36 



my readers will never forget that, in the employ, 

 ment of such language, a reference ought con- 

 stantly to be understood to a primary designing 

 Cause that eternal Being who has not only at 

 first impressed laws on nature which indicate his 

 infinite perfection ; but, of whom it may in every 

 instance be truly said, that these laws are no 

 other than the modes in which his Divine power 

 is exercised. 



A distinguishing mark of an organic substance, 

 in as far as its structure is concerned, is, as the 

 name implies, the possession of certain organs^ 

 each of which is more or less essential, as I have 

 already remarked, to the welfare of the whole ; 

 and an equally distinguishing mark of the same 

 substance, as far as regards its motions, is the 

 performance by these organs, each of its own 

 proper function, in the sum of which the life of 

 the being appears to consist ; it seems proper, 

 therefore, before dismissing the subject of life 

 and living beings, to say a few words first of these 

 organs at least as they present themselves in 

 animals in their general relations to each other ; 

 and afterwards of the functions performed, and 

 the general co-operation of each to the perfection 

 of all. It is not my intention to allude, in this 

 place, to the admirable adaptation in every ani- 

 mal, of the structure of each of its organs to the 

 functions which this is destined to perform, since 

 this beautiful subject will be found considered at 

 spine length in another part of this work at 



