LETTERS TO BROTHER JOHN. 185 



particular part of it, but look everywhere ; search 

 minutely through all the kingdoms of nature ; ex- 

 plore the natural world ; examine curiously the 

 artificial world whatever you behold, whether 

 animate or inanimate, moving or at rest, large or 

 small, you will find it has been placed in a sphere 

 of its own, and surrounded by circumstances pe- 

 culiar to itself; from which sphere and circum- 

 stances it cannot be removed, without detriment to 

 the integrity of its natural perfection. In fact, all 

 things the very stocks and stones have " habits " 

 proper to themselves ; and you cannot compel them 

 into new habits, without injury to their primitive 

 perfect condition. Every thing has its determi- 

 nate position, and fixed relation to all other things. 

 It is this which constitutes that wonderful harmony 

 which so astonishes and delights those who love to 

 contemplate the works of nature. If, indeed, it 

 were not so, nothing but the most inextricable con- 

 fusion must necessarily be the immediate result. 



Every thing, then, has its natural sphere of exis- 

 tence its natural habits ; and you cannot compel 

 it out of its sphere, without injury to the perfection 

 of its being. I know I may be asked, if the marble, 

 chiselled into the statue, be not an improvement 

 upon the rugged mass ? I answer, No decidedly 



