are not only uncontradicted, but fully established 

 by the most minute survey of the objects within 

 the sphere of our vision ; so that he who pene- 

 trates the deepest into the secrets of nature, only 

 multiplies proofs of that most sublime and most 

 animating truth, that "verily there is a God" 

 who made and rules the universe. 



To some of these proofs I have adverted, and 

 cursory as my observations have necessarily been, 

 on account of the extensive plan I prescribed to 

 myself, and the desire of being popular rather 

 than scientific, such is the innate force of the 

 evidence, that I do trust no candid man can rise 

 from the perusal of these pages without feelings 

 of religious awe and veneration. 



In considering a subject of this kind, however, 

 there is a further, and, I will add, a more im- 

 portant object of which we ought never to lose 

 sight ; I mean the light which natural religion 

 throws on Divine revelation. There are many 

 circumstances which must prevent a reflecting 

 Theist from resting satisfied with the discoveries 

 of the character of the Eternal, which he legiti- 

 mately deduces from the works of creation 

 Among these there is nothing more staggering 

 than the existence of evil. Much ingenuity, in- 

 deed, has been employed in proving, that the 

 evils which exist in the world are more than 

 counterbalanced by the advantages with which 

 they are accompanied, that there are compensa- 

 tions and abatements which frequently turn the 

 scale in favour of enjoyment, even under circum- 



