30G NATURAL THEOLOaY. 



uatioii. Let them enjoy their existence ; let them have theit 

 country. Surface enough will be left to man, though his 

 numbers were increased a hundred-fold, and left to him 

 where he might live exempt from these annoyances. 



The SECOND CASE, namely, that of animals devouring 

 one another, furnishes a consideration of much larger extent. 

 To judge whether, as a general provision, this can be deem- 

 ed an evil, even so far as we understand its consequences, 

 which, probably, is a partial understanding, the following 

 reflections are fit to be attended to. 



1. Immortality upon this earth is out of the question. 

 Without death there could be no generation, no sexes, no 

 parental relation, that is, as things are constituted, no ani- 

 mal happiness. The particular duration of life assigned to 

 different animals can form no part of the objection ; be- 

 cause, whatever that duration be, wdiile it remains finite 

 and limited, it may always be asked why it is no longer. 

 The natural age of different animals varies from a single 

 day to a century of years No account can be given of this ; 

 nor could any be given, whatever other proportion of life 

 had obtained among them. 



The term then of life in different animals being the same 

 as it is, the question is, what mode of taking it away is the 

 best even for the animal itself? 



Now, according to the established order of nature — 

 which we must suppose to prevail, or w^e cannot reason at 

 all upon the subject — the three methods by which life is 

 usually put an end to, are acute diseases, decay, and vio- 

 lence. The simple and natural life of h'utes is not often 

 visited by acute distempers ; nor could it be deemed an im- 

 provement of their lot if they were. Let it be considered, 

 therefore, in what a condition of suff^ering and misery a brute 

 animal is placed which is left to perish by decay. In hu- 

 man sickness or infirmity, there is the assistance of man's 

 rational fellow-creatures, if not to alleviate his pains, at least 

 to minister to his necessities, and to supply the pla^'-e of his 



