Il8 Natural Theology. 



has created may not struggle for existence in vain 

 The animals that live by the destruction of others 

 are not less in number because only a few can pos- 

 sibly survive. They are less by creation, by the 

 law of their increase. The larger and more de- 

 structive any animal is, the less rapidly does it mul- 

 tiply. So that while nature evidently makes pro- 

 vision for the destruction of animals by others on a 

 vast scale, it is not a part of her plan to increase 

 any species without supplying adequate food for its 

 support. The tribes that are most prolific are fol- 

 lowed ever by multitudes of enemies, so that their 

 number shall not be unduly increased. Some few ex- 

 amples there are, like the locust tribes, that show us 

 what might be the result were there not the well ar- 

 ranged balance which so generally prevails in nature. 



In order to secure the balance of species a mighty 

 machinery is at work, bringing suffering and death. 

 We recognise design in the machinery ; but what 

 shall we say of the goodness of a Being whose 

 wisdom reaches its end through pain and suffering, 

 however perfectly the end may be secured ? 



We may speculate on the possible constitution of 

 animals by which they might be freed from pain 

 and suffering. But it is not certain at all that such 

 a constitution is possible in a world like this, with- 

 out at the same time diminishing the capacity for 

 enjoyment. And if we accept the present animal 

 constitution as a wise and good one, then the 

 destruction of animal life can be fully vindicated as a 

 manifestation of goodness. 



