64 GEOGRAPHICAL AND LOCAL 



he accounts for the peopling of the volcanic and 

 coral islands in the Pacific. 



It must be borne in mind that nothing really 

 happens by chance, or is the result of an acci- 

 dental concourse of fortuitous events : second 

 causes are always under the direction of the first, 

 who ordereth all things according to the good 

 pleasure of his will ; and therefore the elevation of 

 a new island from the bosom of the deep, whether 

 immediately produced by volcanic agency, or by 

 an earthquake, or built by Zoophytes, still may 

 be denominated his work ; so likewise the same 

 Almighty Guardian of the universe, whose name 

 is Jehovah of Hosts, directs all the actions and 

 motions of the hosts that he hath created, to the 

 full accomplishment of every purpose that, in his 

 wisdom, he hath formed. When we are assured 

 that the hairs of our head are all numbered, and 

 that not a sparrow falleth without our Heavenly 

 Father, we are instructed to look beyond second 

 causes for the direction and management of events 

 that appear at first sight the most trivial, but 

 which, in their immediate or remote conse- 

 quences, may be productive of effects that are 

 important to be attended to and provided for. 1 



We know that when animals of any kind 

 exceed certain limits, though beneficial in the 

 ordinary exercise of their instincts, they become 



1 Appendix, note 15. 



