POLITICAL ECONOMY. 233 



almost an invisible atom, compared with the great system 

 of the heavens, — what a combination of simplicity and 

 grandeur do we perceive ! It is one universal design, or an 

 infinity of design ; — nothing seems to us little, because 

 nothing is so little as not to proclaim the omnipotence which 

 made it ; — and I may say too that nothing seems to us 

 great in itself, because its very grandeur speaks to us of that 

 immensity, before which all created greatness is scarcely to 

 be perceived. 



On particular arguments of this kind, however, that are 

 as innumerable as the things which exist, it is not necessary 

 to dwell. Those whom a single organized being, or even a 

 single organ, such as the eye, the ear, the hand, does not 



. convince of the being of a God, — who do not see him, not 

 >^iore in the social order of human society, than in a single 



"instinct of animals, producing unconsciously, a result that is 

 necessary for their continued existence, and yet a result 

 which they cannot have foreknown — will not see him in all 

 the innumerable instances that might be crowded together 

 by philosophers and theologians. 



The world, then, loas made ; — there is a designing Power 

 which formed it — a Power whose own admirable nature ex- 

 plains whatever is admirable on earth, and leaves to us in- 

 stead of the wonder of ignorance, that wonder of knowledge 

 and veneration which is not astonishment, but love and awe. 



Brown. 



LESSON 104. 



Political Economy. 

 Tech'nical, belonging to arts ; not in common or popular use. 

 The language of science is frequently its most difficult 

 part, but in political economy there are few technical terms, 

 and those easily comprehended. It may be defined as the 

 science which teaches us to investigate the causes of the 

 wealth and prosperity of nations. 



In a country of savages, you find a small number of in- 

 habitants spread over a vast tract of land. Depending on, 

 the precarious subsistence afforded by fishing and hunting, 

 they are frequently subject to dearths and famines, which cut 

 20* 



