GOODNESS OF THE DEITY. 537 



divine Providence; by reason of the ambiguity under which 

 its exertions present themselves, can be atte'^ded with no 

 practical influence upon our conduct — that, although we 

 oclieve ever so firmly that there is a Providence, we must 

 prepare and provide and act as if there were none, I an- 

 iwei that this is admitted ; and that we further allege, that 

 ^0 to prepare, and so to provide, is consistent with the mcst. 

 perfect assurance of the reality of a Providence ; and no'' 

 only so, but that it is probably one advantage of the pres 

 ent state of our information, that our provisions and prepa- 

 rations are not disturbed by it. Or if it be still asked, Oi 

 what use at all, then, is the doctrine, if it neither alter our 

 measures nor regulate our conduct ? I answer again, that 

 it is of the greatest use, but that it is a doctrine of senti- 

 ment and piety, not — immediately at least — of action or 

 conduct ; that it applies to the consolation of men's minds, 

 to their devotions, to the excitement of gratitude, the sup- 

 port of patience, the keeping alive and the strengthening of 

 every motive for endeavoring to please our Maker ; and that 

 these are great uses. 



Of ALL VIEWS under which human life has ever been 

 considered, the most reasonable, in my judgment, is that 

 which regards it as a state of iirohatmn. If the course of 

 the world was separated from the contrivances of nature, I 

 do not know that it would be necessary to look for any other 

 account of it than what, if it may be called an account, is 

 contained in the answer, that events rise up by chance. 

 But since the contrivances of nature decidedly evince in- 

 tention; and since the course of the world and the contriv- 

 ances of nature have the same author, we are, by the force 

 )f this connection, led to believe that the appearance under 

 .vliich events take place is reconcilable v/ith the supposition 

 of design on the part of the Deity, it is enough that they 

 be reconcilable with this supposition ; and it is undoubtedly 

 true that they may be reconcilable, though we cannot rec- 

 oncile them. The mind, however, which contemplates the 



Nat. Theol. 15 



