296 NATURAL THEOLOGY. 



parts ; but this I say, that when we consider tlie benevv> 

 ience of the Deity, we can only consider it in relation to 

 sensitive being. Without this reference, or referred to any 

 thing else, the attribute has no object, the term has no 

 meaning. Dead matter is nothing. The parts, therefore, 

 especially the limbs and senses of animals, although they 

 constitute, in mass and quantity, a small portion of the ma- 

 terial creation, yet, since they alone are instruments of per 

 ception, they compose what may be called the whole of 

 visible nature, estimated with a view to the disposition of its 

 author. Consequently, it is in these that we are to seek his 

 character. It is by these that we are to prove that the world 

 was made with a benevolent design. 



Nor is the design abortive. It is a happy world after all. 

 The air, the earth, the water, teem with delighted existence. 

 In a spring noon, or a summer evening, on whichever side 

 I turn my eyes, myriads of happy beings crowd upon my 

 view. "The insect youth are on the^wing." Swarms of 

 new-born Jlies are trying their pinions in the air. Their 

 sportive motions, their wanton mazes, their gratuitous activ- 

 ity, their continual change of place without use or purpose, 

 testify their joy, and the exultation which they feel in their 

 lately discovered faculties. A bee among the flower? in 

 spring, is one of the most cheerful objects that can be k.ked 

 upon. Its life appears to be all enjoyment ; so busy, and so 

 pleased : yet it is only a specimen of insect life with wdiich, 

 by reason of the animal being half domesticated, we happen 

 to be better acquainted than we are with that of others. 

 The ivhole-icmged insect tribe, it is probable, are equally 

 intent upon their proper employments, and, under eveiy va- 

 riety of constitution, gratified, and perhaps equally gratified, 

 by the offices which the Author of their nature has assigned 

 to them. But the atmosphere is not the only scene of enjoy- 

 ment for the insect race. 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 



