SECT. XXXIX. 12.6. GENERATION. 441 



To thefe mud be added the final caufe, fo called by many au- 

 thors, which means the motive, for the accompliftiment of which 

 the preceding chain of caufes was put into action. The idea 

 of a final caufe, therefore, includes that of a rational mind, 

 which employs means to effeft its purpofes; thus the defire of 

 preferving himfelf from the pain of cold, which he has frequent- 

 ly experienced, induces the favage to conftrudl his hut ; the fix- 

 ing (takes into the ground for walls, branches of trees for rafters, 

 and turf for a cover, are a feries of fucceflive voluntary exer- 

 tions ; which are fo many means to produce a certain effeh 

 This effet of preferving himfelf from cold, is termed the final 

 caufe ; the conitruftion of the hut is the remote effect ; the ac- 

 tion of the mufcular fibres of the man, is the proximate effeft ; 

 the volition, or activity of defire to preferve himfelf from cold, 

 is the proximate caufe ; and the pain of cold, which excited 

 that defire, is the remote caufe. 



6. This perpetual chain of caufes and effefts, the firft link of 

 which isrivetted to the throne of God, divides itfelf into innu- 

 merable diverging branches, which, like the nerves arifmg from 

 the brain, permeate the mod minute and moil remote extremi- 

 ties of the fyflem, difFufing motion and fenfarion to the whole. 

 As every caufe is luperior in power to the effecfl, which it has 

 produced, fo our idea of the power of the Almighty Creator 

 becomes more elevated and fublime, as we trace the opera- 

 tions of nature from caufe to caufe, climbing up the links of 

 thefe chains of being, till we afcend to the Great Source of all 

 things. 



Hence the modern difcoveries in chemiftry and in geology, 

 by having traced the caufes of the combinations of bodies to 

 remoter origins, as well as thofe in aftronomy, which digni- 

 fy the prefent age, contribute to enlarge and amplify our ideas 

 of the power of the Great Firft Caufe. And had thofe ancient 

 philofophers, who contended that the world was formed from 

 atoms, afcribed their combinations to certain immutable prop- 

 erties received from the hand of the Creator, fuch as general 

 gravitation, chemical affinity, or animal appetency, inftead of 

 afcribing them to a blind chance ; the doftrine of atoms, as con- 

 ftituting or compofing the material world by the variety of their 

 combinations, fo far from leading the mind to atheifm, would 

 ftrengthen the demonilration of the exiftence of a Deity, as the 

 firft caufe of all things ; bccaufe the analogy refulting from our 

 perpetual experience of caufe and effeft would have thus been 

 exemplified through univerfal nature. 



The heavens declare the Glory of GOD, and the firmament 

 /heiveth his handy work ! One day telleth another > and one night 



VOL. I. Iii certifieth 



