300 NATURAL ThEOLOGY. 



existence ; that every case which we have described is tiie 

 case of minions. At this moment, in every given moment 

 of time, how many myriads of animals are eating their food, 

 gratifying their appetites, ruminating in their holes, accom- 

 plishing their wishes, pursuing their pleasures, taking their 

 pastimes I In each individual, how many things must go 

 right for it to be at ease, yet how large a proportion out oi 

 every species is so in every assignable instant. Secondly, 

 we contend, in the terms of our original proposition, that 

 throughout the whole of life, as it is diffused in nature, and 

 as far as we are acquainted with it, looking to the average 

 of sensations, the plurality and the preponderancy is in favoi 

 of happiness by a vast excess. In our own species, in which 

 perhaps the assertion may be more questionable than any 

 other, the prepoUeiicy of good over evil, of health, for exam- 

 ple, and ease, over pain and distress, is evinced by the very 

 notice which calamities excite. What inquiries does the 

 sickness of our friends produce ; what conversation, their mis- 

 fortunes. This shows that the common course of things is 

 in favor of happiness ; that happiness is the rule, misery the 

 exception. Were the order reversed, our attention would be 

 called to examples of health and competency, instead of dis- 

 ease and want. 



One great cause of our insensibility to the goodness of 

 the Creator, is the very extensivoiess of his bounty. We 

 prize but little what we share only in common with the rest, 

 or with the generality of our species. When we hear of 

 blessings we think forthwith of successes, of prosperous for- 

 tunes, of honors, riches, preferments, that is, of those advan- 

 tages and superiorities over others which we happen either 

 to possess, or to be in pursuit of, or to covet. The common 

 benefits of our nature entirely escape us. Yet these are the 

 great things. These constitute Avhat most properly ought 

 to be accounted blessings of Providence — what alone, if we 

 might so speak, are worthy of its care. Nightly rest and 

 daily bread, the ordinary use of our limbs and senses and 



