained what he here means by nature. Is it 

 meant that the Creator of the universe ordained diversified 

 results for His own satisfaction or for that of man ? The 

 former seems to me as much wanting in due reverence as the 

 latter in probability.&quot; To this it may be replied that, grant 

 ing the validity of the deductions of our reason as to the 

 First Cause, then God, as at once the Sustainer of the universe, 

 concurs by His action in every natural phenomenon, and has 

 an infinite complacency in each. But there is a due because 

 rational order in such complacency ; and since we see clearly 

 that &quot; goodness &quot; is the highest of all qualities, an important 

 consequence follows. Let us endeavour to bring home to 

 ourselves the fact that the existence of a countless multi 

 tude of actions and interactions is revealed to us in every 

 department of science. Let us consider the series of such in 

 the physical, chemical, and biological sciences ; in the rise 

 and fall of states, and the manifestations of art in all its 

 branches. Let us contemplate the physical possibilities of 

 being in the vast fields of stellar space, receding from us on 

 all sides into unfathomable abysses and for incalculable ages, 

 and then try to realise the thought that the Divine com 

 placency in all such phenomena is as nothing compared with 

 that complacency with which He regards one single act of 

 man s free-will directed in harmony with a moral perception, 

 even though it be a mistaken one. 



If then the reasoning contained in this chapter is good 

 and valid, the last and the highest lesson which Concluslon . 

 nature (considered as a whole, i.e., as both rational 

 and sentient) teaches us is that the Great First Cause has 

 attributes of such a nature that the terms &quot; power,&quot; &quot; know 

 ledge,&quot; &quot;goodness,&quot; &quot;purpose,&quot; and &quot;will&quot; are those least 

 inadequate to convey to our minds a practical conception 

 and belief concerning them. Of such a Cause the word 

 &quot; personality,&quot; in a similarly analogous sense, can not only 

 be fitly used, but must be positively affirmed, since not to 



