ANIMALS. 67 



keep the earth from being overstocked with hu- 

 man inhabitants ; since, if every person were 

 now to live and generate for nine hundred years, 

 mankind would be increased to such a degree, 

 that there would be no room for subsistence ; so 

 that the plan of Providence would be altered, 

 which is seen not to produce life without provid- 

 ing a proper supply." 



But to whatever extent life may be prolonged, 

 or however some may have delayed the effects of 

 age, death is the certain goal to which all are has- 

 tening. AU the causes of decay which have been 

 mentioned, contribute to bring on this dreadful 

 dissolution. However, nature approaches to this 

 awful period by slow and imperceptible degrees ; 

 life is consumed day after day, and some one 

 of our faculties, or vital principles, is every hour 

 dying before the rest ; so that death is only the 

 last shade in the picture : and it is probable, 

 that man suffers a greater change in going from 

 youth to age, than from age into the grave. 

 When we first begin to live, our lives may 

 scarcely be said to be our own ; as the child 

 grows, life increases in the same proportion, and 

 is at its height in the prime of manhood. But 

 as soon as the body begins to decrease, life de- 

 creases also ; for as the human frame diminishes, 

 and its juices circulate in smaller quantity, life 

 diminishes and circulates with less vigour; so 

 that as we begin to live by degrees, we begin to 

 die in the same manner. 



Why then should we fear death, if our lives 

 have been such as not to make eternity dreadful ? 



