I 



462 VARIETIES OF MANKIND. 



deserves, I must refer to his work which is both the most recent 

 and the best, contented with simply inserting his conclusion, 



do know the source from which it springs — it is produced by the will of a bene- 

 volent Being; for, had the Being which produced it, been malevolent, he 

 would have produced a preponderance not of good but of evil. Being certain, 

 then, from the things which arc made, that benevolence is the attribute of the 

 God who made them, we have the strongest reason to believe that no natural 

 evil exists in his works, which could have been prevented without the loss of a 

 greater good."— Bp. of LandafF, Miscellaneous Tracts, Sfc. Serm. iv. 



Even where evil is produced, such is the mighty universal plan, that it proves 

 not simple, solitary evil, but becomes the cause of innumerable good effects. 

 A severe misfortune has often converted a proud and prejudiced man into one 

 of modesty and candour. Again the stupendous wisdom and the benevolence 

 of the Almighty are continually manifested in the operation of one general law 

 preventing the particular evil resulting occasionally from the clashing of others. 

 Thus a large number of monsters perish in the womb (458) ; of those which are 

 born, many die the moment of their birth or a few days afterwards ; of those 

 which survive, many die during childhood ; and of those few which grow up, 

 very few reach, and perhaps none, whose singularity is very great, pass, the 

 middle period of life, and their organs of procreation are often languid, if not 

 perfectly inefficient : nor in fact do I believe from my observation that many 

 of those who grow up are at all less happy than other people. 



Is there not benevolence enough displayed to prove the completely benevo- 

 lent disposition of the Creator ? Who shall determine, I speak it with unfeigned 

 reverence, the number of incompatibilities ? But I blush to think it has been 

 ncccessary to advocate the cause of the Almighty. Can any one refuse to 



Find tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, 

 Sermons in stones, and good in every thing ? 



" It is a happy world after all," is the glowing language of Palcy. " The 

 air, the earth, the water, teem with delighted existence. In a spring noon, 

 or a summer evening, on which ever side I turn my eyes, myriads of happy 

 beings crowd upon my view. The insect youth are on the wing. Swarms of 

 new born flics are trying their pinions in the air. Their sportive motions, their 

 wanton mazes, their gratuitous activity, their continual change of place, with- 

 out use or purpose, testify their joy and the exultation which they feol in their 

 lately discovered faculties : a bee among the flowers in spring is one of the most 

 cheerful objects that can be looked upon. Its life appears to be all enjoyment, 

 so busy, so pleased." " Plants are covered with aphides greedily sucking their 

 juices and constantly, as it should seem, in the act of sucking. It cannot be 

 doubted but that this is a state of gratification." " Other species are run/ting 



