46 NATURAL THEOLOGY. 



are diiTerent questions from the question of the artist's exiffi- 

 ence ; or, which is the same, whether the thing before us be 

 a work of art or not ; and the questions ought always to be 

 kept separate in the mind. So hkewise it is in the workn 

 of nature Irregularities and imperfections are of little or 

 no weight in the consideration, when that consideration re- 

 lates simply to the existence of a Creator. When the argu- 

 ment respects his attributes, they are of weight ; but are 

 then to be taken in conjunction — the attention is not to rest 

 upon them, but they are to be taken in conjunction, with 

 the unexceptionable evidences which we possess of skill, 

 power, and benevolence displayed in other instances ; which 

 evidences may, in strength, number, and variety, be such, 

 and may so overpower apparent blemishes, as to induce us, 

 upon the most reasonable ground, to believe that these last 

 ought to be referred to some cause, though we be ignorant 

 of it, other than defect of knowledge or of benevolence in 

 the author. 



11. There may be also parts of plants and animals, as 

 there were supposed to be of the watch, of which, in some 

 instances the operation, in others the use, is unknown. 

 These form different cases ; for the operation may be un- 

 known, yet the use be certain. Thus it is with the lungs 

 of animals. It does not, I think, appear that we are ac- 

 quainted with the action of the air upon the blood, or in 

 what manner that action is communicated by the lungs ; 

 yet we find that a very short suspension of their office de- 

 stroys the life of the animal. In this case, therefore, we 

 may be said to know the use, nay, we experience the neces- 

 sity of the organ, though we be ignorant of its operation. 

 Nearly the same thing may be observed of what is called 

 the lymphatic system. We suffer grievous inconveniences 

 from its disorder, without being informed of the office which 

 it sustains in the economy of our bodies. There may possi- 

 bly also be some few examples of the second class, in Avhich 

 not only the operation is unknown, but in which experi- 



