211 



hunger and thirst, and all nature languish and droop. 

 All the parts of nature therefore were constituted for 

 the assistance of each other, and all undeniably prove 

 the unity of their omniscient Creator. 



His power appears in the whole frame of crea- 

 tion, and his wisdom in every part of it. His inde- 

 pendence is pointed out in the inexhaustible Tariety 

 of beasts, birds, fishes and insects ; and his good- 

 ness, in taking care of every one of these, opening 

 his hand, and tilling all things living with plente- 

 ousness. 



Every thing is calculated by divine wisdom, to make 

 us wiser and better. And this is the substance of 

 true philosophy. We cannot kn&w much. In vain 

 does our shallow reason attempt to fathom the mys- 

 teries of nature, and to pry into the secrets of the 

 Almighty. His ways are past finding out. The eye 

 of a little worm is a subject capable of exhausting all 

 our boasted speculations. But we may love much. 

 And herein we may be assisted by contemplating the 

 wonders of his cieation. Indeed he seems to have 

 laid the highest claim to this tribute of our love, by 

 the care he has taken to manifest his goodness iiv 

 the most conspicuous manner, while at the same time 

 he has concealed from us the most curious particulars 

 with regard to the essences and structure of hi* works. 

 And to our ignorance it is owing, . that we fancy so 

 many things to be useless in the creation. But a deep 

 sense of his goodness will satisfy all our doubts, and 

 resolve all our scruples. 



8. I cannot conclude this part better than with an 

 essay on the production, nourishment, and operation 

 of plants and animals. 



SECT. I. 



Creatures produce their own Kind. 

 WHEN 1 survey the works of nature with an atten- 



