346 NATURAL THEOLOGY. 



is by frequent or continued meditation upon a subject, by 

 placing a subject in different points of view, by induction oi 

 particulars, by variety of examples, by applying principles to 

 the solution of phenomena, by dwelling upon proofs and con- 

 sequences, that mental exercise is drawn into any particular 

 channel. It is by these means, at least, that we have any 

 power over it. The train of spontaneous thought, and the 

 choice of that train, may be directed to different ends, and 

 may appear to be more or less judiciously fixed, according to 

 the purpose in respect of .which we consider it ; but, in a 

 moral vieiv, I shall not, I believe, be contradicted when I 

 say, that if one train of thinking be more desirable than 

 another, it is that which regards the phenomena of nature 

 with a constant reference to a supreme intelligent Author, 

 To have made this the ruling, the habitual sentiment of our 

 minds, is to have laid the foundation of every thing which 

 is religious. The world thenceforth becomes a temple, and 

 life itself one continued act of adoration. The change is no 

 less than this : that whereas formerly God was seldom in 

 our thoughts, w^e can now scarcely look upon any thing with- 

 out perceiving its relation to him. Every organized natural 

 body, in the provisions vvliich it contains for its sustentation 

 and propagation, testifies a care, on the part of the Creator, 

 expressly directed to these purposes. We are on all sides 

 surrounded by such bodies : examined in their parts, won- 

 derfully curious : compared with one another, no less won- 

 derfully diversified. So that the mind, as well as the eye, 

 may either expatiate in variety and multitude, or fix itself 

 down to the investigation of particular divisions of the 

 science. And in either case it will rise up from its occupa- 

 tion, possessed by the subject in a very different manner, 

 and with a very different degree of influence, from what a 

 mere assent to any verbal proposition which can be formed 

 concerning the existence of the Deity — at least that merely 

 complying assent with which those about us are satisfied, 

 and with which we are too apt to satisfy ourselves — will o; 



