FINAL CAUSES. 33 



corroborating tendency of each additional fact 

 of the same description, but the multitude of 

 these facts is so great, that the general conclu- 

 sion to which they lead must be considered as 

 indubitable. For the argument, as it has been 

 justly remarked, is cumulative ; that obtained 

 from one source being strengthened by that 

 derived from another ; and all tending to the 

 same conclusion, like rays converging to the 

 same point, on which they concentrate their 

 united powers of illumination. 



The more we extend our knowledge of the 

 operations of creative power, as manifested in the 

 structure and economy of organized beings, the 

 better we become qualified to appreciate the inten- 

 tions with which the several arrangements and 

 constructions have been devised, the art with 

 which they have been accomplished, and the 

 grand comprehensive plan of which they form a 

 part. By knowing the general tendencies of ana- 

 logous formations, we can sometimes recognise 

 designs that are but faintly indicated, and trace 

 the links which connect them with more general 

 laws. By rendering ourselves familiar with the 

 hand-writing where the characters are clearly 

 legible, we gradually learn to decypher the more 

 obscure passages, and are enabled to follow the 

 continuity of the narrative through chapters that 

 would otherwise appear mutilated and defaced. 

 Hence the utility of comprehending in our studies 



VOL. i. D 



