123 



But though they are perpetually preying upon, they 

 never destroy each other, because their fruitf illness ii 

 equal to their depredations. 



<c Thus through successive ages stands 



Firm fixt thy providential care J 

 Pleas'd with the works of thine own hands 



Thou dost the wastes of Time repair." 



9. I add a few more reflections on the world in ge 

 neral. The same wise Being, who was pleased to make 

 man, prepared for him also an habitation so advan- 

 tageously placed, that the heavens and the rest of the 

 universe might serve it both as an ornament and a co 

 vering. He constructed likewise the air which man 

 was to breathe, and the fire which was to sustain his 

 life. He prepared also metals, salts, and all terres. 

 trial elements to renew, and maintain throughout all 

 ages, whatever might be on any account necessary lor 

 the inhabit 1 -.!! 4 * of the earth. 



The same divine Ruler is manifest in all the objects 

 that compose the universe. It is he that caused the 

 dry land to appear above (he surface of the ocean^ 

 that gauged the capacity of that amazing reservoir, 

 and proportioned it to the fluid it contains. He col- 

 Jects the rising vapours, and causes them to distil in 

 gentle showers. At his command the sun darts his en. 

 Jiveni f -g rays, and the winds scatter the noxious effiu- 

 via,which if they were collected together might destroy 

 Jthe human race. 



He formed those hiils and lofty mountains which re- 

 ceive and retain the water within their bowels, in 

 order to distribute it with ceconomy to the inhabi- 

 tants of the plains, and to give it such an impulse, 

 as m ght enable it to overcome the uncvenness of the 

 lands, and convey it to the remotest habitations. 



He spread under the plains, beds of clay, or com- 

 pact arths, there to stop the waters, which after a 

 great rain, make their way through innumerable lit- 

 tie passages. These sheets of water frequently remain 



