348 NATURAL THEOLOGY. 



had nothing else to finish.' We see no signs of diminution 

 of care by multiplicity of objects, or of distraction of thought 

 by variety. We have no reason to fear, therefore, our being 

 forgotten, or overlooked, or neglected. 



The existence and character of the Deity is, in every 

 view, the most interesting of all human speculations. In 

 none, however, is it more so, than as it facilitates the belief 

 of the fundamental articles of revelation. It is a step to 

 have it proved, that there must be something in the world 

 more than what we see. It is a further step to know, that 

 among the invisible things of nature, there must be an 

 intelligent mind concerned in its production, order, and sup- 

 port. These points being assured to us by natural theology, 

 we may well leave to revelation the disclosure of many 

 particulars which our researches cannot reach respecting 

 either the nature of this Being as the original cause of all 

 things, or his character and designs as a moral governor ; 

 and not only so, but the more full confirmation of other par- 

 ticulars, of which, though they do not lie altogether beyond 

 our reasonings and our probabilities, the certainty is by no 

 means equal to the importance. The true theist will be the 

 first to listen to any credible communication of divine know- 

 ledge Nothing which he has learnt from natural theology 

 will diminish his desire of further instruction, or his disposition 

 to receive it with humility and thankfulness. He wishes for 

 light ; he rejoices in light. His inward veneration of this 

 great Being will incline him to attend with the utmost seri- 

 ousness, not only to all that can be discovered concerning 

 him by researches into nature, but to all that is taught by a 

 revelation which gives reasonable proof of having proceeded 

 from him. 



But, above every other article of revealed religion, does 

 the anterior belief of a Deity bear Avith the strongest forco 

 upon that grand point Avhich gives indeed interest and im 

 portance to all the rest — the resurrection of the human dead. 

 The thing might appear hopeless, did we not see a power n\ 



