GOODNESS OF THE DEITY. 307 



own activity. A brute, in his wild and natural state, does 

 every thing for himself. When his strength, therefore, Oi' 

 his speed, or his limbs, or his senses fail him, he is .ielivered 

 over either to absolute famine or to the protracted wretch- 

 edness of a hfe slowly wasted by the scarcity of food. Ts it 

 then to see the world filled with drooping, superannuated, 

 half-starved, helple««i '»x\d unhelped animals, that you would 

 alter the present system of pursuit and prey ? 



2. Which system is also to them the spring of motion 

 and activity on both sides. The pursuit of its prey forms 

 the employment, and appears to constitute the pleasure of 

 a considerable part of the animal creation. The using of 

 the means of defence, or flight, or precaution, forms also th<» 

 business of another part. And even of this latter tribe, we 

 have no reason to suppose that their happiness is much 

 molested by their fears. Their danger exists continually ; 

 and in some cases they seem to be so far sensible of it as to 

 provide, in the best manner they can, against it ; but it is 

 only when the attack is actually made upon them that they 

 appear to suffer from it. To contemplate the insecurity of 

 their condition with anxiety and dread, requires a degree of 

 reflection which, happily for themselves, they do not pos- 

 sess. A hare, notwithstanding the number of its dangers 

 and its enemies, is as playful an animal as any other. • 



3. But, to do justice to the question, the system of ani- 

 mal destruction ought always to be considered in strict con- 

 nection with another property of animal nature, namely, 

 superfecundity . They are countervailing qualities. One 

 subsists by the correction of the other. In treating, there- 

 fore, of the subject under this view — which is, I believe, the 

 true one — our business will be, first, to point out the advan- 

 tages which are gained by the powers in nature of a super- 

 abundant multiplication ; and then to show that these ad- 

 vantages are so many reasons for appointing that system "of 

 national hostilities which we are endeavoring to account 

 for. 



